Dade County assistance programs.

Find help with bills, rent, and emergency grants.

Low and moderate income families can get assistance from the Miami-Dade Community Action Agency (CAA). Immediately below is a list of the programs they offer, and at bottom is information on other charities and non-profits. The community action agency is a non-profit organization that is determined to help families and individuals by delivering services that assist low and moderate income individuals and families with short term needs and paying bills, and also help them gain self-sufficiency and economic independence over the long term by using a comprehensive list of programs that address a number of these individuals needs. The resources they offer are below.

• Miami Dade County Community Action Agency’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
  This is a federally funded program that assists low and moderate income residents with paying their gas, heating, and electric bills. Also, if you are a customers who is in imminent danger of having your electrical services disconnected, you should contact the Care to Share Program, which is located at CAA Neighborhood Service Centers. Contact info is below.
   
• HOUSING ASSISTANCE NETWORK OF DADE (HAND)
  The Miami Dade County Community Action Agency has various assistance programs that are available for individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless or who are currently homeless. It can provide temporary grants for paying rent or utility bill assistance to prevent them from becoming homeless or losing their utility service.
   
• Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program
  Additional resources that can be used for rent help are offered from the Emergency Food and Shelter Assistance (EFSA) program, which is is utilized to assist Miami and Dade County families and individuals who are in need of emergency assistance with issues regarding payment of rent, utility bills, and even mortgage payments. It also provides temporary shelter and food aid. Aid can also be provided to help prevent an eviction.
   
• Foreclosure prevention, mediation, and programs to stop a foreclosure.
  Miami and Dade County have implemented a new foreclosure prevention program. It can also stop a foreclosure that may already be in progress. Read more.
   

 

 

 

• WEATHERIZATION SERVICES AVAILABLE
  If you need to permanently lower your energy bills, the Miami Dade County Community Action Agency’s Energy Programs Division has multiple services that are available to assist homeowners with making their homes more energy efficient. It can result in lowering your utility bill by up to 35%.
   
• Single Family Home Rehabilitation Program
  A recurring, major concern of low-income homeowners in Florida is trying to ensure their home is updated and modernized. They often need to keep up with necessary but costly home repairs and updates. This is particularly true of older homes with outdated plumbing/heating systems, weathered roofs, worn siding, drafty windows, or outdated electrical wiring. The Home Rehabilitation Program can provide cash grants that can be used to fix and updates homes.
   
• Free Child Care and Head Start
  A variety of services are offered for children under 5, including Head Start and free child care. They can provide health care, medical services, food and nutritional supplements, and other aid to both families and their children five years of age and younger.
   
• Free Food
  They have partnerships and listing of charities, non-profits, pantries, and organizations to call or stop by at for free food. Locations can provide nonperishable items, hot meals, baby formulas or diapers, and more. Get a listing of and read more Miami food pantries.

Contact them. The Miami Dade Community Action Agency is located at 701 NW 1st Court, Miami, Florida 33136. However they have several offices around the area. Or call them at 786-469-4600.

Miami Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program

This is a federal government funded program that is intended to provide short term rent help. Because the assistance offered by the program is temporary, and it usually lasts from three months to 18 months, the goal of the program is to target families and individuals who are most in need of help and can who can return to self-sufficiency and get back on their feet within a few months.

In Miami, the Dade County Homeless Trust is administering the program. They can be reached at 1-877-994-HELP. The agency is expecting the program to fund rental assistance for 1,500 needy households over the next two years.

The amount of aid offered is extensive. In addition to both rent and relocation services, the assistance program pays other housing-related costs such as security deposits, utility payments, money for energy expenses, and even moving and storage costs.

 

 

Dade County United Way

The organization partners with and funds a multitude of non-profit companies and programs that other local agencies manage. The United Way-funded assistance programs provide short term aid to individuals and families in financial crisis through a combination of mortgage, rent, foreclosure prevention, utility and food vouchers. Some of the services offered and funded by the Miami United Way include:

• Financial education and budgeting.
• HUD approved counselors to guide a homeowner through the foreclosure process, and offer access to mortgage and foreclosure programs.
• Debt management and reduction programs. Hundreds of consumers had their debts eliminated last year.

Contact the United Way of Miami-Dade at (305) 860–3000 to learn where and how to apply for help.

Rent Assistance

Catholic Charities Emergency Services, which is located in Miami, offers eviction prevention and rent programs for struggling families throughout Dade County. (305) 759-3050

Miami based Camillus House (305-374-1065) can provides emergency rental assistance for those with an eviction notice and who are facing homelessness.

Miami Beach Housing Authority - The agency provides emergency rental assistance to low income residents of Miami Beach Florida who are facing eviction. Applicants for the housing aid must be disabled, elderly or parents with dependent children. (305) 532-6401

M-DC Housing Agency - Section 8 - Certificate Voucher Program. They run the federal government housing section 8 program in Miami Florida. Call (305) 403-3222. This program will limit the amount of money a family needs to pay towards rent as 30%.

Several non-profits and government agencies have created a host of rental and housing assistance programs for low income residents and families in the greater Miami area. Find a listing of the options and programs. More.

Financial assistance for bills, rent, and other aid

Emergency Food and Shelter Assistance (EFSA) is run by various agencies, including Goulds, Accion, and Liberty City Community Enrichment Centers, runs the Emergency Food and Shelter Assistance (EFSA) which is utilized by those in need and it can assist families and individuals in need of emergency assistance with issues regarding payment of cooling and utility bills, housing expenses and rent payments and also provides temporary shelter and food to those in a crisis. Dial (305) 233-2121.

The Housing Assistance Network of Dade County Florida (HAND) provides assistance for paying rent, debt and credit repair, security deposit, funds for utilities (including gas, water and electric, but not phone or cable bills), legal assistance, and funds for moving and storage expenses. Find other rent programs. Phone (877) 994-4357.

COFFO, which is based in Homestead, offers emergency assistance which may include financial assistance for paying rent and expenses which lead to the prevention of evictions, provide temporary emergency lodging, grants for the prevention of utility cut off, transportation, medical bill assistance and emergency food vouchers. (305)247-4779

City of Miami Beach Office of Community Services - Offers referral services, information on government programs, rent assistance, utility bill assistance, and free food assistance. (305) 673-7491

Florida City/Homestead Neighborhood Service Center - Senior meals program, Consumer credit counseling, and rent and financial assistance is provided to qualified people. (305) 247-2068

JCS, which is based in Miami Florida, offer utility and rental utility assistance, and funds are provided under the federal government emergency food and shelter program. Limited food vouchers from Publix are also available. Dial (305) 899-1587

Braive Emergency Assistance Program (Eap) - Phone (305) 644-1200. This non-profit provides grants and financial assistance for all South Florida counties to assist veterans, OEF/OIF service members, and their families who face financial hardships, unanticipated and emergency needs related to their deployment and service. Miami Florida based.

Miami Department of Community Development is administering the federal government funded Homelessness Prevention Fund. Funding for this housing and rent program, qualified applicants can get emergency rent help. (305) 4161978

M.U.J.E.R., located at 28905 South Dixie Highway in Homestead, Florida (phone (305) 247-1388). Assistance is offered to victims of sexual, domestic violence, and/or child abuse. The non-profit agency provides comprehensive services and assistance programs from its One Stop Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center. Some of the resources offered include shelter, rent, and housing assistance, as well as utility bills. In addition, get individual counseling.

Culmer/Overtown Neighborhood Service Center, located on 1600 NW Third Avenue in Miami, can provide grants and cash for the disabled. Assistance includes rent help, emergency food commodities as well as Head Start. (305) 438-4161

Joseph Caleb Neighborhood Service Center is another location for the disabled. Free food, groceries, electric bill assistance if you are disconnected. 5400 NW 22nd Avenue in Miami. Call (305) 636-2200

Miami-Dade County resources and assistance programs that help anyone in Florida

Several different programs can help Dade County and Miami residents, as well as anyone across Florida. For example receive foreclosure counseling, energy bill assistance, and other financial aid.

• Florida free HUD foreclosure counseling
• Florida utility assistance
• Florida section 8 housing programs and vouchers
• Florida food banks
• Florida free legal help from pro-bono law firms and attorneys
• Florida medical bills
• Florida mortgage and foreclosure help
• Florida rescue missions
• Florida low cost dental clinics
• Florida community clinics

Mortgage help and foreclosure counseling

A local agency known as Foreclosure Counseling will offer Miami-Dade County homeowners with foreclosure prevention programs through financial education and information. They also offer foreclosure counseling and remedies of eminent foreclosures also provided. Some of the information provided can be on options such as the Florida hardest hit fund. (786) 369-1652

The City of Miami runs a financial assistance program that has as it goal the prevention of foreclosures by paying delinquent mortgage payments (PITI) and provides funds that will assist borrowers with bringing their mortgage current. Money can be used to pay late fees, homeowners' association payments, homeowners insurance, special assessments, taxes, and other foreclosure or mortgage associated costs. 786-469-4600

Receive free foreclosure counseling from CNC (305) 642-3484 and/or Miami Beach Community Development Corporation (305.538.0090). This agency provides information and mortgage assistance to avoid foreclosure through the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (HASP). They can refer people to programs such as Florida foreclosure mediation. Learn more.

Countrywide and Bank of America customers can get help from a center in Miami that is run by BOA. Thousands of individuals across the nation may be able to qualify for assistance from the centers. Continue.

Health, Dental and Medical Care

Low income, people with no health insurance or limited insurance can get access to high quality, free or discounted medical care from Citrus Health Network ((305) 825-0300). The clinic helps residents of West Miami-Dade County and also the City of Hialeah. Numerous doctors, nurses, and other professionals provide high quality service.

On the other hand, Community Smiles helps low income and people with limited or no health insurance and offers them access to dental care programs. (305) 324-6070

Borinquen offers numerous health care assistance to patients regardless of their ability to pay for their medical bills. (305) 576-6611.

M-DC has numerous clinics around Miami-Dade County that offer numerous health and medical services. Dial (305) 575-5401

Camillus Health Concern - A clinic that offers adult primary care, dental care, pediatric services, women's preventive health services, prescriptions, and more. Call (305) 577-4840

Several other non-profit clinics, hospital, and medical professionals offer low cost/free health care for the uninsured, low income, and unemployed in the Miami area. Get details on Miami-Dade clinics.

Get help finding a job

Suited for Success runs its own program and partners with other organizations to provide job training and professional work attire. The primary mission of Suited for Success is to ensure that qualified women, men, and youth throughout in Miami-Dade County become self-sufficient over the long term, and that they have the skills necessary to obtain gainful employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency over the long term. (305) 979-4599

Utility and cooling bill assistance

If you have had a reduction in income, Miami-Dade County's Department of Human Services provides qualified families with up to one month of electric or utility bill assistance through the Florida Power and Light (FPL) Care to Share Program. If you apply and are determined to be eligible for aid, you can receive up to $250 relief on your FPL electric bill. Call the agency at 786-331-5348.

 

 

Debt reduction, housing counseling and credit services in Miami-Dade County

Two of the leading not for profits to call are listed below. However people struggling with paying debts or bills, and homeowners who need housing advice do have other local agencies to try for help. Find more Miami credit counseling agencies.

Apprisen Financial Advocates/CCCS is a non-profit that specializes in the areas of budgeting, foreclosure assistance, savings, credit, housing, debt management and consolidation, and bankruptcy advice. They have counselors that will assist individuals with foreclosure avoidance counseling, mortgages and buying a home in the area, and can refer people to programs run by lenders such as Bank of America assistance programs. Miami Florida (800) 355-2227.

Consumer Credit Counseling is another HUD certified non-profit, and they provides counseling, mortgage delinquency counseling and education in money management and debt reduction. Helps people gain or regain financial stability by preparing a budget, reducing debts, finding a solution to mortgage delinquencies, and a repayment plan to resolve debt problems. Call (305) 893-5550