Emergency Rental Assistance Application Support Available

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County now offers one-on-one support to anyone who needs help applying for Emergency Rental Assistance, funds which are being distributed to help those who have fallen behind on rent payments because of losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, the county said in a news release.

Starting Wednesday, county staff will offer insight and help navigating the online application at three central locations:

• Downtown Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Ave, Bradenton
• Palmetto Library, 923 6th St W, Palmetto
• Gulfcoast Legal Services at the CareerSource Suncoast building at 1112 Manatee Avenue E., Bradenton

The ambassadors at the two county libraries are bilingual and able to help both English and Spanish-speaking residents. Because dates, hours and locations may change based on turnout, full details for ERA help are updated regularly at www.mymanatee.org/RentHelp.

Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Bradenton newsletters and real-time email alerts.

"The staff ambassadors out in the community is an idea that came about from our local non-profit agencies who suggested having someone available at convenient locations during a variety of hours to help those who need help," Geri Lopez, director of the Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department, said. "We're calling the staff representatives 'ambassadors' because they'll be there to help guide and assist applicants through the process and hopefully remove some of the confusion over applying."

To date, about 300 Manatee County applicants have been approved for Emergency Rental Assistance funds totaling $1.8 million, the county said.

Under the ERA, eligible renters may receive grant funds for up to 12 months of assistance, if needed, through November this year, whichever is less. Funds are paid directly to the landlord for delinquent rent bills. Full details and the application portal can be found at www.mymanatee.org/renthelp.

Applicants must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), which is $43,850 per year for a one-person household, the county said. Renters who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI ($26,800 per year for a one-person household) are given priority, along with those who have documented unemployment for more than 90 days. This is based on the number of people living in your household and the total income for all in your household.