Rent relief available for Port St. Lucie’s seniors

PORT ST. LUCIE (treasurecoast.com)- – If you are 62 years or older and struggling to pay your rent, the City of Port St. Lucie will accept applications starting at noon on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, for a Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA).

The City has been awarded $259,000 in rent relief funds through the Federal HOME program, managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Seniors, age 62 or older, residing or working within the City limits, not earning more than the federal income limits, are eligible to apply for a minimum of 12 months of rental assistance. The amount, level and term of assistance shall be based on a sliding scale determined by household income and the cost of the rental unit.

The approved applicants will be issued a coupon (voucher). These funds may be used towards rent, a security deposit or a security deposit along with a utility deposit if the applicant needs to relocate. The recipient will be required to contribute 30% of their monthly adjusted income towards the approved rent.

“We’re proud to partner with St. Lucie County Human Services Division to provide relief to Port St. Lucie seniors during this difficult time,” said Neighborhood Service Department Deputy Director Alessandra Tasca. “We hope that providing rental housing assistance, will help further our efforts in building community resilience.”

A pre-application window will be open for applicants from noon Monday, Nov. 8 to noon Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, to ask questions and gather the necessary documents required to apply. Program information, including a printable application, can be found on Port St. Lucie’s landing page at www.cityofpsl.com/housing under the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program. The City’s Neighborhood Services Department, Community Programs Housing Division, is available to answer questions, print an application and review an applicant’s documentation by:

1. Email TBRA@cityofpsl.com

2. Phone 772-344-4084

3. In-person at City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call before arriving to schedule an appointment.

If a resident has difficulty accessing the information, the City of Port St. Lucie, to the best of its ability, will accommodate any special requests. For residents without access to computers, all St. Lucie County branch libraries offer free access to computers, as well as assistance setting up an email account and creating an application.

At noon on Nov. 15, 2021, Port St. Lucie’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program will begin accepting applications. Applications, labeled Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program, in care of the Neighborhood Service Department, will only be accepted in-person at City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd. Email applications will NOT be accepted. A maximum of 22 applications will be accepted and processed on a first-ready basis. When the maximum number of applications has been received, the City will publish a notice that the application process has closed.

Applicants who apply and meet all of the eligibility criteria will be notified by City staff about the status of their application by telephone, email and mail.

If you need immediate assistance regarding housing, please call 211 to speak with a highly trained resource specialist. Calls to 211 HelpLine are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff will listen to each individual’s situation to provide information on available social services, community services and resources that include food assistance, medical clinics, foreclosure prevention, parenting information on developmental concerns (Help Me Grow) & special needs, senior services that include free “Sunshine” daily calls, services for teens and more.