what we do... MCHC Prevention Programs
Department of Children and Families Marion County Community Services CDBG EFSG (FEMA) Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP)
Eligible Marion County residents may receive financial assistance to assist with rent and utility payments or deposits, and mortgage payments, to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or to help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.

Florida Challenge Grant
Created in 2002, the homeless assistance Challenge Grant is available to assist in implementing the services and activities contained within local homeless CoC plans. The locally developed plan details the community vision for how to coordinate efforts to prevent homelessness; provide out-reach to those who become homeless to direct them to services; to provide emergency sheltering; ensure the availability of supportive services to address health, education, employment, and family needs; and to make permanent housing available.
The funding is available on an annual competitive application process. The MCHC is the designated Lead Agency of the lcoal Coc efforts, and is the eligible applicant.

Community Development Block Grant
The CDBG Grant Program is an entitlement grant funded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The goal of the CDBG grant program is to preserve and develop viable urban communities by assisting low & moderate income households throguh physical development programs that:

Emergency Food & Shelter Grant
FEMA continues to follow through to help the state of Florida recover from natural occuring devastations. The new FEMA Grant reimburses local non-profit agencies for their efforts and expenditures to assists residents with rent and utility payment assistance, and emergency food programs.

The HPRP Program was authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Marion County received a one-time grant allotment to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or to help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quicly re-housed and stabilized.
Additional Prevention Program Activity
Additional Funding Sources
