A statement was released by the Jacksonville Bar Association and the city, informing the residents of Duval County and businesses that it will start accepting applications for grant money starting in December. The application for the evictions and foreclosure prevention program can be filed starting on December 3th. The program has $5.3 million to allocate.
The applications should be filed at JacksonvilleCares.com where residents and commercial property owners in Duval County can also check the eligibility criteria and requirements. The leaseholders and residential mortgage holders can file their applications on December 3rd, while the commercial tenants can apply on December 7th.
Grants will be dispersed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The residential tenants and homeowners who are eligible for the grant will receive up to $5,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The chairman of JBA’s committee and Board of Governors, Christian George, said that JBA intends that the funds from CARES Act must “get in the hands of the families and small businesses that have suffered a lot during the pandemic.”
The applicants for the program must fulfill certain conditions. The following documents are needed:
For residential tenants:
• Identification of all members in the house
• A copy of the lease papers or mortgage documents
• Proof of income denoting that rent or mortgage can be paid for two months
• Clearance certificate from the landlord for pending eviction or foreclosure
For commercial purpose
• Lease documents or mortgage papers copy
• Landlord or mortgage W-9
• Proof certifying that there is one-fifth or 20% reduction in staffing, income, or work hours
• A copy of the occupational license for Duval County
• Proof certifying ability to make payments of rent and mortgage for 60 days
• Clearance certificate from the landlord for pending eviction or foreclosure
To qualify for the application, the tenant must be two months behind in rent or mortgage payments during the period April 1 to October 31. In addition to this, the tenant must also have written proof from their respective landlords.
As part of the program, help will be extended to all the residents and commercial property owners who have suffered due to the pandemic. All the costs and fees incurred due to the non-payment or deferred payment of loans and mortgages will be waived for the months during which there was a nationwide lockdown due to the pandemic.
Another announcement came from the office of JBA Executive Director, Craig A. Shoup, saying that the grants will be disbursed directly to the landlords and mortgage lenders. For this purpose, the JBA will keep a record of the financial report and provide it to the city by December 31, 2021. The amendment made to the previous bill will require 66.6% of the aid going to the residential tenants and 33.3% for small business rent.