DeLand, FL - Eligible households may now receive up to nine months of rental and utility assistance as Volusia County plans to reopen their Emergency Rental Assistance program.
The funds, leftover from a previous federal grant, will be used to help households that have experienced financial troubles throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The window for applications will open on January 12 through the county’s emergency rental assistance page, which can be found through the official Volusia County website. Applicants will find income limits and a list of required documents on the page before they start their application.
County officials say eligible applicants are renter households in which at least one or more individuals meet and can document certain criteria. Applicants must qualify for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to or during the pandemic. Applicants must also demonstrate a risk of housing instability and have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income.
According to an email from the county, the application window will close after receiving 500 applications to ensure assistance is available for all accepted applicants. It’s expected that the portal will receive the maximum number of applications quickly, so staff is encouraging applicants to gather their required documents in advance.
Those who are already receiving assistance do not need to reapply.
Applicants should also allow a few weeks for their application to process, as the county will verify information. As the amount of committed dollars is calculated, additional applications may be accepted at a later date to ensure funding is fully utilized. The county will provide advance notice if the application window does reopen.
Landlords may also apply for residents. They can send an email to era@volusia.org with their contact information, then someone from the county will assist with their application.
Applications will also be prioritized in a specific order. Applicants who are unemployed for the 90 days prior to the application date and whose income is at or below 50 percent of the area median income will be prioritized first. Those with income at or below 80 percent of the area median income will be prioritized last.
If you need help filling out your application, you can visit the libraries in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, DeBary and Edgewater; at the John H. Dickerson Heritage library; Hope Place; or the Emergency Rental Assistance office on 121 W. Rich Avenue in DeLand.
Those with questions about the program are asked to contact Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division at 386-943-7095
