How to Apply For Polk County Rental Assistance

It's a scary feeling when you realize you might not be able to pay your rent this month. It's a situation that thousands of Polk County households are facing. Whether it's due to the impact of COVID, the loss of a job, or another temporary financial setback, not being able to pay your rent one month can result in a fallout that lasts for years. You may get hit with late fees, deal with the threat of eviction, or potentially become homeless. Fortunately, there are programs of that can help.

These organizations and programs can help Polk County residents avoid losing their homes by providing financial assistance to those who need it most to get back on their feet. If you've been struggling to pay the rent, learn more about the rental assistance available in Polk County and how you can apply. Learn more about how DoNotPay can help you access these services, too.

Who Is Eligible for Polk County Rental Assistance?

Several organizations offer . Each program will have its own set of requirements, so be sure you read the details on the application carefully before you apply.

Polk County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

The most popular program is the Polk County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Residents can apply for up to $12,000 in funding to catch up on past due rent, future rent payments, or overdue utility payments. To apply for the Polk County ERAP, you must:

Be at risk of eviction or having your utilities turned off because of past-due bills
Have experienced financial hardship or a loss of income due to COVID-19

If you don't qualify for Polk County ERAP, other services available may help.

Lakeland Housing Authority

Lakeland Housing Authority offers Section 8 housing and other HUD-subsidized public housing options at reduced rental rates. These programs can assist residents in finding long-term affordable housing options for prices below market value. There are various programs available. To be eligible, you must:

Earn less than 50% of the area median income to qualify for Section 8 housing voucher benefits
Earn less than 80% of the area median income to qualify for subsidized public housing

Contact Lakeland Housing Authority to discuss your housing options and start the application process.

How Long Does It Take To Receive Rental Assistance in Polk County?

The time it takes to receive rental assistance in Polk County will depend on which program you opt to use. However, program administrators understand that getting your rental payments in as soon as possible is important. They'll do everything they can to help speed the process along. In the meantime, they can help you communicate to your landlord that you are working on a solution.

How to Apply for Help With Rent in Polk County Yourself

Each program will have a list of requirements. In general, though, you will probably need to provide:

Identification documents. It might include a driver's license or passport, and you may need to show proof that you are a U.S. citizen.
Proof of income. Your W-2 from work, tax returns, and bank statements will all be useful here.
A list of your outgoing expenses. Many programs will want to know about any monthly debts you owe, such as subscription fees, car payments, and insurance costs.

If you are applying for short-term rental assistance through a program such as ERAP, you may also need to explain why you need financial assistance. It ensures your financial issues are likely to be temporary, such as an illness, and not part of a long-term issue.

When you have all your information together, you can submit your application to the program of your choice. You should hear a response quickly, but wait times will vary.

Apply for Rental Assistance in Polk County With DoNotPay

If you aren't comfortable or can’t apply for rental assistance in Polk County yourself, you can do it through DoNotPay. The easy-to-use service can create an official letter to send to your local housing authority explaining the situation and asking for rental assistance.

We can compose a letter to your local housing authority based on your situation and inquire about your best options for receiving assistance. Here are the four steps:

Search for Rental Assistance on DoNotPay.
Put together a list of your income, debts, expenses, and assets. If you need help accessing information like your credit report, DoNotPay can help you get your report.
Let DoNotPay collect your basic information and compose a letter to your local housing authority requesting rental assistance.
Lastly, DoNotPay will send your letter to your local housing authority.