Osceola County introduces unique liaison program to help renters, landlord access assistance funds

Osceola County officials say there are 1,643 active eviction cases waiting to or have been filed.

While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has again extended the federal moratorium on evictions "in counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community (COVID-19) transmission levels” — that covers every Florida county — through Oct. 2, local leaders have unveiled a program aimed to help both local both renters and landlords access millions of dollars in housing relief still available.

Friday, County Commission Chair Brandon Arrington and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto introduced Osceola County's Eviction Diversion Program, intended to assist those on both sides of rental agreements reach local, state and federal rental assistance funds. Soto said this project, an addition to current rental assistance programs, is the first one in Central Florida.

The Liaison office will assist in finding proper programs, filing paperwork and putting holds on court proceedings. The office will be located in Suite 2418 of the County Courthouse and staffed Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-5 p.m. To reach the office, call 407-742-8440 or email evictionassist@osceola.org.

To qualify and enroll, the person must:

• Be an Osceola County resident
• Have valid state ID or Driver's License
• Have a current signed lease (house/apartment) at a location that is their primary residence
• Have proof of COVID-19 hardship (laid off, furloughed, loss of job/income/hours
• Have an eviction action filed against them, and provide the case number.

The liaison can provide assistance to key program paperwork and discuss the path through it to help parties reach settlements and "work it out." Arrington said the county will assist those already evicted to find new housing.

"Our plan in creating this is to help work with judges and the court to steer this into a diversion program," he said. "Right now it would benefit property owners to not have to go through the full eviction process. So many people don't know what aid is available. This is a way to save our community, we can't have 1,600 families out on the streets.

"I know there are people not paying rent who weren't impacted by COVID-19, there's always bad actors. But let's sure people who don't need to evicted aren't evicted. That'll be the program's success, the families we keep from that from is more important than the monetary figure (spent)."

Soto said Osceola County received $15 million total from the federal government for eviction and foreclosure assistance, noting "the vast majority is still available."

"The money is here. People just need to apply. They aren't facing eviction yet. My message to residents and tenants who want to participate in the program: Do. Not. Wait. Many folks don't apply until an eviction is imminent. It is achievable to get this paperwork done, the liaison will be there for help that hasn't been there before to navigate it. "

Through the assistance program, landlords can receive up to a year of back rent that's been held up by coronavirus payment moratoriums that go back to 2020.

"The alternative is the chances of recovery are slim," Soto said. "We can come together, protect our community from COVID-19 and do the right thing by landlords and tenants."

The program will last through the end of the year if funds remain.

Arrington and Soto also urged those who have not gotten widely-available vaccinations to do so.