Emergency Financial Assistance Program (2024)

Emergency Assistance Program

The Social Services Division provides an Emergency Assistance Program to serve eligible households and individuals who are facing financial difficulties due to an unexpected emergency. The crisis generally involves the loss of a job, loss or reduction of household income, unexpected medical expenses, car repairs, a family dissolution, death in the family or an expense due to foreclosure, condemnation, fire or disaster. The program provides temporary financial assistance to prevent eviction for non-payment of rent/mortgage or interruption of utilities.

Specific guidelines and policies are used to determine eligibility, level of financial assistance and other needed resources. Rent, mortgage and utility payments are made directly to the supplier in an amount and for a period of time specified by policy. On a daily basis, trained staff are available to provide temporary financial intervention and basic case management services in order to stabilize the household's overall well-being. Additionally, participation in a two-hour budgeting and money management workshop is an integral part of the financial intervention and case plan.

How to Access the Program

Available Services

• Temporary financial assistance with rent, mortgage and/or utility needs.
• Wintertime heating and fuel oil assistance for eligible elderly individuals ages 64 years and older and disabled adults.
• Temporary financial assistance and coordinated case management for eligible individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
• Indigent Burial and Cremation. For information about eligibility, please contact Eternity Funeral Homes and Crematory at (904)348-5579 or Paulette Mitchell at (904) 255-3340.

Qualifying for Financial Assistance

• You must be a Duval County resident.
• Your household income must not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
• You must be in a documentable crisis situation.
• You must have a delinquent, eviction, foreclosure or shut-off notice or loss of utility service.
• You must meet the established eligibility guidelines and provide proof of eligibility.
• You must not have received financial assistance from our program within the past 24 months
• You must have had the capacity to meet basic needs before suffering the current financial hardship.
• You must provide a valid Florida Driver’s License/ID for the applying client with a Duval County address at the time of your application and a picture identification for ALL adults in the household. No Passports
• You must provide Social Security documentation for all household members.
• You must provide proof of all household income and resources for the past 90 days
• You must provide a lease agreement and copy of eviction notice, if applicable.
• You must provide utility shut-off notice if applicable.
• 90 days waiting period between appointments - all potential clients that were denied and are seeking assistance must wait 90 days before they can obtain a new appointment.

For information call:
Georgeanne Taylor, Emergency Assistance Program Manager
Social Services Division
1809 Art Museum Drive, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: (904) 255-3327
Fax: (904) 255-3361
Email: [email protected]