TAMPA — The City of Tampa has reopened its rental assistance program to help families secure stable housing.

Funds have been allocated to cover costs such as security deposits, initial and final month’s rent, and monthly rental assistance for up to one year.

About 1,400 families benefited from the assistance during the last cycle, including a health care worker who became homeless while battling breast cancer.

Angela Persley has been living in her new apartment for under a year now.

Persley is a lifelong caregiver who suddenly found herself diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and without a home.

According to the American Cancer Society, triple-negative breast cancer is among the most aggressive types of cancer. It tends to grow and spread more quickly while offering fewer treatment options. Despite this challenge, Persley was determined to fight. She transitioned from working part-time to depending on disability support.

When she applied for other housing options, she faced continuous denials.

She could pay the rent, but she couldn’t afford the security deposit of two-three months’ rent that landlords required.

“It was so hard. It was denial after denial; credit wasn’t bad, none of that. It was just the denials that you have to have. And me being a cancer patient and I had to quit my job that I worked part-time — I ended up homeless,” she said.

She slept on the couches of family and friends until she was linked to the City of Tampa’s rental assistance program. Since the program’s launch, the City of Tampa has awarded over $10 million in rental assistance. The program assists renters who earn up to 140% of the area median income (AMI).

“They paid first, last, security and a portion of eight months,” said Persley.

She not only received financial assistance, but Persley also had a special housing request because she was without a vehicle and wanted to be close to her doctors for treatment.

“He told me about this apartment, and he says it’s right down the street from Moffit, and I’m like, you’re kidding me,” she said.

After undergoing 12 cycles of chemotherapy and nine weeks of radiation, Persley’s doctors gave her the all-clear. She links the success of her treatment to stable housing.

“Homelessness can impact anyone. It can happen at the drop of a dime,” said Persley.

Persley is now sharing her survival journey to inspire courage in others.

Forty eligible applications will be accepted every Tuesday and Thursday — a total of 80 per week until the funding limit is reached. Once accepted, applicants have until midnight to complete the full application.

The portal opens at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit tampa.gov/rmap for more information.