County allocates additional $5 million for COVID-19 rent-mortgage assistance

Posted On: July 21, 2020

The Volusia County Council allocated another $5 million on Tuesday in emergency rent and mortgage assistance to help local residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council earmarked an initial $5 million in May to fund the program, part of the county’s Relaunch Volusia plan to help the community recover from the coronavirus crisis. The grant funds – up to $1,500 a month for a maximum of three months – are available for qualified residents who are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage as a direct result of a loss or reduction in income caused by COVID-19. Already, the total dollar amount of the 1,195 grant applications that have been approved and funded along with the more than 1,200 applications that are under review exceeds the original $5 million. So on Tuesday, the council allocated another $5 million so the assistance program can help even more people who need it.

“It’s really tough out there in the community,” Volusia County Community Services Director Dona Butler told the council. “People are still needing assistance. So we’re working as hard and fast and diligently as we can.”

To qualify, the rent or mortgage must have been current as of March 13, 2020. Also, the dwelling unit must be located in Volusia County and be the applicant’s primary residence. And applicants must meet income eligibility criteria to qualify and certify that they’ve suffered a loss or reduction in income due to the pandemic. For applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and are approved for the grant, the county will make payments directly to the landlord or mortgage holder. Applications are being processed on a first-come, first-served basis and can be obtained by calling Volusia County Community Assistance at 386-736-5955 or by clicking on the link below to visit the website:

https://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/community-assistance/

The rent and mortgage grants are part of a $44.5 million package of assistance the county has established to support community recovery efforts. Funds have been allocated for grants to help small businesses, home-based businesses, non-profit agencies and qualified not-for-profit military organizations. Relief funds have also been dedicated to food aid, personal protective equipment for businesses, free mask distribution and assistance to local cities. Also Tuesday, the council amended the eligibility criteria to allow people who qualify for the county’s COVID-19 home-based business grant to also apply for rent or mortgage assistance. Council members noted that they’re already seeing the positive effects from all of the help that’s being provided.

“This is making a huge impact in our community – more than you realize,” said council member Deb Denys. “We really are impacting lives.”

The money for the programs is coming from federal coronavirus relief funds that the county has received from the federal government as part of the CARES Act.