EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 1
Community Referral Notebook
Edwin Perez Jr
PACO 604 LUO
Professor Holland
March 6th, 2016
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 2
Housing
Federal: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Overview: Provides public services through nationally administered
programs. It oversees the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the largest
mortgage insurer in the world, as well as regulates housing industry
business.
Website: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?
src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/fharesourcectr
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (800) CALL-FHA (225-5342)
STATE: FLORIDA HOUSING COALITION
Overview: a nonprofit, statewide membership organization working to bring
housing advocates and resources together to promote affordable housing for
all Floridians.
Website: www.flhousing.org
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (850) 878-4219, (850) 942-6312 – fax
Tampa: Tampa Housing Authority
Overview: was incorporated in 1939 and provides housing opportunities to
more than 21,000 residents in the Tampa Bay area. This agency currently
administers 3.026 public housing units and 8,271 Housing Choice Vouchers
(Section 8).
Website: http://www.thafl.com/Housing/Default.aspx
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: Assisted Housing Information – (813) 253-0551, Public
Housing Information – (813) 341-9101
Address: 5301 W. Cypress St., Tampa, FL 33607
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 3
Food
Federal: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Overview: offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income
individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities.
Website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-
program-snap
Telephone: (703) 305-2022 – national
State and Tampa: ACCESS Florida
Overview: The Food Assistance Program helps individuals and families purchase nutritional
foods needed to maintain and promote good health.
Website: http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/access-florida-food-medical-assistance-cash
Telephone: (866) 762-2237
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 4
Clothing
Federal, State and Tampa: American Red Cross
Overview: Provides families with emergency social services, warm meals, a place to sleep,
clothing and often times, comfort. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people’s
immediate emergency needs, empowering those who have been affected by a disaster to get back
on their feet.
Website: www.redcross.org
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (813) 348-4820 – locally; (800) RED CROSS (800-733-2767) – Nationally and
State
Tampa: Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO)
Overview: created to assist families who have suffered a recent emergency and need clothing
assistance in Eastern Hillsborough County. Those who have suffered a recent job loss,
unexpected loss in income, house fire, emergency foster children, or other emergencies are
encouraged to visit the ECHO Clothes closet for emergency clothing.
Website: http://echofl.org/our-programs/clothing-distribution/
Telephone: (813) 685-0935
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 5
Financial Assistance
Federal: U.S. Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance
Overview: Provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed
through no fault of their own, and meet certain other eligibility requirements.
Website: http://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance
Telephone: (877) US-2JOBS (877-872-5627)
State and Tampa: Florida Reemployment Assistance (Insurance) Program
Overview: provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are
unemployed through no fault of their own (as determined under Florida law,
and meet other eligibility requirements of Florida law). Benefits are intended
to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who meet
the requirements of Florida law.
Website: https://connect.myflorida.com/Claimant/Core/Login.ASPX
Telephone: (800) 204-2418
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 6
Healthcare
Federal: Affordable Healthcare Act
Overview: Put into place comprehensive health insurance reforms that have improved access,
affordability, and quality in health care for Americans.
Website: http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/
Telephone: (877) 696-6775
State and Tampa: Florida Medicaid (ACCESS Florida)
Overview: provides health coverage for selected categories of people in Florida with low
incomes. Its purpose is to improve the health of people who might otherwise go without medical
care for themselves and their children.
Website: http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
Telephone: (866) 762-2237
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 7
Alcohol and Drug Abuse/Mental Health
Federal: Substance Abused and Mental Health Services Administration
National Hotline
Overview: A confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in
English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental health and/or substance
use disorders. Provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-
based organizations.
Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Telephone: (877) SAMHSA-7/ (877) 726-4727, (800) 487-4889 (TDD)
State: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program (SAMH)
Overview: responsible for the oversight of a statewide system of care for the prevention,
treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse
disorders.
Website: http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/substance-abuse/program-information
Telephone: (866) 762-2237
Tampa: Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office (DACCO)
Overview: Serving Hillsborough County, DACCO is one of Florida’s largest community-
based providers of behavioral health services. Through its programs, DACCO saves lives and
keeps families together by addressing substance abuse and mental health issues. With the mission
of working toward a drug-free community, one person, one family at a time, our comprehensive
programs encourage healthy living, job productivity and overall family stability..
Website: http://www.dacco.org/
Telephone: (813) 384-4000
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 8
Marital/Relational Issues
Federal and State: Office of Family Assistance
Overview: Provides comprehensive healthy relationship and marriage education services, as
well as job and career advancement activities to promote economic stability and overall
improved family well-being.
Website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/programs/healthy-marriage/healthy-marriage
Telephone: (202) 401-9275
Tampa: Restoring the Soul: Christian Counseling Center of Tampa Bay
Overview: Helps couples recognize and resolve conflicts as well as improve their
relationships. It is designed to help people who are in a committed relationship by providing a
Marriage and Family Therapist to facilitate conversations that lead to reconciliation and/or
greater intimacy.
Website: http://restoringthesoul.net/
Telephone: (813) 935-3917
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 9
Pregnancy
Federal: Pregnancy and Children (Courtesy of AdoptionServices.org)
Overview: provides different types of services if you are pregnant or struggling to raise a
child including crisis centers, medical care, financial assistance, food programs, infant safe
havens, support groups and hotlines.
Website: http://www.pregnancyandchildren.com/pregnancy/pregnancy_assistance.htm
Email: Dr[email protected]
Telephone: (800) 943-0400
State: Florida Pregnancy Support Services
Overview: provide support and assistance to women and men faced with difficult pregnancy
decisions. In addition to free pregnancy tests, peer counseling and referrals, most centers offer
classes on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, and life skills.
Website: http://www.floridapregnancysupportservices.com/
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (866) 403-9153
Tampa: A Woman’s Place
Overview: Provides free, confidential services to teens, women, and couples facing an
unplanned pregnancy. Offer free pregnancy test, limited ultrasounds, and accurate information
about all pregnancy options including parenting and adoption.
Website: www.awpm.net
Telephone: (813) 931-1804
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 10
Death/Hospice
Federal and State: Medicaid (Hospice Benefits)
Overview: The Hospice benefit is an optional state plan service that includes an array of
services to terminally ill individuals. These services include: nursing, medical social services,
physician services, counseling services to the terminally ill individual and the family members or
others caring for the individual at home, short-term inpatient care, medical appliances and
supplies, home health aide and homemaker services, physical therapy, occupational therapy and
speech-language pathology services.
Website: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-
topics/benefits/hospice-benefits.html
Telephone: (877) 267-2323
Tampa: Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA)
Overview: is a not-for-profit, IRS Section 501(c) (3) organization representing Florida’s
hospice programs. Provides information on what hospice and palliative care are and provides
resources in finding hospice care.
Website: http://www.floridahospices.org/
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (850) 878-2632 – Office; (800) 282-6560 – Toll-free
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 11
Immigration/Naturalization
Federal and Tampa: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Overview: a government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States.
Website: https://www.uscis.gov/
Telephone: (800) 375-5283; (800) 767-1833 (TDD)
State: Florida Immigration Coalition
Overview: a statewide alliance of more than 62 member organizations, including
farmworkers, students, service providers, grassroots organizations and legal advocates, who
come together for the fair treatment of all people, including immigrants. Also, provide
coordination of immigrant organizations and community education, organizing and advocacy.
Website: https://floridaimmigrant.org
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (305) 571-7254
EDWIN’S REFERRAL NOTEBOOK 12
Legal Services
Federal: Legal Services Corporation
Overview: Promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-
quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.
Website: www.lsc.gov
Telephone: (202) 295-1500
State: Florida Law Help
Overview: Provides information about organizations offering legal help to moderate and low
income Floridians.
Website: www.floridalawhelp.org
Email: wilneida@floridajusticetechnologycenter.org
Tampa: Hillsborough County Bar Association
Overview: provides information on members who volunteer their time and legal services to
the community.
Website: http://www.hillsbar.com/?page=ProBonoAid
Telephone: (813) 221-7777
