Florida has $740.4M in Emergency Rental Assistance

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By Kerry Smith, Florida Realtors

The state received new federal recovery money to help struggling Fla. renters. DCF, which oversees the program, says it has disbursed $858M so far.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced that Florida has received an additional $740.4 million to continue to operate the OUR Florida emergency rental assistance program.

"The OUR Florida program is another example of our efforts to assist Florida families on their road to economic self-sufficiency, says DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris. "OUR Florida has provided relief to more than 164,000 households, keeping families safe in their homes throughout 2021 and into 2022."

Since OUR Florida launched in May 2021, the program has distributed more than $858 million in funding across Florida. The latest round of federal Emergency Rental Assistance is funded by the U.S. Treasury to help Florida tenants get on the road to recovery and economic self-sufficiency.

Floridians who rent the home, apartment or other dwelling where they live can apply for relief through OURFlorida.com.

To be eligible for benefits, renters must be low income or unemployed, experienced a loss of income or financial hardship during the last year, and be behind on rent or utility payments or at risk of falling behind.

DCF says it has more than 700 team members at OUR Florida working to process applications, manage cases, answer calls and support the program.