Rental Assistance Program

The City of Orlando has been awarded $6.8 million in COVID-19 Relief Funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to provide Emergency Rental Assistance for households that have been financially impacted directly or indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Households within Orlando city limits with incomes below 80% of the area median income ($66,300 for a family of four - see chart below) are eligible to apply for assistance to get current on up to 18 months of unpaid rent. Priority will be given to households with incomes less than 50% of the area median income ($41,450 for a family of four) and to households with one or more members that have been unemployed for at least 90 days.  
 
The city has partnered with KPMG, Tetra Tech, Indelible and Neighborly Software to administer the program to provide financial support to City of Orlando households to get current on up to 18 months of unpaid rent. 

Please review the eligibility criteria below and gather the necessary documents required to apply.

For Returning Applicants

If you have already submitted an application for Emergency Rental Assistance with the City of Orlando, do not create a new application. Your application is still in the system. Please log in to Neighborly with your user ID and password to access your application. 

  • If you are still in need of rental assistance, and do not need to make any changes to your application, click “Submit” under the “Submit” section of the application. 
  • If you need to update your information or request additional rental assistance, please go to the section of the application you would like to update and click "Reopen" to edit. Once all edits have been made, click “Submit” under the “Submit” section of the application.
  • If you are unable to access your application, please call 855.227.5304 or email COVIDassistance@orlando.gov and provide your name and case ID for assistance. 

View Your Application

For New Applicants

Online

Step 1.Verify Your Residence is in the City Limits

Use the Information Locator

Step 2.If You Live Outside of Orlando City Limits

If your residence is not located within city limits but you reside in Orange County, you may be eligible for Orange County's rental assistance program.

Get more info on Orange County Rental Assistance

Step 3.Determine Your Eligibility

Per the Treasury Department’s requirements for this program, in order to be eligible, a household must:  

  • Include one or more individuals within the household who has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic;  

  • Include one or more individuals within the household who demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability;   

  • Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income ($66,300 for a family of four), with priority given to households at or below 50% of the area median income ($41,450 for a family of four) or that have a household member who has been unemployed for 90 days; and  

  • Submit proof of occupancy in the rental residence – this can include a copy of a lease, rental agreement, rent receipts, evidence of regular rental payments, or any other documents that show proof of occupancy.  

Household Size Income: 80%  Income: 50% 
 1  $46,450  $29,050
 2  $53,050  $33,200
 3  $59,700  $37,350
 4  $66,300  $41,450
 5  $71,650  $44,800
 6  $76,950  $48,100
 7  $82,250  $51,400
 8  $87,550  $54,750

Additional City Program Guidelines and Eligibility Requirements:  

  • Rental assistance is provided for past-due rent and up to three months of prospective rent payments. The total amount of assistance, including any assistance received under the first phase of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, may not exceed 18 months. 

  • Room rentals in homeowner occupied or homestead property are not eligible.

  • The applicant’s monthly rental rate may be no more than $4,000 per month.

  • Assistance with utility payments will not be provided unless the utilities are billed as part of the lease.

  • Rental assistance payments will be made directly to the landlord.  

  • If a landlord refuses to participate in the program, eligible tenants will still receive assistance by working with a Housing Stability Services counselor, as long as resources remain available.

  • Housing Stability Services will be available to: prevent evictions; assist tenants in finding new housing and when necessary, pay fees, deposits, and rent for the new unit; and provide housing-related services for survivors of domestic abuse or human trafficking.

Step 4.Gather everything you need to apply

Review the following checklists, as they apply.

Checklist for Tenants

Checklist for Landlords

Step 5.Complete the online application

You will be taken to the Neighborly portal to fill out the application.

Apply for Rental Assistance

Contact Us

Participant Helpline
855.227.5304
us-fbuadverap@KPMG.com

I live within Orlando city limits but applied for Orange County’s program. Do I need to reapply?
If you applied for assistance with Orange County prior to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, Orange County will process your application.

If I have already received Emergency Rental Assistance, can I apply for additional assistance? 
You can apply for additional assistance as long as you: 

  1. Are not requesting assistance for months for which you have already received assistance; AND
  2. Have not exceeded the combined maximum of 18 months of assistance

What if my landlord refuses to participate in the program? Can I still receive assistance? 
If your landlord refuses to participate in the program, you will still receive assistance by working with a Housing Stability Services counselor, as long as you meet eligibility requirements and resources remain available. Please follow these steps when completing your application:  

  • Under “Section F. Rent Assistance Requested”, enter your landlord’s name, phone number and email address for questions F.5. through F.7.
  • Under Question F.8. “Are you in need of other assistance?”, select “Yes”.
  • Indicate in the “Other” box that your landlord has refused to participate. You will be contacted by a Housing Stability Services counselor. 

What if I have already been evicted or have moved out of my residence? Can I still receive rental assistance?
Housing Stability Services are available to eligible applicants to prevent evictions or to assist with finding new housing and when necessary, pay fees, deposits and rent for a new unit. To request Housing Stability Services, please follow these steps when completing your application:  

  • Under “Section F. Rent Assistance Requested”, enter your previous landlord’s name, phone number and email address for questions F.5. through F.7.
  • Under Question F.8. “Are you in need of other assistance?”, select “Yes”.
  • After “Please check all that apply:”, please indicate what kind of assistance you need. You will be contacted by a Housing Stability Services counselor.  

If you have additional questions, please email us-fbuadverap@KPMG.com.

Contact Us

Participant Helpline
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