Benefits · Nutrition
How to apply for Council on Aging of West Florida — Meals on Wheels + Senior Dining (Santa Rosa County)
Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc. (COAWFL) — 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties since 1972; contracted local AAA delivery partner under the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging (PSA 1) for OAA Title III nutrition + case management + respite + senior volunteer programs; main office at 875 Royce Street, Pensacola FL with Santa Rosa County senior dining sites in Milton, Pace, Navarre, and Gulf Breeze
Who it's for
Council on Aging of West Florida (COAWFL) serves seniors in BOTH Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties — a single AAA delivery partner spanning two PSA 1 counties. For Santa Rosa County residents, COAWFL operates Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors as well as senior dining sites in Milton, Pace, Navarre, and Gulf Breeze. Two meal options: (1) Meals on Wheels — federally-subsidized home-delivered meals for income-eligible seniors meeting the OAA Title III-C homebound criteria, and (2) private-pay home-delivered meals for seniors who don't qualify for subsidized but want delivery. All meals provide 1/3 of the recommended daily allowance for adults and comply with Florida Department of Elder Affairs nutrition guidelines. Senior dining sites at COAWFL locations across Santa Rosa are open to anyone 60+ (or a spouse 60+) and provide meals + socialization + recreation. COAWFL also operates Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and Retired & Senior Volunteer (RSVP) programs serving Santa Rosa as well. Eligibility for Meals on Wheels is age 60+ and Santa Rosa County residency, plus documented homebound status. Apply by calling COAWFL at 850-432-1475 — same phone serves both counties.
COAWFL offers the same two parallel meal pathways in Santa Rosa as in Escambia: subsidized Meals on Wheels (requires homebound status) and private-pay home delivery (no homebound documentation required). Many seniors mistakenly assume Meals on Wheels is income-tested; it's homebound-tested with optional donation. Senior dining sites in Milton, Pace, Navarre, and Gulf Breeze are accessible without homebound assessment — 60+ and ambulatory enough to attend. Santa Rosa's senior dining sites are geographically distributed which helps coverage but means transportation to the nearest site is a real consideration for non-driving seniors — coordinate with fl.santa_rosa.santa_rosa_transit (Tri-County paratransit) for trips to congregate meal sites. The Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs pay small stipends (~$3-4/hour for FGP/SC) that don't affect Social Security.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Santa Rosa County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For home-delivered Meals on Wheels (subsidized): documentation of homebound status (illness, disability, or isolation per OAA Title III-C framework)
- For private-pay home delivery: no homebound documentation required, but full meal cost applies
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-432-1475
Renewals
annual reassessment by COAWFL case manager; meals continue without interruption pending recertification
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.