Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Today, the Miami Beach Mayor & Commission unanimously approved the creation of a rent relief fund for qualifying residents adversely impacted by COVID-19. A total of $549,111.54 will be available through state and federal funds for those residents who have fallen behind in payments as a result of job loss.

The City will be harnessing resources from three entitlement programs: Community Development Block Grant Program & CARES Act CDBG-CV, HOME Investment Partnership Program, and State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP).

Starting Monday, May 18, 2020 , interested residents should call the Office of Housing and Community Services to schedule an appointment at 305.673.7491. Staff will inform callers of the required documentation to bring to the appointment. Once staff has a complete application with all required documentation, the application will be reviewed for eligibility. Applicants will be provided with correspondence to provide to their respective landlord that an application for rent assistance has been filed with the City of Miami Beach. Once the file is approved, a check will be mailed to the landlord within 7-10 business days.

The City will provide assistance to households earning no more than 80% AMI until funds are exhausted. Below are details on each program, including eligibility requirements.  Click here  for a checklist of documents needed to apply for tenant-based rental assistance.

For more information, visit the "Rent Assistance" tab on our dedicated Coronavirus webpage .
Virtual Culture Guide
Our latest virtual Arts and Culture guide is here with poetry by the Betsy Hotel , performances by the Miami City Ballet and a curated playlist just for you!

Click here to read this week's newsletter and visit our website for other virtual happenings here .
Building Department Training
Please join us to discuss the upcoming changes in the Building Department. You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Building Department Online Permits Training | Thursday, May 14 from 2 PM - 3 PM
 Call-in: 1.877.568.4106 (toll free) or 312.757.3129 | Access Code: 602 609 213
Virtual Sustainachella
We continue to bring Virtual Sustainachella to provide the community with the knowledge and tools necessary to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Friday, May 15
4 PM - 5 PM
Register today to obtain access to this workshop, as we discuss bird conservation. Click  here to register now.
Drive-Thru Food Distribution
Feeding South Florida and Commissioner David Richardson will host a drive-thru food distribution Saturday, May 16.

The food distribution is on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.

Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it's your turn in line.

Saturday, May 16
9 AM - 11 AM
2100 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL
Entrance on 21 Street and Collins Avenue

If you're unable to get food, please   visit  www.feedingsouthflorida.org/covid19  and use the agency locator to find a food pantry in your zip code.
72 Street Community Complex
Join the City of Miami Beach for a virtual presentation on the 72 Street Community Complex project, which will be located at 299 72 Street.

Tuesday, May 19
6 PM

Participate via Zoom webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87017021573 or by telephone 888.475.4499 (toll free) . The Webinar ID is 870 1702 1573.
Facial Covering Requirements
 Face coverings  MUST be worn at all essential retail and commercial businesses. If you are visiting one of our open parks/greenspaces and/or beachwalks/baywalks, you must wear a face covering unless social distancing can be achieved.

This does not apply to children under the age of 2, person's who have trouble breathing due to chronic pre-existing conditions or persons engaged in strenuous physical activity.

As of today, May 11, all city parks and tennis centers that are currently open will now close at 8 p.m. South Pointe park has also reopened today. It will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be closed on the weekends.

Click here for a full listing of parks/greenspace openings and view below facial covering requirement details.  Click here to learn how you can easily make your own face covering.
Hybrid Testing Site
The COVID-19 testing facility at the Miami Beach Convention Center campus is open and offers both drive-through and walk-up testing services daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., or until the 400 per day tests are maxed out. No appointments are necessary. Testing is FREE and available to anyone, 18 years or older, regardless of COVID-19 symptoms.

A patient that has been tested is welcome to be retested at any time.

For more information on testing and testing for homebound seniors view the 'Testing' tab on our Coronavirus dedicated webpage .

Read an FAQ on what to expect at the community-based testing site in  English  and  Spanish .
Food Assistance
The City of Miami Beach is now offering food assistance to qualifying residents who have lost their employment and are experiencing food insecurity.

Please visit  www.miamibeachfl.gov/food  to fill out the required form.
Get Counted!
Now more than ever it's important to get counted! For the first time in Census history, you can now fill out the form online as well as by phone or mail.

Responding is fast, easy, safe and important and it’s key to shaping the future of your community.

Visit my2020census.gov and make sure you get counted.

If you don’t know your Census ID number, you can still complete the questionnaire. Follow the following steps:
  • Click on “Start Questionnaire”
  • Click “If you don’t have your Census ID”
  • Then proceed to enter your residential address

Don't waive your right to be counted, fill out the Census today. Click here to view the information in Spanish.
Feeding the Frontline
Created to help out local restaurants,  Miami Eats  has now expanded its efforts to also support your local front-line medical staff, police and fire first-responders through  Meals for Heroes Miami

This   amazing program provides warm meals to those saving our community every day!
 Customer Service
Our city hotline at 305.604.CITY (2489) is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can also email your questions to [email protected]
To help keep you informed on the latest details of this ever evolving COVID-19 pandemic , the city has created a dedicated, city-related coronavirus webpage. We encourage you to continuously visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus f or the most up-to-date information, including a list of frequently asked questions , important resources, impacts to city services and more.
Below is an ongoing summary of updates from the City of Miami Beach.

Miami Beach Resource Center
Has your business or job been impacted by coronavarius pandemic? The City of Miami Beach is here to help! Please email your contact information and inquiry to [email protected] and one of our resource agents will assist you.
You can also view some helpful tools and resources for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including information on Governor DeSantis' Florida Small Business Emergency Loan Program and more on our dedicated business portal .

Meals for Seniors
If you are a senior citizen 60 years or older and are having problems getting meals, please call Miami-Dade County’s 311 Call Center between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m . and you will be immediately patched in with their Emergency Operations Center to get you the meals or other services that you may need. If you are not a senior, we still encourage you to share this message with any senior you may know.

Miami-Dade Public Schools Meal Distribution
Nautilus Middle School has replaced Miami Beach Senior High as the meal distribution center for Miami-Dade Public Schools grab-and-go meals in our community.

Those in need can pick-up meals from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, click here  for more information and other school locations. Free meals for kids are also available through  FLIPANY, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services  and  Feeding Florida.

Impacted Meetings/Events
For a full list of impacted meetings and events, please visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus .

Miami Beach Restaurants - Takeout and Delivery
The City of Miami Beach is maintaining the general curfew throughout the city beginning at midnight each night, but permits restaurants to continue to operate their kitchens after midnight, for delivery services only .


Stay Informed
The City of Miami Beach remains committed to ensuring the safety and public health of our residents, visitors and local businesses. As the information is changing rapidly pertaining to COVID-19, the administration is conducting daily interdepartmental calls to monitor the progression of novel coronavirus COVID-19 to ensure that we stay informed and respond when needed. We are also closely following the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH).

For updated information on the city’s efforts, please visit: www.MiamiBeachFl.gov/coronavirus . We will also post updated messages via email , Nextdoor , Facebook, Twitter and via text message (text MBAlert to 888777).