In effort to ensure the health of our visitors and employees, Seminole County Government has closed public-facing buildings. Our Community Services team will continue to provide financial assistance services via web application and all other services via phone as possible. Please call 407-665-2300 or visit the Community Services Website. If you have documents to drop off please email them directly to your Case Manager, Project Manager, Veteran’s Service Officer, or Program Coordinator or if you are applying for financial assistance please email them to CA_docs@seminolecountyfl.gov. If you need to drop off original documents, please do so in the drop box and we will mail your originals back to you. Thank you.

The Community Assistance Division assists residents of Seminole County with services that provide stability within the community. This Division consists of two sections: The Veterans' Services Program and the Housing & Financial Assistance Program.

Veterans’ Services Program

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) allocates general revenue funds to the Community Services Department for Veteran Services. The Veteran Services program provides quality supportive services, information and advocacy to enhance the health and economic well-being of veterans, their families and survivors residing in Seminole County. The Community Assistance Division has Veteran Services Officers located in their office to assist veterans' and their families with benefit claims, transportation, employment, education, property tax exemption, and burial.

Housing and Financial Assistance

Community Service Agency Partnership Program (CSA) The mission of the CSA Partnership program is to improve the quality of life for Seminole County residents by collaborating with community based organizations through a funding initiative to meet the human services needs within the County. The CSA Partnership Grant program was initiated by the Board of County Commissioners to address human service needs in Seminole County. Seminole County has an extensive history of partnerships with local non-profit agencies to benefit and improve the quality of life for residents. It is deemed to be in the best interest of the citizens of Seminole County that funds be made available to establish partnerships with non-profit agencies who serve the community’s social interests and needs. Therefore, it is the intent of this program to assist agencies that provide essential and supportive services such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, child care, education and transportation for those in need within the County.

• Prevention Assistance The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) allocates general revenue funds to the Community Services Department annually to assist eligible low and moderate income households with financial assistance who are experiencing a financial hardship and need assistance with paying their rent or mortgage and utility bills.  Orientation-Application
• Dental Assistance – The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars to the County annually to assist eligible low income households. A portion of these dollars are used for public services through the Community Assistance Division. CDBG Public Service funds are used to assist uninsured low income households with dental services such as: extractions, fillings, dentures, partial dentures, root canals, crowns, x-rays, sedation and consultation.Dental Flyer / Preapplication
• Rental Security & Utility Deposits – The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) allocates dollars to the County annually for the purpose of helping their residents obtain safe, decent affordable housing that might otherwise be unavailable to them. Rental Security & Utility Deposit assistance is funded through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program to assist low income individuals/families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as a result of their inability to pay rental security and/or utility deposits. Orientation-Application

• Water and Sewer Utility Assistance – The Good Neighbor Fund is a program offered by Seminole County Environmental Services Department. The Water and Sewer Division receives donated funds from County residents for this program. The donated funds are available to unincorporated Seminole County households experiencing a financial hardship and need assistance with paying their water & sewer bill. Referrals are received from the Department of Environmental Services, Water and Sewer Division. Orientation-Application

• HCRA (Health Care Responsibility Act) Chapter 154, Florida Statutes, mandates that each county, through its Board of County Commissioners, assumes financial responsibility for reimbursing out-of-county participating hospitals for emergency services provided to indigent county residents.

• Indigent Care Hospital Contract In 1980, Central Florida Regional Hospital and Seminole County Government, through its Board of County Commissioners, entered into a contractual agreement. County assumes financial responsibility for reimbursing Central Florida Regional Hospital for medical services provided to uninsured indigent county residents.
• Burial/Cremation Program Chapter 406, Florida Statutes, mandates that each county, through its Board of County Commissioners, assumes financial responsibility for the disposition of any indigent, unclaimed or unidentified bodies if the death occurs in Seminole County. Burials are done in the county cemetery for unclaimed and unidentified bodies. Current payments for Burials are $950.00 adult, $600.00 child, and $400.00 for all cremations. Application
• Rent and Supportive Services Seminole County is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Central Florida Continuum of Care (CoC) to provide rental assistance and supportive services for chronically homeless households through the Shelter Plus Care (S+C) program. This program is designed to link hard-to-serve homeless households to rental assistance and supportive services.
• Seminole County Homeless Prevention Program (SCHP)-Seminole County Government through its Community Assistance Division, has allocated approximately $1.4 million to assist homeless Seminole County households. Assistance available to qualified households is rental assistance for short term (up to 7 months) to medium term (up to 21 months), one time utility assistance, and emergency housing vouchers. The program is closed at this time.

We Do Business in Accordance With the Federal Fair Housing Law
(The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988)

Conducimos nuestros negocios de acuerdo a la Ley Federal de Vivienda Justa (Acta de enmiendas de 1988 de la Ley Federal de Vivienda Justa)

County Funded Agencies

The county provides funding to non-profits who provide various types of services to address a multitude of unmet needs within our community that may not otherwise be addressed. The county provides this funding out of a longstanding commitment to improve the quality of life of its residents.

Are You Looking for Help from Local Charities and Non-profit Groups? To find community assistance groups in Seminole County, please utilize the free 2-1-1 service.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Inc.

The East Altamonte Branch is a Supportive Service which will provide after school and summer programs to at-risk youth. The core areas emphasized by this program will be Character and Leadership Development, Education and Career Development, Health and Life Skills, the Arts and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation.

• Address:801 N. Magnolia Avenue, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32803
• Phone: 407-841-6855
• Web Site: http://www.bgccf.org/

Boys Town Central Florida, Inc.

The Emergency Intervention and Assessment Center is an Essential Life Service that provides emergency shelter to abused, neglected, abandoned, runaway, and delinquent children between the ages of 10-18 years old. In addition to shelter every child is provided a clean, warm bed, wholesome nutritious meals, clothing, personal hygiene products and other basic items needed for daily survival as well as being evaluated by trained staff within 24 hours of their arrival to determine their specific needs. Boys Town Family Home Program provides care for youth ages 10 to 18 who can’t live at home and whose special needs require more intensive care. Children living in family-style homes and receive treatment and care from specially trained married couples called Family-Teachers. Boys Town In-Home Family Services help at risk families in the community by preventing children from being placed outside of their home, or reunifying them with their family if outside placement is necessary. At this fastest-growing continuum level, trained Family Consultants deliver services to families in their homes and provide support 24/7. Boys Town Common Sense Parenting® offers training for parents who want to build on their existing skills or learn new ways of dealing with their children’s difficult behaviors. CSP adapts Boys Town’s proven child-care methods for troubled children to meet the needs of just about any family. A six-session workshop (12 hours total) allows parents to learn, practice and demonstrate new parenting skills. The Behavioral Health Clinic offers a wide range of outpatient services for children of all ages who are experiencing behavioral, emotional, academic, or substance use concerns. The Clinic serves youth of all ages, from infancy to 19, and offers families a wide range of specialized services.

• Address: 975 Oklahoma Street Oviedo, FL 32765
• Phone: 407-588-2170
• Web Site: http://www.boystown.org/central-florida

Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc.

The Pathways to Care Program is an Essential Life Service that provides shelter and recuperative care to homeless individuals who are discharged from hospitals, emergency rooms, and other medical agencies. In addition each client is offered mental health counseling and case management and encouraged to complete a social recovery plan which addresses the root causes of their homelessness.

• Address: 1819 North Semoran Blvd. Orlando, FL 32807
• Phone: 407-658-1818
• Web Site: http://www.cflcc.org/

The Christian Sharing Center, Inc.

Food and other non-cash assistance is provided to families, individuals and homeless persons Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.  Clients are required to bring in documentation each time they visit.  (If you need help with food, please visit the Get Help page at (http://thesharingcenter.org/get-helpayudar/3066832) to plan your visit with us.) People in need of food will first meet with a case manager for a comprehensive review of their needs.  Each family receives two bags of hand-selected, customized, nutritionally balanced food for each member of the family. A homeless individual will be given enough food to last 2-3 days, or as much as they can carry and store. Clients may request "regular" food assistance up to 5 times per year (a minimum of 30 days in between requests), and may also receive special holiday food at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Address: 600 N. Hwy 17-92, Suite 158, Longwood, FL 32750
• Phone: 407-260-9155 (Longwood)
• Web Site: http://www.thesharingcenter.org/

Heart of Florida United Way, Inc.

The 2-1-1 Information and Referral helpline is a Supportive Service that will service Seminole County along with the Tri-County area by connecting callers facing foreclosure, eviction, hunger, health care resources and other emergencies with appropriate resources to stabilize their families. In additional to assisting callers with resources, 2-1-1 is also trained to provide crisis and suicide intervention services.

• Address: 1940 Traylor Blvd. Orlando, FL 32804
• Phone: 407-835-0900
• Web Site: http://www.hfuw.org/

Lighthouse Central Florida, Inc.

The Early Intervention Services Program is a Supportive Service serving infants and children of Seminole County who are blind and visually impaired and who often have additional disabilities. Each child is paired with a Mentor who develops a Plan of Service with the family that identifies goals for the child and helps the child reach these goals until they are ready to transition into Kindergarten.

• Address: 215 E. New Hampshire St. Orlando FL 32804
• Phone: 407-898-2483
• Web Site: http://www.lighthousecentralflorida.org/

Intervention Services, Inc.

The Village Transitional Housing Program is an Essential Life Service that provides a housing option for former Seminole County foster youth who turn 18 and “age out” of the foster care system. The Village assists them is accomplishing their employment and educational goals, while teaching them independent living skills and providing a range of essential services such as behavioral health services and accessing medical services.

• Address: 150 Spartan Drive Maitland FL 32751
• Phone: 407-478-4034
• Web Site: http://www.interventionservices.com  

Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando, Inc.

The Family Stabilization Program (FSP) is a Supportive Service which entails a six-month intensive case management program that provides an array of wraparound services to stabilize Seminole County families before they descend into homelessness. The FSP addresses money management skills, effective family functions, emotional and mental health coping skills, employability or job security, and improving or maintaining housing.

• Address: 2100 Lee Rd. Winter Park, FL 32789
• Phone: 407-644-7593
• Web Site: http://www.jfsorlando.org/

Kids House of Seminole, Inc.

Kids House is an Essential Life Service that provides critical services to abused children and their families in Seminole County. These services provided include crisis intervention consisting of face to face intensive crisis counseling, child advocacy during the judicial process, and risk reduction services which consist of emergency assistance with emergency funds and/or referrals for the victim and non-offending family members in need.

• Address: 5467 North Ronald Reagan Blvd Sanford, FL 32773
• Phone: 407-324-3036
• Web Site: https://www.kidshouse.org/

Meals on Wheels, Etc., Inc.

The Meals on Wheels program is an Essential Life Service that provides the elderly of Seminole County with home-delivered meals and medical/shopping transportation. Two home-delivered meals are provided daily to home bound seniors who cannot prepare a nutritious meal for themselves. The transportation services assist those seniors who cannot afford private fare and are not capable of walking to a bus stop or getting on and off a bus by themselves.

• Address: 2801 S. Financial Court Sanford, FL 32773
• Phone: 407-333-8877
• Web Site: http://www.mealsetc.org/

Safehouse of Seminole County

SafeHouse is an Essential Life Service that provides 24-hour emergency shelter to Seminole County victims of domestic violence and their children who are in imminent danger and are seeking safety. Residents receive food, clothing, safe shelter, safety planning sessions, individual crisis counseling, support groups, case management (including individual need assessment, development of service plans, written safety plans and the coordination of appropriate services and follow-up), referrals to community resources, child assessments, children’s healing programs, transitional housing and personal advocacy.

Seminole County Victims’ Rights Coalition (Y.A.N.A) – The “You Are Never Alone” or Y.A.N.A. Project is a Supportive Service that offers supervised visitations which consist of on-site visitations with a trained supervisor who is present with the children at all times, safe monitored exchanges which are on-site supervised exchange of child(ren) between custodial and non-custodial parties, and parenting classes. These services provide a safe space for children to visit with the non-custodial parent, help keep children and adult victims of domestic violence safe during exchanges and visitation, and provide access to meaningful referrals.

• Address: P.O. Box 2921 Sanford, FL 32772
• Phone: 407-302-5220
• Web Site: http://www.safehouseofseminole.org/

The Seminole County Coalition for School Readiness, Inc.

The Early Learning Coalition of Seminole is an Essential Life Service that provides assistance to low/moderate income working families with the cost of child care in settings that build the foundation children need to enter school ready to learn. This program reduces out-of-pocket childcare costs for struggling Seminole County families with children birth to 12 years and gives their children access to reliable care in quality learning environments.

• Address: 239 Rinehart Road Lake Mary, FL 32746
• Phone: 407-871-1101
• Web Site: http://www.seminoleearlylearning.org/

The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Inc.

The Midway Safe Harbor program is a Supportive Service providing community-based learning and enrichment opportunities for students within the northeast sector of Sanford. This program presents opportunities for remedial education and academic enrichment in reading, math and science, physical education and recreation, dropout prevention and character education, and adult family member educational support.

• Address: 2405 Rightway Sanford, FL 32771
• Phone: 407-320-5995
• Web Site: http://www.scps.k12.fl.us/district/departments/title-1-special-projects/21st-century-cclc-sites/midway-safe-harbor.stml

Seniors First, Inc.

Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) provides community-based services that meet Supportive Service needs and are organized in a continuum of care to assist seniors to live in the least restrictive environment suitable to their health conditions and abilities. Support is provided to Seminole County elderly clients as needed and can include case management, case aide, homemaker, personal care, adult day care, home delivered meals, respite, companionship, emergency response, medical supplies, and nutritional counseling.

• Address: 5395 LB McLeod Rd. Orlando, FL 32811
• Phone: 407-292-0177
• Web Site: http://www.seniorsfirstinc.org/

Special Olympics Florida, Inc.

Special Olympics Seminole County is a Supportive Service that provides free year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community. They will provide at no charge uniforms, equipment, transportation and lodging which is all needed to ensure that individuals with intellectual disabilities residing in Seminole County can participate safely in program activities and develop as individuals in the community.

• Address: PO Box 520742 Longwood, FL 32752
• Phone: 407-782-0525
• Web Site: http://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/

Special Service Contracts

These funds are designated to the division for services mandated by Florida statue or federal regulations to help cover the costs of services primarily needed by indigent families who have no other means of paying. Funding designated for these projects are another example of the County’s efforts to care for their residents which ultimately enhances communities within Seminole County.

Seminole Community Mental Health Center

• Services: Provides in-patient and out-patient mental health services to low income Seminole County residents.
• Address: 237 Fernwood Boulevard Fern Park FL 32708
• Phone: 407-831-2411
• Fax: 407-831-0195
• Web Site: http://www.scmhc.com

Child Protection Team

• Services: Provides medical exams and assessments on children where "alleged abuse" has occurred.
• Address: 5467 North C.R. 427 Sanford, FL 32773
• Phone: 407-324-3036
• Fax: 407-324-3045
• Web site: www.kidshouse.org

 

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

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Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Advisory Board Meeting Schedule

The CSBG Advisory Board meets every other month, on the third Tuesday of the month, in the large conference room located at the Division of Community Assistance office in the Reflections Plaza, at 534 W. Lake Mary Boulevard, Sanford, FL, 32773-7400. These meetings begin at 4:00pm. For more information, call 407-665-2300.

2020/2021 Meeting Dates:

• November 17, 2020
• January 19, 2021 - Rescheduled to January 26, 2021
• March 16, 2021
• May 18, 2021
• July 20, 2021 
• September21, 2021