Orange County Will Reopen CARES Act Amidst Walt Disney World Layoffs

Orange County will reopen its CARES Act crisis assistance program next week, just days after Disney, the region’s largest employer, announced it would be laying off about 7,000 of its employees in Central Florida.

  

As shared by Orlando Sentinel: When the relief program initially launched earlier this year, nearly 30,000 households received $1,000 payments to help cover rent, utility bills, prescriptions and food. And additional aid is needed, officials said, as more Disney layoffs are possible following negotiations between the company and unions representing many of its workers.

“We know it’s a long climb back out of this,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. “A large number like that…should re-emphasize to Congress that the American people need help with this. We need some financial assistance just to deal with so many unemployed people…[who] can’t put meals on the table.”

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county has about $56 million remaining CARES Act dollars and would announce next week when the crisis assistance hotline would reopen, how much money would be allocated to it and who would be eligible to receive payments. “We know the need is great and we intend to continue to answer the call for service in our community,” he said. “Together we see through to a promising future and we want our citizens to stay safe and stronger together.”

Osceola County, already with the state’s highest unemployment, will also likely feel the additional strain from the layoffs. The county announced Thursday it would use some of its remaining CARES Act money on an eviction diversion program.

Source: OrlandoSentinel