Marion County’s Community Support Directory

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. We provide federally funded assistance in managing costs associated with:

• Payment of heating or cooling bills (only the energy costs portion of the bill will be paid)
• Utilities that will be disconnected due to non-payment
• Deposits for beginning utility service

Raising & Improving Self-Sufficiency Expectations (RISE) Program

Raising & Improving Self-Sufficiency Expectations (RISE) Program provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to services for entire families by empowering individuals to actively pursue economic independence and obtain employment that pays a living wage. The program is designed for goal-oriented individuals who are motivated and persistent in their pursuit of self-sufficiency.

Participants work with a Case manager to assess their needs, set goals, and create a specified case plan, designed to address barriers to self-sufficiency such as employment and education.

Other support services may be available to eligible participants, based upon need and availability of resources. Must be able to attend college or trade school and work between 20 – 40 hours per week.

If interested in participating in the R.I.S.E. Program, please contact the Family Development Specialist in your county.

HELPING HANDS

Helping Hands is a local nonprofit charity, helping people begin a new and better life. We primarily serve homeless, displaced, or abused people, mostly women and children throughout Ocala and Marion County. Helping Hands owns and operates two apartment buildings, containing 36 bedrooms (fully furnished). The apartments are in a safe place and provide a friendly and loving environment. We average 40 – 45 residents at any one time. We also operate two Thrift stores which help provide jobs and job training for our residents.

INTERFAITH EMERGENCY SERVICES, INC.

Interfaith is a faith-based organization that provides emergency assistance to Marion County residents.. Interfaith provides assistance with food, shelter, clothing, prescription medications and case management for individuals experiencing homelessness.

PROJECT HOPE OF MARION COUNTY, INC

Project Hope of Marion County is a non-profit organization, established in 2007 by a faith-based community group, to provide solutions for homelessness among women and their children. Project Hope’s founders witnessed a growing trend of women and children forced to live out of their cars or in other unsheltered places for significant periods of time. Our mission is to shepherd homeless families to self-sufficiency, and we do this through a proven and sustainable model. We are the only faith based, transitional, and supportive housing program in Marion County to exclusively serve women with children.

ResCare Community Living

ResCare is the industry leader in the state of Florida. ResCare Florida provides residential services and community living supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals take an active role in developing their individual service plan with our interdisciplinary team. We encourage the people we support to engage in family and community activities that may include participation in clubs, classes, athletics, church and other organizations.

We help individuals achieve their highest level of independence at home and in the community. States determine what kinds of community living services they provide. These services are typically funded by Medicaid or other funding.

SAVING MERCY

Saving Mercy Corporation is a non-profit agency that was established in 2016 by a group of concerned citizens who had a heart for the homeless, and wanted to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the chronically homeless within Ocala and Marion County.
We offer case management services to the homeless and help with housing. We hope to begin our construction project soon to build a new community on site that will include multi-family apartments, an administration building with meeting rooms, maintenance storage and laundry facilities. The new community will include an open green space, a playground and recreation area!

SHEPHERD’S LIGHTHOUSE

Shepherd’s LightHouse has years of experience in helping families and individuals through life’s storms. Shepherd’s LightHouse has many different programs to help our communities homeless families. We are a non-profit that is funded by various different groups allowing us to help with the needs of our clients.

Along with a successful transitional living program, we also manage affordable apartment living, Bridgeway Apartments.

The Thrift Store provides us with regular income and it provides volunteer opportunities for the community. The store also provides a means for our clients to learn skills such as customer service, displaying and cashier.

Shepherd’s LightHouse continues to do outreach through the community with school supply drives and gifts for holidays such as Christmas.

OPEN ARMS VILLAGE

The mission of Open Arms Village is to combat homelessness by providing transitional housing to homeless men and supportive services to equip them to become independent, productive members of the community.

Open Arms Village provides shelter and support services to single men, the largest homeless population in Marion County and the population that struggles the most to find assistance. The time spent here will extend time spent sober, improve psychiatric symptoms and reduce the likeliness of future costs to the hospitals and legal system.

WEAR GLOVES

We empower the underserved to overcome generational trauma, break cycles of dependency, and rewrite their narratives with dignity.

Since its establishment in 2009, Wear Gloves has positively influenced the lives of thousands through our innovative approach centered on dignity rather than dependency.

In order to support the success of our clients, we offer comprehensive support services tailored to meet diverse needs. We celebrate the unique strengths of every individual, empowering them to become active and valued community members through employment, workforce development, job certifications, supportive housing, and life skills training.

Hickory Knoll

Hilltop Manor

Latigo 27 Apartments

Oakbrook Villas

Landfair Homes