Covid-19 Resources
At ConcordRents, we continue to be concerned with the impact COVID 19 may have had on you and your family. As such, for those who have been negatively impacted, we enourage all individuals to monitor financial resources that may be available to you. The State of Florida will be offering a rental assistance program in the near future. In the interim, various counties have also announced rental assistance programs and as they become available, you will see a link to the program below. We encourage you to visit your county program for updates on whether the application process remains open as well as the eligibility requirements.
State, County & City Rental Assistance Programs
State of Florida
The OUR (Opportunities for Utilities and Rental Assistance) Florida Program is a federally funded program, which is intended to assist households who are unable to pay or are having difficulty paying rent and/or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can assist eligible households with the payment of late rent and/or utilities and may also assist with the payment of rent in advance. Each household is limited to $15,000 of assistance.
It is easy to determine if you may be eligible for this program by visiting www.OurFlorida.com/#questionnaire. Upon confirming eligibility, navigate to the “Apply” section in order to register and begin your application or you may immediately begin your online application by accessing www.OurFlorida.com/applicant-assistance/renters.
Federal Assistance
Important changes to the Child Tax Credit will help many families get advance payments of the credit starting this summer. The IRS will pay half the total credit amount in advance monthly payments beginning July 15. You will claim the other half when you file your 2021 income tax return. These changes apply to tax year 2021 only. Please note that if you had a a child reflecting on past tax filings, you will be auto enrolled in this program, but for those who’ve had dependents since last filing, be sure to enroll!
Find out more at https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021
Alachua County
The Alachua County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a Federal Grant which is intended to assist households who are unable to pay or are having difficulty paying rent and/or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can assist eligible households with the payment of late rent and/or utilities and may also assist with the payment of rent in advance. Payments will generally be made only to landlords/property managers and/or utility companies, not to the households themselves. Each household is limited to $15,000 of assistance.
Brevard County
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is to provide financial assistance and housing stability services to income eligible households for rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing.
Collier County
Full-time Collier County residents behind on mortgage, rent or utility payments due to the economic challenges presented by COVID-19 may qualify for assistance. Past due payments must have accumulated as the result of COVID-19 and must be documented. Collier County is continuing to financially assist residents, small businesses, including agricultural and nonprofits affected by COVID-19. This new program opens March 29 through this fall or until funds are depleted, which ever one occurs first. Applications open March 29 at 12 p.m. (noon).
Duval County/City of Jacksonville
The Emergency Rental Assistance program will assist Duval households unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An eligible household may receive assistance for rent or utilities, including up to 12 months of past due rent and utilities (plus an additional three months if necessary, to ensure housing stability for the household, subject to the availability of funds). Households must be re-certified every three months to continue receiving assistance.
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa received federal funding to assist residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The funding supports the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which aims to prevent recipients from experiencing further financial hardship or additional consequences to living conditions by providing eligible and approved households up to $7,500 for past-due rent and up to $750 for past-due TECO utilities. Tuesday, March 23 at 10 AM: Applications open for eligible households at or below 50% AMI or with zero income 90 days prior to application submission. Monday, April 12 at 8 AM: Applications open for eligible households at or below 80% AMI.
Lake County
Lake County has earmarked $9 million for rental assistance and $1 million for utility assistance. The rental application cycle starts February 22 and is expected to be open for 4 weeks through March 21, 2021. The maximum award for rental assistance per household is $9,000.
Manatee County
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA) provides funds to renters in Manatee County and its municipalities who are delinquent on rent and in need of rental payment assistance due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Orange County
County Program
The Orange County Emergency Rental Assistance program is an income-based program aimed at helping Orange County’s most vulnerable tenants who are past-due in rent as a result of financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will distribute $33.4 million of federal funds to assist eligible Orange County residents.
City of Orlando
TThe City of Orlando has been awarded $8.6 million in COVID-19 Relief Funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide Emergency Rental Assistance for households that have been financially impacted by COVID-19. Please gather the necessary documents required and access the online application portal to begin your application.
Osceola County
Applications for COVID-19 Housing Assistance are available for citizens residing in Osceola County including City of Kissimmee and City of St. Cloud.
Pasco County
Pasco County is pleased to announce the Pasco H.E.A.R.T. Program to help pay your bills (Rent and Utilities) directly if you live in Pasco County and have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19.
Pinellas County
County Program
Through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Pinellas County received a direct payment of $21.4 million to establish a local Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program supporting individuals and families who have lost their jobs or have had a significant reduction in income due to COVID-19. The City of St. Petersburg, the only other Pinellas County jurisdiction eligible for a direct payment, received about $8 million for St. Petersburg residents.
City of St. Petersburg
Financial help will be available starting March 31, 2021 for Pinellas County renters who are behind on rent or at risk of missing a rent payment due to the pandemic. Pinellas County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program will cover eligible applicants' missed and future rent payments.
Polk County
The Polk County Rental Assistsance Program provides up to $7000 in rental assistance to local residents that can prove a hardship due to Covid-19.
Sarasota County
You can receive up to 12 months of assistance, which includes arrears and up to three months of prospective rent. Individuals will be awarded assistance based on their specific documented needs for delinquent rent payments that have accumulated due to COVID-19 on or after April 1, 2020. Applicants may be eligible for three months of prospective rent if they are able to document a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Additionally, you can receive utility payments (water, sewer, electric, trash), which will be made directly to the utility companies.
Seminole County
Seminole County has received $14.2 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury intended to provide rental assistance to eligible households negatively impacted due to COVID-19, and the resulting economic environment. Funds should be used to cover the financial obligation of rent and/or utilities. This County-wide program covers unincorporated areas and all municipalities and will remain open as long as funds are available. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be available on March 1, 2021 through an online application process.
St. Lucie County
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides up to twelve (12) months of financial assistance that can be used for rent (past due, current month), up to three (3) months of future rent, if funding is available, and utilities . Applicants requesting utility assistance can only request for utilities in arrears (past due) and the current month due at the time the application is approved, with proof of current or past due bills.
Volusia County
The Emergency Rental Assistance program has over 16 million dollars available to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional Assistance Programs
Find food assistance, help paying bills, community resources, and other free or reduced cost programs.
Are you an FP&L Customer and need help with your power bill? Please seek assistance here.
Unemployment Guides
- Unemployment Benefits
- Submitting a Claim
- Help Finding a Job
Employment Opportunities
Publix, Walmart, Amazon and Lowe's are set to hire thousands of workers to meet the demands fueled by Covid-19. If your employment status has been affected, please follow the links below for more information and position openings.
We're all in this together
ConcordRENTS Message to All Residents
The safety and health of our residents and team members will always come first. All of our property operations have universal guidance along with specific protocols in place to prepare for a wide range of potential scenarios involving the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We recognize that this is a time of uncertainty and, now more than ever, it is important to have clear communications in place to ensure that information is shared in an effective and timely manner.
- Encouraging the use of the Resident Portal to pay rent, submit maintenance request or contact the leasing office to make an appointment for needed assistance.
In the meantime, we will continue to do all that we can to support our residents, fellow team members, and communities.
