Rental Assistance

Overview

Seminole County has been awarded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury intended to provide rental assistance to eligible households negatively impacted due to COVID-19, and the resulting economic environment. Funds shall be used to cover the financial obligation of rent and/or utilities.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides assistance to low income households. This County-wide program covers unincorporated areas and all municipalities and will remain open as long as funds are available.

The American Rescue Plan Act program assists moderate income households. This County-wide program covers unincorporated areas and will remain open as long as funds are available. If you live inside the city limits, you are not eligible for assistance with this program.

Qualifying Criteria

To qualify, you must:

• Be a Seminole County resident
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• Have a household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Limits
• Have experienced a financial hardship as a direct result of or during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Be currently responsible for paying rent on your primary residence
• Be currently responsible for paying utilities for your primary residence (unless utilities are included in your rent)
• Be at risk of housing instability or homelessness

Award Details

If you have experienced a loss or reduction in employment income, you may be eligible for up to twelve (12) months of arrears rent and/or utilities assistance.

Application Requirements

If there is a discrepancy between the answers you provide and the documents you attach, processing may be delayed, or you may not qualify for financial assistance at all.

You will need to attach the following documents to your application:

• Valid Florida driver’s license or ID card scanned copy of the front of your valid Florida driver’s license or identification card
• Documentation of all household members: One of the following will be required for each household member- birth certificate, social security card, US passport, ID/DL, or be listed on the lease
• Current Lease Agreement: copy of your full lease, all pages (must show your name or one of the names you provided above, must be signed by lessee and landlord)
• Latest utility bills: Copy of your latest utility bills from each of your electric, water, and/or gas providers (must have your name or the name of someone in household on them)
• Last 90 days of income: for all members of the household including wages, social security income, retirement, pension, child support, alimony, unemployment, self-employment income)
• Certification of COVID Impact: Must provide a self-attestation of hardship due to or during COVID-19 pandemic

If you are unsure about whether your documentation is acceptable, please call us for assistance at (407) 665-2300.

If you are approved for financial assistance, payment will be made directly to the landlord and/or utility provider on your behalf. Please make sure all of this information is correct or your application may be rejected.

Mortgage Assistance

Overview

Seminole County Government has been awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury intended to provide financial relief to residents impacted by a loss or reduction of employment income due to COVID-19, and the resulting economic environment. Funds will be used to cover the financial obligation of mortgage and/or utilities. This County-wide program covers unincorporated areas and will remain open as long as funds are available. If you live inside the city limits, you are not eligible for assistance with this program.

Qualifying Criteria

To qualify, you must:

• Be a Seminole County resident
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• Live in unincorporated Seminole County (not in the city limits). To verify please click the link here.
• Have a household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Limits
• Have experienced a financial hardship as a direct result of or during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Be currently responsible for paying rent on your primary residence.
• Be currently responsible for paying utilities for your primary residence (unless utilities are included in your rent).
• Be at risk of housing instability or homelessness

Award Details

If you have experienced a loss or reduction in income, you may be eligible for up to twelve (12) months of arrears mortgage and/or utilities assistance and one prospective month of assistance.

Application Requirements

If there is a discrepancy between the answers you provide and the documents you attach, processing may be delayed, or you may not qualify for financial assistance at all.

You will need to attach the following documents to your application:

• Valid Florida driver’s license or ID card scanned copy of the front of your valid Florida driver’s license or identification card.
• Documentation of all household members: One of the following will be required for each household member- birth certificate, social security card, US passport, ID/DL, or be listed on the mortgage
• Current Mortgage Statement: copy of your latest mortgage statement and copy of the March 2020 mortgage statement.
• Latest utility bills: Copy of your latest utility bills from each of your electric, water, and/or gas providers (must have your name or the name of someone in household on them)
• Last 90 days of income: for all members of the household including wages, social security income, retirement, pension, child support, alimony, unemployment, self-employment income)
• Certification of COVID Impact: Must provide a self-attestation of hardship due to or during COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are unsure about whether your documentation is acceptable, please call us for assistance at (855) 203-6887.

If you are approved for financial assistance, payment will be made directly to the mortgage company and/or utility provider on your behalf. Please make sure all of this information is correct or your application may be rejected.

Small Business Assistance

Overview

Seminole County Government will invest $2.0M into small businesses as a part of the Seminole County Small Business Assistance Program to support the needs of business owners. This one-time grant places emphasis on small businesses that have been negatively affected by COVID-19.

All applications will be accepted through the Seminole County Small Business Assistance Program portal, an online application that will launch on Monday, October 25^th, 2021.

Eligibility

All applicants must have a Seminole County Business Tax Receipt. Grants will be awarded based on the number of employees

Grants can be used for:

• Rent or mortgage costs for the business location
• Payroll
• Utility costs for the business location
• Investments to meet reopening guidelines, such as purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19
• Remote access equipment and connectivity, such as computers, software, printers, and/or online meeting platforms for employers to enhance social distancing
• Technology that enables businesses to develop and manage service/product delivery to enhance social distancing

Qualifying Criteria

In order to receive funding, the business must be:

• A for-profit business. Not-for-profits are not eligible for this grant
• A privately held company. If members of the public can buy shares of the company on an open exchange market (NASDAQ or NYSE), the business is publicly traded and, therefore, not eligible for this grant
• In operation in Seminole County on or before January 1, 2020. Businesses incorporated after January 1, 2020 are not eligible
• A Home-based business with a Seminole County Business Tax Receipt, a mobile business with a Seminole County Business Tax Receipt, or a business with up to 50 employees that is not home-based or mobile. Home-based businesses and mobile business that do not possess a Seminole County Business Tax Receipt and businesses with more than 50 employees are not eligible for this grant
• Legally registered (as required by applicable law), and up to date on tax payments/filings. If the business is legally registered, has filed the necessary tax documentation, and has paid all business taxes, the business is eligible
• Eligible uses include those that respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts. If the business was defined under Florida Governor DeSantis' ExecutiveOrder 20-91 and subsequent orders as non-essential so that it was not permitted to operate, your business is eligible. If the business shows a loss of income for April – June 2021 or July – September 2021, as compared to the pre-pandemic quarter of January – March 2020, your business is also eligible
• Principally based in Seminole County. If your business’ main physical location is within the boundaries ofSeminole County, including one of the County’s seven cities (Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, or Winter Springs) the business is eligible
• A recipient of $100,000 or less of assistance through theFederal Paycheck Protection Program. If the business received more than $100,000 through the PPP, your business is not eligible for this grant
• Business must not be associated with the gambling, CBD/medical marijuana, or adult entertainment industries. If the business is associated with any of these industries, the business is not eligible for this grant
• Businesses who did not receive CARES Small Business Assistance in 2020 will be prioritized
• Qualified applicants who meet eligibility requirements will receive funds for one of the following programs: the Seminole County Small Business Assistance Program or the County’s Individual Assistance program only. Interested applicants should review their criteria for both programs to ensure she/he applies for the programs they are most qualified

Application Requirements

If there is a discrepancy between the answers provided by the applicant or the documents attached to the application, processing may be delayed, or the business may not qualify for financial assistance at all.

The following documents and information must be included with the application:

• Applicant name must be listed inSunbiz
• Email address
• Phone number
• The legal business name that matches the legal, registered business name inSunbiz
• Business address: The principle location of the business must be in Seminole County, even if there are multiple business locations. No Post Office Box addresses
• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for your business classification that matches the NAICS code listed inSunbiz, if applicable
• Taxpayer Identification Number found on tax returns or other forms filed with the IRS
• Business legal entity type:
  • Individual - Sole Proprietorship – owned by one single person only but is not a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
  • Individual – Single Owner LLC – owned by one single person and are a LLC
  • Corporation – C Corp – recognized as a separate taxpaying entity that conducts business, realizes net income or loss, pays taxes and distributes profits to shareholders
  • Corporation – S Corp – specific type of corporation recognized by the IRS
  • LLC – allows certain protection from personal liability for business debts and claims for two or more owners pursuant to Chapter 608, Florida Statutes
  • Partnership – A partnership includes the ownership of a company by two or more owners that has not been incorporated
• And a narrative description of how the business was impacted by COVID-19, to include a list of planned expenses and the applicant must provide the expense type, description, and dollar amount

If you are unsure about whether your documentation is acceptable, please call us for assistance at (855) 552-1169.