Emergency Rental Assistance Program


Lee County Government is investing in Human Services to provide immediate assistance for individuals and families affected by COVID-19.
NOTICE: Tenants who have applied for and/or received funds for rental or utility assistance through the State of Florida’s OUR Florida program are not able to also receive assistance from LeeCares. If you have applied for/received assistance through OUR Florida, do not complete this application. Clients who receive assistance from both programs may be required to return duplicated funds. For assistance, you will need to contact OUR Florida through their online portal (https://era.ourflorida.com/) or by phone 833-493-0594


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Emergency Rental Assistance Program

 Lee County will pay up to six months of past due rent and utilities and three months of prospective payments for qualified households, plus ongoing payment of future rent as permitted. However, rental assistance cannot exceed a total of 12 months for each qualified household. The total months include past due, current due, and prospective payments.

  If a household requires additional assistance after the arrears and three months’ prospective payments are made, they must recertify by providing updated documentation.

Lee County Residents Apply Online

City of Fort Myers residents must use a different application. Search your address below to find out which application to use.

Household Eligibility:
  • Renting households at or below 80% area median income (AMI) facing homelessness or housing instability due to inability to pay rent and/or utilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for assistance. Such households must be able to demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 on their household’s financial position.

  • Has a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median.
    Income limits by household size
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
    $38,600 $44,100 $49,600 $55,100 $59,500 $63,950 $68,350 $72,750

  • Households that fall under one or both of the following will be prioritized during processing:
    1. Household income below 50% of AMI.
    2. One or more people in the household are unemployed and have not been employed for the last 90 days prior to application.

  • Households that are receiving housing and/or utility assistance from any other program cannot also apply for ERA for the same months that other assistance is received.

Search your address below to find out if you live in the City of Fort Myers