PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County commissioners will consider making changes to the county’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help renters in St. Petersburg.
During their meeting on Tuesday, commissioners will discuss a resolution that will allow some of the county’s ERA funds to be used for families within St. Petersburg’s city limits.
Money from the federal government is being used for rent and utility aid during the pandemic.
St. Petersburg and Pinellas County received separate funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city is nearly out of money, but the county has more funds left over.
If the resolution is approved, the remaining money would go to families within St. Petersburg’s city limits.
Renters say the measure is needed. Fourty-three percent of the county’s low to moderate income groups live in St. Petersburg.
“I’m kind of forced out of my apartment now because I just can’t afford that much,” renter Evan Moscoo previously told 8 On Your Side. “It [high rent prices] makes it much harder to live here, and, they’re really weeding out a lot of people.”
The commission is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
