Online Portal Reopens For Emergency Rental Assistance For West Palm Beach Residents

From City of West Palm Beach:

March 10, 2021

Emergency rental assistance is available to eligible West Palm Beach residents. The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) has opened its online portal for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA).

According to our partners at Palm Beach County, eligible Palm Beach County residents must be renters in rental households in which one or more individuals meets all the following criteria:

• Qualifies for unemployment or experienced a reduction of household income;
• Incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardships due to COVID-19;
• Demonstrates a risk of homelessness or housing instability; and
• Has a household income at or below 80% of the area median.

All applicants must present the following documentation in order to apply for services:

• Evidence of direct or indirect impact of COVID-19,
• Evidence of risk of homelessness or housing instability,
• Evidence of income eligibility, and
• A valid government issued ID.

Rental assistance may be paid up to three months in advance and income and crisis must be recertified for each three (3) month period. For rental assistance, landlords must be registered as vendors with Palm Beach County. Utility assistance is for electric, water and gas for eligible rental households only.

Applications can be made through the Palm Beach County online portal. Applicants must submit the correct information along with all required documentation to expedite approval. Applications will be prioritized for clients who are below 30% /50% AMI, facing eviction and currently unemployed for more than 90 days.

Eligible residents may apply for emergency rental assistance at www.rentalassistancepbc.org.

For more information, contact CSD’s Contact Centre at (561) 355-4792.

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.