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Leon CARES Assistance to the Community

The Leon CARES Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), approved by the Board of County Commissioners in January 2021, uses federal dollars to provide assistance to citizens experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The Leon CARES ERAP provides assistance with rent, rental arrears, utilities, and utility arrears on behalf of eligible households.

Leon County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Closed for new applications

Based on the overwhelming response to the program, the application window for the ERA Program has closed as of April 19 at 5 p.m.

For those continuing their applications, the Leon County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program provides critical financial support to eligible Leon County households (including households within the City of Tallahassee) experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19.

Eligible households may receive up to 15 total months of rent and/or utility assistance, including up to 12 months for past-due bills as well as for future payments, up to 3 months at a time (subject to funding availability). Awarded funds will be paid directly to landlords and utility service providers.

For those continuing their applications, please see the following links for more information about the program as well as answers to frequently asked questions:

Continue My Existing Application

Community Impact At-A-Glance

Caring for Lives and Livelihoods of Those Impacted by COVID-19

Through the Leon CARES program, Leon County Government has successfully leveraged $62.2 million in federal funding to date to address the community’s greatest needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The following statistics summarize the positive impacts of the Leon CARES program throughout the community:

Direct Assistance to Households, Businesses, and Community Partners

Support to Vulnerable Populations and the Hungry

Expanding and Strengthening Public Health Operations

Leon County EMS responded to 5,000+ COVID-19 calls

Increased community-wide testing and testing access with 50+ additional mobile events serving 3,400 residents throughout the community (Through these and other community efforts, the community now tests approximately 2,000/day, ten times the state-recommended average.)

Hired 38 additional contact tracers, 43 school health monitors, and 4 epidemiologists

Launched the largest public information campaign in Leon County’s history to inform and educate; 26 million times seen, read or heard

Other Community Programs Supported by Leon CARES

Learn about other Leon CARES funded community programs that address food insecurity, childcare, mental health, homelessness and more.

Learn More »