Lee County 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Lee Commissioners vote to implement LeeCares 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Fort Myers, FL, Feb.16, 2021 – The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to direct county staff to implement the LeeCares 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eligible applicants could receive up to six months of assistance for back rent and utilities, and up to three months of future rental payments. Lee County has received about $23.3 million from the U.S. Treasure for this program.

U.S. Treasury guidelines require that applicants fall at or below 80% of Area Median Income and demonstrate COVID-19 related financial hardship to qualify. The income limit is $38,600 for an individual, $55,100 for a family of four or $72,750 for a family of eight.

The approval also grants the county manager authority to enter into subrecipient funding agreements with municipalities for the administration of similar programs within their jurisdictions when U.S. Treasury regulations permit.

Through January of 2021, Lee County ha distributed more than $60 million of direct community aid through COVID-19 pandemic relief. A similar amount has been expended on other COVID-19 response efforts.

For additional rental assistance eligibility information, log on to www.LeeFLCARES.com. Applications will be accepted starting March 1 for residents of unincorporated Lee County and five of the county’s six cities.