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Osceola County Administration Building
Osceola County will begin accepting applications for its third round of foreclosure prevention and rental assistance for residents on Monday.
While Osceola waits on the release of CARES Act funding from the state that could be as much as $22.2 million, Monday’s effort will use Community Development Block Grant funds previously made available because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
In order to be eligible, proof of job loss and other documentation listed on the website is needed. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-ready basis. Applications for the previous round of funding closed after 15 minutes, when 500 people applied.
The application on the web site https://housing.osceola.org will be active at 8 a.m. on Monday and will take applications from another 500 people. Please visit Housing.Osceola.org and click on the emergency assistance option at the top of the page. Anyone denied in the first and second rounds is eligible to apply again.
Residents may use mobile phones or tablet to apply. The following library branches will open at 7:30 a.m. to allow residents access to computers to submit applications:
Hart Memorial (Central), St. Cloud, Poinciana, BVL, West Osceola (Celebration) and Kenansville.
“While I’m pleased that the County is able to offer our residents another round of foreclosure prevention and rental assistance, we know it is not enough. We are hopeful that Gov. DeSantis will act quickly to release the CARES Act funding at the State level as our residents and businesses are in dire straits,” said Osceola Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer. “Our tourism industry is opening in phases and our economy will feel the effects of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future as evidenced by the fact that the State reports our unemployment rate of more than 20 percent is the highest in Florida.”
Other information:
· As the county continues the re-opening process, be advised that in coordination with the Central Florida Expressway Authority, cash toll collections will be reinstated at the Shingle Creek Toll Plaza along Osceola Parkway effective June 1 (Monday).
·From Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 5, the Florida Department of Health – Osceola on Fortune Road will offer COVID-19 testing by appointment only. Call 407-343-2000 to schedule.
·The Florida Department of Health and Osceola Community Health Services will offer testing at the following sites next week:
* On Tuesday, June 2, at Osceola Community Health Services in Poinciana.
*On Wednesday, June 3, at Osceola High School in Kissimmee.
*On Thursday, June 4, at Osceola Community Health Services’ Kissimmee Location.
*Testing at these locations will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Limited appointments are available, so please call Osceola Community Health Services at 407-943-8600 to schedule your test.
*You can find this and other testing location information at Osceola.org/covid19testing. Antibody testing in Osceola can be done with OneBlood as part of its donation process. Appointments are required.
*Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp are also providing antibody testing and residents are encouraged to contact them for availability.
* In conjunction with the start of Hurricane Season on June 1, the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday for residents to purchase items for their family emergency kits such as batteries, flashlights, and fuel containers began today (Friday) and runs through June 4. Planning for food and water for at least 7 days for the entire family before a storm arrives is urged.
