The City of Tampa has reopened its Rental and Move-In Assistance Program .
The program launched in 2022 as a way to help renters struggling with rising rents in the city.
Known as RMAP, the program provides help paying security deposits, first and last month’s rent, past due rent, and/or a limited monthly subsidy.
According to the city, more than 900 households received a portion of the $4.5 million in rental assistance in 2024.
But getting approval isn’t exactly simple. The application opens at 9 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. The city will accept 40 people per day that its open.
Shamiesa Grier was one of the many people in line to apply on the first Thursday of the new year.
“It was like gambling, like trying to win the lottery, you know? Trying to win something so you can have a better life,” Grier said. “It ended quickly. Within 2 minutes it was full. It was like, ‘Come back on Tuesday’ and I did that on Thursday early morning.”
Grier said she believes the city should separate the applications by needs.