Q: When will you accept applications for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: Please note, the accepting of and the processing of applications for this grant program has closed. All applicants have been made aware of their status through the application portal. Checks are still being distributed. More information is available through this link.
Q: When will I know if I have been awarded the grant?
A: Check your status on the application portal.
Escambia Cares Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grant Program applications have been processed and all each applicant's status is available through the application portal.
If you haven't received a notification via the application portal, please email EscambiaCaresFamilyEmergency@myescambia.com to inquire about your status.
Q: How do I apply for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: THE APPLICATION WINDOW IS CLOSED
There are two ways to apply: online and in person.
To apply online, visit myescambia.com/cares. There will be a link on this page to start the online application process.
To apply in person, visit one of the following sites during the hours of 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and noon-5 p.m. weekends during the Friday, Sept. 25, to Tuesday, Sept. 29, application window, unless otherwise noted:
- Beulah Senior Citizens Center, 7425 Woodside Dr.
- Open Friday, Sept. 25 from 1-8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27 from noon-5 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 28, and Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 1-8 p.m.
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St.
- Carver Park Resource Center, 208 Webb St.
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd.
- Dorrie Miller Community Center, 2819 N. Miller St.
- Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road
- Gull Point Community Center, 7000 Spanish Trail
- Marie K. Young Wedgewood Community Center, 6405 Wagner Road
- Molino Library, 6450 Highway 95-A North
- Walnut Hill Community Center, 7850 Highway 97 North
- Woodland Heights Community Center, 111 Berkeley Dr.
Staff will be on hand to help guide you through the application process. Please bring the required application information and documents for your application to be complete (see below).
To apply online, click here.
To download a copy of the printed application, click here.
Q: What materials will I need to compete the application process?
A: You must have all documents readily available before you begin the application process. It is recommended that you scan and save all required documents to your computer desktop so they can be easily uploaded to your application form if you are applying online.
You will need the following:
- Copy of Photo Identification for applicant (state-issued ID, driver's license or passport). If the address on your photo ID is not your current residential address, you must provide another document such as a utility bill in your name to verify Escambia County residency.
- Copy of your Social Security Card or a government document that includes your full Social Security number.
- TAX FILERS: Copy of the first page of your 2019 Federal Income Tax Return showing 2019 income is less than $45,000.
- NON-TAX FILERS: Self-Certification letter stating the reason why you did not file a 2019 Federal Income Tax Return and/or the type of income you received - Social Security Benefits (SSA, SSI/SSD), Railroad Retirement, Veterans Affairs Pension, Disability Benefits, etc.
- A completed W-9 Form (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf). A fillable W-9 Form is included with your application form. However, the signature line is not fillable. Please print the form, sign it and upload it. You can use your phone to take photos if you do not have a scanner.
Please complete each question in the application. Incomplete applications or missing information may result in a delay in processing or in the denial of your application.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: To be eligible for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program, applicants must demonstrate the following:
- Applicant’s current household income (for all members of the household) for 2019 was less than $45,000.
- Applicant’s current household was negatively impacted by COVID-19.
- Applicant is a permanent resident of Escambia County with a main residence in Escambia County.
- Applicant is a U.S. Citizen or legal resident 18 years or older.
Q: What qualifies as a negative impact on my household income due to COVID-19?
A: The following are a list of examples of what would be classified as having a negative impact on an applicant’s household income:
- Loss of income or reduction in work hours
- Loss of secondary income
- Unexpected and uninsured funeral cost related to COVID-19
- Increased housing expenses
- Increased transportation costs for healthcare, employment or personal care
- Increased expenses related to telework
- Increased expenses for the elderly or disabled
- Increased expenditures for cleaning
- Increased cost of consumables
Q: I applied for the Escambia CARES Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. Will my application for that be automatically applied to the application for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: No. Applicants that applied for the Escambia CARES Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program would need to reapply for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance.
Q: I applied for the Escambia CARES Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. Can I apply for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: Yes. Applicants from the Escambia CARES Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program may still apply for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program.
Q: My roommate and I each lost our jobs due to a COVID-19 related layoff. Can each of us apply for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: Applications will only be accepted from one address on a first-come, first serve basis. If applicants share addresses, only the first application will be considered for this grant.
Q: We have a multi-generational home. My mother lives with us. She had increased expenses due to COVID-19, as did I. Can each of us apply for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program?
A: Applications will only be accepted from one address on a first-come, first serve basis. If an applicant shares an address with another family or another family member, only the first application from a given address will be considered for this grant.
Q: How will I know if I will receive a grant?
A: Following the close of the application window, applications will be processed in the order received for eligibility. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application within three weeks after submittal.
Q: I am behind on my house payment. Will the grant be paid directly to my landlord?
A: No. The grants for the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program will be paid directly to the applicants. These grants will not be paid to landlords or to any other creditor.
Q: If I am awarded the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program grant, how much will I receive?
A: Every grant in this program is for $3,000, regardless of household size or need. All grant recipients will receive the same amount. Escambia County will award $3,000 grants in this program until the federal funding has been exhausted.
Q: Is the $3,000 grant considered income that is taxable?
A: Yes. You must provide a W-9 form with your application for income tax purposes.
Q: How will I know the county has successfully received my application?
A: Applicants will receive an on-screen confirmation message upon completion of a successful online application. Applicants will receive an e-mail with this confirmation. If you are having trouble completing your application via smartphone, try re-submitting using the "small" file size option from your phone when uploading documents.
Q: The application includes a checkbox about being exempt to Florida Public Records Law. What does this mean?
A: Unfortunately there is not a very concise way to describe which applicants may qualify for an exemption based on their occupation, under Florida Statue § 119.071(4)(d). However, the list of qualifying occupations is as follows:
- Active or Former Law Enforcement Personnel
- Active or Former Correctional and Correctional Probation Officers
- Active or Former Personnel of Department of Child & Family Services whose duties include the investigation of abuse, neglect, exploitation, fraud, theft, or other criminal activities
- Active or Former Personnel of Department of Health whose duties are to support the investigation of child abuse or neglect
- Active or Former Personnel of Department of Revenue or local governments whose responsibilities include revenue collection and enforcement or child support enforcement
- Firefighters certified in compliance with Florida Statue § 633.408
- Justice of the Supreme Court, District Court of Appeal Judges, Circuit Court Judges, or County Court Judges
- Current or former State Attorneys, Assistant State Attorneys, State Prosecutors, and Assistant State Prosecutors
- General and Special Magistrates
- Judges of Compensation Claims
- Administrative Law Judges of Department of Administrative Hearing (DOAH)
- Child support enforcement hearing officers
- Current and former human resource, labor relations or employee labor relations directors, assistant directors, managers, or assistant managers of any local government agency or water management district whose duties include hiring and firing employees, labor contract negation, administration or personnel-related duties
- Current and former Code Enforcement Officers
- Current and former guardians ad litem as defined in Florida Statue § 39.820
- Current and former juvenile probation officers, juvenile probation supervisors, detention superintendents, assistant detention superintendents, senior juvenile detention officers, juvenile detention officer supervisors, juvenile detention officers, house parents I and II, house parent supervisors, group treatment leaders, group treatment leader supervisors, rehabilitation therapists, and social services counselors of the Department of Juvenile Justice
- Current or former Public Defenders, Assistant Public Defenders, Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, and Assistant Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel
- Current or former personnel of the Department of Health whose duties include, or result in, the determination or adjudication of eligibility for social security disability benefits, the investigation or prosecution of complaints filed against health care practitioners, or the inspection of health care practitioners or health care facilities licensed by the Department of Health
- Current or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the National Guard, who served after September 11, 2001.
- Current or former non-sworn investigative personnel of the Department of Financial Services whose duties include the investigation of fraud, theft, workers' compensation coverage requirements and compliance, other related criminal activities, or state regulatory requirement violations.
- Current or former emergency medical technicians or paramedics certified under Chapter 401, F.S.
- Current or former U.S. Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys
- Current or former Judges of U.S. Courts of Appeal, U.S. District Judges and U.S. Magistrates
The CARES applicant has the obligation to inform the county whether his information is exempt based on his occupation, or whether the applicant is the spouse or child of such a person.