UPDATED, Feb. 9, 11:15 a.m.: Some relief is coming to landlords in Miami-Dade County.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced a $60 million relief program for residential landlords that have pending writs of possession with tenants facing eviction. The program will offer those landlords back rent of up to $3,000 per month dating back to March 2020, using federal funding, Levine Cava said at a press conference Monday morning. The proposed program is subject to approval from the Miami-Dade County Commission.
The mayor, whose term began in November, also announced that writs of possession for commercial evictions will be served beginning March 5.
Levine Cava said the county has been meeting with landlords and tenants rights groups to come up with the assistance. The county’s public housing and community development department will release details on how to apply at a later date, she said.
Michael Liu, Miami-Dade’s public housing director, said the county will accept referrals from landlords, including copies of lease agreements and rent rolls, and will confirm the information with tenants. Tenants will have their own application process as well.
There are about 6,000 to 7,000 residential evictions in process in Miami-Dade, and of those, the courts have issued up to 1,700 writs of possession. Those landlords will be prioritized, Liu said.
Commissioner Eileen Higgins said the county’s original emergency rental assistance program, which she sponsored, has helped more than 7,000 families pay rent directly to landlords throughout the county.
In November, prior to Levine Cava taking office, then-Mayor Carlos Gimenez directed the Miami-Dade Police Department to begin enforcing writs of possessions for all eviction cases filed on or before March 12.
Andrew Glass of the Miami-Dade Police Department said there are about 150 commercial writs ready to be served.
The federal eviction moratorium was extended to March 31, but Florida’s ban on residential evictions and foreclosures expired Oct. 1, following multiple monthly extensions.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.