Relaunch Volusia Individual Rent or Mortgage Grant Program Passed by County Council.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

The Volusia County Council Members held their regularly scheduled Council meeting earlier today, where they passed a new grant available to Individuals and Families.

The Relaunch Volusia Individual Rent or Mortgage Grant Program is geared to help renters and homeowners who have been negatively affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new $5 million grant has been funded by the CARES Act funds the county received from the federal government.

Each applicant can be awarded up to $1,500, for up to three months, so long as they meet the following qualifications:

- Applicants must be residents of Volusia County who were current on payments as of March 13, 2020

- Have an active rental agreement/lease or mortgage

- Loss of income must be a direct result of COVID-19 equal to or exceeding grant amount

-Have not been previously reimbursed for the amount of income loss through government programs or insurance

-Must not already receive rental assistance (like housing vouchers)

-Yearly income must be at or below the Area Median Income (AMI) of $77,880 (for up to a family of four).

If yearly household income exceeds this amount, further documentation will be reviewed, and possible funding provided notwithstanding the AMI limitation. All documentation must be provided promptly, and only one grant is allowed per family.

This grant differs from the Rental Assistance and Mortgage Assistance Programs that are already in place in the Community Assistance Division.

Applications will be made available through the Volusia County Department of Community Services. Please call 386-943-7029 for more information. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Incomplete applications may be rejected.