Be a Light Mission Service Center, Inc

There are over 600,000 folks that Citizens kicked off their policies the moment after Helene. Those folks are having to pay for repairs and possibly hotels on top of everything else. (Mortgages still need to be paid even if that house ain’t got a roof…) You might not have needed the help before. But now…you are hurting. Don’t be afraid to get some temporary help and lift that burden off you a bit. On October 23, 2024, the Department of Children and Families announced the approval of Florida’s application for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits. D-SNAP gives food assistance for individuals and families impacted by Helene and Milton who are not on the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). D-SNAP will be implemented by the Department in phases and by county starting Monday, October 28, 2024. Pre-registration is required. What are the qualifications for D-SNAP? 1. Applicants must NOT be receiving regular food assistance. 2. Applicants must have been living in a disaster-declared county at the time of Hurricane Helene and/or Milton 3. Applicants must have suffered a disaster-related loss such as: - Damage to their home(s) or self-employment property - Loss of food; Reduction or loss of income - Other disaster-related expenses 4. Applicants must meet financial eligibility requirements. What assistance is available through D-SNAP? Eligible recipients get an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card by mail that can be used to purchase food at authorized USDA food retailers. The EBT card cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or non-food items. For more information, go to the posted link. You can also follow the Florida Department of Children and Families on Facebook to keep up with other assistance offered by the state. #bealight #HurricaneHelene #HurricaneMilton #foodassistance

While we prepare for another hurricane, praying for our neighbors who are living in standing water, washed out debris, and having trash dumped in the woods near their camps. They have nowhere to go. Waiting until a shelter opens up to find relief. But afraid to go fearing arrest because they are homeless. These hurricanes should be wake up calls that we are all at risk of becoming homeless. Bad things happen. Folks lose their jobs. Their homes. But it should be and can be temporary. Praying for all those in harms way 🙏🏽 And praying for a new heart in those who keep blocking help for people in need. #bealight #homelessness #hurricane

Did You Know: Unaccompanied youth A kid living without parents on the street. Fleeing their abusive home on their own, they aren't eligible for foster care. So they are left to fend for themselves... Rather than a summary, the best definition is someone telling their own story. Reading about this young lady, makes it hard to write this post. I am angry and sad. Thank God for organizations that help homeless youth like Starting Right, Now. Take some time to read and learn about this amazing young woman. From a homeless shelter to college, a Florida teen makes a new start (msn.com) https://lnkd.in/ebAxJQN6 #bealight #homelessness #didyouknow #unaccompaniedyouth #homelesskids

For our community partners impacted by the storm, here is some information on emergency government assistance. Praying for you all. FloridaCommerce Activates Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program To support small businesses who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. The bridge loan program is a short-term, zero-interest loan that helps businesses “bridge the gap” between the time of impact and when long-term resources are available, such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims, or other resources. Businesses directly impacted by Hurricane Helene, in the counties of DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota are eligible to apply for loans of up to $50,000. Application Deadline: November 24, 2024 Visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, view the lending guidelines and required documentation, and complete an application. Business owners who need assistance filling out their application can schedule a consultation with a Florida SBDC at USF business consultant. #bealight #helpeachother #hurricane #businesshelpingbusiness

With the recent hurricane, people are desperate to find a place to stay. Beware of rental fraud! Homeless and other vulnerable people are major targets for rental fraud. Slum lords and scammers will prey upon you in a time of crisis. Learn about how to protect yourself and others from rental fraud. Be safe and praying for those impacted. #bealight #homelessness #hurricane #rentalfraud

Ways to Be a Light: Get Kids Involved Looking for ways to get your kids more involved? Here are some ideas for age-appropriate #projects that would help others, build “team spirit”, and teach valuable lessons. It is a great #family, team, or classroom project! Consider for: senior class projects, Brighter Futures hours, Kiwanis or Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts projects, family reunions, youth sports teams. 1.     Clothing #donation drives – Collect clothes they can’t fit anymore to give to kids at family shelters. Setup donation drives at kids’ games and events for parents to drop off. Organizations such as Metropolitan Ministries operate family shelters. Contact a family shelter to coordinate donations for their residents. 2.     BOGO (Buy One, Give One) school supplies drive – Raise money to purchase school supplies for kids in need. Kids receive school supply lists every year. Use the list to get a matching set of each item to donate to a child whose family is unable to afford supplies. 3.     Food pantries – Some food pantries offer hours and volunteering opportunities for youths. They need younger people to help with things like warehousing tasks, food preparation, donation processing. Check sites such as VolunteerMatch.org for postings from local food pantries that allow kids to volunteer. Teach them early how to be a light for others 😊 #bealight #waystobealight #kidvolunteering #matthew516

Hurricanes expose just how vulnerable we all are. Homes, businesses, and lives gone in an instant. Today, while many are cleaning up, there are some who are now newly homeless. Trying to deal with school and work while living out of their car or if lucky at a hotel. Food banks and shelters were hit hard and some have to close temporarily. Making it harder to find help when desperately needed. We are all just one crisis, one disaster from being on the street. Praying for those affected by the hurricane 🙏🏽 #bealight #homelessness #hurricane

Calling Smart Cookies! This Week's Trivia Answer 9/26 Do you think you have the answer? Ok, let's see if you are a Smart Cookie! 🎓 🍪 😉 Q: This week’s question is: “Can you name a disability that qualifies for housing assistance under HUD?” A: According to HUD, the disability must fit the following: 1.    The disability is expected to be of long, permanent, or indefinite duration. 2.    It significantly hinders the individual’s ability to live independently. 3.    The disability could be improved under more suitable housing conditions. 4.    It is one or more of the following:     a.    physical, mental, or emotional impairment, including an impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or brain injury    b.    developmental disability     c.     the disease of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or any condition arising from the etiologic agency for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome Some examples are: deafness, blindness, intellectual disabilities, partially or completely missing limbs or mobility impairments requiring the use of a wheelchair, autism, cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Source: Disability Overview | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Check for the next trivia question on Thursday and our posts for clues...😉#bealight #homelessness #smartcookie #awareness

What’s the Vocab? Disability (according to HUD) Disability is a key criterion for receiving help from the government and agencies for homelessness-related support. HUD determines a person to have a disability if the disability meets these four requirements: (from HUD) 1.    The disability is expected to be of long, permanent, or indefinite duration. 2.    It significantly hinders the individual’s ability to live independently. 3.    The disability could be improved under more suitable housing conditions. 4.    It is one or more of the following: a.    physical, mental, or emotional impairment, including an impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or brain injury b.    developmental disability c.     the disease of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or any condition arising from the etiologic agency for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome Many of our unhoused neighbors qualify for assistance from HUD but may not be aware of their eligibility. If you encounter someone experiencing homelessness, please share resources on contacting their local Continuum of Care for housing help. ·       Pasco – Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County ·       Pinellas – Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas, Inc. ·       Hillsborough – Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative ·       Hernando – Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc.

Ways to Be a Light: Serve with Americorps AmeriCorps is the U.S. federal agency that gets people involved in national service and volunteering. They give Americans the chance to give back by volunteering. They focus on six main areas: disaster services, environmental care, education, economic opportunities, health, and helping veterans and their families. Working with communities, public-private partnerships, and government agencies, volunteers tackle local challenges. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gfQVPz8q #bealight #waystobealight #volunteering #matthew516