Benefits · General Assistance
How to apply for Pasco County Human Services / Community Development Emergency Assistance
Pasco County Human Services Department and Community Development Department
Who it's for
Pasco County's safety net for low-income residents in crisis runs through two paired county departments — Human Services (which intakes Adult Services, Veteran Services, Indigent Cremation, mental health referrals, and general financial assistance) and Community Development (which administers federal HUD CDBG/HOME grants, the Pasco H.E.A.R.T. rental assistance program for households impacted by economic hardship, and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership / SHIP funds for housing rehab and assistance). Households at or below 80 percent of the Pasco Area Median Income may qualify for rental assistance under H.E.A.R.T.; lower-income households (typically at or below 50 percent of AMI) and those experiencing prolonged unemployment receive priority. Other emergency assistance — utility, food, basic needs — is screened at the Human Services intake. Apply at the Pasco County Human Services portal or call Community Development at 727-834-3447 for housing-track assistance. For an integrated safety-net screen, the Pasco County Continuum of Care (a county-coordinated homeless services network) handles homelessness prevention referrals across multiple partner agencies.
Pasco's safety-net system is structured around the Human Services and Community Development departments operating in tandem rather than a single intake portal. The income gate modeled here (~80% AMI / $47,000 single 2026) is the H.E.A.R.T. rental assistance ceiling; other Human Services programs may have lower (LIHEAP) or different (Adult Services) eligibility math. Funding for H.E.A.R.T. comes in funding rounds tied to federal grant cycles and may close periodically — call Community Development at 727-834-3447 for the current application window. The county also coordinates the Pasco Continuum of Care for homelessness prevention referrals. For seniors specifically, the Human Services Adult Services intake will also screen for AAAPP services and Medicare Savings Programs.
What you'll need
- Government-issued photo ID for the applicant
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying legal status
- Proof of Pasco County residency
- Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099, tax return) — typically prior 30 days
- Documentation of the crisis (eviction notice, utility shut-off notice, medical bill, etc.)
- Lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill showing the obligation
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 727-834-3447
Renewals
case-by-case; H.E.A.R.T. rental assistance up to 18 months total in some funding rounds
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.