How will OUR Florida confirm that applicants are eligible? While shes gotten close a couple of times, nothing has panned out yet. The IRS has published guidance specific to ERAP: Are there other programs that can help me pay for rent and/or utilities? <> Their directions such. So far, OUR Florida has not accepted interview requests from Spectrum News, or provided an explanation for the significant delays so many applicants are experiencing. Investigator Shannon Behnken reached out to the spokesperson for Our Florida but has not heard back. Should applicants have questions regarding their eligibility, the application process or concerns about the program, the compiled Frequently Asked Questions is a great place to start. Find your Local Continuum of Care. SMH. I was told nearly 2 weeks ago that I was finally approved (after about 2.5 months of playing their game. Since then, the status of the third payment has also changed from approved to paid.. ACCESS Florida provides an application for Food Assistance, Cash Assistance, and Medicaid, and allows applicants to view or update their case, make changes, and receive updates about their application from DCF. I'm at a lost for words at this point. The landlord may also enter under any of the following circumstances: We will continue to press the state for answers. Funding is provided by the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program. For this information, please go online . She didnt realize you could only apply to one. Every tenant application must be reviewed by a case manager, as well as a member of our Quality Team before a decision is made regarding assistance. Did you get funded yet I was approved too but my landlord or I Havent receive any fund, You call the phone number on the website. How do I provide proof that I incurred significant costs due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency? HUD Awards $78.4 Million for Critical Investments in Florida's Public Housing. stream All I wanted was for OUR Florida to come through and help me out.. Thats our system, Bisono said. It was from me saying "I am unemployed and have proven this time and time again to you people, if I get this email one more time and you do not process my application I will go to the news and contact anyone who will listen. Thank you for your explanation. The deputy director responded, Working on this, and will get back to you when I have answers.. If direct deposit is the selected payment method, transfer of funds may be expected within 18 days of when a complete application is filed. The programs are administered at state and local levels; OUR Florida was contracted by Floridas Department of Children and Families. Yes. If they would have helped 40 days ago all might be well. Thank you for contacting OUR Florida Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Im a single mom of 2 as well. Rent your home, apartment, or other residential dwelling in Florida Earn an income at or below 80% of the areas median income (AMI). One or more members of the household has moved due to economic reasons at least twice in the last 60 days. The first thing a potential landlord does once they have all your application materials is pull your credit report, which generally takes just a few minutes. So u been approved and still the check is taking forever. Meanwhile, according to her she can see that on the landlord portal says approved, disbursements and amount. I'd finally maybe get some help.. Can anyone else give me the experience they had using this program? In Florida, landlords can legally reject an application that doesn't meet their criteria such as bad references, a s Not long after I was approved I received a recertification email. I dont receive pay stubs. We currently administers 3,026 public housing units and 10,235 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8). I'm just curious of anyone else is in this position.. has anyone received any help from "Our Florida"? I applied almost a month now, I live in an apartment complex and spoke with my Leasing office they did their portion last week and notified me. <>/Metadata 81 0 R/ViewerPreferences 82 0 R>> Since the pandemic happened getting anything has been like pulling teeth. But the administration and. So I wrote a complaint to OURFlorida fully explaining and asking what I could do. I filed an application, when will I receive payment? By that point, Florida had only committed 21% of the funds available through OUR Florida, according toa National Low Income Housing Coalition report. Has anyone experienced this? My main concern is they are a asking for a lot of personal information thats nit being secured. our florida waiting for landlord status. At that point, the landlord will review everything else included in your rental applicationthings like tax returns, pay stubs, government identification, and any letters of recommendation. Just HELP us, for once! If you are a landlord and received ERA funds, it is considered as income. I'm a single, unemployed for no fault of my own, mother of 2 kids. She said to me that wasn't her intention. The anxiety is killing me, Balcom added. The Department of Children and Families Office on Homelessness works in partnership with 27 Continuums of Care that help provide direct services to individuals and families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. I saw news articles posting about his new amazing program helping with rental and utility assistance.. And I bet the lady lied to you knowing you would be denied. The money is being sent to the landlord so why would they need to see my bank account? I was told that as long as I'm unemployment and I can prove that then that does prove that I need assistance. Residents evicted while waiting on rent help from OUR Florida. I'm back to work, but I cant get ahead of it, Pasko stressed. MyFloridaMyFamily is an online resource that connects individuals and families with resources in their local community. The Treasury Department is required to reallocate excess fundsfrom ERA programs that hadnt committed at least 65% of their funds by Sept. 30. Nobody knows whats going on its really upsetting that you cant get anybody (at OUR Florida) to respond to you.. Have qualified for unemployment, experienced a loss of income, incurred significant costs or faced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; and, Attestation by the landlord who can be identified as the verified owner or management agent of the unit. A bunch of broken systems. If a household does not have a signed lease, monthly rental amounts may be documented by: If no lease or attestation by the landlord is available, the renter must demonstrate a minimum of three months pattern of rent payments (such as canceled checks or bank statements that identify the landlord and purpose of payments). After dropping the ball on my case, she treated me as she was annoyed that I was already helped and why was I asking for 3 more months. This is so depressing. To all of these places it's just a wait and see type of thing. Provide callers with direct access to local certified domestic violence centers with shelter in their area. Recently, the program finally mailed checks to Roccos tenant after weeks of confusion, even though Rocco requested to receive payments via direct deposit. Applicants with non-responsive landlords may submit their request for reconsideration within twenty (20) business days from the date of notice of program determination. In other jurisdictions like New York and Pennsylvania, tenants have 30 days to respond after their landlord notifies them theyre behind. Arrearages must be documented by a notice of late rent, a notice of eviction, eviction court filing information, or a signed attestation by the landlord. (Her landlord had, too, according to an email Bisono received from OUR Florida in mid-October.). All payments for utilities and home energy costs must be supported by a bill, or invoice in the name of the tenant reflecting the address for each qualifying utility for a period after April 1, 2020. At that time . If you are currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, you may access your local continuum of care for additional resources. Yes. Everything you need to know about the next launch and detailed coverage on space missions. Download it here. If any additional information is needed from you, your case manager will request it via the OUR Florida Portal. DHS issued immigration identification/documents, including employment authorization document (EAD), documentation of lawful permanent residency including i-551, or i-94, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, foreign passport with a valid unexpired us visa. endobj Benefits are paid directly to the landlord or utility provider. Without this program, I would be in a very bad spot, homeless, or without utilities. OUR Florida Program will review the information submitted to determine if any additional information is required and verify the information. this has been very stressful. Arizona Lease Agreement with eSign EZ Landlord Forms April 17th, 2019 - Our Arizona lease is designed with legal help that keeps your . SOURCE: Housing defense attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid James Tyer ANSWER: No, landlords do not have to accept Our Florida payments and you can still be evicted even if approved for. Fees included in the lease, whether separately identified or included in an overall rent payment, such as pet fees or garbage fees, are eligible for assistance. It states that we can get help for 15 months. Call 800-569-4287 or find a housing counselor Know your rights You may have additional rights such as: Debt collection rights Right to report a bad landlord Right to report housing discrimination Right to stay in your home as a survivor of domestic violence Know your tenant and debt collection rights Page last modified: July 1, 2022 She showed us the box of medicine she now keeps next to her bed, Just in case we have to go, she said. These are all questions we've asked, we get the runaround, Roberg explained. My understanding is if there is some issue with the landlord and the state that will also be taken into account. May 17th I applied. Rocco said shes filed at least six complaints online with OUR Florida, but never got any confirmation those complaints were received. I have nobody Im out here alone I need help and ourFlorida.com is not helping!!! Glad that at least you were approved. An applicant can log into their account to submit a reconsideration request, which is the same process an applicant uses to apply for assistance. Is the check made out to the landlord or the apartment complex? If we have to go, we have to go, she said. There are multiple ways to prove a risk of homelessness or housing instability, including: Landlords or tenants will submit an application online at www.OURFlorida.com. So it's sort of just a circle that our clients keep going in.. Florida Landlord Tenant Walk Through Checklist blog the latest from the legal world we believe a more informed member is a more prepared one explore our blog . The household has been notified that their right to occupy their current housing or living situation will be terminated, including at the end of the eviction moratorium. The LSC eviction study, completed per a Congress directive, called out Florida and Arkansas as pay to play states, where tenants forfeit their right to a court hearing if they cannot pay the full amount of back rent landlords claim they owe. I am going to wait until the check comes before I do that, though. To learn more about eligibility, required documentation, and how to apply, visitOURFlorida.com. North Florida Community Action Agency is now receiving CARES act monies for the following: Up to $3,000 for electricity through 9/2021 per household, Up to $2,000 for rent/water/sewer through 9/2022 per household Program will start to release funding next week contact 904-362-8052 to schedule an appointment. But for many renters and landlords alike, the funds have not served their intended emergency function at all. Expired rent or lease agreement and proof of ongoing rent such as: Attestation by the landlord of an agreement to rent and payments made accompanied by: Treatment for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; Costs for relocation due to financial or health circumstances; Purchases to support remote work or school; The calculated household income is less than 30% of the AMI.