How to get emergency financial assistance – Updated

Everyone needs financial assistance sometimes, but finding the resources during tough times can be difficult. There are, however, plenty of them available. They range from help with medication costs and filing for unemployment to food banks, rental and utility assistance and small business loans.

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Here are some online resources to tap into:

• Miami Achieving Stability is providing temporary services to low-income households, with the goal of promoting housing stability for homeless individuals or those at-risk of becoming homeless. Help includes rental assistance and utility payments. The Volunteers of America, Florida provides other services as well, such as housing, health and employment services. More info: Email miamiinfo@voa-fla.org or call 786-369-1852.
• Salvation Army can assist with rent/mortgage, utility bills, transportation, medicine and food.
• 211.org is a vital resource when searching for food, housing and healthcare, the site features a comprehensive list of resources in these areas and more.
• Healthwell Foundation helps cover with copays, premiums, deductibles and various other out-of-pocket expenses if you're underinsured and suffer from one of these 34 diseases
• Florida Unemployment is where to go to learn about eligibility for filing of unemployment and how to properly file to receive checks.
• Food Pantries is a comprehensive website listing organizations and houses of worship that distribute food or where you can come in and fill up a bag with food.
• Miami-Dade Emergency Assistance includes resources for assistance with housing, utility and energy bills, transportation and home energy crisis.
• United Way of Miami-Dade has launched the Miami Pandemic Response Fund through Operation Helping Hands, a resource for struggling families with food supplies, utilities, rent and mortgage assistance and micro-grants for small businesses.
• City of North Miami has a variety of assistance programs for residents and business owners. Click here to read all the details on eligibility requirements and how to apply.
• City of Miami Department of Human Services is coordinating the distribution of business grants and grocery gift cards to business and families currently struggling. 14,000 grocery cards valued at $250 each will be made available to City of Miami residents with state-issued ID and a sworn affidavit demonstrating need due to the current pandemic. Click here for details.
• City of Hialeah Grants Department is launching three new grant opportunities for residents and business owners currently struggling. Available will be the Business Income Assistance Fund aiding business owners with rent; Rental Assistance Fund assistance for Hialeah residents paying their rent or lease; and Mortgage Assistance Fund for City of Hialeah resident homeowners. Click here for details.

• Family Success Centers in Broward County can help with funds to pay electric bills and rent. Locations in Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale.
• Urban League of Broward County helps with foreclosure counseling and mortgage programs.
• Housing Finance Authority of Broward County provides foreclosure prevention services, home counseling services and home repair.
• Miami Downtown Development Authority has created a Loan Assistance Task Force to provide answers to financial questions and help you through the loan application process. E-mail loanassistance@miamidda.com.
• Broward County Emergency is a comprehensive site with links to various emergency resources
• Need Help Paying Bills Fort Lauderdale includes information on a variety of agencies that provide emergency aid
• Food pantries lists the food pantries, soup kitchens and other meal programs in Broward County.
• The Pantry of Broward who serve 500+ senior client households regularly, will begin distributing food on March 30 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. expanding its service to the public.
• SOBEWFF and Florida International University Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund aims to provide financial help to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The program is presented by the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival and Capital One. In addition to grants, recipients will get access to resources provided by the FIU Chaplin School.
• Axis South Florida an online platform that includes information on Miami-Dade and Broward County's leading community-based organizations that offer assistance to South Florida residents, small businesses and non-profits.
• Rise Miami-Dade Fund is a small business revolving loan program funded through local government loans provided by the federal CARES Act. The program will assist small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses with accessing commercial loans. Loans will be a maximum of $30,000.
• Americans for the Arts has established an emergency relief fund for artists and creative workers awarding $5,000 grants with no strings attached, available to any artistic or creative individual who has been affected by the current times.
• Greater Miami Jewish Federation has the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Miami, a federation that provides interest-free $3,000 emergency loans to qualified Jewish borrowers in need in Miami-Dade County affected by the current situation. 

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