Gulfcoast Legal Services (GLS) recently received Pinellas Community Foundation CARES Act funding to further address the eviction crisis created in Pinellas by COVID-19.

The project will work to reduce the number of evictions filed within the county and will also provide GLS clients with expedited, direct rent payment assistance. The funds are part of the Pinellas CARES Nonprofit Partnership Fund, which provides a total of $30 million in CARES Act funds for qualifying nonprofit organizations.

COVID-19 caused spikes in unemployment during lockdown. Many individuals were or have been out of work for months. Many more are still struggling to find employment and/or access unemployment benefits. GLS has worked with a string of clients in the last few months who, through no fault of their own, are now having difficulty paying their rent.