Mortgage and Rental Payment Assistance

Board allocates additional funding for a mortgage or rent payment assistance program

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners voted today to allocate $1 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist those still suffering a negative financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county will begin taking applications at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29. The program will stop taking applications at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. A call center will open on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m. to answer questions. The number to call will be (863) 519-1000. These phones will be answered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the application period.

“Back in May, we were able to help those having problems with rent and mortgage payments by using the federal CARES Act funding we received,” County Manager Bill Beasley said. “Using CDBG funds will give us an opportunity to help more households that are financially strapped due to the pandemic.”

Funds are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis until the allocation is gone. Payments will be made directly to landlords, property management or mortgage companies.

On Dec. 29, applications will be made available on the county?s website at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/2c89d428/xHGo9HXqZkWbVo7AriXjiA?u=http://www.polk-county.net/. For more information, call (863) 534-5240 or email HNDRequests@polk-county.net.