AARP, Tax-Aide Program

Update 3/15/2024: Make sure to call and make an appointment before you go to a site; all appointments may be filled based on location *Seasonal program starting late January or early February and lasts through mid April (depending location, volunteer availability and other circumstances) *Certified AARP volunteers offer free tax preparation assistance to persons OF ANY AGE with low to middle incomes, and non-complicated tax returns, at various sites throughout Florida *Persons receiving services do not have to be AARP members *In some cases AARP Tax Aide sites overlap with VITA tax sites, but AARP usually has additional non-VITA tax sites *Information about locating sites and which method(s) those sites are using is available on the website at at http://www.

Services: Tax Preparation Assistance

ADA National Information Line

*ADA Information Line, division of the US Department of Justice, provides information about the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) for businesses, state and local governments, or individuals about general or specific ADA requirements and standards *Offers free ADA materials and information about filing a complaint *Calls are confidential

Services: Accessibility Related Standards/Legislation Compliance, ADA Implementation Assistance, Consumer Complaints

AHCA, Complaint and Information Call Center

*Maintains complaint and information call center where anyone wishing to file a complaint against health care facilities, professionals, health maintenance organizations or Medicaid fraud can call the toll-free number for assistance

Services: Consumer Complaints, Consumer Fraud Reporting, Medicaid, Medicaid Fraud Reporting

All About Love, Inc.

*Does not offer utility payment assistance or rent assistance, but may be able to assist with utility service extensions based on caller's ability to pay *Other services provided as funds are available, including prescription assistance, clothing, benefits application assistance (food stamps, SSI, SS, VA), life management skills/budgeting, and resume/employment assistance *May ask some persons who receive services to volunteer for them in exchange for providing assistance *Will only asks able-bodied people (not elderly, disabled, etc.

Services: Employment Preparation, Food Stamps/SNAP, General Benefits Assistance, General Clothing Provision, Job Finding Assistance, Life Skills Education, Personal Financial Counseling, Prescription Expense Assistance

Better Business Bureau, The Southeast Atlantic

*Provides service to both consumers and businesses, offering information in various areas: Reliability Reports that compare businesses to BBB standards and how they perform, charity standards, Auto Line that offers dispute resolution regarding automobiles, various other consumer problems or concerns, operations (marketing, sales, and technology) *Will take complaints against businesses when warranted

Services: Consumer Complaints, Consumer Education, Consumer Fraud Reporting, Consumer Protection Agencies

Big Bend AHEC (Area Health Education Center)

*Quit Your Way, Tobacco Free Florida AHEC Program: Includes free groups in the community to help with tobacco cessation; classes available in-person and virtual (Zoom) *Health Insurance Navigator Program: Certified, Community Navigators assist with the application process and enrollment through HealthCare.

Services: Affordable Care Act Insurance Information/Counseling, Chronic Disease Self Management Programs, Financial Literacy Training, General Health Education Programs, Nutrition Education, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Wellness Programs

Capital City Youth Services, Going Places Street Outreach

*Outreach services for homeless, runaway and at risk youth (11 to 24) on the streets: Provides shelter or tents and/or tarps and survival supplies for living outdoors *Help with finding housing, employment, financial aid, ID acquisition, food stamps, bus tickets home, calls home for safe and well notification *Assistance with Medicaid, health and dental care, prescriptions, pregnancy and STD testing, substance abuse and mental health counseling *Drop in center at 2407 Roberts Ave, Tallahassee, 32310, (Bus Loop 7), open M, W, F, from 10AM-4PM, offers all services plus showers, laundry, computers, meals, food pantry, clothes closet and a safe place to be *Services also available where Safe Place signs are placed, such as a table, banner or vehicle with Going Places logo

Services: Food Pantries, General Benefits Assistance, General Clothing Provision, General Counseling Services, Health Care Referrals, Homeless Drop In Centers, Laundry Facilities, Public Showers/Baths, Records/Licenses/Permits, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Transportation Expense Assistance

Capital Medical Society

*Professional membership organization for physicians, offering a ready resource for information, support and networking *Physician referral and information service providing information about member physicians, medical backgrounds, board certification *All complaints must be made to CMS in writing

Services: Consumer Complaints, Medical Associations

ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions

*Telephone, in-person and on-line counseling for credit report analysis, debt, bankruptcy, and budget concerns *Housing concerns, homebuyer counseling and education, mortgage foreclosure prevention, reverse mortgage counseling *Financial education classes around community, on-line, webinars, podcasts

Services: Bankruptcy Assistance, Credit Counseling, Mortgage Delinquency and Default Counseling, Personal Financial Counseling

Community Action Agency, Getting Ahead

3/4/2024: NO FUNDING AVAILABLE AS OF APRIL 7, 2023 *Program consists of two components including a 15-week class called Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-by World; then upon completion, participants shift to the Staying Ahead Program where they are paired with 2 mentors who meet regularly for about 6 months to advise, counsel and encourage *Program assists with GED, trade/vocational education, higher education to improve opportunities for jobs with a livable wage; employability skills, and opportunity to participate in the Agency’s On-The-Job Training (OJT) Program; job placement, coaching, and counseling; ongoing counseling, monitoring, and support from a case manager/social worker to ensure continued progress toward family self-sufficiency goals; multiple opportunities for crisis/emergency assistance during the first year (rent, utilities, food vouchers, transportation, childcare) based on the availability of resources *Participants meet once a week in a relaxed discussion type atmosphere and class members work closely with Career Source, TCC and Lively Vocational School; funding may be available to pay for tuition, books, job training, childcare on a case by case basis *Call for more information about class dates and times *Persons interested in becoming a mentor may fill out an application on website or call to volunteer

Services: Career Counseling, Child Care Expense Assistance, Economic Self Sufficiency Programs, Employment Preparation, Financial Literacy Training, GED/High School Equivalency Test Instruction, Mentoring Programs, Personal Financial Counseling, Vocational Education, Volunteer Opportunities