Resident Resources
Fair Housing
Discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability is against the law.
For more information, please visit HUD's Website.
*Sourced from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Fair Housing Assistance Agencies in Florida
- Bay Area Legal Services, a non-profit Law Firm
- Florida Commission on Human Relations
- The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service
- U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
The Department of Housing and Urban Development
Local HUD Fair Housing Offices
Jacksonville Field Office
Charles East Bennett Federal Building
400 West Bay Street Suite 1015
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 232-2627
Email: FL_Webmanager@HUD.gov
Online: http://hud.gov/florida
Renters and the Law
Rights and Duties of Tenants and Landlords by the Florida Bar
Landlord/Tenant Law in Florida provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Florida Directory of Legal Aid Organizations by County
Dispute Resolution Center
713-755-8274
Florida State Bar Association
Bay Area Legal Services Volunteer Lawyers Program
(800) 625-2257
Safety Tips
The Houston Apartment Association has compiled the following resources to help your property and residents keep cool this summer. The following sites have information that you can print for distribution...
- The Red Cross's heat wave preparedness site -https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/heat-wave-safety.html
- The Red Cross's heat wave preparedness site - Spanish version - http://www.cruzrojaamericana.org/general.asp?SN=200&OP=216&SUOP=246
- Houston Fire Department heat safety page - http://houstontx.gov/fire/safetyinfo/heatrelatedillnesses.html
- The Center for Disease Control's tips for staying cool - https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html
- NOAA's National Weather Service heat danger chart - http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml
- Resources by County
- Floridadisaster.org
- Floridadisaster.biz
- FEMA 'Are You Ready?' In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
- ¿Está preparado? Una Guía Detallada para la Preparación Comunitaria
- Severe Weather Guide
- OSHA's Hurricane Preparedness & Response
- Thunderstorms, Tornadoes & Lightning Preparedness Guide
- The Essential Guide for Hurricane Preparedness
Drowning, the second leading cause of accidental death among children is also the second leading cause of accidental death among adults.
What Parents Should Know About Pool Safety:
- If your apartment has a pool, inspect the fence and gate. If the gate does not lock or you find any other defects with the fence, report it to the apartment management immediately
- NEVER leave a child alone near water –that includes water in a pool, spa, bathtub, toilet, bucket or any standing water in which a child's nose or mouth may be submerged
- Apartment pools have a phone near the pool. Know where it is.
- Use approved flotation devices.
- Enroll children over the age of 3 in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors - REMEMBER- swimming lessons do not make your child "Drown-Proof!"
- Learn CPR.
- Make sure there is no standing water on the pool deck. Standing water is the #1 cause of slips and falls around a pool. NO RUNNING on the pool deck!
- Always have a first aid kit and emergency contacts handy.
- Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. If lightning and thunder are nearby, get out until the storm has passed.
- Call 911 in case of emergencies.
- Throw! Don't go. Throw rescue equipment!
Teach Your Kids these Safety Tips:
- Always swim with a buddy.
- Don't dive into unknown bodies of water. Jump in feet first to avoid hitting your head on the shallow bottom.
- Don't push or jump on others in or around water.
- Swim in supervised areas only.
- Obey all rules and posted signs.
Many prospective residents make the mistake of asking the manager or leasing agent about crime in the neighborhood. While the manager or leasing agent may know about crimes that have occurred, they are not the best source of this type of information. Call the local storefront of the Houston Police Department for crime statistics. The officers at the local storefront should be able to give you the most accurate crime statistics available.
No. Most owners and management personnel have no more experience, training or ability to prevent criminal acts than you do. You should never rely upon the owner or management personnel to secure you from the criminal acts of third parties. If you are in need of security services, call the police. In the event of an emergency, call 911. If you have questions regarding security issues in your neighborhood, contact the local HPD storefront and discuss your concerns with the officers patrolling the neighborhood.
More safety tips are available on www.safeinmyplace.org.
Quick Maintenance Tips for Renters
hfkjshdfkjhjskldhgkja
kldjkfjhkdsjflkjdsf
Financial Assistance
The following organizations MAY be able to assist with some housing needs and household expenses.
(Please note many of the ministries/organizations listed below have specific zip codes they serve, if possible please visit this site FIRST to see if they service your zip code area)
Catholic Charities
St. Petersburg (727) 893-1314
Tampa (813) 631-4370
Hudson (352) 523-6958
Dade City (352) 521-1218
Florida Coalition to End Homelessness
Mid-Florida Homelessness Coalition
Citrus, Hernando, Sumter Counties
Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County
Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative
Homeless Coalition of Polk County
Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas County
Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness
Manatee and Sarasota Counties
Heartland Coalition of the Homeless
Hardee, Desoto, Highlands
Red Cross of Tampa
Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties
Red Cross of Southwest Florida
DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties
Red Cross of Mid-Florida
Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Polk, and Sumter Counties
Important Note: Many rental assistance programs are running low or have run out of money, but many have applied for additional funding. We are including links to all area programs, but understand that availability of assistance is NOT guaranteed. Be sure to check the status of each program.
The purpose of this page is to inform renters of various programs and agencies that may be able to provide financial assistance. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. There may be other programs and agencies available. Additionally, please understand that programs and agencies may have limited funds, may have varying qualification processes and requirements and may not be available for all renters seeking assistance. Further, there may be some programs or agencies that only provide services to limited geographic areas in our community.