Beginning at noon Thursday, March 3, Port St. Lucie residents will have an opportunity to apply for a new emergency COVID-19 Mortgage Assistance Program. The City Council has allocated $450,000 from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, a part of the American Rescue Plan.
PSL’s Emergency COVID-19 Mortgage Assistance Program will help homeowners who are being negatively impacted, financially, by the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot pay their mortgage. If an applicant is approved for funding, they could receive a total of three months of mortgage assistance (up to a maximum of $10,000). Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis and prioritization will be given to households that are experiencing a total loss of income or are at or below 60% of the area median income. Applications will be reviewed according to rules and regulations established by the Department of the Treasury.
The program provides mortgage assistance to eligible Port St. Lucie residents who have experienced a documented hardship in the form of under-employment, unemployment, excessive medical costs or other factors significantly and negatively impacting the household’s finances. Amounts will be based on individual household circumstances and qualifications. Households cannot receive duplicate benefits if they have received funding from another program for the same time. Households will not qualify for additional duplicate funding from this program. Additional requirements include, but are not limited to, legally residing within the City limits and not earning more than 80% of the area median income (see chart below).
The application period will be open for seven days, from noon Thursday, March 3, 2022, through noon Thursday, March 10, 2022.
To apply, homeowners must create an account on the ZoomGrants portal and complete the Emergency COVID-19 Mortgage Assistance Program application. Interested applicants are encouraged to register for a ZoomGrant account, prepare early and submit their application as soon as possible. Complete instructions, online application and eligibility requirements are available at https://www.cityofpsl.com/housinggrant.
For questions about the City’s COVID-19 Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, email COVIDgrant@cityofpsl.com or call the City’s 24/7 City Hall at 772-871-1775 (1PSL). If residents do not have access to a computer, all St. Lucie County branch libraries offer free computer access, as well as assistance in setting up email accounts and creating an application. Call the St. Lucie County library staff at 772-462-1615.
Another relief opportunity for homeowners impacted by the pandemic is available by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity through its Helping Homeowners in Need program. Funding may be available for mortgage payments and other homeowner expenses. Residents can determine their eligibility to participate in the program at http://www.floridajobs.org/haf.