ERA application portal is closed

Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division closed the online portal for Emergency Rental Assistance at 9:36 a.m. today, after receiving the maximum 500 applications.

The portal, which opened at 9 a.m., allowed county residents who have experienced a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for rental and utility assistance. The county has $4 million available from a federal grant.

According to Community Assistance Director Carmen Hall, it will take several weeks for staff to process the applications and 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 reopens.