Recipient Of Emergency Rental Assistance Says “Process Is Quick”

DeLand, FL –  The portal to Volusia  County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program closed 36 minutes after it opened on Wednesday at 9 a.m.  A woman who has received the assistance previously applied again on Wednesday because she still doesn’t have a job. Kathy Peebles said she came down with COVID in 2020 and missed four weeks of work. “COVID kind of affected the job. Then I was sick. I lost my position to move up in the company while I was out. I’ve been without income since the job loss. I was on unemployment for a while and of course, that all stopped. I’m steady looking for work.” Peebles said the people she’s dealt with in the Community Assistance office have been very helpful. She says they even helped her get her electric bill paid. “The staff there, Eva that I worked with, she’s been an amazing help. And I’m blessed and I thank God every day for this program because it’s nice to know that even if nothing else works out and the other bills don’t get paid, at least I have a roof over my head. They’re also helping me out with my electric.” Peebles said she wants people to know that there is help out there and the county staff with the program is amazing. Community Assistance Director Carmen Hall said that it will take about a month to process the 500 applications received on Wednesday. If there’s money left over from the $4 million currently available, they will reopen the portal.