Florida eviction prevention programs and homeless assistance.
When facing a housing crisis, the Continuum of Care (CoC) or Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) program in Florida may be able to assist. The government funded program has several components to it, and assistance may be offered to those on the verge of eviction as well as the currently homeless. Find resources in Florida by county and city below. Of particular focus is on the disabled, seniors, or those Florida residents that are facing a one-time, unexpected emergency situation.
Too many Florida families are struggling to pay their rent on a monthly basis. The ESG as well as Continuum of Care was created in an effort to help those that are facing a hardship or eviction. There is also aid for residents that are now homeless due to some type of crisis. While funds are limited and an application process is in place, some of the typical requests for rental assistance are from families facing a hardship such as an unexpected car repair, a medical emergency, or short term reduction in hours.
Depending on the availability of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, there may be rental assistance available. This can help households that are facing imminent eviction or that have a notice to pay or quit. Or there may be funds for security deposits for formerly homeless women, men, and children who are trying to get into low income yet stable housing.
The grants paid out from the CoC can be expedited as well, so this will therefore be a form of emergency financial assistance. The various non-profit agencies that administer the program may be able to provide aid to tenants and households in Florida that are at immediate risk of becoming homeless. Since funds are so limited, some clients may be issued a loan that needs to be repaid over time.
There is also a Youth Homelessness Initiative. Not only may the younger generation qualify for funds to pay their housing costs or rent, but the agencies offer education, life skills, low income housing, health care, and other proactive means to work toward ending and preventing teen and youth homelessness.
A number of other services are offered as part of the Continuum of Care or Emergency Solution Grants. Case managers and staff from the agencies advocate and try to increase Public Awareness. This is often done from workshops and in cooperation with non-profits or charity organizations. They educate the greater Florida community on the various causes and issues surrounding homelessness.
As part of CoC, the network of service providers and non-profits noted below share resources and information amongst themselves. Qualified low income clients can also apply for assistance. Some examples of the additional social services or financial aid administered include.
- Eviction prevention and free legal aid.
- Short term housing in the form of shelter or transitional housing.
- Financial assistance or loans for paying rent and other expenses, such as utilities.
- Referrals to shelters, permanent and supported housing, including low income apartments in Florida.
- Case management is part of CoC, and includes self-sufficiency resources, referral, employment assistance, and more.
- The disabled or those with medical conditions may access in-patient and out-patient mental health, checkups, and get referred to clinics.
There are other federal funded programs that may be able to offer eviction help to individuals facing homelessness or that have a pay or quit notice. The primary resource in Florida is ESG - Emergency Solutions Grant. Based on annual allotments from HUD, non-profits may provide funds for paying back rent and other housing costs. ESG even extends to helping the homeless with paying for a security deposit on a new low income apartment. The agencies below will also have more information on this.
Local eviction and security deposit programs in Florida
In addition to the non-profits listed below, there are other resources dedicated to low income tenants and the homeless in each county. Government grants and resources such as legal aid can be used to rehouse the homeless and stop an eviction from occurring in the first place.
Agencies in Florida that offer Continuum of Care housing assistance
St. Johns County
Emergency Services and Homeless, Coalition of St. Johns County, Inc.
523 W King St,
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Dial 904/824-6623
Manatee County
Community Coalition on Homelessness, One Stop Center
701 17th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
Telephone - (941) 747-1509
Miami as well as Dade County region
Address is 3620 NW 1st Ave
Miami, FL 33127
Dial 305-573-3333
The coalition partners with, and provides referrals to, non-profits in Dade County that use a combination of grants, mediation services, and even no interest loans to help with paying rent for low income families that would otherwise be evicted.
Another option is the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust
111 NW 1st St, Suite 27-310
Miami, FL 33128
Dial 305/375-1490 for intake
Escambia and Santa Rosa County
3702 N Pace Blvd
Pensacola, FL 32505
For information, dial 850/439-3009
Okaloosa and Walton County
Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc.
Location - 941-L Central Avenue
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
Main number is 850-226-7694 or (850) 409-3070
Assistance if for the counties of Leon, Franklin, Gadsden, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Jefferson, and Wakulla
Big Bend Homeless Coalition
The main office is at 2729 West Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, FL 32304
Telephone - (850) 576-5566
Counties are Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington
Homeless & Hunger Coalition of NW Florida
609 Allen Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
850-769-0783
Counties supported - Alachua, Putnam, Bradford, and Levy
Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless & Hungry
703 NE 1st Street
Gainesville, FL 32601
Telephone - 352/378-0460
Food, emergency eviction prevention services, and other aid is available for the region.
Counties covered include Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee
United Way of Suwannee Valley, Homeless Services Network of Suwannee Valley
Main address is 871 SW State Road 47
Lake City, FL 32025
Dial 386/752-5604
Counties are Duval, Clay, Nassau and Baker
Emergency Services & Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc. (ESHC)
660 Park St
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Phone: (904) 354-1100
A government affiliated agency. Case managers can direct a homeless individual to a shelter, or provide the latest information on which organizations in Florida and the county have received emergency solution grants.
Pasco County
Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County
5652 Pine St
New Port Richey, FL 3465
Main number is 727/842-8605
Pinellas County
Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless
Location is 647 1st Ave N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 582-7916
Hillsborough County
Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, Inc.
601 E Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33602
For information, dial 813/223-6115
Many churches and agencies have funds to tenants facing eviction or money to pay a portion of rent in an emergency.
Counties assisted include Manatee and Sarasota
Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Service Center
1750 17th Street K-1
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone number is 941/955-8987
Brevard County
Brevard County Housing and Human Services Dept.
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940
Telephone number is (321) 633-2007
Counties include Orange, Osceola, and Seminole
Homeless Services Network of Central Florida
The address is 142 E Jackson St
Orlando, FL 32801
407-893-0133
Lee County
Lee County Homeless Coalition
Address is 1500 Colonial Boulevard, Suite #214
Ft. Myers, FL 33907
Telephone: (239) 322-6600
Charlotte County
Charlotte County Homeless Coalition
1476 Kenesaw St
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Phone number is 941/627-4313
Collier County
Collier County Hunger and Homeless Coalition
1044 6th Ave. North
Naples, FL 34102
Telephone: 239/253-3449
Palm Beach County
The Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc.
810 Datura St
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-4663
This location supports senior citizens, the working poor, and others. Both private and government funds may be available for housing costs, first months rent or a deposit, and to assist residents with an eviction notice from their landlord..
Broward County
Coalition to End Homelessness
729 NW 1st St
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
954/792-4000
Another organization for the county is the Homeless Initiative Partnership
Address is Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave, Ste 516
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Telephone: 954-792-2337
Monroe County site
Southernmost Homeless Assistance League
Mailing address is PO Box 2990
Key West, FL 33045
305 292 4404 is the number to the office.
Volusia and Flagler County
Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless
Street Address is 324 North St
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Main phone: 386/258-1855
Legal support can help prevent evictions. Other support includes financial aid for rent, which is for the disabled, senior citizens, and homeless, or any income qualified residents that needs help with a rental or utility deposit.
Marion County site
Marion County Homeless Council, Inc.
1315 SW 25th Loop #104
Ocala, Florida 34471
Call 352.454.7760
Federal and state of Florida funds are used for to provide emergency rental assistance to families or individuals facing homelessness. They also partner with the Continuum of Care on addressing housing needs.
Counties covered are Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Sumter
Mid-Florida Homeless Coalition
1512 US Hwy 41 N
Inverness, FL 34450
Dial 352-860-2308
Polk County
Contact the Homeless Coalition of Polk County
Address is 18205 Florida
Lakeland, FL 33803
Telephone - 863/687-8386
Counties include DeSoto, Glades, Hernando, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee
Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless
752 U.S. Highway 27 North
Avon Park, FL 33825
Call 863-453-8901
Priority is for stopping evictions, but when that is not possible, the coalition may offer transitional housing, job training, and then assistance for a security deposit when ready to move.
Counties - Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie
Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council, Inc.
2525 St Lucie Ave
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 567-7790
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