Time-Limited Rental Assistance Opportunity

(Funds must be used by 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 Family Partnerships of Central Florida (the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Community-Based Care provider). Open cases can be judicial or non-judicial. 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) 

WHO IS CONSIDERED A COMMUNITY PROVIDER?

We are able to accept referrals from a wide range of community providers. Providers do not have to be members of the Central Florida Continuum of Care, nor do they have to have HMIS access. Below are some of the community providers helping to complete community referrals: 

HOW DO I APPLY? Providers should complete an application for a household in need by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

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?

(Click on underlined words in blue to open the corresponding document.)

  1. Homeless or at-risk eligibility attestation form 

  2. 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

  3. 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  

  4. HMIS project enrollment information  (Please note, a separate enrollment form needs to be completed for every household member over 18 years of age)

  5. 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 

    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 signed current lease. Today's date must be within lease date range OR there must be an accompanying month-to-month extension agreement that explicitly allows continued tenancy with payment (required)  

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

    VI. Landlord attestation that tenant(s) can remain in unit upon receipt of payment (required). 

    C. Utility deposit

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

    II. Lease or month-to-month rental agreement 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? Payment will be issued within seven business days of HSN receiving a complete application; payment will then be sent via USPS Priority Mail. Actual receipt of payment will likely be outside seven business days to account for delivery. You will receive confirmation if a household has been approved for assistance.

  • 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 projectsafetynet@hsncfl.org.