Many Floridians live paycheck to paycheck.
Look beyond Florida's beautiful beaches and gaudy tourist destinations and you'll find many people living in chronic poverty. These Floridians find it difficult to pay their bills even during good economic times, and the number of people who can't meet their living expenses grows even higher during an economic downturn. More than 13 percent of Floridians lived below the poverty line in 2008, according to U.S. Census estimates. Fortunately, there are places they can turn to for help.
State Assistance
The Florida Department of Children & Families provides cash, food and medical assistance to low-income Floridians through its ACCESS Florida program. Applicants must meet income and asset qualifications. Temporary cash assistance is available for families with children in the home, or pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Applicants must either work or be looking for a job, unless they are exempt. To qualify, gross income must be less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level. (The federal poverty level in 2009 to 2010 was $903 per month for a family of one.) The maximum asset limit to receive assistance is $2,000. The Department of Children & Families site has a fact sheet with detailed rules.
The food stamp program has an income limit of 130 percent of the federal poverty level and a $2,000 asset limit. The Medicaid income limit is 100 percent of the federal poverty level with a $2,000 asset limit. The regulations are very detailed, but the Department of Children & Families has an online application prescreening to make the process easier.
Weatherization
State and federal governments fund a program that pays to repair dwellings, improve insulation, repair or replace inefficient heating and cooling systems and other improvements to make homes more energy efficient and comfortable. The weatherization program is administered through local nonprofit and government agencies.
Every county and many cities have different agencies that administer the program. The state has set income limits that start at $21,660 for a family of one. A list of the agencies and contact information for your county or city can be found on the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Web site, or you can call toll-free 877-352-3232.
Utility Assistance
Low-income residents may be able to get grants to pay their utility bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Like weatherization, this program is administered by local nonprofit agencies throughout the state. The state DCA has set income limits that start at $21,660 for a family of one. A list of the agencies with contact information for your county or city can be found on the DCA site, or you can call the DCA at 877-352-3232
Housing
Throughout the state, various agencies have programs to help with housing expenses. The details of these programs vary from county to county, based on the details of the grants received by the local agencies. For instance in 2010 in Leon County, some low-income clients can receive up to $2,000 to use for a down payment on a home. And in Duval County, some clients can receive help paying their rent or making mortgage payments. The income limit is $21,660 for a family of one.
A list of agencies with contact information for your county or city can be found on the DCA site or you can call the DCA at 877-352-3232.
Tags: federal poverty, federal poverty level, poverty level, your county city, asset limit, Children Families
