Aid cannot exceed $9,000 per applicant
The Sarasota Consortium, a joint administration of Sarasota County Government and the City of Sarasota through the Office of Housing and Community Development, will be making rental assistance available for those affected by COVID-19, the city announced on Aug. 27.
The Consortium has received a distribution of $695,069 in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the Florida Housing Finance Corp., a news release explains. “Residents of Sarasota County who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and have experienced unemployment or underemployment may apply for rental assistance to prevent eviction,” the release says. The funds can cover rental arrears dating back to March 1, as well as current rent due, the release adds.
Assistance may not exceed five months’ worth of rent or a total of $9,000, the release points out.
Applications will be accepted starting Sept. 8, the release adds. The application period will end Sept. 30, or when all funds are expended, whichever occurs first, the release notes.
Links for applications will be available on the Office of Housing and Community Development pages on the City of Sarasota website and the Sarasota County website beginning Sept. 8.
A limited number of paper applications will be available Sept. 8 at each public library in Sarasota County and at the City Hall Annex, located at 1565 First St. in downtown Sarasota, the release adds. Persons submitting hard copies must send the applications by mail to the Office of Housing and Community Development, 111 S. Orange Ave., Suite 103, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Anyone with questions may contact the Office of Housing and Community Development at CRFRentAssistance@sarasotafl.gov or 941-263-6423.