Collier County Social Services — Public Assistance Programs.
Collier County is one of the wealthiest counties in Florida by median income, but that headline obscures a sharp divide. Naples and Marco Island sit at one end of the economic spectrum; Immokalee, a farmworker community 40 miles inland, sits at the other — with poverty rates that look nothing like the county average. Both communities are served by the same county agency as well as same government benefit programs, and navigating what's available to you can take longer than it should. This page explains what Collier County's Community and Human Services (CHS) Division actually offers, who qualifies for what, and where to start if you're in a crisis right now.
The main CHS office is at 3339 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 211, Naples, FL 34112. To schedule an appointment with a case manager, call (239) 252-2273. For SNAP, Medicaid, and cash assistance through the state of Florida, the separate DCF office in Naples and the DCF service center in Immokalee are the right contacts — more on that below. Program details change frequently, and case managers help determine what you qualify for before you invest time in a full application.
A note for Immokalee residents: Many of Collier County's lowest-income households are in Immokalee, where a large share of residents are agricultural workers and Spanish-speaking. The Florida DCF maintains a separate service center in Immokalee where residents can drop off documents, use a computer to apply for benefits, and access forms — without an appointment. All county programs are available to Immokalee residents equally. If language access is a concern, the county's CHS website offers Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese translation options, and DCF provides interpretation services.
Food Assistance (SNAP)
Florida's food assistance program is managed by the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) — not by the county directly. You apply through MyACCESS Florida ( https://myaccess.myflfamilies.com/), Florida's online benefits portal, where you can apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and cash assistance together. While funding changes based on federal budgets / guidelines, in general a family of four several hundred to the the low $1,000 per month, and emergency cases can be approved in as few as seven days. Phone interviews are standard; in-person visits are usually only required if additional verification is needed.
For Collier County residents without reliable internet access, both the Naples and Immokalee DCF offices have public computers available for applications. To reach the DCF benefits line, call 866-762-2237 (ACCESS Florida). Note that Florida has reinstated SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents — if you've received a notice about this, contact DCF or a community navigator for help understanding your options.
Prescription Medication Assistance
One of the more useful and lesser-known services the county's CHS office provides is direct help paying for prescription medications. Assistance is available for residents at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, as well as for seniors and Social Security disability recipients at that same income threshold. This is a county-funded program separate from Medicaid — it exists to help people who fall through the cracks of state and federal coverage. Contact a case manager at (239) 252-2273 to discuss eligibility and what documentation to bring to your appointment.
Energy and Cooling Assistance — EHEAP
Most energy assistance guides focus on winter heating. In Collier County, the critical season runs the other way: summer heat and high air conditioning bills are the real pressure point for low-income households. The county administers EHEAP — the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program — for households with at least one member aged 60 or older who has received a past-due, final, or disconnection utility notice. Eligible seniors may receive, while funding may change yearly, potentially up to $2,000 in utility bill assistance per year, and the program can also assist with AC units, including repair and replacement for elderly homeowners. Collier County For information and to apply, call (239) 252-2273 or dial 311.
Medical Bill Assistance
The CHS office can help Collier County residents with medical bills from hospitals and physicians, but with specific limits: the bill must have been incurred within the past 30 days and must be for emergency or critical care. This is designed as a bridge for people who received urgent care but have no other way to cover the cost.
The same office also administers two state-mandated programs: a monthly payment (generally around $55 but the amount may vary) for Medicaid recipients in skilled nursing homes, and coverage for 35% of the per diem rate for days 11 through 45 of a hospital stay for Medicaid recipients. If you've received a bill from an out-of-county hospital after being treated there as an indigent Collier resident, the county's Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) program may apply — the treating hospital is required to submit that application directly.
Temporary Shelter Assistance - Including Rent
This is the county's last-resort rental assistance program, and its eligibility is deliberately narrow: it is only for individuals who are temporarily disabled, have no income, face imminent eviction, and have already been denied assistance from other Collier County agencies. As we have other rental assistance options listed for Collier County.
It is not a general rental assistance program. If you're facing eviction and don't meet those specific criteria, a CHS case manager can still help you identify what options are available through other local nonprofits and community organizations. Call (239) 252-2273 to start that conversation.
Burial Assistance
Collier County provides free burial and cremation services for deceased county residents who have no other means or family resources for final arrangements. Burial at Lake Trafford Cemetery is included. This is a mandated county service, not a discretionary program — it will not run out of funding. It may also be combined with other burial or cremation assistance programs. If you're navigating this for a family member, contact the CHS office directly at (239) 252-2273.
Senior Services
In addition to EHEAP, seniors in Collier County have access to a Senior Nutrition Program that provides meals at county nutrition centers and local church sites throughout the county — including Immokalee. The county also administers homemaker services for functionally impaired elderly residents, including grocery assistance and household chores, with specific outreach to isolated rural areas. Contact (239) 252-2273 for referrals to senior-specific programs.
Veteran Services
The CHS Division includes a Veteran Services office at the same Tamiami Trail location, reachable at (239) 252-8387. They can help connect veterans to VA healthcare, benefits navigation, and county-level support. This is a separate office from the main social services intake but in the same building.
A local tool worth knowing: Collier CARES
The Collier CARES app — created specifically for Collier County — is a free, bilingual mobile and web app that maps available government as well as charitable resources and services county-wide. It was developed in partnership with local foundations specifically to help the county's most vulnerable residents navigate what's available. It's worth downloading or bookmarking at https://colliercares.org/cc/home before you need it. The Collier Resource Center (239-434-2030) also provides free navigation help for residents trying to figure out which agencies to contact for what.
How to Apply
For county-administered programs (prescription help, medical bill assistance, EHEAP, shelter assistance, burial services, senior services), call (239) 252-2273 to set up an appointment at 3339 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 211, Naples. Bring proof of income, Social Security cards and ID for all household members, two documents proving Collier County residency, and bank statements. For state programs — SNAP, Medicaid, and cash assistance — apply online at myaccessflorida.com or call 866-762-2237.
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