Miami Dade County Community Action Agency assistance programs.
Low income families, seniors, and immigrants are some of the main clients of the Miami Dade County Community Action Agency. The non-profit administers a wide range of emergency assistance programs, such as financial help for rent and utility bills, along with job training and education.
Not only will the case managers from the site work to address your immediate need, but they try to help the client overcome the root cause of the hardship. So people may receive information on job training, education, GED testing, and workshops such as credit counseling. Staff from the agency work to help the poor and less fortunate.
Financial aid for housing, rent, and other needs such as utility bills
Basic repairs and modification from the Home Beautification Program is available to residents in Miami-Dade County in the Commission Districts of 1 and 2. The program provides qualified homeowners, including the elderly or disabled, of single family homes the opportunity to have their yard landscaped at no cost or have their house painted.
Low-income homeowners of single-family homes are eligible for the services of the Home Repair Program. In it available in partnership with Public Housing and Community Development, and Human Services, the non-profit Miami Dade County Community Action Agency provides for some types of minor home repairs and upgrades.
The primary goal of the program is enhancing and dealing with health and safety issues and code violations. Eligible applicants are entitled to services that include roof repairs, cooling or heating system updates, plumbing and electrical as well as associated minor home repairs and exterior painting.
As many know, bringing owner-occupied dwellings up to local and state building codes can be extremely difficult for struggling, low-income homeowners. For this reason, Community Action Agency delivers Housing Rehabilitation Program with the purpose of achieving this goal for those in need. Find more details on home repair programs.
The Housing Rehabilitation Program is designed to assist income qualified homeowners with fixing problems in their primary homes. The services of the program include, but are not limited to, plumbing, roofing, heating, electrical, etc. Addressing a number of health and safety issues, correcting code violations and making the home more energy-efficient is the primary goal of the program. In addition, in rare instances cosmetic improvements are also included in the services.
Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program, or SHARP, from the Community Action Agency provides assistance to senior citizens of Dade County. Through the program, qualified applicants have an opportunity to receive a forgivable interest-free home loan of up to $40,000. The funds are intended for approved home repairs with the aim of gaining safer and more sanitary living conditions.
Eligible seniors can use the services of the program and install exterior doors with window locks, dead-bolt locks, repair or replace steps. Additionally, the services include installation of smoke alarms and weather-strip doors, repairing leaky faucets and toilets, replacing electrical switches, outlets and fixtures, installing shut off valves. Eligible seniors from southern Florida with physical disabilities can request for minor home modifications which include accessible bathroom fixtures, grab bars and railings.
Rental Assistance from the federal funded Emergency Food and Shelter Assistance (EFSA) is utilized to assist individuals and families in need. Government grants or private loans will be used to coordinate emergency assistance with issues regarding payment of, rent, utility bills and maybe even mortgage payments.
When possible, the program also provides temporary shelter and free food. Or currently homeless Miami area families can learn about permanent, low income apartments and options that may be available to them for paying security deposits. This service is available at most of the Community Enrichment Centers. Or the sites may offer referrals to other eviction prevention resources.
LIHEAP, or Low Income Energy Assistance, provides a credit payment to eligible applicants for certain expenses. The payment is directly applied to their existing utility bill. Florida Department of Community Affairs Division of Housing and Community Development as well as the federal government fund the program, providing assistance to tens of thousands of households annually. LIHEAP provides assistance in three categories, which include:
- Regular Energy Assistance - Eligible low-income participants, with the ever increasing cost of their home energy expense, may be provided with a credit payment ranging up to a few hundred dollars. Payment or grants is directly applied to their existing utility account. In addition, they must continue to pay their utility bill awaiting the credit payment to apply to their account balance. The help is restricted to once a year.
- Crisis Energy Assistance - This program provides immediate cash assistance to eligible households in Dade County. the money needs to be used in resolving a home energy emergency/crisis. Eligible applicants are those who have received a final notice or disconnection of services. Qualified participants may receive a credit payment up to $600.00 to be applied to their existing utility account. Crisis Energy Assistance is available during the winter and summer seasons and restricted to twice a year.
- This Weather-Related Crisis program is designed for low-income households and it helps them to resolve a home energy emergency. It needs to be caused by a specific weather related disaster, such as extreme cold or heat, as declared by the Governor.
- Free window unit air conditioners and free fans may be given out to the disabled and elderly in Miami. Community Action also works with donation drives and charities on this service. Find more details on air conditioner programs.
Weatherization is available in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Florida Department of Community Affairs. The non-profit Miami Dade County Community Action Agency provides free home updates as part of weatherization assistance to low-income clients.
Reducing energy consumption in the home is the goal of this program. Weatherization aims at lowering the amount due from the energy bills and saving money. It is for low-income families and the elderly as opposed to offering aid. This results in dependency reduction and liberating these funds for spending on more pressing family issues, such as rent or food. On average, weatherization reduces overall energy bills by almost $400 per year at current prices.
Eligible applicants can use specific energy conservation measures that include installing or adding attic insulation, installing energy efficient light bulbs, repairing or replacing doors and windows, the use of thresholds and weather-stripping repairing a/c ducts, replacing a/c filters and. Replacing inefficient air conditioners, refrigerators and water heaters is also included in the services of weatherization.
A more unique offering to southern Florida is the Solar Water Heater Program. It provides for the installation of free or low cost solar water heating systems in low-income households in Dade County through the Solar Water Heater Program.
When this program is funded and is up and running, a typical residential solar water-heating system reduces the need for conventional water heating by about 1/2. It minimizes the client’s expense of electricity bills, which in some cases can account for 20% of a household's income. This program is designed for low-income households and provides great benefits as well.
Refugee and Immigration Assistance is available from case managers from Community Action Agency. Staff understands the difficulties newly arrived refugee youth and families face. For that reason, a prevention and intervention program is available for eligible clients. Social services include family and group therapy, psychosocial assessment, individual, marital,; recreational and cultural activities; youth counseling at targeted schools; mentorship experiences; parent and student advocacy; case management and referrals.
All of that is offered. Additional Immigration and Refugee assistance from Community Action and Human Services provides assistance to individuals seeking citizenship in the United States. Counselors and maybe paralegals provide low cost immigration-related services that range from clerical assistance to document translation. Call 305-547-4892 for additional information.
Community action employment resources
Job assistance and education from Computer Training is available. Miami Dade County Community Action Agency provides instruction and training in the use of personal computers as well as training to develop basic office skills. The free training program is designed for low-income individuals who have a desire or need to learn about computers. The goal of the program and the teachers that run in is to develop computer skills that will facilitate advancement or immediate entry into the job market.
In addition to that, classroom training from specialists is provided in creating and updating files, data entry, computer terminology, Microsoft products, word processing and professional development training. Upon completion of the various training program, a graduation ceremony is organized for participants, where they receive certificates of completion in the area of concentration. Assistance with job placement in Florida is also provided upon completion of the program. Call 786-469-4695 for more information.
The Youth Employment Services Program provides services to young men in the county under the age of 25 years. The program includes counseling, job development, retention, job placement, information and referral, employability skills training and guidance, employment orientation.
State and federal income tax preparation and electronic filling is available to low-income individuals. It is also for senior citizens at select Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) Service Centers.
Miami Dade County Community Action Agency helps veterans, retired military member and their families through Veterans Services Program. Services, referrals and support is wide ranging. Eligible clients are entitled to claims to the United States (US) Department of Veterans Affairs, or get information on government benefits, including financial aid. Program services for ex military member include assistance with Education, Burial Costs, Veterans Administration home loan, Compensation, low income housing, and Pension needs.
Locations of Miami Community Action Centers
If you need financial help or referrals, the Miami Dade County Community Action Agency has a few centers in the region. Whether it is a free grant, transportation, or other support, assistance is available. The main sites are.
-701 N.W. 1st Court, Suite 1000, Miami, FL 33136, dial (786) 469-4613
-Miami Gardens Service Center, address is 16405 NW 25th Avenue Rm. 105, Miami Gardens, FL 33054, telephone 305-623-6500
-Edison Service Center is at 150 NW 79th Street, Miami, Florida 33150. Dial 305-756-4147 for intake.
-Wynwood Service Center, 2902 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33127, main number 305-547-7661
-Hialeah Service Center is at 300 E. First Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33010. Telephone - 305-885-7514
-Accon Service Center, 858 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130, 305-547-4892
-South Beach Community Action Service Center. Address is 833 Sixth Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Dial the location at 305-672-1705
-Sweetwater Service Center, 250 SW 114th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33174, 305-207-5377
-Perrine Service Center, 17801 Homestead Avenue, Miami, FL 33157, dial 305-254-5804
-Goulds location is 21300 SW 122nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33170. Dial 305-233-2121 for an appointment.
-Joseph Caleb Service Center, 5400 NW 22 Avenue, 3rd Floor, Miami FL 33147, 305-636-2296
-Culmer Service Center, 1600 NW 3rd Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. Main number - 305-438-4161
-Liberty City Community Enrichment Center, location is 6100 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33127. Dial 305-756-2830
-Frankie Shannon Rolle non-profit center is at 3750 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33133, 305-446-3311
-Florida City/Homestead Service Center, 1600 NW 6th Court, Florida City, FL 33034, dial 305-247-2068
-Naranja Service Center is at 13955 SW 264th Street. Phone - 305-258-5471
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