FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Seminole County’s Financial Assistance Program closed on May 15, 2023 at 1pm and will be closed until further notice. 

Only applications completed and submitted by 1pm will be accepted. Applicants will be contacted once their application is reviewed. Assistance is provided on a first completed, first served basis as long as funding is available.

We do not provide emergency assistance and the processing time can be several weeks.

Applicants that have not previously accessed the online site can register their email address prior to the portal opening to expediate the process. If you have already registered and/or started an application, you do not need to register again.

To register please visit the Online Application Website, select Register at the top right of the screen and follow the directions to register your email address. The application will not be available until the portal opens.

For more information, please contact our office at 407-665-2300.

For additional community resources please contact the United Way by dialing 211 or 407-839-4357.

Applicants needing assistance with computer access or scanning and uploading required documents can schedule an appointment with the Application Assistance Center located at 520 West Lake Mary Boulevard, Suite 100 Sanford, FL 32773. Appointments to utilize the center can be made by calling 407-665-2300. 

     120% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AS OF 4/18/2022)  

RENT – MORTGAGE – UTILITIES

To be eligible for rent/mortgage and utility assistance, the household must have an established Seminole County residence, have a gross annual income at or below 120% Area Median Income, have had an unexpected financial hardship in the last 90 days, while a resident of Seminole County and household must have current income equal to at least 50% of the rent/mortgage and utility monthly expenses. Section 8, HUD, TBRA, and Subsidized Housing Recipients are not eligible for rental or utility assistance.

Click HERE for examples of unexpected financial hardships.

This is a one-time assistance, and the amount of assistance is determined by the loss. Assistance will not exceed $2,500 or two months (whichever is less). Eligible applicants can receive assistance once every two years. This includes any assistance received from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 

Required Documents:

• Proof of Seminole County residency. (Current complete rent/lease agreement or mortgage statement).
• Current utility bill (if applying for utility assistance)
• Valid Florida Photo I.D. (Driver’s license or I.D. card). For all adults age 18 and older in household. Please note: Out of state IDs, Passports, Military ID are not acceptable replacements for a Florida Driver’s license or I.D. card
• U.S. Birth Certificate for all children in the household (a valid U.S. Passport, court ordered custody paperwork, school records showing parent and child’s name, or immunization records may be substituted if a U.S Birth Certificate is not available).
• Documentation of name change (if name on valid Florida ID or Driver’s license, or any other documentation being submitted, does not match name on U.S. birth certificate)
• If any household member is not a US citizen, you must provide a copy of a Valid Permanent Resident Card
• Proof of all income in the household for the past 90 days. (This includes AFDC, Food Stamps, Child Support, SSI, SS, VA, Pensions, unemployment and all employment earnings). A Verification of No Monthly income form will need to be completed and notarized by all household members, age 18 or older, that do not have any type of income. If self-employed, please complete 6 months of monthly profit/loss forms.
• Documentation of Financial Hardship.
• Other documentation may be requested once your application is reviewed.
• Seminole County Release of Information Signed by all household members age 18 and older.

Other documentation that may be needed:

• Verification of No Child Support Income Form 
• Verification of No Monthly Income Form 
• Proof of Income Monthly Profit & Loss Statement for the last 6 months. Fill out 1 page per month 
• Verification of No Financial Account Form 

DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE

Assistance is available only for households experiencing homelessness or in imminent danger of becoming homeless; homelessness must have occurred in the state of Florida. Assistance is not available for relocation purposes. This is a one-time assistance for the deposit and does not provide ongoing monthly rental assistance. Household must have a gross annual income at or below 120% Median Area Income. If approved, applicant will be responsible for locating and qualifying for housing in Seminole County; our office is unable to locate housing for deposit applicants. Monthly rental amount cannot exceed 50% of the household’s monthly income and cannot exceed the Fair Market Rent for Seminole County. Eligible applicants can receive this assistance once every 3 years.

Required Documents:

• Valid Florida Photo I.D. (Driver’s license or I.D. card). For all adults age 18 and older in household. Please note: Out of state IDs, Passports, Military ID are not acceptable replacements for a Florida Driver’s license or I.D. card
• U.S. Birth Certificate for all children in the household (a valid U.S. Passport, court ordered custody paperwork, school records showing parent and child’s name, or immunization records may be substituted if a U.S Birth Certificate is not available).
• Documentation of name change (if name on valid Florida ID or Driver’s license, or any other documentation being submitted, does not match name on U.S. birth certificate)
• If any household member is not a US citizen, you must provide a copy of a Valid Permanent Resident Card
• Proof of all income in the household for the past 90 days. (This includes AFDC, Food Stamps, Child Support, SSI, SS, VA, Pensions, unemployment, and all employment earnings). A Verification of No Monthly income form will need to be completed and notarized by all household members, age 18 or older, that do not have any type of income. If self-employed, please complete 6 months of monthly profit/loss forms.
• Documentation of homelessness or imminent danger of becoming homeless. (Seminole County homeless affidavit and hotel/motel receipts with verification letter from shelter/agency, or eviction in Florida or notice within the last 12 months in Florida, or foreclosure within the last 12 months or notice of lease non- renewal of current lease in Florida, referral from SCPS Families in Need)
• All pages of bank statement/ pay card statements for all accounts in the household for the last 6 months. This includes accounts for minor children in the household as well as all adults.
• Other documentation may be requested once your application is reviewed.
• Seminole County Release of Information Signed by all household members age 18 and older.
• Homeless Affidavit Completed and signed

Other documentation that may be needed:

• Verification of No Child Support Income Form
• Verification of No Monthly Income Form 
• Proof of Income Monthly Profit & Loss Statement for the last 6 months. Fill out 1 page per month.
• Verification of No Financial Account Form