City Partners with KPMG and Neighborly on Emergency Rental Assistance

Last updated on April 22, 2021

City of Orlando Partners with KPMG and Neighborly on Emergency Rental Assistance Program 
Online Application Portal Expected to open Mid-May 

April 22, 2021 – ORLANDO, FL - The City of Orlando has been awarded $8.6 million in COVID-19 Relief Funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide Emergency Rental Assistance for households that have been financially impacted by COVID-19.  

At the Monday, April 26 meeting, the Orlando City Council will consider an agreement with KPMG to administer the program to provide financial support to City of Orlando households to get current on unpaid rent.  

If the agreement is approved, the city anticipates being able to accept applications via an online application portal sometime in mid-May.  

The program is being funded with COVID-19 Relief funds from the US Department of Treasury. Per the Treasury’s requirements for this program, to be eligible, a household must:  

  • Have experienced financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak; and  

  • Include one or more individuals at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and  

  • Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income (which for a family of four is $61,050);  

  • With priority given to households at or below 50% of the area median income (which for a family of four is $38,150) or that have a household member who has been unemployed for 90 days. 

  • Applicants will need to submit proof of occupancy in the rental residence – this can include a copy of a lease, rental agreement, rent receipts, evidence of regular rental payments, or any other documents that show proof of occupancy. 

The City of Orlando’s program will have the following additional eligibility requirements and program guidelines including: 

  • Applicants’ rental residence must be located within the Orlando city limits. Applicants can verify their address at orlando.gov/assistance

  • Applicants can apply for past due rent and current month rent (up to 12 months) with monthly rent not exceeding $4,000 per month. 

  • Rental assistance payments will be made directly to the landlord. 

  • Assistance with utility payments will not be provided unless the utilities are billed as part of the lease. 

In addition to KPMG, the city is partnering with Neighborly Software to provide the technical infrastructure to launch the online application portal.  

Residents interested in the program can visit orlando.gov/assistance to sign up to receive email updates on the program and when the application period will open. 

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