You can get help, grants, and assistance in all cities and counties of Florida, including Miami, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay. In addition to the state programs listed below, you can also find organizations and charities in Florida that can provide you with help paying bills.
Assistance Programs
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
The goal of the Florida Department of Children and Families is to protect the vulnerable and to also promote strong and economically self-sufficient individuals and families, and to also advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. Assistance programs offered include those listed below :
Florida Discount Drug Card
This is a discount card to help with medical bills. It provides eligible participants a discount on virtually all prescription drugs. Almost 5,000 pharmacies now accept the Florida Discount Drug Card. Dial 1-866-341-889, or find more ways to get free health care and help with medical bills. More.
Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP)
Provides a one-time cash grant payment to those families who face the loss of shelter or are totally without shelter because of not paying their rent or mortgage. It will also help families who have had household disasters such as flood, hurricane, fire, or other accidents. (850) 922-4691
Florida Health Care Access Program
This program will make quality, affordable health insurance and full access to health care available to Florida's almost 4 million uninsured residents. The six health insurance carriers that are in this plan currently offer over 20 health insurance products to Florida residents, and each health insurer offers at least two benefit options. They include a catastrophic plan with hospital coverage and a preventive care plan.
Florida KidCare
Florida KidCare is Florida's low cost health insurance plan for children under age 19 and who are not insured or under insured. 888-540-5437
Florida Foreclosure Assistance and Mortgage Help
The Florida state government has some ways to get help with your mortgage. Click here to find options.
In addition, the state of Florida has also created a new foreclosure mediation program.
Also, find a listing of non-profit housing counseling agencies that can provide mortgage and foreclosure solutions. Click here.
Food Stamp Program
Helps low-income Florida households to buy nutritious food. A food stamp household is normally a household, or group of people, that live together and that also buy food and prepare meals together. 1-866-762-2237
SUNCAP
The SUNCAP assistance program is a special Food Stamp Program that is for individuals who currently receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
The TCA program will provides cash assistance and grants to those families that have children under the age of 18 or under the age of 19 if they are full time secondary school students. The children must also meet the technical, asset, and income requirements. This aid program helps families become self-supporting while also allowing children to remain in their own homes. In addition, pregnant women may also receive TCA assistance, either in the 6th month of pregnancy if unable to work, or in the 9th month of pregnancy. Parents, minor siblings, and children who live together must apply together.
Homeless and Rescue Missions
There are numerous rescue missions in Florida that can assist the homeless, the very low income, and those on the verge of homelessness. Click here for more information.
Florida Lifeline Assistance Program
Receive free phone or cellular service. The Lifeline program provides either a $13.50 credit per month on a phone land line bill or it will provide approximately 60 free cellphone minutes per month. Safelink offers this service in Florida. Almost 600,000 families participate in the program. 1-800-342-3552
Foreclosure Prevention
The organization Home Foreclosure Fighter provides Florida residents loan modification proposals. There is no obligation and the proposals are free.
Avoid Foreclosure. Modify Your Mortgage. Free Proposals. No Obligation.
Free Legal Aid
Find information on non-profit law firms in Florida that provide free civil legal services for low to moderate income families throughout the state. Read more.
Medicaid
A program that will provide medical coverage and grants to lower income families and individuals. The state of Florida and federal government both share the expenses and costs of the Medicaid program. DCF determines Medicaid eligibility for:
•Low income families with children
•Pregnant women
•Children only
•Non-citizens with medical emergencies and bills
•Aged and/or disabled families or individuals not currently receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Debt Reduction, Credit and Housing Counseling Services in Florida
Find information on, and a listing of, government certified non-profit credit and housing counselors. Various organizations offer assistance in dealing with debts and credit issues. More Florida debt and credit counseling.
Community Clinics and Health Care Centers
Get information on where to turn to for free or low cost health care in Florida. Read more.
In addition to the clinics that can help with medical care, additional locations provide free dental services, such as cleaning, to those who need aid. Get information on dental clinics in Florida.
Food Banks and Pantries
While clicking on your county below will provide you with information on free food and other financial assistance programs, there are some food banks in place as well. More on Florida food banks.
Assistance From Florida Cities and Counties
In addition to the programs offered at the county level, find a comprehensive list of Florida utility bill assistance programs.
Alachua County and Newberry
•Newberry focused services and resources
Bay County (Panama City)
Brevard County (Titusville)
•Palm Bay agencies and services
Broward County (Fort Lauderdale)
•Fort Lauderdale focused agencies and resources
•Broward and Fort Lauderdale foreclosure prevention.
•Food banks in Broward County. More.
•Rent assistance programs in Broward County.
Calhoun County (Blountstown)
Charlotte County (Punta Gorda)
Citrus County (Inverness)
Clay County (Green Cove Springs)
Collier County (Naples)
Columbia County (Lake City)
Dade County (Miami)
•Foreclosure prevention program in Dade County
•Miami rental assistance agencies
•Miami city assistance programs
•Free health and dental centers in Miami. Read more.
DeSoto County program to delay foreclosures (Arcadia)
Duval County (Jacksonville)
•Jacksonville specific programs to help with bills
•Organizations that focus on rent help in Jacksonville
Escambia County (Pensacola)
Flagler County (Bunnell)
Franklin County (Apalachicola)
Gadsen County (Quincy)
Hernando County (Brooksville)
Highlands County (Sebring)
Hillsborough County (Tampa Bay)
•Food pantries in Hillsborough.
Indian River County (Vero Beach)
Jackson County (Marianna)
Lake County (Tavares)
Lee County (Fort Myers)
Leon County (Tallahassee)
Levy County (Bronson)
Marion County (Ocala)
Manatee County (Bradenton)
Martin County (Stuart)
Monroe County (Key West)
Nassau County (Fernandina Beach)
Okaloosa County (Crestview)
Orange County (Orlando)
•Programs and resources focused on Orlando
Osceola County (Kissimmee)
Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
•Agencies that specialize in Palm Beach rent assistance.
Pasco County (Dade City)
Pinellas County (Clearwater)
•St. Petersburg and Pinellas rent focused programs.
•Pinellas County food pantries.
Polk County (Bartow)
Putnam County (Palatka)
Santa Rosa County (Milton)
Sarasota County
Sarasota County - foreclosure assistance
Seminole County (Sanford)
St. Johns County (St. Augustine)
St. Lucie County (Fort Pierce)
Sumter County (Bushnell)
Volusia County (DeLand)
Walton County (Defuniak Springs)
Florida Energy Bill Program
Get more information on Florida utility bill assistance programs that are in addition to those noted below.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Florida Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will provide help through grants to local governments and also non-profit agencies. The funds are to assist eligible low-income households in meeting the costs of home heating and cooling bills. More on the Florida LIHEAP program.
Weatherization Assistance Program
The goal of this program is to lower the monthly energy burden and bills on lower income households by improving the energy efficiency and utility bill savings of the home. Types of assistance provided include.
•Fix or replace hot water heaters.
•Replace or repair inefficient heating and cooling units.
•Address air infiltration by improving weather stripping, thresholds, caulking, minor repairs to walls, ceilings and floors, and also door and window replacement.
•Install floor or attic insulation (floors in northern Florida counties only)
Operation Round Up
Most of Florida's utility companies participate in this program. Cash grants and funds can be distributed to struggling families. The money can be used for food, rent, shelter, clothing, medical bills, health needs, and utility bills.
Project Care and Project Share
Project Share funds will help pay for emergency energy-related costs, including electric, gas, or oil bills and also pay for the repair of vital heating or cooling equipment. Project Care are one time cash grants paid for utility expenses.
