Citing 20 percent unemployment in Osceola County, reportedly the highest in Florida, in the ongoing aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, local leaders will begin accepting applications for a third round of foreclosure prevention and rental assistance for residents Monday morning at 8 a.m.
That’s when the application on the county’s website — Housing.Osceola.org — opens up. Click the Rental Assistant/Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Screening Form to apply.
While Osceola awaits on the release of CARES Act funding from Tallahassee, a possible windfall of $22.2 million, Monday’s round of assistance will use Community Development Block Grant funds previously made available because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
In order to be eligible, applicants must have proof of job loss along with other documentation listed on the website. Assistance will be available on a first-come, first-ready basis. Applications for previous funding rounds lasted no more than 15 minutes after 500 people applied.
The application will take another 500 applications. Anyone who was denied in the first and second rounds is eligible to apply again.
Residents may use mobile phones or tablet to apply. The following library branches will open at 7:30 a.m. to allow residents access to computers to submit applications:
- Hart Memorial (Central)
- St. Cloud
- Poinciana
- BVL
- West Osceola (Celebration)
- Kenansville
“While I’m pleased that the County is able to offer our residents another round of foreclosure prevention and rental assistance, we know it is not enough. We are hopeful that Gov. DeSantis will act quickly to release the CARES Act funding at the State level as our residents and businesses are in dire straits,” Osceola County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer said. “Our tourism industry is opening in phases and our economy will feel the effects of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future as evidenced by the fact that the State reports our unemployment rate.”
