WINTER PARK, Fla. — Orange County's CARES Individual and Family Assistance Application portal reopened Monday morning but again quickly closed due to site volume.
What You Need To Know
- Orange County CARES application portal closes soon after opening
- The county's application portal can be found here
- Lake County awaiting $16 million in CARES Act assistance
- RELATED: Minutes After Opening, Orange County CARES Act Application Site Temporarily Closes
The application portal opened at 8 a.m., but about an hour later, it was closed to new applications.
"This online application is closed for June 15, 2020 in order to process submitted applications. However, a future application date will be available soon for residents," a message on the portal said.
The program launched one week ago but quickly reached capacity and closed within minutes.
Thousands in Orange County are seeking financial assistance after being furloughed or laid off during the coronavirus pandemic. The money, more than $72 million, is intended to help people with rent or mortgage payments, or utility or medical bills.
"I think there's a large amount of funding. In terms of meeting the demand, there's never enough funding to meet the demands of anything," said Dianne Arnold of the Orange County Citizen Resource and Outreach Division.
About 50,000 people were on the portal last week, trying to put in their application.
An Orange County spokesperson said Monday's process went a lot smoother. Staff decreased the number of documents needed to complete the application and put more staff toward processing applications.
Applicants will have to meet certain criteria and paperwork to get through.
James Simon was able to submit his application Monday after having a hard time last week.
"I don't want to get my hopes up, but I do feel a little bit of excitement," Simon said.
His wish came true Monday after he was able to submit for the one-time payment of $1,000 while the site was open from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The system allows 25,000 users access to submit an application.
"There was some glitch in the system, but so far I was able to apply in less than 10 minutes," Simon said.
He's looking forward to possibly making a dent on payments after being furloughed in March.
"That's going to go straight to my landlord. I owe them three months," Simon said.
Simon is happy to see Orange County make changes to make the process easier, and after losing his car three weeks ago because he wasn't able to pay, he needs financial help to come soon.
"I just hope they don't take too long to get us the assistance we need," Simon said.
The portal will be open periodically through December or until funding runs out.
Relief money coming to Lake County soon
In Lake County, lawmakers say $16 million in federal CARES Act economic relief money will soon be available to help local businesses.
Small business owners Patrick Bianchi and his partner, Victor Berriel, bought a building two years ago to set it up as a marketplace. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and both partners took a financial hit, unexpectedly losing tens of thousands of dollars in rent money.
“You know, some people think that's your problem by having a mortgage, but not everybody can afford five commercial buildings cash-free and clear,” Bianchi says.
Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks says he hopes the $16 million will get the wheels of business back in motion.
"This money could come in the form of a hiring incentive. Thousands of dollars. It could possibly go toward equipment that is needed," he said.
It could alsp improve parking lots and roadways leading to businesses.
County leaders expect to distribute that money, which will be in the form of grants, in about a week.
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