By Mary Schenkel

John’s Island Community Service League is taking action to help county residents facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19-related job losses or other disruptions, leading a collaborative effort called the HEART Program – Housing Emergency Advocacy Response Team – that will roll July 1.

This comes on top of the group’s earlier response to pandemic-related economic problems.

When the coronavirus began shutting businesses down, the League immediately stepped in and donated $250,000 to the United Way COVID-19 Fund – and successfully challenged other funders to contribute an additional $200,000 – to help newly unemployed or furloughed residents meet such basic needs as rent, utilities and food. 

For the new program, JICSL will provide $150,000 to fund a dedicated legal aid attorney at the Florida Rural Legal Services to assist Indian River County residents in danger of losing their homes. FRLS has similar programs in Martin, St. Lucie and other counties.