Hialeah, Miami offering coronavirus financial relief grants. Applications open Monday
Update: When the city of Miami opened applications for its financial relief programs at noon Monday, the business assistance programs quickly reached capacity and applications were closed later in the afternoon. Read more here.
Residents and business owners in the cities of Miami and Hialeah can on Monday begin applying for grants and loans to help pay the rent with financial aid programs created to lessen the blow of the economic decline brought on during the coronavirus pandemic.
The economy mostly shuttered during lockdowns meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, triggering massive job losses across the U.S. As of Sunday, more than 1 million Floridians have filed for unemployment.
Both Miami and Hialeah’s city governments are allocating millions in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to aid proprietors and tenants. Congress approved the grants as part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The cities will begin accepting applications on Monday. Applications are available online in both cities. Miami residents without internet access can file an application over the phone. In Hialeah, paper applications will be available at John F. Kennedy Library beginning at 8 a.m. Monday.
Miami’s rental assistance program
In Miami, administrators are planning to distribute $2.2 million in federal grants to people who have lost their job as a result of the pandemic and need help paying the bills.
People who live inside city limits who have lost their jobs and need help paying their rent and electricity, water or gas bills can apply to receive one-time payments of up to $1,500. Telephone, internet and cable bills are not eligible expenses under the grant program.
The city will pay landlords and utility companies directly. Landlords must be willing to participate in the program and able to provide the city with completed W-9s and ACH/Direct Deposit forms.
Under the program, residents can qualify if they have previously had an income at or below 60% of the area’s median income before losing work. According to figures provided by the city, an individual making $38,400 and a family of four with a household income of $54,840 would qualify.
Applications will be available starting at noon Monday. The grants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until all of the money is committed. Residents can apply online at the website for the Miami CARES Act Relief Fund, which can be found on miamigov.com. To apply, people will need several documents including proof of job loss, bank statements and proof of legal residency.
Those without computer access can call a city hotline, 305-416-2080, to have an operator fill out the application by proxy over the phone.
This program is only available only for people living in the city of Miami, not for residents of other municipalities or in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.
Business loans and grants in Miami
Miami’s city government is using another $1 million in federal grants to create two aid programs for struggling businesses. The application period for both programs opens at noon Monday.
Of that money, $400,000 will be directed to micro businesses, establishments with five or fewer employees. In the Business Continuity Micro Enterprise Program, these businesses can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to pay for salaries, rents and other bills. Owners of such businesses must have an income that is less than or equal to 80% of the area median income, depending on the size of the owner’s household.
The micro-business grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Under a separate Small Business Emergency Loan Program, $600,000 in emergency loans will be doled out to for-profit businesses located within Miami’s city limits who have 20 employees or fewer. Eligible proprietors can receive loans ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to pay for salaries, rent/mortgage, utilities and insurance costs.
The loans could become grants if at least one permanent full-time job for a low-to-moderate income individuals is retained for at least one year.
Unlike the micro-enterprise grants, the small business loans will be awarded based on merit, based on the business’s financial viability prior to Feb. 15, 2020, the potential to retain low-income jobs, the quality of the management operations and the ability of the business to repay the loan, if it becomes one.
A three-member committee appointed by the city’s director of housing and community development, George Mensah, will meet virtually within three days of receiving an application to determine if the business qualifies for the assistance.
For both business programs, those who do not have computer access can call 305-416-2080 to have file an application over the phone.
Hialeah’s grant programs for coronavirus relief
Miami-Dade County’s second largest city, Hialeah, is using $3 million from the federal government to open two grant programs to help residential tenants and business owners pay their rents.
The Save Our Business Fund will distribute grants of up to $5,000 to help business make lease payments for up to three months. The city estimates the program can help about 400 small, local businesses of 25 or fewer employees — no chains of franchises. Other types of businesses that are not eligible include medical facilities, law offices, real estate companies, clerical business, small schools, day cares or other teaching institutions.
To be eligible, owners must be current on taxes and fees for business licenses, they must have been active for at least one year and they must guarantee they will retain at least one employee.
Applications for the business fund will only be available online starting at 8 a.m. Monday. A link to the application process will be available at http://www.hialeahfl.gov/690/Funding-Opportunities. Applicants with questions can call the city’s helpline at 305-883-2940.
The Landlord-Tenant Relief Fund will use $1 million to give residential renters up to $1,000 per month for up to three months. Like in Miami, the city would pay landlords directly.
The landlord-tenant fund will take online and paper applications. Beginning at 8 a.m Monday, people can pick up paper applications at the John F. Kennedy Library, 190 West 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33012. For safety purposes, the city will set up a drive-through, where people will not be able to exit their vehicle.
Online applications will be taken at the same time and web address as the business fund.
To qualify, applicants must live within Hialeah’s city limits, have proof they have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and have previously earned an income of 60% of the area median income. Applicants will need to provide a copy of the lease.
This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 7:33 PM.
