Time-Limited Rental Assistance Opportunity

(ends 6/30/2025)

For households with Department of Children and Families involvement

and/or a household member with a behavioral health diagnosis

WHAT IS PROJECT SAFETY NET? The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida has a rare, time-limited opportunity to help households meeting certain eligibility criteria. Up to $7,000 in assistance can be provided to cover rental arrears, utility arrears, security deposits, first/last month’s rent, applications fees and utility deposits. Assistance payment will be issued directly to the landlord or utility company.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Due to the time-limited nature of this opportunity, we can only accept referrals from community providers on behalf of households in need. Households must also meet the following criteria:

Be currently homeless or at risk of homelessness* in Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties, AND
Have an open case with the Florida Department of Children and Families and/or have a household member with a behavioral health diagnosis. (This includes individuals living alone who have a mental-health diagnosis.)

*At risk of homelessness is defined for this program as individuals or households able to document one of the following:

They have moved two or more times in the past 60 days due to economic hardship
They are living with others temporarily due to economic hardship
They have received written notice of eviction or termination of housing within 21 days of application
They live in a hotel or motel not paid by charitable organizations or government assistance
They are exiting a publicly funded institution (for instance, a hospital, mental health facility or correctional facility) without a stable housing plan
They live in unstable housing (unsafe conditions, overcrowding, imminent risk of eviction)

HOW DO I APPLY? Providers should complete an application for a household in need by clicking the button below:

Please note: You will not be able to submit the application without uploading all the required documents for the type of assistance requested.

WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED?

Homelessness Eligibility Attestation Form
Documentation of behavioral health diagnosis or DCF involvement (one of the following):
A. Letter from behavioral health provider on agency letterhead stating that a member of the household has a behavioral health diagnosis
B. Letter from medical provider who has credentials to make diagnosis stating a household member has a behavioral health diagnosis
C. Medical record indicating a household member has a behavioral health diagnosis
D. Letter from Community-Based Care (CBC) agency on agency letterhead indicating the family/household has an open DCF case OR
E. Email from CBC agency indicating family/household has an open DCF case
Identification for head of household (one of the following):
A. Valid Florida gold-star ID (“Real ID”) OR
B. Valid photo identification and proof of Social Security number
HMIS project enrollment assessment. Please complete this form.
Documentation for requested type of financial assistance:
A. Move-in costs (security deposit, first/last month’s rent, and/or application fees)
I. W-9 of landlord (required)
II. Supplemental W-9 of landlord (required)
III. Copy of the landlord’s Social Security card ONLY IF landlord uses their personal Social Security number on their W-9
IV. Intent to lease form (required). Intent to Lease.docx
B. Rental arrears
I. W-9 of landlord (required)
II. Supplemental W-9 of landlord (required)
III. Copy of the landlord’s Social Security card ONLY IF landlord uses their personal Social Security number on their W-9
IV. Copy of lease (required)
V. Ledger indicating amount due that matches the total amount requested for rental arrears (required)
VI. Confirmation that, upon receipt of payment, the household can remain in the unit (required). Please fill out this form.
C. Utility deposit
I. Documentation of required deposit amount either from utility bill or email from utility provider (required)
II. Lease with address that matches address for utility set-up (required)
D Utility arrears
I. Utility bill in head of household’s name (required) that matches total amount requested
II. Lease with address that matches the address on the utility bill (preferred) OR, if unavailable, justification or documentation to explain.

Time-Limited Rental Assistance Opportunity

(ends 6/30/2025)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Due to the time-limited nature of this opportunity, we can only accept referrals from community providers on behalf of households in need. Households must also meet the following criteria:

Be currently homeless or at risk of homelessness* in Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties, AND

Have an open case with the Florida Department of Children and Families and/or have a household member with a behavioral health diagnosis. (This includes individuals living alone who have a mental-health diagnosis.)

*At risk of homelessness is defined for this program as individuals or households able to document one of the following:

They have moved two or more times in the past 60 days due to economic hardship

They are living with others temporarily due to economic hardship

They have received written notice of eviction or termination of housing within 21 days of application

They live in a hotel or motel not paid by charitable organizations or government assistance

They are exiting a publicly funded institution (for instance, a hospital, mental health facility or correctional facility) without a stable housing plan

They live in unstable housing (unsafe conditions, overcrowding, imminent risk of eviction)

HOW DO I APPLY? Providers should complete an application for a household in need by clicking the button below:

Please note: You will not be able to submit the application without uploading all the required documents for the type of assistance requested.

WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED?

Homelessness Eligibility Attestation Form

Documentation of behavioral health diagnosis or DCF involvement (one of the following):

A. Letter from behavioral health provider on agency letterhead stating that a member of the household has a behavioral health diagnosis

B. Letter from medical provider who has credentials to make diagnosis stating a household member has a behavioral health diagnosis

C. Medical record indicating a household member has a behavioral health diagnosis

D. Letter from Community-Based Care (CBC) agency on agency letterhead indicating the family/household has an open DCF case OR

E. Email from CBC agency indicating family/household has an open DCF case

Identification for head of household (one of the following):

A. Valid Florida gold-star ID (“Real ID”) OR

B. Valid photo identification and proof of Social Security number

HMIS project enrollment assessment. Please complete this form.

Documentation for requested type of financial assistance:

A. Move-in costs (security deposit, first/last month’s rent, and/or application fees)

I. W-9 of landlord (required)

II. Supplemental W-9 of landlord (required)

III. Copy of the landlord’s Social Security card ONLY IF landlord uses their personal Social Security number on their W-9

IV. Intent to lease form (required). Intent to Lease.docx

B. Rental arrears

I. W-9 of landlord (required)

II. Supplemental W-9 of landlord (required)

III. Copy of the landlord’s Social Security card ONLY IF landlord uses their personal Social Security number on their W-9

IV. Copy of lease (required)

V. Ledger indicating amount due that matches the total amount requested for rental arrears (required)

VI. Confirmation that, upon receipt of payment, the household can remain in the unit (required). Please fill out this form.

C. Utility deposit

I. Documentation of required deposit amount either from utility bill or email from utility provider (required)

II. Lease with address that matches address for utility set-up (required)

D Utility arrears

I. Utility bill in head of household’s name (required) that matches total amount requested

II. Lease with address that matches the address on the utility bill (preferred) OR, if unavailable, justification or documentation to explain.

OTHER QUESTIONS?

What should I expect after submitting an application? Your application will be reviewed to ensure all required documents have been provided. Then you’ll receive an email either confirming that the application is being processed or that additional documents are needed.

What is the turn-around time for payments? We will issue payment within seven days of receiving the approved application. Checks will be sent via USPS Priority Mail.

What if, after submitting an application, I have questions about the processing of payments? Please email HLTfinance@hsncfl.org.

What if I have general questions about the program? Please email jackie.ebert@hsncfl.org.