Church Assistance Programs in Broward County, Florida

Several assistance programs linked to churches and religious organizations operate in Broward County, providing emergency aid—including food, rent and mortgage payments, utility assistance, and housing—to residents facing financial hardship.

Key organizations include HOPE South Florida, which offers rapid re-housing and emergency care in partnership with local churches; Catholic Charities, which provides emergency assistance for rent and utilities; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which manages community outreach and assistance efforts through thrift stores.

These organizations coordinate closely with local churches to distribute funds, secure immediate housing, and maintain community stability.

HOPE South Florida

HOPE South Florida does not accept direct applications (whether in person or by phone) for housing or emergency assistance. To access their programs, families and individuals in crisis must first go through Broward County’s centralized access system.

Once a referral is made, HOPE South Florida provides assistance through three main service pillars:

Housing assistance programs

Rapid Re-Housing: Assists families with short-term rental aid, facilitating a quick move into permanent housing. The program covers standard upfront costs—such as first and last month’s rent and security deposits—up to a limit of $6,000. Depending on the specific grant, families may also receive a monthly subsidy covering up to 80% of the rent while they work toward stability.

Faith in Action Crisis Housing: Offers short-term emergency overnight shelter for families who would otherwise have to sleep in their vehicles or on the street.

Homes of HOPE: Housing with support services and renovations designed specifically for vulnerable mothers and their children.

Services for physical and basic needs

Mobile showers and meals: Provides mobile hot-shower units and coordinates communal meals at partner churches. Mail services: Allows individuals experiencing housing instability to use the center as a secure mailing address to receive identity documents, benefit notifications, and employment-related correspondence.

Support services and case management

Employment assistance: Offers personalized help with resume writing, mock interviews, job assessments, and obtaining appropriate work clothing or equipment.

Life skills and practical assistance: Connects clients with budgeting education, parenting classes, legal aid services, childcare assistance applications, and government benefit enrollment (such as SNAP).

How to request assistance

Call the Broward County Homeless Helpline: Dial (954) 563-4357.

Complete the assessment: A county representative will assess your immediate financial or housing crisis.

Receive a referral: If you meet the eligibility criteria for specific programs, the county will formally refer you to a family advocate at HOPE South Florida.

The main headquarters operates as a day center Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note that a referral from the helpline is still required to obtain housing.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami offers a wide range of services, including emergency financial assistance, homelessness prevention, child development, and low-cost immigration services for residents of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. Because their specialized ministries operate out of separate, dedicated facilities across Broward County, services are distributed based on location and specific needs.

Emergency financial assistance and homelessness prevention

The “Linkages to Care” office manages crisis assistance to stabilize families experiencing sudden financial hardship.

Services: Short-term emergency rental assistance, help with overdue mortgage payments, utility bill coverage, move-in deposit support, and vouchers for food or diapers.

Location: Catholic Charities Linkages to Care office, 1505 NE 26th Street, Wilton Manors, FL 33305.

Basic eligibility requirements: Must be a documented resident of Broward County, demonstrate immediate financial hardship, and present a formal past-due notice or a 3-day eviction notice from your landlord or utility provider.

Immigration and legal services

Low-cost legal assistance, help with asylum applications, and immigration processing are not handled through the main crisis office. Instead, they are managed by a specialized legal division: Catholic Legal Services (CLS).

Services: Low-cost or pro bono (free) assistance with green card processing, work permits, asylum applications, family reunification, and citizenship applications.

Hollywood Office: Catholic Charities Legal Services at 6565 Taft St #401, Hollywood, FL 33024. Phone: (954) 320-6907.

Miramar Office: Located at 6081 SW 21st St, Miramar, FL 33023. Phone: (954) 306-9537.

Note: These locations operate strictly by appointment. You must call in advance to complete an initial assessment before visiting in person.

Housing for seniors and families

Independent senior housing: Managed by Catholic Housing Management, this program offers affordable, accessible apartment complexes for independent older residents throughout Broward County.

Unaccompanied minors program: Offers comprehensive multilingual services—including shelter, education, and case management—for undocumented minors awaiting the resolution of their immigration proceedings.

How to apply for emergency funds

The availability of funds for rent and utility assistance depends largely on monthly active grant cycles. To apply for help:

Check the list of required documents directly on the Catholic Charities Emergency Financial Assistance portal.

Ensure you have your ID, proof of household income, a copy of your lease agreement, and the official past-due payment notice ready.

If local funds for the current month have been exhausted, contact the Broward 2-1-1 centralized helpline to request a direct, immediate referral for when new funds become available.

The Salvation Army of Broward County

The Salvation Army of Broward County offers essential social service networks, including rent and mortgage assistance, utility payments, emergency shelter, and daily meal programs. Since their assistance categories have strict calling schedules or specific access requirements, understanding their system is crucial to obtaining support.

Direct emergency financial assistance

The Salvation Army provides one-time crisis funds to help families maintain housing stability. You must call their central intake line at (954) 524-6991 during specific weekly hours:

Housing and emergency shelter programs

Bed allocation for short-term or overnight stays requires a formal process. Walk-ins and direct requests at the secure facilities are not accepted. Clean bedding, shower access, and nutritious meals are available immediately. Access requires prior coordination by calling the county’s homeless helpline at (954) 563-4357.

Food security and daily basic needs

These direct assistance programs operate out of the main headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and do not require prior telephone case management assessments:

Contactless food pantry: Distributes pantry staples, groceries, and fresh food to local families facing food insecurity. Pickup takes place every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via a drive-thru system.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) operates decentralized community networks throughout South Florida to provide in-person assistance during emergency crises. Rather than operating through a single corporate intake headquarters, its volunteers (known as “Vincentians”) organize directly through 70 local Catholic church “Conferences” across South Florida to offer aid tailored to the needs of each specific area.

Contact the main administrative line at (954) 395-6817 to identify the parish corresponding to your specific address.

If you live in southern Broward County, you can also look up or call the nearest participating church conference directly:

• St. Matthew Catholic Church (Hallandale Beach): (954) 458-1590
• Church of the Little Flower (Hollywood): (954) 628-8828
• St. Bernadette Catholic Church (Hollywood): (954) 432-5313
• St. Boniface Catholic Church (Pembroke Pines): (954) 432-2750
• St. David Catholic Church (SVdP Helpline in Davie): (954) 300-4953

Gateway Community Outreach

Gateway Community Outreach (GCO) operates a comprehensive 90-day case management system designed to prevent homelessness and stabilize Broward County families facing sudden financial hardship.

Rather than relying on temporary fixes, they use structured intake assessments to connect households with emergency food, housing stability funds, and basic family necessities. GCO manages its central operations from Deerfield Beach while maintaining seven satellite food distribution networks directly within low-income neighborhoods across Broward County to ensure accessible support.

Contact the main coordinating office at (954) 725-8434 to verify if funds are currently available for rent or water utility payments. If you are looking for weekly food supplies or essential baby items, the main office can direct you to the distribution center nearest your neighborhood. GCO operates satellite food distribution centers in the following Broward County cities:

• Deerfield Beach
• Coral Springs
• Pompano Beach
• Fort Lauderdale
• Lauderhill
• Hollywood

To meet audit requirements regarding financial assistance or food pantry services, you must present a valid Florida ID, Social Security cards for all household members, and clear documentation detailing household income versus current monthly expenses.

For direct and immediate referrals

Since funding for church ministries fluctuates rapidly based on grant allocations, the fastest way to locate an active program is through centralized helplines:

Call 2-1-1: Contact 211 Broward directly—a comprehensive helpline available 24/7—to find out which local churches have funds available during a given week to cover utility bills, rent, or food baskets.