Volusia Cares RISE Program Appeal

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Process to Appeal Denial 

Appeal Eligibility

Individuals may appeal if: 

• They received a denial letter for your application, and 
• They believe the denial was in error and that you meet all eligibility requirements. 

If you were notified by program staff that you are eligible to reapply, DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPEAL. You are free to submit a new prescreening on any Monday or Wednesday that they are accepted. 

PLEASE CLOSELY REVIEW PROGRAM ELIGIBLITY CRITERIA BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPEAL.  All denials are based on or more of the eligibility criteria.

Program Details and Eligibility Criteria

LINC Me Platform

The Volusia Cares RISE program is utilizing a platform called LINC Me for communication and documentation collection. After you submit a pre-screening form, you will be invited to join the LINC Me Platform via email and text (email and phone number you provided in the pre-screening survey). The text invitation will come from 617-934-6298 and the email will come from no-reply@lincme.org (make sure you check your junk mail box).

You can download and use the LINC Me app or use your login to access the platform through any internet browser. Once you sign into LINC Me, click on messages for detailed instructions on how to submit your application and the required documentation. Once you have responded to the invitation to join, you can also use your username and password to access LINC me at www.app.lincme.org

Required Documents

In order for your eligibility for assistance to be determined, you must provide all required documents for every household member. Failure to submit all required documents may lead to your assistance being delayed or denied.

All documents provided must be clear, legible and ideally in color. Multi-page documents such as leases must be uploaded in a .pdf format as one file. There are free apps available for your phone that can convert photographs to multi-page .pdf documents. Other documents, such as identification and birth certificates, can be uploaded as photograph/image files (.jpeg, .jpg, .png) as long as they are clear and legible.

This is a government-funded rental assistance program, and all documentation submitted as part of an application is subject to verification. Receipts, paystubs, employment termination letters, landlord documentation, and other supporting documents will be independently verified with the issuing employer, business, landlord, or other source. Do not submit altered, fabricated, or otherwise inauthentic documentation.

Submitting false or fraudulent documentation in connection with a government-funded program may result in denial or termination of assistance, repayment of funds, civil or criminal penalties, and referral to the appropriate authorities for investigation and further action.

Rent & Mortgage Program Eligibility Summary. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY

• Proof of Past Due: You must provide documentation that your rent or mortgage payment is past due. This documentation must be something you received from your landlord or mortgage company. If you have a pending legal eviction or foreclosure, you are not eligible for assistance.
• Proof of Identity and Household Makeup: You must provide identification for all members of your household.
  • Social Security Card for all household members, adults and minors
  • AND
  • Adults: Driver’s License or State ID for all Adults in the household (Must be a Florida State ID or Florida Driver’s License)
  • Minors: Driver’s license, State ID, Birth Certificate or Immunization Record for all minors under age 18 in the household (Must be a Florida State ID or Florida Driver’s License)
• Proof of Residency: This program is only available for residents of Volusia County. The applicant’s Identification must include the current address, and that address must be in Volusia County. No exceptions.
• Rental Agreement: For rental assistance, you must provide a copy of a current (not expired) lease with all included pages that is signed and executed by all tenant(s) and the landlord. Note:  if your household already receives some form of ongoing government rental assistance (Section 8, TBRA, public housing, subsidized housing) you are not eligible for this program.
• Mortgage Statement: For mortgage assistance, you must provide the most recent full mortgage statement that shows a past due amount and includes all mortgage details, including the mortgage company and contact information.
• Household Income: Your annual gross household income, including all sources of income for all household members, must be below the 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines. Annual gross income is calculated based on the documentation provided for the last 30 days.
  • 1 Person Household: $31,300 Annual Income limit
  • 2 Person Household: $42,300 Annual Income limit
  • 3 Person Household: $53,300 Annual Income limit
  • 4 Person Household: $64,300 Annual Income limit
  • 5 Person Household: $75,300 Annual Income limit
  • 6 Person Household: $86,300 Annual Income limit
  • 7 Person Household: $97,300 Annual Income limit
  • 8 Person Household: $108,300 Annual Income limit

• Hardship: You must describe and document your recent and unexpected hardship that caused you to fall behind on rent or mortgage payments. You will be asked to provide documentation of your stated hardship.
• Landlord/Mortgage Company Cooperation:  If your landlord/mortgage company does not agree to accept payment through this program, you are not eligible for assistance. Landlords must be willing to communicate with us directly and submit requested documents and information. 
• Homestead Status. If you are renting a property, the house must NOT have a homestead exemption.
• Limits on Assistance: The maximum amount of rent or mortgage assistance is up to two (2) months of rent/mortgage that is PAST DUE at the time of application.  The maximum assistance cannot exceed the Fair Market Rent amounts noted below, REGARDLESS of the amount of your actual rent or mortgage payments. Only rent costs (for rental assistance) and principal/interest costs (for mortgage assistance) can be covered – no other late fees or charges can be covered by the assistance. The applicant must make arrangements with the landlord or mortgage company to cover all costs that are not covered by the assistance awarded.
  • Efficiency:  $1,205
  • One Bedroom:  $1,385
  • Two-Bedroom:  $1,700
  • Three-Bedroom:  $2,241
  • Four-Bedroom:  $2,429
• Frequency of Assistance: Applicants are only eligible for rent or mortgage assistance one time every 365 days. If you have received assistance from the County of Volusia in the last year, you are not eligible for assistance through this program.

How to Submit an Appeal
Submit online via this Request to Appeal Denial form.

Appeal Timeline  

• Review of the request by Volusia Cares leadership team will be completed within ten (10) business days of the receipt. 
• You may be contacted to submit additional documentation to be considered. 
• Final decision will be provided within thirty (30) days, via email or text, from the date the request for appeal was submitted.