Escambia and Santa Rosa counties taking applications for COVID-19 housing assistance

Applications are now open for a rent, mortgage and utility assistance through Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Escambia County housing assistance

Escambia County and the city of Pensacola are jointly taking applications to provide assistance to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic from now until Sept. 14 or until funds run out.

About $800,000 in funds from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation will be awarded to applicants in grants up to $3,000 per household.

The grants will be paid directly to landlords, mortgage or utility companies. 

Applications are available online at myescambia.com/CARES or paper applications can be picked up at any West Florida Public Library, the Escambia County Neighborhood Enterprise Division at 221 Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the Brownsville Community Center at 3200 W. DeSoto St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Completed paper applications with attachments should be emailed to EscambiaCaresRentandMortgage@myescambia.com, faxed to 850-595-0342, or dropped off at the Brownsville Community Center or Neighborhood Enterprise Division. Applicants needing assistance with completing applications should call 850-595-1642 for further guidance.

For further information, contact Meredith Reeves at 850-595-1642 or EscambiaCaresRentandMortgage@myescambia.com.

Santa Rosa housing assistance

Santa Rosa County Housing Department is also awarding mortgage/rent/utility assistance for residents negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Assistance will be provided in the form of a grant to be paid directly to the service provider. The amount of assistance provided will be determined by each household’s current need in order to maintain the housing unit through the end of the funding period. 

Applications are currently available for download, but will not be accepted until Sept. 9. For more information, eligibility requirements or to download the application, visit the housing department webpage at https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/823/CRF---RentalMortgage-Assistance.

The grants in both counties are limited to expenses from March 1 to present for past due rent, mortgage or utility bills only, and limited to households who have an income less than 120% of the area median income.

Income limits provided by Escambia County but also applicable to Santa Rosa County:

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.