Emergency Rental Assistance Program now closed to new applications

After a successful run that helped thousands of families, the Pinellas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is now closed to new applications. The remaining funds available for the program are anticipated to be exhausted on the applications that are currently under review.

The program has distributed $47.9 million in federal financial assistance for rent and utilities to more than 5,200 individuals and families since it launched in March 2021. Program staff are distributing the remaining $5 million to eligible existing applicants.

Applications already submitted will continue to be processed over the next several weeks, but funding is not guaranteed for all remaining applicants or for all requested months of assistance. Priority will go to applicants with an active eviction filed in court and households with income at or below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI).

“We’ve seen a huge demand for this assistance in our communities, and the program has met its intended purpose,” said Pinellas County Housing and Community Development Director Carol Stricklin. “The pandemic has been a tough time for many, and we are grateful we have had the opportunity to distribute this federal funding that helped so many families remain in their homes.”

Funding for the Pinellas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which has been jointly administered by Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg, was awarded through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to prevent evictions and keep people in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For other housing and renter resources, residents can visit rent.pinellas.gov.