Miami-Dade homeowners who meet certain qualifications may receive mortgage help
From David Volz
Miami-Dade County homeowners who continue to be affected by financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for financial aid provided by the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The HAF, created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, is designed to mitigate mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, and displacements.
“While Miami-Dade has had a strong economic recovery as we emerge from COVID, it’s clear that many of our residents still face huge financial challenges,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are fortunate to have federal and state programs to assist residents with basic expenses and help homeowners stay in their homes. I urge everyone who is eligible and in need to please apply for these funds. Through programs like these, we can help make our residents whole again and close the affordability gap.”
Once a homeowner’s application is approved, funds may be used toward catching up on home energy services, water and sewer utility bills, internet, property and/or flood insurance, property taxes, and homeowner or condominium association fees and payments. Benefits cumulatively may not exceed $50,000 per eligible household throughout the life of the program and are not considered taxable income.
Some qualifications to receive assistance include:
• Must have experienced a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began or continued after January 21, 2020.
• Must be a Florida homeowner and requesting assistance for their primary residence.
• Must meet income threshold of less than or equal to 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or 100% of the median income of United States, whichever is greater.
Miami-Dade has an artist-in-residence
From David Volz
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava named Miami-based artist Xavier Cortada as Miami-Dade County’s artist-in-residence. Cortada is a world-renowned artist, incorporating environmental protection, important issues impacting our community, and influences from his native Miami into his art. From his Pinecrest studio, Cortada’s work has appeared in the White House, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the World Bank, the Stephen P. Clark Center, and other venues around the county and the world. Cortada also serves as chairman of the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council.
“Xavier’s work focuses on some of Miami-Dade’s most complex challenges, including climate change, sea level rise, and civic engagement,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “As our artist-in-residence, he will add a new perspective to the work we do in the county and beyond, to create more accessible and widespread arts and culture programming in the region.”
“Through my art, I aim to grow a cadre of creative problem-solvers, driven by empathy and love of community,” said Xavier Cortada. “As the county’s artist-in-residence, I am excited to work with Mayor Levine Cava and her team in developing creative ways to engage, educate, and empower Miami-Dade residents to address important social and environmental concerns.”
Cortada’s environmentally focused work challenges viewers to consider their impact on the world’s natural resources, as well as their personal role to play in environmental protection. His work is featured in the permanent collections of the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, the Whatcom Museum, the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum and the MDC Museum of Art + Design. From 2007-08, Cortada’s art was installed at the North and South Poles to draw attention to environmental destruction around the world.
Together, Mayor Levine Cava and Xavier Cortada also unveiled the mayor’s official Miami-Dade Library System Poster. The poster, a tradition for Miami-Dade mayors, encourages residents and students to visit their local library and benefit from the resources available at libraries across the county.
