Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend

*Child Care program that provides tuition assistance to young children that allows them to be in a safe, conducive learning environment to prepare them to enter the school system allowing parents to work, knowing their children are in a positive educational environment; voluntary Pre-kindergarten: approved list of providers *Parents may register for VPK and apply for the School Readiness program for child care assistance online or call for assistance; Trained counselors can assist callers in choosing programs that best fit their child's and family's needs including other services in the Whole Child network such as Food Stamps *Parents may apply online for child care assistance; if eligible, they will be placed on a waiting list and notified when funds are available *Free screening for hearing and vision can be requested by emailing resources@elcbigbend.

Services: Child Care Centers, Child Care Expense Assistance, Eye Screening, Hearing Screening, Pediatric Developmental Screening, Preschools

Eastpoint Apartments

*Apartment complex which offers subsidized rentals through the US Dept of Agriculture Rural Development Program *Must meet eligibility requirements of low to very low income applicants *30 units

Services: Low Income/Subsidized Rental Housing

ECHO, Rent Assistance

*UPDATE 12/6/2023: No funds available for rent or utility assistance *Homeless Prevention Program provides assistance to Gadsden, Leon, and Wakulla County households experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19 *Eligible households may receive up to $1,200 toward the payment of one month's rent and up to $300 for one utility billing cycle, along with counseling and case management to encourage stability moving forward *Must be able to verify loss of income or decreased earnings between March 2020 and June 2022; or unplanned health-, employment-, or relocation-related expense due to COVID-19 *An applicant may receive financial assistance for either past due or upcoming rent and utility payments, so long as the total payments do not exceed the $1,500 maximum limit *The funds will be made payable by check and provided directly to the landlord or utility company *APPROXIMATE examples of household income that is at or below 50% of the area median income, based on household size as shown: (THESE FIGURES ARE ROUNDED OFF AND NOT EXACT): *Single person: 30K; 2 people: 34K; 3 people: 38K; 4 people: 43K; 5 people: 46K, 6 people: 49K *Required Documents: Photo ID (Driver’s License or State ID preferred), One month of paystubs, bank statements, federal benefits letter, or “Self-certification of Income" form (provided by Housing Coordinator if needed), Current statement or notification of past due rent amount, copy of active signed lease, 3-day notice of eviction (if applicable), landlord-provided ledger of balance owed, current statement of past due utilities amount *How to apply: People may apply using the form on the website: https://echotlh.

Services: Rent Payment Assistance

Elder Care Community Council of Franklin County

*Programs at Holy Family Senior Center, 203 Dr Fred Pumphries St, Apalachicola, 32320 *Free lunch for seniors five days per week, open 10am-2pm *Activities, classes and events planned *Volunteers offer assistance in the following Neighbor Helping Neighbors programs: *Friendly Visitor: a consistent presence and emotional support to a senior one hour per week *Respite Care: assuming duties for caregivers who need a break *Handyperson: assist seniors with odd jobs and basic home repairs

Services: Congregate Meals/Nutrition Sites, Friendly Outreach Programs, Home Maintenance and Minor Repair Services, Respite Care

Elder Care Services, In-Home/Community Based Services

*Care managers assess assistance needs, develops care plans, then locate, arrange, and monitor services *Provide relief to caregivers of Alzheimer patients and general respite care *Provide homemakers to help with light housekeeping tasks *Provide personal care assistance with bathing, dressing and grooming *Services available as funding allows, there may be a waitlist at times *Free crisis and long-term counseling available to seniors and their caregivers *LGBTQ+ senior support group meets on last Thursday of the month at 11:30AM in the Senior Center, call for more information

Services: Activities of Daily Living Assessment, Caregiver Counseling, Case/Care Management, Dementia Management, General Counseling Services, In Home Assistance, LGBTQ2+ Support Groups, Respite Care

Engage Behavioral Health (Invo Center)

*Therapists and Paraprofessionals providing services for children with Autism, ages 14 and under (in some cases will see older teens) *Uses Functional Analysis assessment, ABA Therapy, Verbal Behavioral Therapy, and Workshops, to provide ADL training, Toilet Training, Feeding Therapy and to create behavioral plans to address physical aggression, self-injury, Non-compliance, self-stimulation behaviors, and tantrums *For families: parent training, behavioral babysitting, a monthly Parent's Night Out, Caregivers Lunch & Learn, Caregiver Support Groups, and Virtual Family Support *For Uninsured Patients Behavioral Therapy starts at $45/hr, Medicaid and most insurance accepted

Services: Activities of Daily Living Assessment, Autism Therapy, Caregiver/Care Receiver Support Groups, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Pediatric Developmental Assessment, Respite Care

Escambia County Housing Finance Authority

*Offers low interest loans to those who meet income eligibility levels and have not owned a home in the past 3 years (veterans and persons purchasing in a targeted area may qualify regardless of previous home ownership); serves 21 counties across Florida by offering homeownership programs to first-time homebuyers and former homeowners *Fosters home ownership, promotes the construction of affordable homes, and reduces the cost of loans for the purchase of homes by persons with moderate to low incomes

Services: Home Purchase/Construction Financing/Refinancing

Family Promise, Home Front Veterans Community

*Permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless veterans; 50 one bedroom units, some wheelchair accessible *Eligibility: veteran must be 1) currently homeless (defined as living in a shelter, transitional housing, or place not meant for human habitation such as a vehicle or the woods), and 2) already be accepted by HUD VASH program *Apply through VA Outreach

Services: Low Income/Subsidized Rental Housing, Veteran Homes

Family Promise, Homeless Prevention Program

*May 2024 Update: No rental or utility assistance available *Provides past due rent, mortgage and utility assistance to families threatened with eviction or foreclosure to prevent homelessness; Any assistance provided is dependent upon the caller's ability to pay future rent/utilities etc; anyone without a stable source of income is unlikely to qualify for assistance.

Services: Homelessness Prevention Programs, Mortgage Payment Assistance, Rent Payment Assistance, Utility Service Payment Assistance

Family Promise, Home Place at Balkin

*Permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities which are specifically set up so persons with various disabilities can be accommodated including wheelchair accessible affordable efficiency apartments and on-site supportive services staff *Sliding scale fee rent, though all residents must have some income *Access is gained through a coordinated entry process; social workers/case managers from agencies who work with homeless persons (such as the Kearney Center or Ability 1st) meet bi-monthly and rate each person according to need; The person(s) with highest rated need are given assistance in completing paperwork and documentation to become eligible when there is an opening

Services: Homeless Permanent Supportive Housing, Low Income/Subsidized Rental Housing