Orange County assistance programs.

Rent help

Millions if dollars in federal government stimulus funds is going to Orange County Florida and Orlando to help provide rent and housing assistance. Orange County currently plans to work with the Heart of Florida United Way, which in turn will tap its member agencies, to manage the program and distribute the funds.

The money can be used to provide for a wide ranging variety of programs, including both short and long term rent assistance, money to help for paying utility bills, security deposits, and even debt and credit card counseling programs.

While there are some conditions and income limits, the bottom line is that these government funds should help thousands of local families avoid an eviction, and be able to remain in their housing.

Contact the local Heart of Florida United Way organization at (407) 835-0900 to learn more, and also to find out what agency you can approach to apply for aid.

Other options to try including the Orange County Government, which runs a crisis program. Dial (407) 836-6500, as well as the other agencies listed below under the crisis section.

Free health care for low income and uninsured in Orange County FL

The follow options are available to get free medical care. Lazarus Free Medical Clinic, St. Thomas Aquinas Free Medical Clinic, St. Luke’s Free Medical & Dental Clinic, and also Community Health Centers, Inc.  Learn more about each clinic below.

Lazarus Free Medical Clinic (Phone number 352-748-4567): The primary goal of this clinic is to to provide caring, top quality medical care, health care services, specialty referral services, preventive health education, and promote wellness to low income and disadvantaged migrant workers and the working poor.

St. Thomas Aquinas Free Medical Clinic (Phone 407-593-1256): This organization provides free medical care for the uninsured and working poor.

St. Luke’s Free Medical & Dental Clinic (Phone 352-602-4640): This clinic also focuses on people with no health insurance or limited insurance. The clinic has local healthcare professionals, nurses, volunteers and doctors that bring dental and medical care to the area’s most vulnerable individuals.

Community Health Centers, Inc. (Phone 407-905-8827); Receive access to quality and overly compassionate primary and preventative medical, pharmaceutical services, and dental care for Central Florida's economically and culturally diverse communities and low income.

 

 

 

Other community clinics in the area include Shepherds Hope, which provides services to uninsured who meet poverty guidelines. Dial (407) 876-6699.

The Orlando based Community After Hours Health Clinic offers basic primary health care services for uninsured in the area. Call (407) 303-7298. Grace Medical Home ((407) 936-2785) is another provider in the area.

A number of other clinics and health centers, some of which are government certified, operate across Orlando and Orange County Florida too. Read more Orange County Florida clinics.

Emergency and crisis aid

People who need emergency help can turn to the Catholic Charities of Central Florida. The agency both offers its own programs, and they also partner with local charities and non-profits to provide emergency financial assistance for rent and utility bills. In addition, get access to referrals, advocacy, food pantry distribution, and in some cases provide short-term case management and other aid. Call the Orlando headquartered agency at 407-658-1818.

The Salvation Army of Orange County Florida offers aid as well. Receive rent help, money for energy bills, gasoline vouchers, and free clothes. Some of the other resources that they can provide include access to shelters, Christmas and holiday meals and gifts, and programs for senior citizens. (407) 295-9311.

If you need help with utility bills, Orange County Community Action Division runs the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This particular program provides utility bill payment assistance to Orange County Florida families whose income is limited. Other options for residents that are 60 years of age or older, they may apply for additional utility and electric bill assistance through the Elderly Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP). (407) 836-8476. Or click here to find other utility programs.

Christian Service Center - This non-profit agency offers emergency rent assistance for those in the Orlando FL and Orange County area. They also provide immediate emergency grants and financial assistance for those in financial crisis. (407) 425-2523

Community Service Center - The organization may be able to provide many types of emergency assistance and low income assistance to people facing a hardship. Orlando Florida. Phone 407-851-5920

Jewish Family Services Of Greater Orlando, Inc. – No matter your religion, this center may be able to offer help. Programs focus on Orange County Florida residents with a crisis that is also a documented emergency. Funds and grants can help people who are in need of money for dealing with short-term mortgage, rent or utility bill assistance in Orlando and Orange County.

• 11184 South Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida 32836. Dial (407) 387-5371.
• A second location is at 2100 Lee Road, Winter Park, FL. Phone (407) 644-2985

Miracle Of Love – Support is only offered for people who are HIV positive or who have AIDs. The program, known as Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (H.O.P.W.A.) can offer funds for qualifying low income people in need of rent/mortgage/utilities or housing assistance. 741 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32804. Dial (407) 843-1760.

OUC Project Care Case Manager – This agency administers an Emergency Financial Assistance Program (UAP-PC). It can offer Utility and water bill assistance up to $500. Help is provided as assistance up to one time in a one-year period. 1940 Traylor Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32804.

 

 

Orange County Florida programs that also provide assistance across the state

Residents of Orange County Florida and the greater Orlando area can get help from various programs that provide aid across the state of Florida.

• Florida free HUD foreclosure counseling
• Florida utility and energy bill help
• Florida mortgage and foreclosure programs
• Florida free legal assistance
• Florida free food banks
• Florida medical debt collection laws
• Florida Section 8 housing programs
• Florida health care clinics
• Florida rescue missions
• Florida dental clinics and programs

Free Food

The Agape Food Bank is operated by Catholic Charities. Get access to food and groceries if a family member has lost their job or if they are unable to work, when a family is awaiting food stamps or other assistance, or when financial demands on a family make food purchases difficult if not impossible. Dial 407-658-1818 to learn more about the food assistance.

Another charity that may be able to help is Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Inc. This pantry distributes food to other centers, but you can still call them to learn where to go for free food and groceries in your area. Call them at 407-295-1066.

Other options include Orlando based Loaves and Fishes (phone (407) 886-6005), Church of the Great Commission ((321) 206-4946), the Human Crises Center ((407) 521-7750) and others. In total, about 30 main food pantries serve anyone who needs help. Find more Orange County Florida food pantries.

Debt and mortgage help

Orlando and Orange County have been hit hard by the states’ housing crisis. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast, Inc. offers several foreclosure and debt assistance programs. Work one on one with a counselor to explore options that are available for mortgage default and delinquency counseling. they will explore all mortgage programs, including those offered by the state of Florida. Learn more on them. The primary goal is to help get homeowners back on track if at all possible.

In addition, the company offers free credit and debt counseling. They can enroll a consumer in a Debt Management Plan, or explore ways to improve and repair their credit. They can also go over ways to get credit card help from card issuers. Call the agency at 407-895-8886.

CredAbility is other non profit organization that offers resources including Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling as well as Debt and Personal Finances/Budget Counseling. Debt Management Programs are also offered. In addition to these services, click here to learn about how to get help from debt collectors in Florida. Phone (800) 741-7040.

For additional foreclosure prevention and assistance programs in Orlando and Orange County Florida, try Florida Attorneys Saving Homes program. Attorneys throughout the state provide free foreclosure advice and negotiations with your lender. (866) 607-2187

For those individuals who live in the city limits of Orlando, several non-profits run a foreclosure program for the city. More on Orlando foreclosure prevention.

If your financial issue is with excessive credit card or medical debts, and you want to speak to a non-profit credit counseling agency, then several of those organizations operate in Orlando and Orange County. They can help individuals pay off their debts, provide assistance filing bankruptcy, and offer budgeting/education workshops, among other services. Many of the programs can be offered at a minimal cost, or for free. Read more Orlando credit counseling agencies.

 

 

Get access to free legal aid

Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association Inc., can offer low income and other struggling individuals with access to free legal programs. One of the services they provide is free legal advice to help stop a foreclosure. Learn more, or call them at 407-841-8310.

Job training and ways to find a job

The Orange County Community Action Division (407) 836-8476 also runs this program. Orlando and Orange County individuals can get access to employability skills training, vocational training, mentoring, various community services, resume review advice, job search and placement assistance, and computer skills training.

City of Orlando

Find some additional services that are specific to the Orlando Florida area. Click here to read more or access other assistance programs.