As eviction ban expires, Florida has distributed only 2% of funds to help renters

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-florida-has-distributed-only-2-percent-of-funds-helpers-renters-20210731-pim7xlshnnabvm5vrvykrctupu-story.html

TAMPA — Florida has distributed only 2% of the $870 million in federal funds it has received so far to keep renters in their homes during the pandemic by paying their landlords, even though a nationwide eviction moratorium ended on Sunday.

Housing advocates fear the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moratorium could result in hundreds of thousands of Florida renters being evicted in the coming weeks, forcing some to become homeless just as the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus is rapidly spreading.

Congress passed two rounds of rental assistance totaling about $46.5 billion, with state and local governments given the responsibility of sifting through applications and distributing the money.

As of Friday, Florida’s Department of Children and Families, which is overseeing the program, had distributed only $18.3 million to about 4,300 applicants, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

*snip*

[LonePirate]

1. Does the general public know this rental assistance is available?

Obviously some do if Florida has 4,300 applicants but that amount of money is meant for a lot more people than that, like millions more people and not just 4,300.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. They've done better than New York!

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/nyregion/new-york-city-rent-relief.html

When New York launched a sweeping rent relief program in June, the aim was to safeguard the state’s recovery from the pandemic by keeping tens of thousands of people who fell behind on rent out of financial ruin and in their homes.

The state set aside about $2.7 billion, the vast majority from federal pandemic relief packages, with New York providing some funding.

But after nearly two months and despite the staggering need, New York has been among the slowest states in distributing help. In fact, federal figures showed that by the end of June, New York was one of only two states where no aid had been sent out, even though the state’s eviction moratorium is set to expire in just a few weeks.

(snip)

The application process, which is primarily online, has been hobbled by technical glitches, according to housing groups. Many tenants have encountered errors that in some cases wiped away entire applications.

[Hugin]

3. I'm guessing that 2% went to people who didn't need it, as well. n/t

[Cobalt Violet]

4. too bad they didn't give it directly to renters who need it.

How stupid. I don't think it will get to people who need it in time.

[Hortensis]

5. And now the media are once again talking about it. Some clamor

over this undisbursed aid should hopefully grow now that the eviction ban itself is lapsed. Many small landlords who depend on rental income to live must always have been hurting, and many of those who have mortgages will be in trouble with those. Lying awake nights sick with worry.

[RockRaven]

6. It doesn't just help the tenants. The landlords get that money. That helps them.

To the extent that this is purposeful, cruelty is the point. Ultimately the tenants don't get that money, the landlords do. The tenants just don't get evicted for nonpayment. Considering that landlords are generally part of Repukes' core constituency (rich pricks and corporations), you'd think that GrOPers would be on board with the government giving them money. But not if they can shit on someone down on their luck (again, to the extent that this is purposeful).

[targetpractice]

8. Also... Relocations of the evicted messes up their voter registrations...

... The last thing an evicted tenant is gonna be thinking about is updating their voter registration. Survival is the only thing they should be thinking about.

I know I'm speculating, but I wouldn't put it past Republicans to consider this when deciding not to aggressively promote this program.

[SharonClark]

7. Same in Iowa...but Polk County is trying

Excellent article that gives information about who to contact if you're in need.

Earlier this month (July), the Des Moines Register found the state had distributed less than 2% of the $195 million emergency rent and utility allotment.
. . .
As moratorium’s end nears, groups strengthen the safety net
Polk County teamed up with Iowa Legal Aid in September of last year to start an eviction diversion project outside the county's small claims court, which immediately connects tenants with legal help and financial assistance. Initially funded through Polk County's share of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding, it has also received funding from other sources and distributed around $1.9 million in total assistance.

A similar model is now appearing at other eviction courts that serve large Iowa metro areas. Smithberg said Iowa Legal Aid and its partners are also now working in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Davenport. At most of the sites, he said, landlords and tenants can apply for rental assistance on site.

Jared said that the state is working with the project and that Iowa Legal Aid has access to the application system for the state's assistance program and can view state applications in progress. That could lead to pausing an eviction as tenants wait for their assistance from the state program, she said.
. . .

Source: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/07/30/iowa-renters-at-risk-eviction-moratorium-ends-july-31/8055204002/

[Mme. Defarge]

9. Corruption or incompetence?