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The local Community Action Program (CAP) serves Tampa Bay and the greater Hillsborough County area. The organization administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP), the Community Services Block Grant, HUD Emergency Shelter Grant, Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly (EHEAP), and rent assistance programs.
The Hillsborough County CAP partners with other local and state government agencies, social services agencies, civic organizations, and charities. They have a diverse offering of programs for low and moderate income people, as well as disadvantaged individuals and their families. They design and administer programs that provide comprehensive and coordinated services to provide short and long term assistance. Some of the programs offered are listed below, however note that there are others not listed.
Emergency and Financial Assistance Support Program:
Cash grants and financial assistance is provided to Tampa Bay and Hillsborough county residents who have a limited income by CAP. If you apply and are determined to be eligible, households that require short term assistance can gain access to various services based on their personal situations of unemployment, crisis, underemployment, or disability.
Some of the emergency assistance provided includes basic shelter, grants for utility bills, food aid, incidental and even credit counseling and credit card debt help needs are rendered. Some additional services offered, depending on funding, include case management services transportation, and referral to other community resource programs.
Elderly Home Energy Assistance Program - EHEAP
Households with someone aged 60 or older can get energy bill assistance if they have a heating or cooling emergency. The maximum amount granted is $400 per year. Call the CAP for more information.
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Foreclosure Prevention and Mortgage Help -
Florida has arguably been impacted more than any other state by the nation’s housing crisis. Homeowners have numerous resources and services available to them. Find ways to get government mortgage help, and learn about the new Florida foreclosure mediation program in place.
Two other options for homeowners in Tampa bay and Hillsborough County include free legal foreclosure advice as well as counseling and prevention programs sponsored by Catholic Charities (727-893-1313). The agency offers assistance with the full array of housing related issues surrounding homeownership, including budgeting, mortgage help, and finance. The services they offer are specifically designed to provide a full range of HUD-approved housing counseling services to Tampa Bay area homeowners. The programs include credit card and debt counseling, default/foreclosure counseling, first-time homebuyer education, reverse mortgage counseling for seniors, rental and general counseling.
Low Income Energy Assistance Program - LIHEAP
Help for paying your utility and cooling bills is provided to low and moderate income household which fall below certain income thresholds. The crisis payments and grants offered are not to exceed $600 per applicant per season. This is a federal government program with limited funding, so it is best to apply early, as soon as you determine you may need help.
For more information on the community action program call (813) 272-6776.
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Bay Area Legal Services assists and supports families and individuals who can’t afford an attorney, and who have limited access to legal services and advice. The law firm focuses on elderly and low-income residents in Hillsborough, Tampa Bay and Pinellas Counties. The well trained legal staff at Bay Area Legal Services provides free aid, consultations and representation to eligible clients for civil legal problems. Qualified applicants can get access to free legal programs for issues that range from free legal assistance for foreclosures, family law, including divorce, domestic violence, child custody cases and senior advocacy, fair housing, individual rights and consumer law. Click here to learn more, or call 813-232-1343.
Families in need of help and short term assistance can turn to The United Food Bank and Services for Plant City. (813-764-0625). They offer free food if you have a referral. The agency can provide or refer people to other emergency assistance for the truly needy among the Tampa Bay Florida area.
Another organization with numerous programs is the Salvation Army Tampa Area Command. (Phone number is 813-226-0055). People in need of help can turn to this agency for money for utility bills, rent, housing expenses, holiday gifts, and much more.
Family Support Services are also offered to all families, regardless of religion, by the Hillsborough County Catholic Charities organization. It is intended to help people become self-sufficient, and the various Family Support programs provide individuals and families with comprehensive case management, support services, financial laid and life skills education. Qualified staff will assist families in accessing needed community services such as child care, rent and housing assistance, health care, employment, financial assistance, cash grants and other local area social services. Call (813) 631-4370 to learn more.
Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center provides Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County Florida residents with a wide variety of assistance programs, services and activities. Get help with housing, rent help, employment, financial and medical needs, health care and medical services, and the programs will assist with paying security and utility deposits to have water service, electric and gas services turned back on to qualified applicants and low income residents. 813-272-5555. Other locations are also in the Plant City area, Ruskin, and West Tampa areas.
Tampa ACCESS Service Center can help people obtain cash assistance, food stamps, access to government programs, Medicaid, and health insurance based on program criteria. Call (866) 762-2237.
Hillsborough County Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. provides assistance people regardless of religion. Assistance is provided to the low income and qualified in the form of free food, clothing, household items, and financial aid for bills such as rent and utilities. The assistance is given to those in need on a case-to-case basis and as funding allows. Tampa Florida. 813 971-7843
Travelers Aid offers a resource known as the Family Stabilization program. A number of counseling and case management services are run to both enhance self sufficiency and prevent homelessness. Call to learn more about, and apply for, financial assistance for paying rent, utility bills (such as electric, water, gas and propane), mortgage help. Address One Crisis Center Plaza, Tampa Florida, phone (813) 264-9949
The HIV/AIDS Program – Qualified candidates can get Emergency Rent and Utilities Assistance, Permanent Housing, and Transitional support. The non-profit may be able to help HIV/AIDs patients by paying their rent, cooling and utility bills on a short-term basis. If they can’t directly help you, then they may be able to refer you to other agencies to prevent further need for assistance. Food and transportation may be provided too. 2021 East Busch Boulevard, Tampa FL. (813) 375-3933
Neighborhood Service Center in Ruskin and University Area. These two centers can provide a large number of activities and services. Programs and resource focus on providing assistance in the areas of rent payments, housing, employment, financial, health care, medical services and will assist with contributing to deposits to have water, electric and gas turned back on to qualified applicants.
Ruskin Neighborhood Service Center address is 201 Avenue Southeast, Ruskin Florida. (813) 671-7647
University Area Neighborhood Service Center address is 13605 North 22Nd Street, Tampa Bay Florida. Phone (813) 975-2153
Social services and public assistance - In addition to those Neighborhood Service centers above, several other government funded financial assistance programs operate across the region. More on emergency assistance in Hillsborough County.
The following not for profit organizations in Tampa and Hillsborough County offer several different resources. Among them include financial assistance for paying rent, possibly some limited mortgage assistance, utility bill payments and employment and even medical services.
Residents of the Hillsborough County and Tampa Bay area can also get help from statewide assistance programs.
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Dental Clinic at Hillsborough Community College is a facility that provides dental care and services to low-income families. Dial (813) 253-7527
St. Josephs Community Care Clinic provides low cost or free medical care to low income and indigent patients of Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County, and a dental care van twice a week is also offered to those in need. Phone (813) 886-8899.
Senior citizens, the unemployed, low income, and residents without insurance have other health centers that they can contact for medical assistance. No one is turned away, regardless of the patients background or income. Locate more Hillsborough community clinics.
If you are facing a foreclosure, or struggling with debt payments, call Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Florida Gulf Coast, Inc. Phone (800) 251-2227. The non-profit agency employes housing and debt counselors who will advise people on their options, and give them solutions. For example, learn about debt management plans, tactics to negotiate and mediate debts and foreclosures, and mortgage assistance programs, both national and Florida programs.
Another non-profit counseling agency is Genesis Financial Management, Inc. They provide a Debt and Credit Management Program to individuals who need help. Counselors will also work with homeowners to provide mortgage help, and foreclosure counseling.
Fannie Mae and non-profit organizations have partnered together to create a Mortgage Help Center. This allows homeowners across Tampa and Hillsborough County the ability to meet face to face with a housing counselor for free consultations. Get information on numerous foreclosure and mortgage programs. Read more on the Fannie Mae mortgage help center.
Those are just three of the places to call for deb and housing counseling. However Hillsborough County is also served by other non-profit organization. Find more credit counseling agencies in Tampa Bay and the surrounding area.
Residents of the county and community can get free food from pantries, churches, and food banks that operate across the region. A couple locations are below. Or click here for more Hillsborough and Tampa Bay food banks.
Tampa Jewish Family Services runs the Community Food Bank. They provide supplemental free food. However the amount of assistance is offered is limited, so only non-perishables & canned goods. Every other Wednesday is the pick up day. Call (813) 960-1848. Main office is in Tampa Bay Florida.
Another non-profit known as Outreach and Prevention Services offers food assistance on a limited basis. They run throughout the region emergency food boxes or the Food Shopping experience. Food can be provided 3 times per year to the low income. In addition, get access to clothing voucher once a month for Metropolitan Ministries Thrift Store. Call (813) 209-1044.
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