SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR PRISONERS Disinformation about Social Security benefits for ex-offenders still circulates in Florida prisons. The idea is that your record of former drug use is evidence that you suffer a mental disability and therefore are entitled to benefits. Sorry, but this and similar rumors are false. Ex-offenders have to meet the same standards as everybody else when it comes to qualifying for money from the Social Security Administration. Get the facts from the SSA at this link: "What Prisoners Should Know About Social Security" pdf version en Español AND AFTER RELEASE ... The SSA also offers an online booklet called "Entering The Community After Incarceration--How We Can Help." This also covers prerelease agreements to jump-start the process, if available. Child Support Issues? THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Many released offenders find themselves again responsible for their children's financial welfare. The Florida Department of Revenue's "Child Support" website focuses mostly on the parent receiving support, but ex-offender parents can learn about their legal rights, too, and how the system works. The internet has opened up new options for paying and tracking child support payments that all parties will find helpful. Learn how child support payments are enforced and under what circumstances you can request modifications of the current child support arrangements. The FAQs are useful, too. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES Goodwill Locator will help you find Goodwill stores and job programs by inserting your zip code into the search box. Goodwill stores offer a wide selection of inexpensive necessities, including clothing for the whole family, household goods, furniture, electronics, etc. SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Southeast Council St. Vincent de Paul is a long respected Christian organization that provides valuable assistance to the homeless and others needing help with basic necessities (food, housing, education, counseling, and much more). Some local councils and contacts are listed below. Many Florida counties have additional St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores and food pantries. If your area isn't shown here, check your telephone directory or call your neighborhood Catholic church. Council of Central Broward 1211 N.E. 4th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Phone: (954) 462-1241 / 462-0716 Council of North Broward 2323 N. Dixie Highway Pompano Beach, FL 33060 Phone: (954) 942-2242 Council of South Broward Little Flower Conference 1805 Pierce Street Hollywood, FL 33020 Phone: (954) 922-6640 Council of Naples (Collier County) 2874 Davis Blvd. Naples, FL 34104 Phone: (239) 775-1667 St. Vincent de Paul Society (Duval County) 526 1st Avenue North Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 Phone: (904) 246-5240 Hillsborough County Council 12310 N. Nebraska Avenue Tampa, FL 33612 Phone: (813) 971-7685 St. Vincent de Paul Client Aid Line (Indian River County) 5480 85th Street Wabasso, FL 32970 Phone: (772) 589-3312 St. Vincent de Paul Society (Lee County) 2073 Lafayette Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 Phone: (239) 334-9225 St. Vincent de Paul Society (Martin County) 12001 S.E. Federal Highway Hobe Town Sound, FL 33455 Phone: (772) 546-2492 Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. (Miami-Dade County) 18470 N.W. 27th Avenue Miami Gardens, FL 33056 Phone: (305) 474-9010 Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. (Miami-Dade County) 3675 S. Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33133 Phone: (305) 856-1010 St. Vincent de Paul Central Council (Pasco County) 7236 State Road 52 Hudson, FL 34667 Phone: (727) 868-8160 Ozanam District Council of Pasco 7944 Grand Blvd. Port Richey, FL 34668 Phone: (727) 845-8283 St. Vincent de Paul Conference (Pinellas County) 1345 Park Street Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: (727) 441-3790 South Pinellas Council 384 15th Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33705 Phone: (727) 823-2516 St. Vincent de Paul Society (Sarasota County) 301 Bayshore Drive Venice, FL 34285 Phone: (941) 484-4117 St. Anastasia Conference (St. Lucie County) 219 N. U.S. Highway 1 Fort Pierce, FL 34950 Phone: (772) 465-4551 Council of the Treasure Coast (St. Lucie County) 697 S.W. Biltmore Street Port St. Lucie, FL 34983 Phone: (772) 344-1341 UNITED WAY OF FLORIDA United Way of Florida is the premier organization for finding referrals to the social services you need. Florida has 34 local chapters covering the state. You can find your closest one by clicking on a map, or see the list below. Most of the state is covered by United Way's "2-1-1" service. Dial 211 for "free and confidential information and referral" (food, housing, employment, health care, etc.). For more details, insert your zip code or city on their website. United Way of the Big Bend 307 E. Seventh Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: (850) 414-0844 Counties: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla United Way of Brevard County 937 Dixon Blvd. Cocoa, FL 32922 Phone: (321) 631-2740 Counties: Brevard United Way of Broward County Ansin Building 1300 S. Andrews Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Phone: (954) 462-4850 Counties: Broward United Way of Central Florida 5605 U.S. Highway 98 South P.O. Box 1357 Highland City, FL 33846 Phone: (863) 648-1500 Counties: Hardee, Highlands, Polk United Way of Charlotte County 17831 Murdock Circle Port Charlotte, FL 33948 Phone: (941) 627-3539 Counties: Charlotte United Way of Citrus County 5399 W. Gulf to Lake Highway Lecanto, FL 34461 Phone: (352) 527-8894 Counties: Citrus United Way of Collier County 848 First Avenue North Naples, FL 34102 Phone: (239) 261-7112 Counties: Collier United Way of Escambia County 1301 W. Government Street Pensacola, FL 32501 Phone: (850) 434-3157 Counties: Escambia Heart of Florida United Way Dr. Nelson Ying Center 1940 Traylor Blvd. Orlando, FL 32804 Phone: (407) 835-0900 Counties: Orange, Osceola, Seminole United Way of Hernando County 4042 Commercial Way Spring Hill, FL 34606 Phone: (352) 688-2026 Counties: Hernando United Way of Indian River County 1836 14th Avenue P.O. Box 1960 Vero Beach, FL 32961 Phone: (772) 567-8900 Counties: Indian River United Way of Lake & Sumter Counties 515 W. Main Street Leesburg, FL 34748 Phone: (352) 787-7530 Counties: Lake, Sumter United Way of Lee County 7275 Concourse Drive Fort Myers, FL 33908 Phone: (239) 433-2000 Counties: Glades, Hendry, Lee United Way of Manatee County 1701 14 Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 Phone: (941) 748-1313 Counties: Manatee United Way of Marion County 1401 N.E. 2nd Street P.O. Box 1086 Ocala, FL 34478 Phone: (352) 732-9696 Counties: Marion United Way of Martin County 50 Kindred St., Suite 207 P.O. Box 362 Stuart, FL 34995 Phone: (772) 283-4800 Counties: Martin United Way of Miami-Dade The Ansin Building 3250 S.W. 3rd Avenue Miami, FL 33129 Phone: (305) 860-3000 Counties: Miami-Dade United Way of Monroe County 1019 Flagler P.O. Box 2910 Key West, FL 33045 Phone: (305) 296-3464 Counties: Monroe United Way of North Central Florida 6031 N.W. 1st Place Gainesville, FL 32607 Phone: (352) 331-2800 Counties: Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Union United Way of Northeast Florida 1301 Riverplace Blvd., Suite 400 Jacksonville, FL 32207 Phone: (904) 390-3200 Counties: Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau United Way of Northwest Florida 518 Mulberry Avenue P.O. Box 586 Panama City, FL 32402 Phone: (850) 785-7521 Counties: Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington United Way of Okaloosa & Walton Counties 112 Tupelo Avenue Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Phone: (850) 243-0315 Counties: Okaloosa, Walton United Way of Okeechobee County P.O. Box 7 Okeechobee, FL 33973 Counties: Okeechobee United Way of Palm Beach County 2600 Quantum Blvd. Boynton Beach, FL 33426 Phone: (561) 375-6600 Counties: Palm Beach United Way of Pasco County 8040 Washington St., Suite 100 P.O. Box 609 Port Richey, FL 34673 Phone: (727) 845-3030 Counties: Pasco United Way of Putnam County P.O. Box 981 Palatka, FL 32178 Phone: (386) 328-8992 Counties: Putnam United Way of Santa Rosa County 6860 Caroline St., Suite 4 P.O. Box 284 Milton, FL 32572 Phone: (850) 623-4507 Counties: Santa Rosa United Way of Sarasota County 1445 2nd Street Sarasota, FL 34236 Phone: (941) 366-2686 Counties: Sarasota United Way of South Sarasota County 7810 Tamiami Tr. South, Suite A4 Venice, FL 34293 Phone: (941) 408-0595 Counties: South Sarasota United Way of St. Johns County 117 Bridge Street 151 Sawgrass Corners Drive 309 Kingsley Lake Drive, Suite 930 P.O. Box 625 St. Augustine, FL 32085 Phone: (904) 829-9721 Counties: St. Johns United Way of St. Lucie County 4800 South U.S. 1 Fort Pierce, FL 34982 Phone: (772) 464-5300 Counties: St. Lucie United Way of Suwannee Valley 325 N.E. Hernando Ave., Suite 102 Lake City, FL 32055 Phone: (386) 752-5604 Counties: Suwannee United Way of Tampa Bay Hillsborough Office: 1000 N. Ashley Dr., Suite 800 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 274-0900 Pinellas Office: 12425 28th St. North, Suite 250 St. Petersburg, FL 337156 Phone: (727) 535-3545 Counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties 3747 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32124 Phone: (386) 253-0563 Counties: Volusia, Flagler