MIAMI - To help
Miami-Dade homeowners stay in their homes, the county is
launching a new Mortgage Relief Program.
April is Fair Housing
Month and also marks one year since Mayor Daniella Levine
Cava declared a housing affordability crisis in the county.
She told CBS News MIami's Peter D'Oench, "We know a lot of
work needs to be done for people all over Miami-Dade. We are
not going to solve this overnight. We are not going to solve
this alone."
She said $23 million was available for the program and the
county would be able to help up to $15,000 applicants.
She, along with commissioners and
department directors, are expanding the county's efforts
over the past year to tackle the housing crisis and
encourage eligible residents to apply for the Mortgage
Relief Program. |
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The Mortgage Relief Program will
provide assistance to homeowners in the county who are
experiencing hardship and struggling to pay their mortgage
and/or utility bills.
To be eligible, total household income must not exceed 140
percent of the Area Median Income threshold. Also,
applicants must be homeowners and requesting assistance for
their primary residence.
A spokesman for the Mayor said that means that a family of
two people must be earning less than $109,200 for the year
and a family of four people must be earning less than
$136,500 for the year.
Homeowners who meet the eligibility requirements can apply
online.
Seniors, those who are disabled, families with children, and
households with late mortgages of 3 to 12 months will be
deemed a priority.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Marleine Bastien said, "I am glad we
are standing together to find some solutions and give them
hope. We are trying to help people, whether they be teachers
or firefighters, to be able to stay there."
Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez said, "In this
housing crisis the county has worked very hard to come up
with innovative solutions, not just to keep people in their
homes but to also achieve that American dream,
homeownership."
Throughout the duration of the program, applicants can
receive up to $1,500 per household towards late mortgage
payments, late homeowner association (HOA) fees, homeowners
insurance, and/or late utility assistance.
The new Mortgage Relief Program is a collaboration with the
county's Department of Public Housing and the Community
Development and Community Action and Human Services
Department.