HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – May 19, 2020 – The Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (HBCRA) Board of Directors on May 18, 2020 approved at its monthly meeting, the allocation of $300,000 towards The Coronavirus Neighborhood and Housing Stabilization Program designed to assist families unable to make rental, utility, and mortgage payments during the Covid-19 crisis.
Due to stay at home orders, social distancing, and quarantine, many businesses have been forced to close or furlough employees. The economic impact on the businesses, due to COVID19, has a trickle- down effect on employees. Many of these individuals are living from pay-check to pay-check. Therefore, the loss of a paycheck puts these residents at risk of becoming homeless. Due to either a loss of, or reduction in income due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many residents may not be able to make rental or mortgage payments.
The Coronavirus Neighborhood and Housing Stabilization Program was created to address affordable housing challenges faced by the many residents of the HBCRA who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is comprised of three separate grants, all of which are available only to those residents living within the CRA boundaries (in accordance with Florida Statute 163 Part III).
The HBCRA will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, May 26th at 8 am and will conclude on Saturday, May 30th at midnight. Applicants will be chosen by lottery. The lottery drawing will be held on June 2, 2020.
According to CRA Executive Director Dr. Jeremy Earle, “The goal of the program is to help stabilize the residential sectors of the community redevelopment area (CRA) boundaries, and help prevent what might be a potential increase in slum and blighted conditions, if immediate action was not taken to address critical affordable housing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”