On Wednesday, Orange County made its rental assistance program available to Orlando residents after the city ran out of funding for its own program.

What You Need To Know

  •  The city of Orlando has used up its first batch of federal rental aid

  •  While the city waits for additional funding, Orlando residents can now apply for aid from Orange County's rental assistance program

  • Orlando officials say they expect to have additional funding for city residents by mid-January

Before, county and city residents struggling to pay rent had to apply to separate programs, depending on where they lived.

But now, since the city has spent its first batch of federal rental aid, Orange County is stepping in, allowing city residents to apply to the county program. Eligible residents can receive up to 12 months of back rent, plus three months of future rent.

County officials say about $16 million is currently available for county and city residents.

Orange County resident Ladine Davis said she hoped some of that money would go to helping her aunt, who is behind on rent after being hospitalized because of COVID.

“Due to COVID it created other issues and it went down hill from there and I ended up taking over as power of attorney,” she said.

Davis said that since this summer, she’s paid off her aunt’s rent and her own.

“Currently, I’m paying it behind because I’m paying it on a credit card so she don’t lose her place and end up on some type of eviction,” Davis said.

When Davis fell behind on rent, she received help through OUR Florida.

“My process with OUR Florida was really easy,” she said. “You know, my children also had COVID, so I also fell behind because of it. But her (Davis' aunt's) situation is just one that’s not working.”

She plans to apply her aunt to get help through Orange County government’s rental assistance program. The county received more than $33 million in federal funding to help keep people in their homes. So far, officials say only about $14 million has been distributed.

“I submitted application,” she said. “The landlord does have to start an application as well.”

At least for the rest of December, Orlando residents will qualify for the county’s rental assistance program.

This is a temporary arrangement. In the meantime, the city is getting ready to open its own applications again, with $6.8 million of additional federal aid to distribute. That money will become available starting in mid January.

In the meantime, you can go to ocfl.net/rentalassistance to apply if you’re an Orange County or city of Orlando resident.