Orange County

Florida residents claim program to help pay their bills coming up short

ORLANDO, Fla. — The federally funded “Our Florida” program designed to help those in need pay for rent and utilities stopped accepting applications last month.

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But some who were approved for rental assistance before that deadline said Our Florida is not paying as promised.

Channel 9 spoke with a single mother who lives in public housing in Orlando.

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She said Our Florida approved paying her rent starting last month, but so far has missed two payments.

For thousands of families Our Florida has been a life saver.

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But one woman said she received rental assistance from the state-run program for six months. However, she applied again and was only approved for May through July.

She said even though her paperwork shows “approved” her rent still has not been paid for May or June. Now she’s facing eviction.

She also received a letter from the gas company threatening to shut her gas off. She said Our Florida was supposed to pay that bill too.

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Housing groups working with people across the state told Channel 9 this is something they have been seeing with Our Florida falling behind and not paying, especially now that the program is ending.

See more in the video above.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

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