Mortgage and rental help

Do You or Someone You Know Need Help with Rent or Mortgage?



The DCF Office on Homelessness will begin accepting Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP) applications on July 6, 2009.

Please do not send applications to the program until 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 6. Any applications received before that time will be denied.


Application Guidelines:
· The household must have at least one child under 18 years of age living there full-time.
· The application must be filled out completely, including Social Security numbers for all family members; monthly income from all sources; a written explanation of the housing emergency; and the signature of the applicant.
· The one-page Vendor Agreement must be completed and signed by the landlord, mortgage company or property owner.
· If the case is approved, a State of Florida check will be mailed directly to the landlord, mortgage company or property owner.
· The program can pay up to $400 once per year for overdue rent or mortgage payments, or for security deposit for a household that is homeless, being evicted, or whose housing has been damaged by fire, hurricane or other natural disaster.


Applications are available online in English, Spanish and Creole at:
www.dcf.state.fl.us/homelessness or by calling 1-877-891-6445.
Fax applications to 1-850-921-2559 or mail to:
Department of Children and Families
Office on Homelessness
1317 Winewood Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700
If you have questions, please call 1-877-891-6445.

Free Medication

Pfizer announced a program to help newly unemployed persons and their families to get Pfizer medications for free.

The program, for those who lost health insurance and been unemployed since Jan. 1, will be open for enrollment through Dec. 31. For those eligible, Pfizer medications will be free for up to one year.

''We all know people who have been laid off recently and have lost their health insurance, making it difficult for them to pay for healthcare,'' said Jorge Puente, Pfizer's regional president of Worldwide Pharmaceuticals. ``We thought there must be some way we could help.''

All of Pfizer's patient assistance programs, including the new program, can be reached by calling 1-866-706-2400 or by visiting www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com.

Free Food

The Oprah Winfrey Show/Kentucky Grilled Chicken Two-Piece Meal Coupon


Get two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit!
Limited Time Download
Coupon download available from 9 a.m. CDT on May 5, 2009, to 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 6, 2009. Coupon is redeemable at participating KFC® locations in the United States from May 5, 2009 to May 19, 2009—excluding Mother's Day, May 10, 20099.

Go to unthinkfc.com to download your coupon!

Due to heavy demand, you may experience some slowness navigating to the website. Please be patient and try again later.

Please email KFC.PublicRelations@KFC.com with any problems concerning your KFC coupon.


* Terms: Free offer good for two pieces of Kentucky Grilled Chicken™ (manager's choice) and two individual sides and a biscuit at participating KFC restaurants located in the Unites States, while supplies last. Limit one offer per coupon, one coupon per person during offer period. Must be redeemed in person. Not good with any other offers. No photocopied, mechanically reproduced or altered coupon accepted. Coupon cannot be sold or traded. Valid only if downloaded from UnthinKFC.com. Applicable tax extra. Void where prohibited. By downloading coupon, you agree that KFC is not responsible for any technical problems or malfunctions of computer systems, servers or printers or lost or unavailable network connections. You are limited to 4 downloads of coupon. Coupon fraud is punishable by law.

Painter trade -- Job training

Get Work Ready!

Greetings!


Whether you want South Florida Workforce to help you find a job or you want to become a certified Sherwin Williams Painting Professional, the first step is to get WORK READY!


The Work Ready Program Will Help You With:

Interviewing Skills
Resume Preparation
Employer Ability Skills
Professional Dress Code
Becoming Work Ready - it only takes 3 hours out of your day, but it can open many doors! Please find the upcoming training classes below.

Date: Choose April 30, 2009 or May 1, 2009
Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Address:
West Dade Career Center
Operated by: Youth Co-Op, Inc.
Center Director: Carl Alexis
2700 SW 97 Avenue
Miami, FL 33165
Tel: 305-228-2300


Sherwin-Williams Professional Painter Training

Greetings!


ACCESS Miami, in cooperation with Sherwin Williams will be conducting a FREE Paint Training Course that will run two weeks. Participants must be 18 years or older and provide their own transportation. No high school diploma is needed. Certification will be awarded at the
end of the program and eligibility for job placement will be available. Only 20 training slots are
available on a first come, first served basis. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE WORK READY TRAINING FIRST TO PARTICIPATE. (Information above)

Learn a new skill
Start your own business
Be considered for employment with various local companies
Receive a Sherwin Williams starter kit, upon completion.

Starts On: Monday, May 4th, 2009
Ends On: Friday, May 15th, 2009
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (Monday to Friday for 2 Weeks)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND:
Please RSVP to Monica Bosano at
E-mail: Mbosano@miamigov.com
Ph: 305.416.1481

LOCATION:
West End Park
Location: 250 SW 60th Avenue, Miami, FL 33144
Phone: 305-264-0341




Breakfast and lunch is included.

Jobs for Youth

We will be working with WorkForce 1 to seek employer partners who would like to participate in this Program. If any employer has an interest please contact us.
Thank you.
Thomas.
Welcome to the Summer Youth Employment Program 2009


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



As a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), WorkForce One will be operating a Summer Jobs Program for youth ages 19-24. The program will last for eight weeks starting Monday June 15, 2009 and ending Friday August 7, 2009.

WF1 is seeking Not-for-profit, for–profit, and governmental agencies to host worksites for the youth, and to provide supervised, safe and meaningful employment opportunities. WorkForce One will pay the youths' wages and provide workers compensation coverage for the youth. Please note that pursuant to Section 1604 of the Recovery Act the following types of job placements are prohibited: Casinos or gambling establishments, aquariums, zoos, golf courses, or swimming pools.



Click below to download more information, including the Job Order Registration Form and the appropriate Employer Agreement (For Profit or Not-For-Profit)



Master Agreement for Municipalities and Not-For-Profits, not County: (New Employers only) Existing Agreements are good through August 2009.) Print THREE copies. Sign each of the three copies (blue ink preferred) and return to the address below:
Master Agreement for Profit Entities - Summer Jobs Only: (New Employers only) Existing Agreements are good through August 2009.) Print THREE copies. Sign each of the three copies (blue ink preferred) and return to the address below:
Occupational License (for Profit entities): (New Employers only) Please mail a copy of your Occupational License to the address below
Articles of Incorporation (for Non Profit entities): (New Employers only) Please mail a copy of your Articles of Incorporation to the address below
Job Order Form - Fill this out to identify Worksite(s), Job Type(s) and number of positions requested.
Employer FAQ



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



WorkForce One Employment Solutions
3800 Inverrary Boulevard, Suite 400
Lauderhill, FL. 33319

Attention: Summer Youth Employment Program
Or call us at (954) 535-2300 for additional information


Copyright © 1997 - 2009 by WorkForce One Employment Solutions - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

More Food Assistance Benefits

Your SNAP Benefits Are Going Up!

website http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/Default.htm


Why are my benefits going up?

• There is a new law called the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. You might have heard it called the
stimulus package.

• Because of the law, you get more Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP is the new name
for the Food Stamp Program. SNAP may have a different name
where you live.

How can I use the extra benefits?

• Use your extra benefits to buy food at your grocery store.

• In some places, SNAP also offers nutrition education to help you
and your family learn to choose healthy food on a budget and be
more active.

How do I get the extra benefits?

• You get the extra benefits starting April 2009.

• The extra benefits will be added automatically to your EBT card.

You do not have to do anything.

How much extra do I get?

• Some households with 1 or 2 people who get the minimum benefit
of $14 a month may get $16 a month starting in April. Others may
get more.

• Look at the table below to see how much more you may get each
month.

• For example: If there are 3 people in your household and right now
you get $250 each month. In April, you will get $313 each month.
($250 + $63 = $313)

FREE GED CLASSES

GED

School: Plantation Community School

Description:
Prepare to complete your High School education, GED classes will help you earn your diploma at Plantation High School. Individual, small group and computer assisted instruction. Free Childcare available during evening hours for enrolled students at Plantation High Community School site only.
Registration URL:

Department: Adult General Education
Discipline: Adult General Education

Total Cost: $00.00
Prerequisites:
The following sections of this class are available at
Plantation Community School :

Days of Week Start Time End Time
MTWTh 05:00 PM 09:15 PM
MTWThF 08:00 AM 01:30 PM


Plantation Community School
6901 Northwest 16th Street
Plantation, Fl 33313

Phone: (754) 322-1950
Fax: (754) 322-1960

REGISTRATION: in the Adult Education
Office, Building 1, Room 201
Office hours:
Monday through Thursday 4:00-8:00PM
Friday 12:00-3:00PM

Fake HUD site

FYI

Beware – bad/deceptive website: http://bailout.hud-gov.us/



It’s a phishing site – if anyone asks about it, advise them to stay away. Deliberately deceiving website. Domain name registered in Germany, host in California, etc…

The Inpector General has been notified.

Resume Help--Fedex can help

FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's), an operating company of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), today announced plans to offer its printing services in an effort to help job seekers across the nation. The company will host "FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day" on March 10, 2009, offering to print up to 25 copies of each customer's resume for free.

As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the nation's unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009. With so many people looking to get their printed resumes in the hands of recruiters and hiring managers, FedEx Office is prepared to help.

The company invites customers to take advantage of this one-day event by visiting any of its 1,600+ FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers in the United States during regular business hours. This offer is good for 25 black-and-white resume copies per customer and is only valid for orders placed and picked up in-store. Customers may place orders by submitting their resume in printed format or as a digital file, and the copies will be printed single-sided on resume-quality paper.

"We understand that the economy has affected many people in a very profound way, and we want to help," said Brian Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Office. "Printing resumes is one small way we can use our resources to help those who need it."

To find the nearest FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, visit www.fedex.com or call 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339).

Homeless Survey

Focus Groups 2009
Sponsored by The Coalition to End Homelessness
Room 192 at BPHI

- MARK YOUR CALENDARS -

Providers serving Homeless Individuals 3/12/09 9:00 - Noon
Providers serving Homeless Families 3/12/09 1:00 – 4:00

Consumers – Homeless Families 3/13/09 9:00 – Noon
Consumers – Homeless Individuals 3/13/09 1:00 – 4:00


Questions for Providers:

1. What are your thoughts regarding the existing services available in this county?
2. What is your agency’s greatest un-met need in serving clients?
3. What kind of program do you envision being the most effective in assisting homeless (individuals/families) becoming self-sufficient?
4. How can we do a better job of reaching out to people who are resisting treatment or rehabilitation?
5. What do your consider to be the primary causes of individual/family homelessness?
6. What are the reasons some clients do not succeed?
7. How do you believe the problem of homelessness in Broward County can be solved? How?
8. What specific things can be done to educate the general public to be more accepting of shelters and other programs that help the homeless?
9. What factors in the community (socio/economic) contribute to homelessness and what can we do about it?
10. Have you noticed that more of your clients are victims of violence while on the streets? If so, what can we do collectively to remedy the situation?
11. What are the greatest barriers faced by your agency in serving the homeless?
12. Are you or your agency involved in any Advocacy efforts to address the root causes of homelessness? Please explain.
13. What Advocacy issues do you see as being most important right now in terms of helping homeless people?
14. Have you noticed any emerging trends that you think the Governor’s Office needs to be aware of?
15. If you had a private audience with the Governor to discuss homeless issues, needs, and solutions what would you tell him?


Homeless Individuals and Families

1. As someone who has experienced homelessness, what do you consider to be the greatest un-met need of someone on the streets?
2. What do you think homeless families/individuals need most?
3. What types of programs and services do you think are missing for the homeless in Broward?
4. What types of programs and services do you think are most effective?
5. What do you think are the major causes of homelessness?
6. Are mental health/substance abuse issues being address appropriately?
7. What information would you like your elected officials to know about homelessness?
8. What are your thoughts regarding the existing services currently available in our community for homeless people?
9. How do you think homelessness can be solved/ended?
10. How can we do a better job of reaching out to people who are resisting treatment?
11. Have you noticed that there is more violence towards homeless people, and if so, how do you suggest that we remedy the situation?
12. Is homelessness an economic problem or an individual problem?
13. If you had a private audience with the Governor to discuss homeless issues, needs, and solutions what would you tell him?

Foreclosure Prevention Help

ACORN of Broward County holds foreclosure prevention workshops FREE of charge that are designed to get applicants/participants an opportunity to get a HUD certified counselor to assist in the modification of their mortgage loans for homes that are in foreclosure. The workshops are held two times a week on Tuesday evenings at 6:00pm and Saturday mornings at 10:30am at the Broward County ACORN office. For more information, contact: John I. Cook, organizer, at (954) 678-8334 anytime!
Location: 2700 West Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 23, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311

Peanut Recall

An Important Public Health Message from Community Voice Mail,

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration


Have you heard about the recall of foods that contain peanuts or peanut butter in them because they may contain Salmonella? Salmonella is bacteria that can make you sick with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Products on the recall list include cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream that have peanut butter or peanuts in them. Major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are NOT affected by the recall.

To find out if you have food that is on the recall list, you can go to the FDA web site and look it up using a searchable database at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html. Or, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636 ). You can call this number 24 hours a day and speak to an operator in English or Spanish who will look up the food for you.



If you learn that food you have IS on the list, do NOT eat it, and throw it away. Also, do NOT feed the recalled food to your pets or other animals, as it can make them sick too. If you have questions about the recall or if you have questions about Salmonella, do not hesitate to call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO… that’s 1-800-232-4636…


We hope you found this information valuable, and plan to check the list or call the CDC to see if food you have is on the recall list. Also, please tell your friends about the recall, and forward this message!

Section 8 applications coming soon

The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale will be opening a waiting list for our Section 8 Program. We will be handing out applications on February 21, 2009 at 500 West Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 from 8:00 a.m. until all 3000 applications are distributed. DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 7:00 AM. A Public Lottery will be held in a later date to select 2500 names for our Waiting List; you do not have to attend to be selected. Instructions for returning applications will be found on the application.



To qualify: the family's yearly gross income must not exceed the very low-income for the household size. For families that currently have subsidized rent, the yearly gross income must not exceed the low-income limits for the family size.

I
person 2
persons 3
persons 4
persons 5
persons 6
persons 7
persons 8
persons
VERY LOW
INCOME
$24,900
$28,500
$32,050
$35,600
$38,450
$41,300
$44,150
$47,000
LOW
INCOME
$39,850
$45,550
$51,250
$56,950
$61,500
$66,050
$70,600
$75,150






Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin

Broward Homeless Count

Broward County begins homeless census
Biennial census may settle the dispute between advocates and county government
By Lisa J. Huriash | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 30, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE - Walking around Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here., trying to stay clear of police, and panhandling money for coffee at Burger King, Normand Neunier is largely invisible most of the year.

But on Thursday, he counted.

Neunier, 56,told volunteers conducting a homeless census in Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports that his employer went out of business in November 2007, leaving him unable to pay the rent.

"I just need a job," Neunier said. "It's depressing."



To find him and the thousands of others in his situation, 244 volunteers scoured Broward's bus terminals, soup kitchens, libraries and parking lots from 4 a.m. to about 8 p.m. Thursday.

Counties must conduct a homeless survey every two years as a condition of state and federal funding. Palm Beach conducted its audit for a 24-hour period that began Wednesday. Results from both counties are not expected for several weeks.

In Broward, however, the numbers are often a source of contention.

The Coalition to End Homelessness, which conducted the audit from the late 1980s through 2007, found more than 3,300 on the street and hundreds more in shelters in its 2007 count. But county officials said the more accurate figure was 3,150.

"There were demographics that didn't look right," explained Steve Werthman, division director of Broward County's homeless initiative partnership. "One hundred percent of residents in emergency shelters were counted as chronic. Usually, it's about 15 percent, so it raised a red flag."

This year, Werthman received permission from state agencies to take over the census.

Laura Hansen, who heads the Coalition to End Homelessness, insists the county is underestimating the problem.

"Why are our numbers higher than their numbers? I'm not going to say they are doing anything wrong, but perhaps a perception there are fewer homeless people clears their consciousness somewhat," she said. "Unless we know the scope of the problem, we really are going to be handicapped in terms of addressing it."

Volunteers Pat Mantis and Eddie Copeland scoured the Riverwalk area looking for homeless. They had chocolates in their bags to give those who cooperated.

"We're conducting a survey," Mantis told a disheveled man pushing a suitcase. "Go to the Internet," he told her. "There's lots of information there."

Richard Ellis, 50, was more helpful.

He said he got behind in his rent after he lost his job moving furniture. He has only been homeless one night and spent it sleeping under a tree. "I can't stand being in this position," he said.

Neunier said he spent nearly a year at different shelters but was unable to find a new job. His only possessions are a blanket, a jacket, a change of socks, shirts and pants, and a razor he carries in a black backpack ("my house," he explains).

He uses his knapsack as a pillow. "It's a lot easier to sleep at night when you've had a couple beers," he said.He doubts the census results will help him because there's only so much money to go around. A community volunteer who used to hand out two or three sandwiches at a time to the homeless has cut back to just one, he said.

"Times are hard," Neunier said.

Cold weather Advisory.

COLD WEATHER EMERGENCY ADVISORY

Date: February 3, 2009 Time: 10:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts low temperatures in the low 40s late tonight into Wednesday morning for Broward County, with even colder conditions overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning when wind chill will it make it feel like the lower 30s.

As a result of this forecast, Broward County has declared a cold weather emergency. Homeless persons are advised to report to the following locations, no later than 6:30 p.m. both nights for transportation to special cold night shelters:


• City of Pompano Beach

Pompano Beach City Hall 100 W. Atlantic Blvd (SE Corner)


• City of Fort Lauderdale

The Salvation Army 1445 West Broward Blvd


• City of Hollywood Corner of N. 21 Ave & Lincoln St

and/or

Corner of N. 21 Ave & Sherman St

(both locations East of railroad tracks)



Please notify homeless persons in your area of this plan.


This activation is for two nights: Overnight Tuesday, 2/3/09 until Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. and overnight Wednesday 2/4/09 until Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.



If you have any questions or need additional information on the plan for your area, contact:



Steve Werthman

Director

Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership Division

Office: 954-357-6167 or 954-593-3321 cell

Free Tax Service

Anyone earning less than $40,000.00 can receive free tax preparation at the folloiwing locations.

African American Research Libr
Open 1/23 through 4/9. Closed 2/18. Hours: Mon. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Wed. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
2650 Sistrunk Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, 33311
_____________________________________________________________________________________
City of Lauderdale Lakes
Open 2/16 through 4/12. Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

4340 NW 36th Street
, 33319
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hispanic Unity-Urban League
Open 1/28 through 4/3. Hours: Mon. 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Tue. 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Wed. 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
3521 West Broward Blvd. Suite 201
Fort Lauderdale, 33311
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Minority Dev. & Empowerment P
Open 1/22 through 4/15. Hours: Mon. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tue. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wed. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thu. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

1350 N. Powerline Road
Pompano Beach, 33069
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Broward County Main Library
Sponsored by AARP. Open 2/1 through 4/15. Hours: Wed. 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Call 954-357-7439 for an appointment.

100 S Andrews Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, 33301

Keys to a better future

Keys to a bettter Future....

The job market is increasingly competative and Browardd Public Schools is interested in helping everyone obtain the keys to a better future.

If you didn't graduate from high school now you can!On Saturday January 10th learn about all the options for getting your diploma or GED certificate. This FREE event is sponsored by the Broward County Public Schools, for more information, call 754-321-2951

Free IPOD give-aways, door prizes, celebrity appearances and much more!....
Daytime Phone:754-321-1121-

Location:
6500 Nova Dr
Davie, FL 33317
(754) 321-5700