American Rescue Plan Application

Through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), housing help is available to individuals and families who experienced unemployment, reduction of income, significantly increased expenses, or other financial hardship during or due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 outbreak. This does not mean an applicant had to have contracted COVID to be eligible.

The program provides financial assistance to pay rent or mortgage. Also available, if qualified and approved, is arrearage or paying past due bills up to March 13, 2020. You must have been current on your rent or mortgage as of March 13, 2020. Arrearage and prospective payments are available up to the maximum of $25,000 per household. Please note that if a household previously received the maximum amount allowed through the ARP program, the household is no longer eligible for ARP assistance.

Applications are open Monday, March 4, at 12 p.m. and will remain available until Friday, March 15, at midnight (submit by 11:59 p.m.). Funds are available until exhausted based on a first-qualified basis.

Apply through the online portal if you feel you qualify for assistance through the American Recovery Plan. Upon receipt of a completed application, County staff will begin the review process. Applications will be returned to applicant or rejected if all required documents are not submitted. Details about the program, documentation and application process are available on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Applicants who reside in subsidized housing or otherwise rent or are homeowners may be eligible if your income does not exceed 140% of the area median income (AMI) as identified in the chart below. Both renters and homeowners may receive assistance with arrearage or future rent or mortgage payments. If you reside in subsidized housing and assistance is awarded, it will only be for the tenant portion of rent that is not paid by other rental assistance.

Collier ARP Re-opening March 2024

All persons that experienced financial hardship since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak and who have a total gross income that falls within the limits in the table below are encouraged to apply. County staff review eligibility and allocation of funding on a case-by-case basis.

**Please refer to the income chart below.**

County (Metro)	Income Category	Income Limit by Number of Persons in Household
County (Metro)	Income Category	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Collier County (Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island MSA) Median: $104,300	30% AMI	$21,950	$25,050	$28,200	$31,300	$36,580	$41,960	$47,340	$52,720	Refer to HUD	Refer to HUD
	50% AMI	$36,550	$41,750	$46,950	$52,150	$56,350	$60,500	$64,700	$68,850	$73,010	$77,182
	80% AMI	$58,450	$66,800	$75,150	$83,450	$90,150	$96,850	$103,500	$110,200	$116,816	$123,491
	120% AMI	$87,720	$100,200	$112,680	$125,160	$135,240	$145,200	$155,280	$165,240	$175,224	$185,237
	140% AMI	$102,340	$116,900	$131,460	$146,020	$157,780	$169,400	$181,160	$192,780	$204,428	$216,110

Applicants must prove loss of income, *housing instability or other financial hardship occurred during or was due directly or indirectly from the COVID-19 outbreak. Remember, this does not mean an applicant had to contract the coronavirus.

Required documentation may include ONE of the following:

Verification of Unemployment filing since March 1, 2020, if applicable
2020, 2021 and 2022 tax return, signed and dated
A letter from employer verifying a reduction in hours, pay-rate, number of shifts, or business closure, if applicable
Copies of pay stubs before and after COVID-19 outbreak, if applicable
Other supporting documentation that proves your financial hardship, determined case-by-case
Photo ID (government issued) for all persons in the household over the age of 18
US Citizenship for one adult household member
• Required citizenship documentation may include ONE of the following:
1. Birth Certificate
2. Passport
3. Naturalization Certificate
4. Social Security Card
5. Legal Resident Card
Mortgage statement including coupon
Collier County resident
1. Driver’s License or other government issued photo ID
2. If ID has a different address, we need a copy of your utility bill showing your name and current address
Application must be signed and dated by applicant and co-applicant (if applicable)
Duplication of benefits certification must be signed and dated by applicant and co-applicant (if applicable)
Release of information must be signed and dated by applicant and co-applicant (if applicable)
Other documents that are necessary to process a complete application for assistance, such as housing instability documentation (past due utility bill, eviction notice, code report, inspection report, etc.)

*Housing instability is when one or more individuals within the household demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include (i) a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice, (ii) unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, or (iii) any other evidence of risk, as determined by the grantee.