Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program

It is the intent of the County to solicit proposals from qualified providers to assist with basic financial emergencies by providing rapid, one-time assistance to eligible adults without minor children facing need for emergency financial assistance. The Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP) provides financial aid to Pinellas County residents when they have experienced an emergency event creating a financial hardship. Such need may include:

• Past due rent to avoid eviction

• Emergency mortgage assistance to reduce the risk of foreclosure

• Utility assistance to prevent unhealthy living conditions or eviction

• Emergency transportation assistance for work or medical appointments

• Expenses to include one-time rent and or deposits referred from partner agencies

• Travelers Aid

These crises generally stem from a loss/reduction in income or loss of housing through foreclosure, condemnation, eviction, or other disaster and are those types of events where one-time assistance can re-stabilize a household.

The program is not intended to alleviate long-term poverty. The Proposer must be equipped to manage significant call volume and provide compassionate service to all callers, regardless of eligibility. Maintaining a well-prepared and empathetic call center is essential to fulfilling AEFAP’s mission and is critical to ensuring community members receive guidance and support during times of financial instability.

The current iteration of this program consists of a call-center structure for financial assistance coupled with connection to information and referrals for a myriad of social services and programs. The current program receives an average of 19,192 financial assistance calls annually not including texts, and emails representing approximately 4,800 unique clients. The average talk time is fifteen minutes per call. At this time the duration from case submitted to case closure is nine (9) calendar days. Approximately 200 cases are approved each year. Individuals are able to follow-up by email to provide required documentation to enhance accessibility. Proposer should anticipate surge in service requests at such times, including but not limited to weather related emergencies, community or housing emergencies or closures, etc.

Over 95% of the cases approved last year were for rent and utility assistance which help to further stabilize and prevent homelessness. Clients are eligible to receive financial assistance once over a twelve-month period. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis depending on the unique situation or crisis. The maximum assistance an individual may receive is $4,000.00 per 12 months.