Lakeland, Florida Help with Money, Housing, Health, Food, etc

New helpful website just added November 2009….

Tampa Bay Homeless Resource is a collaborative website for advocates, service providers, government and citizens to share and find help, services, resources, news and volunteer opportunities to help end homelessness in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Homeless Resource was started by the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County to be a vast collection of Tampa Bay homeless resources and information. The wiki is a new evolution of how all individuals and agencies helping the homeless can get together and share information efficiently and quickly. This resource is volunteer-driven and is freely edited by any user.

http://tampabayhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Homeless_Resource_Wiki

Call 211 for information and referral on a variety of basic needs and crisis services.  Offered by United Way    Call 211

Central Florida Catholic Charities (863) 686-7153

Counseling, pregnancy and foster care, adoption, family assistance, food pantry, immigration services, refugee resettlement, senior services, criminal justice, respite health care

Salvation Army 682-8179

Assistance to families who have had an unexpected emergency and find themselves without food, an eviction notice or utility shut off notice. Some prescription assistance can be provided on a limited basis. The Center of Hope can accommodate families with children as well as single men and women, whether the need for shelter is due to loss of a home or a domestic situation. The shelter provides a community lunch daily, as well as a hot shower, fresh linens, warm bed, breakfast, and dinner to those that stay overnight. The shelter is a temporary emergency service where staff assist clients in finding solutions to their problems. The Transitional Living Center (TLC) Program is designed to help families acquire and develop the necessary tools to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency ini a permanent living arrangement. Through life-skill training in budgeting, and money management, parenting, nutrition, education, and problem solving, these families are provided the opportunities to reach a self-supporting level of independence. The facility provides twelve apartments, fully furnished wit laundry facilities. The program offers free child care while parents are working. (FREE) Shelter opens at 5pm and clients must leave by 6 am.  May stay 14 days at shelter, check-in is first come first served.  Men have separate dorm.

Peace River Mental Health Crisis Line  519-3744

Domestic Violence & Recovery and Crisis Hotlines   413-2700

Elder Helpline 1-800-336-2226

Citrus Connection Bus 688-7433

free and reduced price rides on regular bus, Handy Bus for disabled

Saddle Creek Park 499-2613  $7.50 to $17/night camping

must have tent, van or RV  electric, water, showers

WIC 519-7900   Pregnant and postpartum women and children (under 5 years of age)

milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, beans or peanut butter, juice

Children’s Medical Services 701-1151

The Children’s Medical Services (CMS) program provides children with special health care needs with a family centered, managed system of care. Children with special health care needs are those children under age 21 whose serious or chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions require extensive preventive and maintenance care beyond that required by typically healthy children.

Medicare 1-800-633-4227

Medicare is the federal government program that gives you health care coverage if you are 65 or older, or have a disability, no matter what your income.

Social Security 1-800-772-1213   Lakeland  683-0526

apply for retirement benefits, survivor benefits, disability

Department of Children and Families  Florida Access 1-866-762-2237

food stamps, temporary cash assistance, Medicaid, medical assistance for pregnant women

National Hunger Hotline 1-866-348-6479

Food information and general referral to emergency food and government hunger and poverty programs

Lakeland Housing Authority 687-2911

Section 8 Housing

Four Corners Church Food Pantry, Plant City

Be there by 8:30 AM Mondays or Thursdays

Believer’s Fellowship Food Pantry 5240 Socrum Loop Rd   Thursday 6 PM  858-5668

Pathway Ministries Food Pantry 1942 W Memorial Blvd   687-1942

1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month  10 AM

Lighthouse Ministries 687-3705

H.O.P.E. Outreach operates within the Lighthouse Thrift Shoppe locations in Lakeland and Plant City. Through the outreach program, Lighthouse is able to provide free case management, food, clothing, household items, furniture, toys for children, and referral services to those in need.

Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland 687-8475

Have daytime safe haven, night shelter, clothing, showers, spiritual growth, tutoring, recovery program, medical/dental care, transitional housing, educational advancement, employment preparation, and permanent supportive housing.

Volunteers in Service to the Elderly 863-284-0828

Agency serves adults age 65 and over that meet income qualifications. Offer commodities, transportation services to and from Doctor Appointments. 2 times monthly to grocery stores.

Tuesday and Thursday – hot meals are available for home delivery.

Florida Rural Legal Services Inc. 688-7376

Free legal services to those who meet income qualifications. Areas covered are: over payments on public assistance, landlord/tenant law, 60 years and over, elder law assistance, limited family law, unemployment compensation.