Florida homeowners may now qualify for payments from the new Homeowner Assistance Fund to help pay their mortgage, utility bills, and homeowners insurance.
On Monday, Florida lawmakers, including U.S. Representative Lois Frankel and state Senators Lori Berman and Tina Polsky, gathered in West Palm Beach to announce a new assistance program that just opened up to Florida homeowners.
The Homeowner Assistance Fund just received $676 million in federal financial aid allocated from the American Rescue Plan, which was passed by the Biden administration last year.
The program was designed to help Florida homeowners who are struggling to make ends meet. Proceeds from the program can be used to make mortgage payments, cover utility bills, or pay for homeowners insurance.
To qualify for the program, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020,
- You must own a home in Florida and use the funds for your primary residence,
- Your income cannot exceed 150% of the Area Median Income ($95,000 for a single person or $136,500 for a family of four.)
The Homeowner Assistance Fund is being administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
If you are interested in applying for assistance funds, you can complete your application online on the DEO website.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for funding, the DEO will provide the funds directly to your mortgage, utility, or insurance company on your behalf.
So far, more than 24,000 people have applied for assistance through the program, and several hundred Florida homeowners have already been approved for funding.
Lawmakers hope that this program will help more Florida homeowners stay in their homes and avoid evictions and foreclosures when times get tough.
What do you think?
Do you believe public assistance programs like this are helpful to Florida residents?
Share your opinion in the comments.
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