Community Action Agency

To reduce the causes of poverty by empowering persons to become self-sufficient through case management, life management training, and short-term final assistance, as well as by promoting institutional sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of income-eligible persons through a wide range of federal, state, and local resources.

Financial assistance based on financial need:

• Emergency Services
  • Mortgage/Rental Assistance
  • Utilities Assistance
  • Medical/Dental Payment Assistance
  • Prescription Assistance
  • Information and Referral
• Cremation/Burial Assistance
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• Self-Sufficiency Program

Cremation/Burial Assistance

Brevard County through the Housing and Human Services Department provides funds for cremation assistance in accordance with Florida Statutes for an indigent person who has no relatives or resources that can assume this responsibility.

1. Who qualifies for the County Indigent Cremation Program?

Any resident of Brevard County who does not have any relatives or resources to pay for funeral expenses. If there are no relatives or resources to pay for cremation, the household must be at or below 125% of poverty guidelines.

2. How would someone apply for the Cremation Program?

They must call the Community Action Office to schedule an appointment. Must bring to the appointment the picture identification for all adult household members, social security cards for all household members, birth certificates for all children under eighteen (18) years of age, bank statements for the past three (3) months, and verification of income for the past three (3) months for all household members.

3. Does the County help with Cremation services?

The county will provide up to $550 for cremation expenses for children and adults.

4. Can another cremation assistance program be used with the county's program?

No, if assistance is being received from another agency, you will not qualify for the county's program.

5. Can the person making the funeral arrangements come into the office with a signed contract? (from a Funeral Home)

No, they must first come into office to determine if the deceased is eligible before signing any contracts.

6. If funeral services are more than what the County will pay, can I pay the difference?

No, the total funeral expenses cannot exceed the amount of assistance the County is paying.

7. Can I go to any Funeral Home to receive the assistance?

Yes, as long as the funeral home is willing to work with the County. It generally takes 2 to 3 weeks for the Funeral Home to receive payment.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

1. What is LIHEAP?

LIHEAP is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. LIHEAP can help you stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire or eviction) The Federal government does not provide energy assistance directly to the public. Instead, LIHEAP operates in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations and the U.S. territories.

2. Who is eligible to receive LIHEAP assistance?

The LIHEAP program in your community determines if your household income qualifies for the program. You must fall into one of these categories:

• ELDERLY - Must be at least sixty (60) years old.
• DISABLED - Must be receiving disability benefits from either Social Security or employer/insurance disability benefits.
• HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE (5) - Must provide birth certificates for children five (5) years old or younger.

The LIHEAP program may also require households to meet additional eligibility criteria to receive LIHEAP assistance.* *NOTE: The availability of LIHEAP assistance is not guaranteed.

3. What assistance does LIHEAP provide?

Your LIHEAP program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance:

• Home Energy Assistance - an annual credit based on your income and household size.
• Crisis Energy Assistance - provides assistance for deposits and/or final notice.

4. What information do I need?

• LIHEAP Application (required).
• Valid Florida driver's license or Florida identification card for all adult household members with a Brevard County address.
• Social Security cards for all household members.
• Birth certificates for all children under the age of eighteen (18) years old.
• Verification of the household income for the past sixty (60) days.
• Documentation showing income from social security, unemployment benefits, pension funds, disability, wages, etc.
• If disabled, verification of disability (Social Security Disability Statement, or employer disability benefits statement)
• A Self-Declaration of Income Form is required for all adult household members that have zero income or self-employment for the past sixty (60) days.
• Recent copy of your utility bills.
• Current yearly lease, HUD Form 50059 from Subsidized Housing, Rent Voucher Worksheet Form from Section 8, and Rent Adjustment Notice Form from the Public Housing Authority.

5. Where can I apply?

To apply for energy assistance, you can apply online, by mail, by contacting the office and scheduling an appointment.  Please call for an application or assistance.

Self-Sufficiency Program

The self-sufficiency program is designed to help families with multi dimensional problems help themselves to be independent of public assistance. Barriers often include: lack of education, employment/training, vocational training, work experience, transportation, and child care. Community Action Agency staff works intensively with each family to overcome these barriers by providing counseling, advocacy, and reinforcement of self esteem. Program participants must be motivated toward becoming self sufficient. Local agencies work cooperatively to ensure that participants in this program receive appropriate services during their transition toward becoming independent families. Those services might include child care, rent assistance, tuition/books, uniforms, job placement, and minor car repairs.

1. Who is eligible?

• Applicants who are highly motivated and have a sincere desire to become self sufficient
• Applicants who are prepared upon enrollment or immediately search for job or enroll in training or education program
• Applicants who qualify under income guidelines

2. Why the self-sufficiency program works?

• Program participants are self motivated and committed to becoming self sufficient
• CAA staff works intensively with participants to build positive self esteem and decision making skills
• Families and staff work together to develop a realistic, step by step plan of action
• An entire community network of services is used to encourage and support the family
• CAA staff monitors family progress, teaching participants how to cope with obstacles that may arise

3. What is the Income Guidelines?

(At or below 125% of the Health & Human Services Poverty Income Guidelines)

For More Information

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