Orlando Sentinel Family Fund: Council on Aging helps Osceola family with giving spirit

December 7, 2012

|By David Breen, Orlando Sentinel

When Gabrielle Beaman was born, doctors said she would live only to be 6 years old. Now 12, she's proving them wrong every day. But it has been a struggle. Gabby suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy and several other disorders. She has to wear a helmet in case of seizures, and leg braces for her clubbed feet. Occasionally she walks but for the most part is wheelchair-bound. She depends on her mom Amber Dibble, 32, and her mom's boyfriend, William Hubbard, 54, for help. The family, who live in Kissimmee, had been getting by on Dibble's and Gabrielle's disability payments, and Hubbard's income from a truck-driving job. But 2012 has dealt them one blow after another. In January, heart trouble forced Hubbard to stop working. He'll eventually require heart surgery. This fall, Dibble passed out from a stress-related episode. Gabby called 911, and Dibble had to be revived with shock paddles. Doctors said her brain needed to reboot itself. She has short-term memory problems and gets lost occasionally while driving. "This whole year has been a nightmare for us," Hubbard said. "The Council on Aging has been great for us, foodwise and for moral support."

The Osceola Council on Aging is among dozens of nonprofit groups supported by the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund Holiday Campaign. Despite its name, the council, which was founded in 1971, doesn't limit its services to the elderly."Our focus is on families facing poverty," said Warren Hoagland, the organization's services director. "We have a lot of working poor that come to the Council on Aging in need. It's nice to be able to provide services for a whole family."

Among other services, Gabby's family is receiving help from the council's new mobile food pantry. The program uses a van specially equipped with a warming oven on one side and a refrigerator on the other to deliver healthy food to those who might have a hard time getting to the council's food pantry. Unlike a single-serving Meals on Wheels program, the mobile food pantry delivers a month's worth of food in one visit. Since the program's start in March, about 400 families have received deliveries. A big part of the concept is to get food-pantry clients to start eating better.

"We want to be able to take farm-fresh food out to people that are homebound," said Council on Aging CEO Bev Hoagland, "A lot of them don't have transportation or have limited transportation, or have someone in their family that is disabled." Given their financial straits and the time spent shuttling Gabby to therapy and other medical appointments in Orlando, Tampa and Lake Nona, the mobile food pantry has been a huge help for Dibble and Hubbard. "We've met so many wonderful people who've helped us," Dibble said. Despite the constant worry brought on by their circumstances, the family retains a generous spirit. Dibble has rescued a pair of stray cats, and the family took in a mockingbird that kept falling from a tree in the backyard. Gabby delights in searching out bugs to feed the bird, which they've named Tipsy.

Links to Homeless Children in Central Florida

Here a two links that focus on homelessness in Osceola County. Please view them when you have the time.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/number-homeless-children-increases-central-florida/nTQJQ/

http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/osceola-county-central-florida-spotlight/vjLG6/

Workforce Outreach Effort

Access to Florida’s Job Services and Public Assistance is coming to Florida Technical College…

WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA’S Mobile Unit will be at the Florida Technical
College to help job seekers apply for employment opportunities in the local area. Also, Second Harvest’s Benefits Connection Program and Department of Children and Families and other organizations, will be on-site to assist with the on-line application for Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Assistance.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Application Hours:  11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location: 3831 West Vine Street, Kissimmee

THANKSGIVING HELP NEEDED

Thanksgiving…1,000 meals…families in crisis…volunteers needed!

Central Florida Breadbasket needs volunteers to help serve 1,000 Thanksgiving dinners to disadvantaged men, women and children.  Located in Intercession City, their mission is to “help our community families in time of crisis”.

Thirty volunteers are needed on Thursday, November 22 at their headquarters: 1525 Immokalee Street, Intercession City from 10:30 – 3:00…or whatever hours you can spare.

Join Commissioner Harford and others as they serve up a delicious meal to families who may otherwise go without.

Email bethzaida.garcia@osceola.org or call 407-709-5230 if you would like to volunteer.

Toys for Tots registration deadline Nov 15th

Click here for the Toys for Tots Website

***NEW: REGISTRATION FOR THE 2012 SEASON WILL BE CLOSING ON THURSDAY NOV 15th AND WILL ONLY RE-OPEN FOR LAST CHANCE REGISTRATION FROM NOV. 26-29. DON'T MISS OUT!!!

 

Wheelchair available

My father in law has a wheelchair that he would like to donate to a senior or disabled person.  He would like to be present at the moment that this wheelchair is given to its new owner.  Do you know at the moment of anyone that would be in need of a wheelchair?

Please feel free to reach me at the number below.

Thank you,

Susana Molina
Federal Affairs Manager
Government & Public Affairs
Florida Hospital
2400 Bedford Road, 2nd Floor
Orlando, FL 32803
407-303-6997 (office)
407-303-9368 (fax)

Thanksgiving Celebration

Please join

 the

 Osceola Council on Aging 

for a Thanksgiving Celebration.

We have prepared a delicious Thanksgiving meals

for low income seniors and disadvantaged families

Location: Osceola Council on Aging

700 Generation Point

 Kissimmee, FL 34744

Date/Time: Thursday Nov 22

11:00am - 1:00pm

Please RSVP by Friday November 16th

by calling 407-846-8532 x218

Changes in the Osceola County Rental Assistance Program

Thank you for referring clients to our office who need Rental Assistance, we have expended all of our funds set aside for Emergency Rental Assistance.  Thanks to you, these clients will be able to remain in their current rental unit.

The only funds we have remaining are to assist residents with 2 months’ rent, security, and utility deposit. We’d appreciate you continuing to refer only clients who need assistance with moving to a decent, safe, and sanitary home.  (Example client: living in hotel/motel, living with family or friends, being evicted)

As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Thank you

Keisha Cyriaano, CDBG Program Manager 407-742-8467

Jamie Rowland, CDBG Program Specialist 407-742-8405

Niki Whisler, Homeless Advocate Coordinator 407-742-8411

Access to Florida’s Job Services and Public Assistance

Access to Florida’s Job Services and Public Assistance is coming to  

St. Cloud Civic Center …

WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA’S Mobile Unit will be at the St. Cloud Civic Center to help job seekers apply for employment opportunities in the local area. Also, Second Harvest’s Benefits Connection Program and Department of Children and Families will be on-site to assist with the on-line application for Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Assistance.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Application Hours:  11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location: 3001 17^th Street, St. Cloud 34769

Please bring the following:

ü       Photo Identification

ü       Social Security numbers or cards for all applicants

ü       Bank statements for the last 3 months

ü       Income Information or Unemployment Statements for the last 4 weeks

ü       All medical insurance information including Medicare and any private insurance

 

Please be prepared to provide information about:

ü       Dates of birth

ü       Rent or mortgage information

ü       Expenses (utilities/daycare)

ü       Vehicle Information

Osceola County Rental Assistance Program

Osceola County’s rental assistance program provides assistance to county residents who are homeless or are in danger of becoming homeless.

Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to:

·        Must be low income, but have sufficient income to sustain rental payments (rent amount cannot exceed 35% of monthly income amount). See chart below.

·        Must demonstrate a need (homeless, living in hotel/motel, served eviction notice, living with family or friend).

·        Must attend a mandatory financial educational class (class dates & times will be provided).

·        If eligible, must choose a rental unit within Osceola County.

·        Must move into the rental unit prior to July 2013 to be eligible.

·        Must provide all required documents in a timely manner to be eligible (birth certificates, driver’s license, Social Se-curity cards, child support documents, disability documents, etc.).

·        Assistance will be granted to eligible applicants on a first come, first ready basis only (all documents must beprovided when required or eligibility will be denied).

Do You Qualify?



Emergency Rental Assistance
Osceola County Human Services offers emergency, one time rental payment for a rental unit (not a motel room).

To qualify you:

• Must demonstrate a need (recent unexpected car repairs, medical bills, lapse in wages, etc.)
• Must have future financial management
• Must attend a mandatory financial education class (class dates & times will be provided)
• If eligible, you must live in Osceola County excluding the City limits of Kissimmee
• Must provide all required documents in a timely manner to be eligible (birth certificates, driver’s license, Social Security cards, child support documents, disability documents, etc.)

Assistance will be granted to eligible applicants on a first come, first ready basis only.

If your income qualifies for rental assistance or for more information about our rental assistance programs contact:

Niki Whisler, Homeless Advocate Coordinator

407.742.8411 niki.whisler@osceola.org
or

Keisha Cyriaano, CDBG Program Manager

407.742.8467 keisha.cyriaano@osceola.org
or

Jamie Rowland, CDBG Program Specialist
407.742.8405 cdbg@osceola.org

Building Strong Families Program

 

 

The Building Strong Families Program will take calls for rental or mortgage assistance October 22nd at 2:00pm. Please call 407-846-8532 to apply for assistance.

The Building Strong Families Program is a community based approach to provide direct health and human services to low-income families with children who are at risk for homelessness due to an economic crisis.

The primary objectives of the program are to improve the housing stability by providing case management services to plan and coordinate available resources leading toward self-sufficiency for the family and relieve issues of truancy or dropping out of school for the children.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

 

Must reside in Osceola County

Must have school age children in the household

Must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Must be able to show future maintenance with economic obligations

 

Building Strong Families Testimonials

 

Free Medical Clinic

St. Thomas Aquinas Medical Clinic, a program of Catholic Charities, provides free primary healthcare to Osceola’s uninsured population.  With the economic downturn, many residents have lost their jobs and health insurance.  With limited resources to provide for basics such as food or shelter, sometimes a doctor’s visit is considered a luxury.  Our clinic, staffed by volunteer physicians, nurses and providers, does not feel that someone who is sick should have to forgo healthcare due to cost.

Eligibility
Must be uninsured
and be below the 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines

Hours of Operation
Wednesdays 4:30 to 8:00pm
Sign in at 11:45am

510 Brown Chapel Road
St. Cloud, FL 34769

407-593-1256

Utility Assistance October 16th at 2pm

LIHEAP

The Osceola Council on Aging's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to low-income households in meeting the cost of home heating and cooling to Osceola County residents.

Qualifications:

You are an Osceola Resident

Your Household is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty level (see chart )

You have not received LIHEAP assistance within one year

Priority is given to families with children 5 and younger, persons over the age of 60 and/or anyone receiving disability

All Households must be able to provide:

Social Security Cards for everyone in the Household

ID for all adults 18 & over

Utility bill (applicant must be authorized user)

Proof of Household Income

• Last 4 weeks of paystubs and/or
• Unemployment letter and/or
• Child support Documents and/or
• Food stamp or any Government assistance award letter (SSI or SSDI)
• Any adult without proof of income must be present to sign a self declaration letter.

To receive assistance call- (407) 933-9540 Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the Month at 2pm.

We will take call until all appointments are filled.



The Free Cell Phone & Minutes Program

Safelink Wireless

How to Qualify

The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...

1.       You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid.

OR

2.       Your total household income is at or below of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government.

AND

3.       No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.

4.       You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office or have a valid P.O. Box.

In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

Only certain Americans are eligible for SafeLink. Eligibility guidelines vary by state but in general individuals qualify if they participate in a public assistance program such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National Free School Lunch, Federal Housing/Section 8 Assistance, or if they do not receive any of these public assistance programs, they may also qualify based on total household gross monthly income. Customers can learn more or apply by calling 1-800-SAFELINK or visiting www.SafeLink.com

Your exact benefits, including the number of free Minutes you will receive, depend on the state you live in.

LIFELINE/SAFELINK FACTS

There is no "Obama phone" or other newly created federal program to provide free cell phones. As you may know, this is a myth that is now circulating on the Web via email and blog sites. It has been thoroughly debunked by independent groups. (See for example: FactCheck.org at http://www.factcheck.org/2009/10/the-obama-phone/, which notes: "Low-income households have been eligible for discounted telephone service for more than a decade. But the program is funded by telecom companies, not by taxes, and the president has nothing to do with it."
The federal "Lifeline" program was created during the Reagan Administration. Lifeline is a federal program created by the Reagan era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1984. The program was enhanced under Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was supported on a broadly bipartisan basis in Congress. The FCC’s Low Income Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), is designed to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to low-income customers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. Lifeline support reduces eligible low-income consumers' monthly charges for basic telephone service.
Thanks to SafeLink, Lifeline support is now available for wireless phones. Traditionally, the Lifeline program was only available as a discount on a consumer’s landline telephone bill. SafeLink Wireless was created by TracFone Wireless, Inc. when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved the company to offer Lifeline -- a public assistance program that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for low-income subscribers. SafeLink Wireless applies the Universal Service Fund subsidy to an allotment of free airtime minutes and TracFone provides the wireless handset at the company’s expense. Instead of receiving a subsidized monthly telephone bill for Lifeline service, SafeLink converts the total amount of discounted service into minutes each month for one year. The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, three-way calling, call waiting, caller ID and access to 911.
SafeLink phones are not paid for by taxpayers or the federal government. TracFone Wireless pays for the phones and also the cost of promoting its SafeLink program to make sure that eligible consumers know about the program.
SafeLink Wireless is making the vision of universal access to telecommunications services for all Americans a reality. As of October 2009, SafeLink has over 2 million customers and is available in 36 states - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Today, there are over 1,700 companies in the United States currently providing discounted telephone service. But, thanks to its extensive outreach promoting SafeLink, TracFone Wireless is one of the largest providers of Lifeline services in the United States, second only to AT&T.

Job Opportunity

 

Now Hiring!!!

Come to the Recruiting Event!

Goodwill Industries of Central FL., Inc.

ATTENDED DONATION STATION (ADS) ATTENDANT

Accept donations from general public, issue receipts,

process donations in proper containers,

 fill out donor forms, keep area clean and organized.

Must possess simple math skills and be able to read and write.

 Must be able to lift 40lbs. Flexible hours/days Mon-Sun.

(Hunter’s Creek New location)

Hunter Creek Donation Xpress Center

391 East Village Center Drive

Orlando FL 32837

October 05, 2012

10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

 

Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc.
Kissimmee Job Connection Center

1356 E. Vine St.

Kissimmee, FL  34744

407.847.0696

Osceola Resources Blog Wants You!

The Osceola Resources Blog is looking for new blog authors. If you would like to help add to this blog please email us at Osceolaresources@gmail.com. It is easy and doesn't take up your valuable time.

Help us Help you.

Help With Your Utility Bill- October 2nd at 2pm

 

LIHEAP

The Osceola Council on Aging's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to low-income households in meeting the cost of home heating and cooling to Osceola County residents.

Qualifications:

You are an Osceola Resident

Your Household is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty level (see chart )

You have not received LIHEAP assistance within one year

Priority is given to families with children 5 and younger, persons over the age of 60 and/or anyone receiving disability

All Households must be able to provide:

Social Security Cards for everyone in the Household

ID for all adults 18 & over

Utility bill (applicant must be authorized user)

Proof of Household Income

• Last 4 weeks of paystubs and/or
• Unemployment letter and/or
• Child support Documents and/or
• Food stamp or any Government assistance award letter (SSI or SSDI)
• Any adult without proof of income must be present to sign a self declaration letter.

To receive assistance call- (407) 933-9540 Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the Month at 2pm.

We will take call until all appointments are filled.

Rental Assistance

Osceola County’s rental assistance program provides assistance to county residents who are homeless or are in danger of becoming homeless.

Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to:

·        Must be low income, but have sufficient income to sustain rental payments (rent amount cannot exceed 35% of monthly income amount). See chart below.

·        Must demonstrate a need (homeless, living in hotel/motel, served eviction notice, living with family or friend).

·        Must attend a mandatory financial educational class (class dates & times will be provided).

·        If eligible, must choose a rental unit within Osceola County.

·        Must move into the rental unit prior to July 2013 to be eligible.

·        Must provide all required documents in a timely manner to be eligible (birth certificates, driver’s license, Social Se-curity cards, child support documents, disability documents, etc.).

·        Assistance will be granted to eligible applicants on a first come, first ready basis only (all documents must beprovided when required or eligibility will be denied).

Do You Qualify?

 Numbers reflect gross yearly income



　
Emergency Rental Assistance
Osceola County Human Services offers emergency, one time rental payment for a rental unit (not a motel room).

To qualify you:

• Must demonstrate a need (recent unexpected car repairs, medical bills, lapse in wages, etc.)
• Must have future financial management
• Must attend a mandatory financial education class (class dates & times will be provided)
• If eligible, you must live in Osceola County excluding the City limits of Kissimmee
• Must provide all required documents in a timely manner to be eligible (birth certificates, driver’s license, Social Security cards, child support documents, disability documents, etc.)

Assistance will be granted to eligible applicants on a first come, first ready basis only.

If your income qualifies for rental assistance or for more information about our rental assistance programs contact:

Niki Whisler, Homeless Advocate Coordinator

407.742.8411 niki.whisler@osceola.org

or

Keisha Cyriaano, CDBG Program Manager

407.742.8467 keisha.cyriaano@osceola.org

or

Jamie Rowland, CDBG Program Specialist
407.742.8405 cdbg@osceola.org

Energy Assistance Day

The Low Income Home Energy  Assistance Program will be providing financial assistance to low income Households. 

You qualify for assistance if:

· You are an Osceola Resident

· Your Household is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty level (see chart )

· You have not received LIHEAP assistance within one year

· Priority is given to families with children 5 and younger, persons over the age of 60 and/or anyone receiving disability

 

Poverty Income Guidelines (150%)

Family Size

1 Person          $1396 monthly

2 Persons        $1891 monthly

3 Persons        $2386 monthly.

4 Persons        $2881 monthly.

5 Persons         $3376monthly.

6 Persons        $3871 monthly.

7 Persons        $4366 monthly.

8 Persons        $4861 monthly.

Numbers reflect Gross Income

You will need to bring the following: 

Social Security Cards for everyone in the Household

ID for all adults 18 & over

Utility bill (must be authorized user )
Proof of Household Income

· Last 4 weeks of paystubs and/or

· Unemployment letter and/or

· Child support Documents and/or

· Food stamp or any Government assistance award letter (SSI or SSDI)

· Any adult without proof of income must be present to sign a self declaration letter.

LOCATION: Jade Isle Community Center 325 Rosedale Ave St. Cloud FL 34769

WHEN: 9am to 1pm