ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — State Representative Anna Eskamani joined a consortium of community activists outside the Orange County Administration Building Thursday to call on county leaders to wipe out medical debt for residents.
Community members led by Central Florida Jobs with Justice said Orange County has millions of dollars in unused American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that could be allocated.
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They argued that data from an organization that tracks medical debt shows that $8.7 million in funding from ARPA will eliminate debt for 250,000 Orange County households suffering under it. . They said it would primarily affect low- and middle-income households, especially the tourism industry.
Their call began in 2021 and has continued amid growing economic uncertainty over the past two years. They held a press conference Thursday to echo the commissioners’ vote to pass the county’s annual budget.
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They said places like Toledo, Ohio, are taking this step.
“They have the ability,” Sam Delgado said. “We’re just asking them to sit down and meet with us.”
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Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings addressed the group before the vote was taken. He said all of the county’s ARPA funds were allocated in last year’s budget, but commissioners will revisit the topic if the backlog continues.
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