MIAMI – U.S Representative Wasserman Schultz has known as on Governor Ron DeSantis to do extra with the state’s $676 million Housing Assistance Fund, saying solely a fraction of the funds has been dispersed to owners in want.
The congresswoman said federal funds have been allotted to Florida’s Homeowner Assistance Fund in March 2021, as a part of the American Rescue Plan, to present monetary reduction to owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We did that last year in March, yet Governor DeSantis has only dispersed 16% of available funding to families. Let that sink in for a moment,” said Wasserman Schultz.
Apparently, it took some time for the state to submit its plan on how the cash could be distributed. Florida opened its portal in February 2022 for individuals to register for mortgage reduction.
Then got here one other downside.
“Not enough families know that this money is available to them,” said Wasserman Schultz.
She said the Department of Economic Development (DEO) was issued tens of millions of {dollars} from the federal funds to market this system to Florida residents, however not sufficient was finished to inform them in regards to the cash that was out there.
The Homeowner Assistance Fund program is managed by the DEO which got here underneath hearth after the state’s unemployment advantages system failed to sustain with demand throughout the pandemic, inflicting some to go with out advantages.
“It’s just unconscionable that the governor has not fixed the problem with DEO, and even more unconscionable that he’s not letting homeowners know that they have this assistance available,” said Wasserman Schultz.
The program offers up to $50,000 in assistance to eligible owners. To qualify, owners should personal their major residence, have skilled a monetary hardship after Jan. 21, 2020, and make 150% or much less of the world median revenue or 100% or much less of the U.S. median revenue, whichever is larger.
The funds can be utilized for bills equivalent to a mortgage, house insurance coverage, and utilities amongst others.
“The forbearance period, remind you, ended in January so by the time this program was already implemented you had homeowners who were 60 days past due and their mortgage servicers saying, ‘hey, what are you going to do,” said Laura Wagner with Floridians for Honest Lending.
Problems nonetheless persist at the moment.
Schultz and Wagner have been joined by three South Florida owners who’ve utilized for assist by means of the “Homeowner Assistance Fund.” They every shared sentiments of frustration after making use of for this system, saying the DEO left them in the darkish in regards to the progress of their utility.
If you have an interest in making use of, go to Homeowner Assistance Fund.
