Orange County COVID-19 eviction assistance program sees more than 1,400 applications in three hours

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County residents facing eviction because of the COVID-19 pandemic started to apply for financial assistance Tuesday morning.

Without another extension, the state's ban on evictions ends in September, possibly leaving 800,000 Floridians struggling with housing questions.

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In its first three hours of going live, Orange County's online eviction diversion program saw more than 1,400 tenants and landlords apply for help.

The county is using $20 million of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding and hopes to help 5,000 to 8,000 people.

“Residents must be at least two months past due on rent from April 1 through August 31 of this year,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said.

The county stressed that to qualify for prescreening, renters must be in imminent danger of eviction with a written notice.

The program is landlord driven. So if you do not have the notice, you cannot apply without a landlord's "invitation" email. The landlord must also apply.

If selected, people could see up to $4,000 in relief from funds divvied out on a first come, first ready basis.

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Here is what you will need:

• Proof of residence ID.
• A copy of a lease agreement.
• Two bank statements or payroll record.
• Proof of COVID-19 hardship documentation.

Click here to access the program.

Anyone with questions about this program can call 311 from anywhere in Orange County.