Local Financial Assistance Programs

Due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19, the state, and local governments have developed many assistance programs for those affected by the virus. In an effort to assist residents, we have provided a brief overview of some state, and local programs aimed to assist residents who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. Please scroll down to find various local government assistance programs. 

State Assistance

Reemployment Assistance

Reemployment Assistance provides financial assistance and reemployment services to those unemployed in the State of Florida. Please click here to learn more about Reemployment Assistance. To apply for Florida’s Reemployment Assistance, please click here.*

*Unfortunately, due to current circumstances, the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has reported issues with filing initial claims because the agency's online system keeps crashing and the call center is overloaded. In response to these issues, the DEO has allowed residents to download the application from the agency's site and mail it in. Residents can also go to CareerSource locations, which provide the applications and assist them with submitting it. To find your local CareerSource Center, please click here. FedEx is also offering free printing and mailing of the forms at more than 100 storefronts across the state. 

Note: The Governor issued Executive Order 20-104 on April 16th, which suspended the biweekly reporting of "actively seeking work" requirement for claimants of unemployment benefits. Those who have obtained unemployment benefits from the State of Florida to do not have to fullfill the traditional requirement of reporting their search for employment to the state until the expiration of Executive Order 20-52. 

Short Time Compensation

Short-Time Compensation (STC) permits pro-rated Reemployment Assistance benefits to employees whose work hours and earnings are reduced as part of a STC plan to avoid total layoff of some employees. Please click here to learn more. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

On April 30, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Department of Children and Families announced that the SNAP recipients' maximum monthly allotment will be increased. The increase in maximum monthly allotment has been extended through July, and will likely be extended again for the month of August. Please click here to learn more or to apply for SNAP benefits.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation

On June 25th, the governor announced that he will allocate $250 million in CARES Act funds for housing relief. Administered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), $120 million will be provided in short-term rental assistance for COVID-19 impacted households residing at multifamily rental properties in FHFC’s portfolio. FHFC will reimburse participating properties to subsidize eligible households’ rents for each impacted month. The rental assistance will be available to help pay a household’s rent for eligible months from July through December 2020. The household may be eligible for assistance to pay rent arrearages accrued during the months of April, May and June 2020.

• FHFC property managers and owners seeking assistance for their residents must apply for these funds. To learn more about receiving these funds, please click on the link below.

Funds for FHFC Properties 

A separate pool of $120 million will be released to counties based on a county’s reemployment assistance rate for the determined disbursement period. These funds would be used for rental and homeowner assistance programs such as new construction, rehabilitation, mortgage buydowns, down payment and closing cost assistance, emergency repairs and homeownership counseling for individuals impacted by COVID-19. The allocation also includes $200,000 for technical assistance to local governments. On July 17th, the Governor announced an inital $75 million would be released. The state will determine if more is needed at a later date.

• For a list of the intial $75 million released to local governments to be used for rent/mortgage relief, please click on the link below. It is important to note that these funds may replenish a local relief fund that had previously exhuasted its funds.

Allocated funds to local municipalities 

Local Government Assistance Programs In FCAA

Clay County CARES Family and Individual Grants

• This program will provide grants for Clay County residents who have suffered an economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. Grants are available in the form of a one-time cash payment of up to $1,000 per household to assist with mortgage, rent, or utility payments. Qualifying residents must prove an economic loss on or after March 1, 2020, that is directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants must provide a copy of their utility bill or their rent/lease statement. Please click here to learn more. 

Note: Applications opened on July 27th and will close on September 8th or until funds are distributed. The Clay County CARES Act program is no longer accepting new applications. Applications submitted before September 8, 2020 at 5 p.m. will continue to be processed in the order they were received.

Flagler County CARES Individual Assistance Grant Program

• Flagler County invested $5 million to assist individuals negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual grants of up to $1,000 will be available for eligible Flagler County residents. Funds from this program will assist residents in need by helping bridge financial gaps for rent, mortgage, or an eligible utility expense. Payments will be made to the applicant. Please click here to learn more. 

Note: Applications opened on July 23rd. The Cares Act Individual Grant program is now closed to new applications and appointments.  The program has reached it's quota for the 5 million dollars allocated for the individual grants. 

FLAGLER COUNTY INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE GRANT TRANSPAReNCY DASHBOARD

Flagler County CARES Business Grant Program

• Flagler County invested a total of $10 million into the Small Business Grant Program to provide emergency financial support for qualified small businesses. The program will allow small businesses access to grant money to help cover business expenses, including employee wages, mortgage, rent, vendor invoices, utility bills, payroll and other costs to help offset the financial impact due to business interruption or closures as a result of COVID-19.

Note: Applications opened on July 23rd.

FLAGLER COUNTY CARES BUSINESS GRANT FAQ

Jacksonville Stimulus Relief Program

• This program contains $40 million in direct stimulus for individuals to aid mortgage, rent and utility payments . It will provide $1,000 in relief for 40,000 households who meet certain criteria. 

Note: On May 26th, the city council voted to replenish the program with an additional $5 million. No new applications for Jacksonville's Stimulus Package will be accepted at this time.

Jacksonville Coronavirus Relief Fund for Homeowners and Renters 

• $2,627,267 of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act (CARES) funding, which is distributed by Florida Housing Finance Corporation and administered by the City of Jacksonville, will provide mortgage and rent assistance to eligible households in Jacksonville. Please click here to learn more. 

Note: The city will begin accepting applications on Sept. 22nd.

Jacksonville Senior and Disabled Financial Assistance Program

• The senior and disability relief program offers $300 to eligible residents. To qualify, people must be older than 72 years old or have a disability. They cannot have earned more than $30,000 last year and must also prove they've lost income or experienced an increase in expenses since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please click here to learn more.

Note: Applications opened June 20th. All 3,000 spots were filed after the first hour. Phase 2 began August 29th. Applications are no longer being accepted at this time.

Nassau County CARES Individual Rental Assistance Program

• The Nassau County Commission has approved the use of the CRF funds to assist in the rental and mortgage payments for eligible applicants meeting HUD income guidelines. An applicant's income may not exceed 80% of the area median income. Applicants with any reduction in income, termination/layoff of employment) that occur between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020 due to COVID-19 are eligible. Only $372,504 is available and applicants will be treated on a first come, first serve basis. To learn more, please click here. 

Note: Applications are open from August 10th to August 24th. Applicants will be notified of their award beginning September 8, 2020 by e-mail or phone call.

North Central Florida Community Action Agency Rental Assistance Program

• The Northeast Florida Community Action Agency (NFCAA) received $5 million in CARES Act funding that they will use for various assistance programs. These programs will assist residents with rent and utility payments residing in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns Counties. You must make an appointment before submitting an application. You can make an appointment through the Online Appointment Scheduler or call 904-362-8052. Please click here to learn more.   

Note: Applications opened August 4th.

NFCAA Required Documents 

St. Johns County CARES Act Funding Program for Residents

• The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved Phase I of a $46 million CARES Act funding program in response to COVID-19.  Applicants must demonstrate a twenty-five percent or greater loss of household income due to COVID-19 and household Income of less than 140 percent AMI. Please click here to learn more.

Note: The county is now accepting applications until Oct. 31st or until funds dry up.

Resident FAQ

St. Johns County Small Back to Business Grant Program

• The goal of this County grant program is to help offset the temporary loss of revenue and help keep our small businesses open during and after this global pandemic by providing emergency funding for qualified local businesses. St. Johns County businesses may apply to the program for up to $5,000 in emergency grant funding. For more information, please visit the Business Assistance page. 

Note: Applications for this program closed on June 1st. 

University of North Florida Student Emergency Relief Fund

• The University of North Florida community has committed direct funds for the University of North Florida’s Student Emergency Relief Fund.  The fund provides scholarships to students facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. To learn more, please click here. 

Note: The request for Summer funding is closed. The request form for the Fall 2020 semester will be active on August 17, 2020.  Awards, if granted, are applied to student accounts and follow the financial aid schedule.

National Non-profits

Another Round Another Rally

• Another Round Another rally provides grants to chefs, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, sommeliers, managers or someone who holds any other type of hospitality role, they may be able to help. Another Round Another Rally is offering $500 relief grants for hospitality workers who lost their jobs or had their hours slashed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. To apply for a grant, please click here.

Bartender Emergency Assistance Program

• The Bartender Emergency Assistance Program provides relief to bartenders and others in the service industry who have been affected by COVID-19. To learn more, please click here. 

Feeding America

• Feeding America is providing emergency food banks for people affected by COVID-19. To find your local distribution center please click here. 

Golden Rule Charity

• The Golden Rule Charity provides grants to hospitality workers in need. To learn more, please click here. 

Resident Relief Foundation

• The Resident Relief Foundation provides rental assistance for residents who are facing eviction for the first time. Please click here for more information. 

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

• The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund helps restaurant industry employees who are experiencing hardship as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Through this fund, grants will be made to restaurant industry employees who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, whether it was through a decrease in wages or loss of employment. If you would like to donate to this fund or learn more about it, please click here. 

United Way Fund

• United Way assists local organizations in helping those affected by COVID-19. United Way has local organizations with local funds that assist families in need of financial relief all across the state. 
  
  • United Way of North Central Florida
• Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Fund. The ALICE Fund provides rent, mortgage and utility assistance to help prevent eviction and homelessness.