JAZMIN: THE CENTRAL FLORIDA ECONOMY IS GOING ON ALMOST 5 MONTHS OF UPHEAVAL BECAUSE OF THE COVID 19 CRISIS. IT MEANS MANY PEOPLE ARE ONLY ABLE TO KEEP THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF STAYS ON EVICTIONS. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE BEHIND IN RENT AND FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE TO MAKE UP WHAT THEY OWE ONCE PROTECTIONS GO AWAY THAT’S WHY THE ORANGE COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS IS FREE, ONLINE FORUM TO HELP ANYONE DEALING WITH EVICTION ISSUES. JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE FORUM AND HELP AVAILABLE IS ORANGE COUNTY’S CLERK OF COURTS, TIFFANY MOORE RUSSELL. TANK YOU FOR TALK. WE WILL BEGIN WITH WHAT YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN SEEING THESE LAST FEW MONTHS IN TERMS OF PEOPLE FACING EVICTION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MAKE THE RENT PAYMENT RIGHT NOW. TIFFANY: GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IS A LOT OF ANXIETY, UNCERTAINTY FOR TENANTS BECAUSE OF THE UNKNOWN. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL EXTENSIONS BY THE GOVERNOR TO PUSH THE MORATORIUM BACK, TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY MORE TIME. THERE IS ALSO URGENCY FROM THE LANDLORDS. IT IS BOTH SIDES PULLING ON THE POLICYMAKERS, TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS. FOR US AT THE CLERK’S OFFICE, IT’S ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME, WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS. A LOT OF IT IS ANXIETY, UNCERTAINTY. NO ONE WANTS TO SEE ANYONE HOMELESS AT THIS TIME. IT’S A LOT OF NERVOUS CITIZENS RIGHT NOW HO IT COMES TO THE HOUSING SITUATION. JAZMIN: SURELY KEEPING YOUR OFFICE BUSY. BOTH SIDES HERE, GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS BEEN MAKING THOSE MONTH BY MONTH EXTENSIONS MEANING THAT IF YOU ARE BEHIND ON RENT IN THE CURRENT MONTHS, YOU CAN’T BE PUT OUT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE MORATORIUM ENDS? HADAS: THE LANDLORD -- TIFFANY: THE LANDLORD MUST STILL FOLLOW FLORIDA STATUTE AROUND THE EVICTION PROCESS, DOING THE REQUIRED NOTICE, FILING A COMPLAINT, BUT LANDLORD-TENANT MATTERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE EXPEDITED MATTERS. THEY MOVE A LOT FASTER. SO, TENANTS REALLY ONLY HAVE FIVE DAYS TO RESPOND AND WHEN THAT IS LIFTED, I’M CERTAIN WE WILL HAVE LANDLORDS LINED UP READY TO FILE COMPLAINTS TO START THE PROCESS AND GET IT MOVING. JAZMIN: LANDLORDS HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS, SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE COMMUNICATION, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PAYMENTS TO MAKE. HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE BRIDGE BOTH AND HELP TO FIND A SOLUTION? TIFFANY: AS A CLERK, WE DON’T REALLY GET INTO THE MEDIATION FOR THEM TO RESOLVE THE PROCESS. WE JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR THEM. WE DON’T TRY TO LEAD THE LANDLORD IN A DIRECTION. WE LEAVE IT, IF THE COURTS WANT TO LEAD WITH THAT ISSUE, WE STAY OUT OF THE SETTING POLICY. OR TRYING TO ADVOCATE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND ARE EDUCATING. JAZMIN: IF THERE IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WANT SOMEONE FACING EVICTION TO KNOW, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? TIFFANY: IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FIRST, REACH OUT TO ASK QUESTIONS. I HAVE A SELF-HELP CENTER AT THE CLERK’S OFFICE WHERE WE PARTNER WITH THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND THEY CAN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. I WOULD NEVER IGNORE A NOTICE IF YOU HAVE ONE ON YOUR DOOR. REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY TO GET IT IS THROUGH THE CLERK’S OFFICE OR A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LEGAL AID, LEGAL SERVICES WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE ORANGE COUNTY REFERRAL PROGRAM WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS. THEY CAN COME TO THE SELF-HELP CENTER TO GET MORE INTO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE A FORUM WHERE THEY WILL BE GIVING ADVICE ON THE PROCESS WITH FIXES THAT TENANTS CAN MAKE IN RESPONDING TO THE COMPLAINTS. JAZMIN: ALL RIGHT, THAT’S SOME GOOD INFO THERE. THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US THIS MORNING. TIFFAN JAZMIN: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M., THAT IS WHEN YOU CAN TUNE IN TO THE FOR