Update: April 7, 2021
Emergency Rental Assistance and Utility Assistance
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department opened its online portal for Emergency Rental Assistance and Utility Assistance on March 10th. For more information, visit https://www.rentalassistancepbc.org/.
Update: September 21, 2020
The City of Boca Raton is projected to receive $317,322 in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the Florida Housing Corporation (FHFC).
The City has approved Rental Assistance and Foreclosure Prevention Programs that can provide assistance to tenants that are delinquent on their rent payments or homeowners that are delinquent on their mortgage payments and association payments (if applicable), as well as any late fees, penalty fees and/or court costs, for the period beginning March 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. The maximum assistance is $5,800 per household.
Requirements include:
Rental Assistance
- The tenant must have a written lease effective at the time of application;
- The tenant needed to have been current with their rent prior to March 1, 2020;
- The tenant must be at least 30 days delinquent with their rent; and
- Households cannot have liquid assets that exceed $25,000.
Foreclosure Prevention for Homeowners
- The homeowner’s mortgage(s) must have been issued by an FDIC-insured lender. Private mortgages, balloon payments and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) are not eligible;
- The homeowner must have been current with their mortgage(s) prior to March 1, 2020;
- The homeowner must be at least 30 days delinquent with their mortgage(s);
- Households cannot have liquid assets that exceed $25,000;
- The assessed value of the property cannot exceed $350,000, based on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s most recent valuation; and
- Homeowners may request assistance with delinquent association dues in addition to mortgage payment assistance, if applicable. Assistance will not be provided for association dues only.
The City will begin accepting online applications for both programs on October 1, 2020 and continue accepting applications through November 30, 2020, pending funding availability. Eligible applicants will be served on a first-come, first-qualified, first-served basis, and may be placed on a wait list pending availability of funding.
For information regarding program requirements or guidelines visit the CRF Program Rental Assistance and Foreclosure Prevention Programs webpage, or please call 561-544-8667 (or 561-393-7043 for the hearing impaired) Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.
View the:
Update: September 4, 2020 (11am)
CARES Act Food Assistance Available Beginning September 4, 2020
Beginning September 4, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, through its Community Services Department (CSD), will provide direct assistance for food to eligible residents of Palm Beach County under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Palm Beach County will issue pre-paid debit cards to approved residents to purchase food. Eligible residents who experienced a loss of income as a direct result of COVID-19 and who are at or below 140% Area Median Income (AMI) may apply. The one-time benefit allowance is based on household size and maximum amounts is listed. Only one card will be given out per household, and all expenditures must be made by December 30, 2020.
- 1-2 Household members: $400
- 3-4 Household members: $800
- 5 or more Household members: $1,000
Applicants must present evidence their household was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to qualify to receive the prepaid card. Supporting documentation must be provided to prove income eligibility, such as a last pay stub or last filed tax return, valid government issued ID and Social Security card.
Households who received assistance for rental and utility services thru COVID Cares program may apply for the food assistance without uploading additional documentation.
Eligible residents may apply for food assistance at https://www.rentalassistancepbc.org/. For more information, contact CSD’s Contact Centre at (561) 355-4792. A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.
Update: August 26, 2020 (1:30pm)
Palm Beach County Community Services Department to Temporarily Suspend Rental and Utility Assistance Applications
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) will temporarily suspend the acceptance of rental and utility applications on September 1, 2020 to allow sufficient time to process applications currently in the queue. The county will reopen the application portal in October if funds are still available.
The rental and utility application portal will remain open until 11:59pm on August 31, 2020. Households seeking assistance must submit an application by that time in order to be processed. Apply by visiting www.pbcgov.com/OSCARSS.
Original: June 24, 2020
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Rent and Utilities Assistance Program
The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) announced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Coronavirus Relief Fund Rent and Utilities Assistance Program will be offered to residents effective June 5.
The CARES Act Rent and Utilities Assistance Program provides one-time rental and/or utility assistance to eligible Palm Beach County residents who have experienced loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are for applicants who reside in apartments, houses, townhouses, or mobile homes.
To be eligible for this assistance program applicants must:
- be a resident of Palm Beach County;
- provide documentation to prove loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- provide documentation to show they have applied or are receiving state or federal unemployment benefits;
- meet gross Area Median Income (AMI) limit not exceeding 140% AMI for the household;
- have a lease and other utilities in their name or a household member’s name;
- not have received any other financial assistance for rent and/or utilities for the period payment is requested;
- have less than $5,000 in liquid assets in checking, savings, and cash card balances
Assistance will be provided only for past due rents and/or utilities. The due dates must be after March 1, 2020 and before December 30, 2020.
Applications must be submitted through the CSD’s online portal. Apply at www.pbcgov.com/OSCARSS.
CARES Mortgages Assistance Program
The Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Sustainability announced the availability of $20,000,000 in CARES Act funding for temporary relief to homeowners for mortgage assistance starting Monday, June 29, 2020 and ending Friday, August 14, 2020.
CARES Act funding will provide assistance to income eligible households who are delinquent in their first mortgage and escrow payments (PITI). Additionally, funding may assist with late fees, attorney’s fees, condominium and homeowners’ association payments, special assessments, and other mortgage associated costs related to COVID-19.
Applicants must complete an online application by visiting the website at http://discover.pbcgov.org/hes/Pages/default.aspx Monday, June 29, 2020 – Friday, August 14, 2020. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first qualified, first served basis, subject to funding availability. Applicants must meet the program requirements, at the time of application submittal, and must be able to provide:
- proof of loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- copy of valid drivers’ license or state identification for applicant and co-applicant;
- copy of recent pay check stub for applicant and co-applicant (OR) a current completed verification of employment
- a completed YTD profit and loss statement (if self-employed);
- copy of recent social security, retirement and/or disability award letter for applicant and co-applicant;
- most recent mortgage payment statement showing proof of the applicant’s delinquency
NOTE: Mortgage payments must have been current as of February 29, 2020. Individuals with forbearance and/or mortgage modification plan in place will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and - copy of homeowners’ / condominium association delinquent statement (if applicable).
To learn more view the Palm Beach County CARES Mortgage Assistance Program PDF or call 561-233-3600.
Visit http://discover.pbcgov.org/hes/Pages/default.aspx to find the Mortgage Assistance Program in Creole, English and Spanish. There will also be "How to apply" videos uploaded in Creole and Spanish.
Other PBC Programs include: