Orlando Cares

The City of Orlando believes that a tangible and sustained effort must be made to provide relief for families and meet the diverse needs and challenges our residents may be facing because of the economic crisis. To accomplish this task, the City will work to provide residents with aid and short term relief in the areas of housing, health and wellness, childcare and homeless prevention including:

• Offer up to $5,000 for qualifying homeowners to make home repairs to major plumbing, electrical, roof or mechanical systems in their homes through the new Emergency Home Repairs Program. The City has $70,000 available for this program.
   
• Provide assistance with security deposits, monthly rental stipends and utility start up costs through the City’s new Homebound Rent Referral Program for eligible families without a current place of residence. The City has a $200,000 fund for this program.
   
• Expand the current Foreclosure Prevention Program to assist low to middle income households with delinquent mortgage payments up to $7,500. The City currently has $75,000 worth of funds available for this program.
   
• Connect homeless individuals with City programs and partner organizations including Project Homeless Connect (PHC) and IDignity to provide them with medical care, employment opportunities, substance abuse and mental health counseling, social services, food, housing and shelter. Mayor Dyer will host an IDignity event on April 23.
   
• Coordinate with the Homeless Service Network to support programs to fight homelessness including $1.1 million for a pilot program in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida called Rapid Re-Housing to move people losing their housing or who are homeless and who want permanent housing out of shelters and back into homes as quickly as possible by providing rent and utility assistance and case management. Orlando is one of only 23 communities in the country to receive this award.
   
• Partner with Prestige Health Choice to host the 5th annual Healthy Heroes Back to School Bash taking place on Saturday, August 8, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Amway Arena. This event provides free immunizations, school supplies, back packs, and school physicals for children attending Central Florida schools. Plus, free health screenings! Click here for more information.
   
• Educate the community on available free health services, such as Centra Care’s Project Pressure initiatives offering a free blood pressure check available at various locations including Orlando Fire Stations.
   
• Promote the Green Works Orlando conservation and efficiency programs to help residents save on energy costs, make people less dependent on expensive fuel and help contribute to increase property values for Orlando homeowners.
   
• Participate and join cities across the world for Earth Hour. At 8.30 p.m. on March 28, Orlando will dim the Downtown skyline and residents will turn their lights off for one hour to save energy costs.
   
• Host a Local Banking Symposium to provide banking, savings, investment and loan advice to help residents make every dollar count.
   
• Commit more than $2.6 million in City funding for 2008/2009 to social service and community based agencies that provide services to individuals and families in need including increased City funding by $75,000 to Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C) which provides child care assistance for families in Parramore.
   
• Match individuals and families with free and low cost programs at City parks, camping grounds, playgrounds, community centers, after school programs, summer programs and summer camps. Connect senior citizens with City offered services and assistance.