Emergency Rental Assistance Program Opens Wednesday

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The application period for Sarasota County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program opens Wednesday at noon, the county said in a news release.

Sarasota County residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for financial assistance to help with rent and utilities.

Households available for the financial assistance must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income and facing homelessness or housing instability due to their inability to pay rent or utilities as a result of the pandemic, according to the county website.

Priority will be given to households that fall at 50 percent or less of the annual median income, and households where one or more member is unemployed and have not been employed for the last 90 days.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate the impact of COVID-19.

Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional three months if the grantee determines the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and grantee funds are available, according to the county website.

This funding is made available through the U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance funding, the county said.

Apply online for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or call the ERAP Call Center starting Wednesday at noon through 7 p.m. at 941-861-RENT (7368). Starting Thursday, the call center will open for its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.