How to apply for Osceola County Financial Housing Assistance + CDBG Emergency Rental Assistance in Florida

Osceola County Human Services Department — Housing and Community Services Division

Who it's for

As of September 2026 Osceola County is not accepting new Financial Housing Assistance applications because of funding; check the county page for reopening. Osceola County's Housing and Community Services Division administers two paired safety-net programs from its Kissimmee offices at 1392 E. Vine Street. The Financial Housing Assistance (FHA) program helps Osceola residents at risk of homelessness due to unexpected financial hardship by covering rental and utility arrears or providing mortgage assistance to prevent foreclosure. FHA also serves households experiencing literal homelessness with assistance for security and utility deposits to help them re-enter stable housing. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Emergency Rental Assistance Program is a separate parallel pathway focused on past-due rent assistance for households at risk of becoming homeless. Eligibility for both programs requires a minimum of 6 months of Osceola County residency and documentation supporting the hardship. Assistance is provided as a ONE-TIME SERVICE per household — applicants cannot re-apply for 2 years after financial support is provided. Apply at the Housing and Community Services office at 1392 E. Vine Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744, or call 407-742-8400.

Osceola's FHA and CDBG Emergency Rental Assistance are STRICTLY ONE-TIME programs — once you've received support, you're barred from re-applying for 2 years. This is unusually restrictive among FL-cluster county programs (most peer counties allow re-application after 12 months or per program cycle). The 6-month minimum Osceola residency requirement is also stricter than peer counties (most require only 30-90 days). The income gate is 120% of Area Median Income ($81,120 for a 1-person household per the county page). Applications are submitted at the Kissimmee office at 1392 E. Vine Street; phone (407) 742-8400 is Housing and Community Services. As of 2026-09-15 the county says it is not accepting applications for this program due to funding availability — check current intake status before applying.

People who qualify for one senior program often qualify for others. See everything you may qualify for — free, no SSN, about five minutes.

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What you'll need

Government-issued photo ID for the applicant
Proof of Osceola County residency for at least 6 months (lease, utility bills, government correspondence)
Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099, tax return)
Documentation of the financial hardship and supporting need (job loss, medical emergency, etc.)
Eviction notice or past-due rent/mortgage statement (for FHA / CDBG ERAP)
Past-due utility bill (for FHA utility arrears component)
Application submitted in person at 1392 E. Vine Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 407-742-8400

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Osceola County Financial Housing Assistance + CDBG Emergency Rental Assistance. I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need government-issued photo ID for the applicant, proof of Osceola County residency for at least 6 months (lease, utility bills, government correspondence), proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099, tax return) — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Step by step

Check current availability before doing anything else — as of September 2026, Osceola County is not accepting new Financial Housing Assistance applications due to funding. Call 407-742-8400 or visit the county's page to confirm intake has reopened before proceeding.
Gather your government-issued photo ID and proof that you have lived in Osceola County for at least 6 months, such as a lease, utility bills, or government correspondence.
Collect proof of household income, such as recent pay stubs, a Social Security award letter, an SSA-1099, or a tax return.
Gather documentation of your financial hardship — for example, a notice of job loss or records of a medical emergency — along with any eviction notice or past-due rent, mortgage, or utility statements that apply to your situation.
Bring all documents to the Housing and Community Services office in person at 1392 E. Vine Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744, or call 407-742-8400 to ask about your options before your visit.
Submit your completed application at the office and ask staff which program — Financial Housing Assistance or the CDBG Emergency Rental Assistance Program — fits your household's need, since both are administered from the same location.

What to expect: After submitting, staff will review your application and documents. Processing times vary, so ask the agency for an estimate when you apply. If approved, assistance is provided as a one-time service — your household cannot apply again for 2 years after receiving support. There is no standard renewal cycle for these programs. Because funding availability can change, it is a good idea to confirm the program is still open to new applicants at the time you apply.

Renewals

ONE-TIME assistance per household; applicants barred from re-applying for 2 years after support is provided

Official source →Last verified · October 5, 2026

Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.