Duval County commercial property tenants and landlords can now apply for local eviction and foreclosure prevention assistance.
The application portal at JacksonvilleCares.com in partnership with the Jacksonville Bar Association is open to provide grants up to $10,000 for small businesses and commercial landlords to help ease financial impact because of COVID-19.
The portal launched at noon Dec. 10. The city originally planned applications for commercial property to go live Dec. 7.
The city launched the residential mortgage default and tenant eviction assistance Dec. 3. and received 4,700 applications as of Dec. 8, according to a city spokeswoman.
Eligible residential applicants can receive grants up to $5,000 to help avoid a lease default or mortgage foreclosure.
Applicants must provide specific documents and meet other eligibility requirements:
Commercial:
• A copy of the lease or mortgage
• Landlord or mortgagee W-9
• Proof of an at least 20% reduction in income, staffing or employee hours.
• A copy of the current Duval County occupational license.
• Proof of the ability to make 60 days in rent or mortgage payments. Bank statements are acceptable.
• A notice from the landlord or mortgagee showing a pending eviction or foreclosure, if applicable.
Residential:
• Identification for all household members.
• A copy of the lease or mortgage.
• Proof of the ability to make 60 days or rent or mortgage payments. Bank statements are acceptable.
• A notice from the landlord or mortgagee of pending eviction or foreclosure, if applicable.
City Council approved a bill Dec. 8 that increased the program’s funding to $6.8 million from $5.3 million. After administrative costs, the JBA will provide $6.4 million in direct assistance to Duval County residents and business owners, according to the news release.
The city will pay for the program using part of the $168 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act money it received in April.
To qualify, tenants must be at least two months behind in rent or mortgage payments from April 1 through Oct. 31, according to a fact sheet distributed by the city in October. Tenants also will need written notice from their landlords to qualify.
Landlords or mortgagees must agree to waive all costs, fees and charges incurred as a result of nonpayment or partial payments during the impacted months.
Landlords cannot have unpaid code enforcement liens or be in violation of any state, federal or local laws.