Volusia County's Emergency Rental Assistance portal reopens on May 4.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

There are still funds available for financially struggling households due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Volusia County will reopen its Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) portal beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The application portal will remain open until the current funding is depleted.

According to a release, residents can apply for a chance to receive up to nine months of rental and utility arrears. Applicants may submit their applications at www.volusia.org/era, where the income limits and required documents will be waiting.

Homes currently receiving assistance or have already applied do not have to reapply. 

County officials expect the portal will receive the maximum number of applications quickly. Therefore, applicants should round up their documents before applying. Community Assistance will take several weeks to process the applications, but they will notify the public again when the portal reopens.

On May 4, navigators will help at the following locations:

- Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, and Port Orange regional libraries

- John H. Dickerson Heritage, Hope Place, DeBary, and Edgewater public libraries

- Emergency Rental Assistance office, 121 W. Rich Ave., DeLand

Landlords may also apply for their tenants. They must send an email to era@volusia.org with their contact information. A staff member will then help complete the application, and an eligible household can document these criteria:

- Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred notable costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic

- Demonstrates a risk of housing instability

- Has a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income

Assistance staff will prioritize applications in the following order:

1. Applicants who are unemployed for the 90 days before the application date and whose income is at or below 50 percent of the area median income

2. Applicants whose income is at or below 50 percent of the area median income 

3. Applicants who are unemployed for the 90 days before the application date and whose income is at or below 80 percent of the area median income

4. Applicants whose income is at or below 80 percent of the area median income

For more information, call Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division at (386)943-7095.