The City of Wilton Manors now has a dispenser for the public to retrieve unemployment applications outside of Commission Chambers.

The announcement was made Wednesday and the applications are available in English, Spanish and Creole.

“Many businesses and their employees in Wilton Manors have been devastated by the required closings due to COVID-19,” said Wilton Manors Assistant City Manager Pamela Landi. “We heard about the frustration in other communities in attempting to get a copy of the required form, and believed this simple gesture would be appropriate.”

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has come under fire for its faulty website as droves of newly unemployed Floridians attempt to file for unemployment benefits as a result of COVID-19. It has been so glitchy, the state introduced paper applications that can be mailed in. However, for those without a printer, this only added another challenge. 

In Hialeah, an application distribution site at a library got out of hand as hundreds of people lined up to get an application, not practicing social distancing. Landi said that staff have been keeping an eye on the dispenser and so far “have not observed any violations.”
The DEO rolled out a new website, floridajobs.org/raapplication, with the promise that it is more user friendly. For those who prefer to use the paper application and have access to a printer, it can be accessed online here. According to the city of Wilton Manors, participating FedEx locations will mail the completed forms at no charge.