Florida assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Florida
Florida residents may be able to get help with food, utilities, housing, healthcare, child care, cash assistance, work, legal concerns, phone or internet costs, aging and disability needs, disaster recovery, and crisis support. Many programs are handled by county offices or local providers, so begin with the statewide portal or locator that matches the problem you are trying to solve.
Money Fit serves Florida residents statewide. Nonprofit credit counseling is available by phone and online throughout Florida. Debt Reduction Services, Inc., operating as Money Fit, is registered with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, under registration no. F11000000204.
Where to start
You do not need to know the exact program name before asking for help. Choose the starting point that most closely matches what is happening now.
Applying for state benefits
MyACCESS is Florida's main portal for SNAP food assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, Optional State Supplementation, and related case management.
Open MyACCESSFinding nearby help
Call 211 or search the statewide directory for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, family services, and crisis support.
Search Florida 211Housing or utility assistance
Florida energy, rental, home-repair, and public-housing programs are commonly handled through county agencies, local governments, and housing authorities.
Review housing and utility helpLocal routing matters in Florida. LIHEAP applications go through the provider serving your county. School Readiness child care assistance goes through a local early learning coalition. Rental assistance, SHIP housing help, public housing, and voucher waiting lists are also managed locally.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when it fits your household. For food needed sooner, use the statewide food-bank network or call 211.
Florida SNAP food assistance
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible Florida households. Applications, renewals, document uploads, and case information are handled through MyACCESS.
DCF benefits call center: 850-300-4323
Florida WIC
WIC provides healthy food, nutrition guidance, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Applications are handled through county health departments.
State WIC office: 800-342-3556
Feeding Florida food-bank network
Florida's statewide food-bank network can direct residents to the regional food bank serving their county. Local food banks may provide pantry locations, mobile distributions, meal programs, and help applying for public benefits.
Food assistance line: 855-352-3663
Housing, rent, and utility help
Florida housing and utility assistance is divided among local energy providers, county and city housing programs, public housing authorities, legal-aid organizations, and emergency service networks. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
LIHEAP energy assistance
LIHEAP may help eligible households with home heating or cooling costs. FloridaCommerce funds local agencies, and residents must apply through the provider serving their county.
FloridaHousingSearch.org
Search for affordable, accessible, senior, and special-needs rental housing throughout Florida. Property availability, rent, and eligibility requirements should be confirmed directly with the property.
Search assistance: 877-428-8844
SHIP housing assistance
Local SHIP programs may offer rental assistance, home repair or replacement, accessibility modifications, down-payment help, or other housing support. Available uses and application periods are set locally.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local public housing agencies. Waiting lists may be closed, and households may need to check more than one nearby agency.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
Emergency shelter, eviction, and tenant support
Call 211 for nearby shelter, rent help, utility assistance, and homelessness services. Florida Law Help can direct residents to civil legal-aid providers for eviction, landlord-tenant, foreclosure, public-benefit, and other covered matters.
Housing availability is local. Florida Housing does not operate one statewide emergency-rent application. Check county and city SHIP programs, local housing authorities, 211, and legal aid rather than relying on old pandemic-era rental-assistance links.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Florida Medicaid and Florida KidCare use different application pathways. Community health centers can be another starting point for medical, dental, pharmacy, or behavioral health care.
Florida Medicaid
Florida Medicaid covers eligible people under several categories, including children, pregnant participants, parents and caretakers, older adults, and people with disabilities. Applications and renewals are handled through MyACCESS.
DCF benefits call center: 850-300-4323
Florida KidCare
Florida KidCare provides year-round health and dental coverage options for children under age 19. Cost and program placement depend on age, household size, income, and other eligibility requirements.
Phone: 888-540-5437
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, and other services. Fees are generally based on ability to pay, but services and appointment availability differ by location.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Florida School Readiness child care assistance is delivered through local early learning coalitions. Temporary Cash Assistance is administered through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
School Readiness Program
School Readiness may help eligible families pay for early education and child care while parents work, attend school, or participate in approved training. Local early learning coalitions manage applications and waiting lists.
Child Care Resource and Referral: 866-357-3239
Child Care Resource and Referral
Florida's statewide referral network helps families locate regulated child care and understand quality, availability, and early-learning options in their community.
Phone: 866-357-3239
Florida Temporary Cash Assistance
TCA provides temporary cash assistance to eligible families with children and certain pregnant participants. Income, assets, household composition, school attendance, and work-related rules may apply.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of phone or internet access can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Florida Reemployment Assistance
Reemployment Assistance provides temporary wage-replacement benefits to qualified workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Claims are filed through FloridaCommerce's online system.
Employ Florida and CareerSource
Search job openings, create a résumé, explore training, and connect with local workforce services through Employ Florida and the CareerSource Florida network.
Florida Law Help
Search for free or low-cost civil legal services involving housing, public benefits, debt collection, family matters, employment, healthcare, and other covered issues. Help and representation are not guaranteed.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may lower the monthly cost of qualifying voice or broadband service for households that meet income requirements or participate in certain public-benefit programs.
Lifeline Support: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Florida's Aging and Disability Resource Centers connect residents with meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits counseling, home and community services, long-term-care information, and other local programs.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
ADRCs provide information and referral services for older adults, people with disabilities, families, and caregivers throughout Florida. The statewide Elder Helpline can connect callers with the correct regional center.
Elder Helpline: 800-963-5337
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
988 Florida Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide concerns, substance use, or another behavioral health crisis. Support is available 24 hours a day.
Florida statewide domestic violence hotline
Trained advocates provide confidential support, safety planning, information, and referrals to Florida's certified domestic violence centers 24 hours a day.
Hotline: 800-500-1119
Florida Abuse Hotline
Report suspected abuse, neglect, abandonment, self-neglect, or exploitation involving children or vulnerable adults. Call 911 first when someone faces immediate danger.
Hotline: 800-962-2873
Florida 211
Call 211 for free, confidential referrals to local food, shelter, utility, healthcare, transportation, family, disaster, and crisis programs.
Florida and federal disaster assistance
Florida Division of Emergency Management posts current emergency and recovery information. After a federally declared disaster, eligible households may be able to apply through DisasterAssistance.gov. Application windows and covered counties depend on the specific declaration.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with one urgent cost while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Florida residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may be discussed when it fits the budget and eligible unsecured debts. It is not a new loan or debt settlement, and creditor participation and concessions can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
