Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP)

What is the Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP)?

The Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP) helps individuals and married couples without minor children by providing financial assistance to help prevent evictions, foreclosures, and unhealthy living conditions as well as things to keep people employed. Assistance is provided only once every twelve (12) months. We help empower individuals and adult couples without minor children to become self-sufficient. Maximum assistance that can be provided is up to $4000.  All financial assistance is paid to the vendor and not the individual. Eligibility criteria is set by Pinellas County Human Services.

This collaborative is a partnership between Pinellas County Human Services (PCHS) and First Contact.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible individuals and adult couples without minor children need to be Pinellas County residents, over the age of 18 or legally emancipated youth, and under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Click here for a link to the most recent Federal Poverty Guidelines.

OUR PROCESS

Screen: For The Qualifying Event And Need For Rent, Utility, And Work Equipment Assistance. 

Refer: To Local Community Partners Who Also Help Meet Your Needs. 

Financial Assistance: Direct Payments To Vendors Like Landlords Or Utility Providers For Those Whose Cases Are Approved. 

What Documents Do I Need To Send To First Contact So A Decision Can Be Make About My Case?

Documentation requests are based on your needs and underlying qualifying event that occured within the past 90 days which caused the emergency financial sitution.

Example underlying qualifying events may include unexpected expenses paid by applicant such as medical bills, emergency home repairs, emergency vehicle repairs, funeral expenses (does not inlcude travel.)  Additionally sudden loss of income - loss of job, loss of benefits, loss of payer.  Does not pay for loss of income due to time limited positions (seasonal, school-year, etc.) as they are expected and loss of this type of position will not qualify for assistance.

The first step to see if you are eligible for assitance is to call 211 Monday through Friday 7 am - 6 pm. At the present time there is no online application for this program. Once screened, the AEFAP Specialist, they will share with you what documents will be needed and then they will send you an email with a link to upload requested documents.

The general types of documents needed include the following.

• Proof of Citizenship (Real ID, Passport, Social Security Card)
• Proof of Pinellas County Residents (Real ID, Drivers License, ID Card, Utility Bill)
• Proof of Income (Pay Stub, Benefits Letter, Alimony, Child Support, Social Security Letter or Statement, etc.)
• Proof of Assets for requests over $1,000 (Bank Statement, Statement of Assets, Water Bill, etc.)
• Proof of Qualified Emergency Need (Past due bill notice, 3-day notice from a landlord, formal eviction notice from the courts, estimates for repairs or equipment, etc.)
• Proof of Future Sustainability Plan if assistance is provided.