EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING PROGRAM
LINK-UP FLORIDA & LIFELINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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The Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP) provides a one-time payment of up to $400 to families who are totally without shelter or face the loss of shelter because of non-payment of rent or mortgage. It also helps those families who have had household disasters such as fire, flood, or other accidents.
Eligibility requirements include:
- The household must have at least one child under the age of 18.
- The household must live in Florida, or be working or looking for work in Florida.
- At least one child or caretaker in the home must be a U. S. citizen or legal resident.
- You must have proof of your housing emergency, for example, a copy of a court ordered eviction or foreclosure notice. In the event of a natural disaster such as fire or flood, the EFAHP office can make a telephone call to the sheriff's office, fire department, Department of Children and Families' office, etc., if you provide us with a phone number.
- If you do not have enough money in your checking/savings accounts, or the cash to pay your rent or mortgage.
- The total household income is compared to the State of Florida's need standard to decide whether the household is eligible.
For more income eligibility information and an application form, go to: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/homelessness/efahp.shtml.
Link-Up Florida gives a 50% rebate in the telephone hook-up charge (up to $30.00). Lifeline Assistance gives $13.50 credit per month on local phone bills. Over a year's time, that is a savings of $162.00. You can receive these benefits if you are enrolled in one of the programs listed below or meet the income guidelines.
- Temporary Cash Assistance
- Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- National School Lunch (NSL) Program's free lunch program
To find out how to sign up, go to: http://www.floridapsc.com/utilities/telecomm/lifeline/engbrochure.aspx.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides assistance to eligible low-income households in meeting the costs of home heating and cooling. The majority of the funds are used for utility payment assistance.
To see if your household is eligible for this program, review the income limits at:
http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/liheap/incomelimits.cfm.
Then find the local agency where you can apply by downloading: Community Assistance Contact List (PDF file, 179KB).
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