Jacksonville City Council Authorizes $5.3 Million Assistance Program to Prevent Evictions and Foreclosures

2020 has been a brutal year for most Floridians. Aside from the physical and medical challenges of the coronavirus, it has also caused enormous financial hardships for many Florida families. You don’t have to face these challenges on your own. Federal, state, and local governments have all created legal protections and financial assistance programs to help renters avoid eviction at a time when it is critical that we all have a safe place to stay in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Jacksonville, like many other Florida cities, has financial aid ready to go for residents facing foreclosure or eviction.

First Coast News reports that the idea for this program came from the Jacksonville Bar Association. Lawyers there had read about an eviction diversion program in Orange County and wanted to create something similar to make effective use of the federal funds allotted to the City of Jacksonville through the federal CARES Act.

Unlike the Orange County Program, the Jacksonville funds will be available to both residential and commercial tenants. The program will also be available to Jacksonville homeowners facing foreclosure. Residential applicants can receive up to $5000, and commercial applicants can receive up to $10,000.The commercial portion of the program is designed to help small business owners- many of whom have been devastated by the financial effects of the COVID-19pandemic.

You don’t have to face an eviction or foreclosure on your own. There are more legal protections and financial aid available than ever before, thanks to emergency rules and funds authorized as a result of the coronavirus. The experienced Casselberry and Oviedo eviction and foreclosure attorneys at Quattrocchi and Torres can help renters throughout the state access financial assistance and invoke their legal rights. Call 407.452.4918 to schedule your free consultation.