A local help list you can call

Retirement, survivors, and disability benefits, plus a replacement Social Security card. Have your Social Security number ready when you call.

Who: Anyone with a Social Security number, and people applying for benefits.

Helps with: Retirement, SSDI, SSI, Medicare enrollment tied to Social Security, replacement cards.

Nationwide. They do not publish a public email. Use ssa.gov.

Monday–Friday, 8am–7pm. TTY: 800-325-0778.

Questions about Medicare cards, bills, Advantage plans, Extra Help with prescriptions, and finding a doctor. You can also call the number on the back of your Medicare card.

Who: People with Medicare and those helping them.

Helps with: Medicare coverage, claims, plan comparisons, Extra Help.

Nationwide. 1-800-MEDICARE. No public email — use medicare.gov.

24 hours. TTY: 877-486-2048.

Medicaid is run by each state. Start here for national information, then apply in Florida through ACCESS Florida (listed under hotlines).

Who: People who may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.

Helps with: National Medicaid information. Florida applications go through ACCESS Florida.

Nationwide information line. Florida application: 866-762-2237.

Monday–Friday, CMS hours. TTY: 866-226-1819.

Help with tax returns, refunds, and IRS letters. Ask about volunteer tax help for seniors (VITA / TCE) when you call.

Who: Taxpayers, including older adults.

Helps with: Individual tax questions, refunds, IRS notices, senior tax-help referrals.

Nationwide. They do not publish a public email. Use irs.gov.

Monday–Friday. TTY: 800-829-4059.

Call or text 988 for 24-hour support. A trained counselor answers. Veterans can press 1 after you connect.

Who: Anyone in the United States who wants to talk with a counselor.

Helps with: 24-hour call, text, and chat support.

Nationwide. For fire, flood, or a gas smell, call 911.

24 hours. Chat: 988lifeline.org.

Free, confidential help finding local counseling and treatment. English and Spanish. This is a referral line, not an emergency room.

Who: Anyone looking for mental-health or substance-use treatment.

Helps with: Referrals to local counseling and treatment.

Nationwide. Email: [email protected].

24 hours. TTY: 800-487-4889.

The national starting point for local aging help — meals, rides, in-home care, caregiver support — in any U.S. community.

Who: Adults 60+, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

Helps with: Referrals to Area Agencies on Aging and local programs.

Nationwide. Email: [email protected].

Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm Eastern.

VA health care, disability claims, pensions, and burial benefits. For local filing help in Brevard, also call County Veterans Services.

Who: Veterans and eligible family members.

Helps with: VA health care, claims, and benefits.

Nationwide. They do not publish a general public email. Use va.gov.

Monday–Friday, VA hours.

A live person who can help you find the right federal office — passports, benefits, scams, and more.

Who: Anyone in the United States.

Helps with: Federal agency referrals and government information.

Nationwide. 1-844-USA-GOV1.

Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm Eastern.

Information for people 50 and older — fraud watches, caregiver guides, and local AARP chapters. Membership is optional for many online articles.

Who: Adults 50 and older, and caregivers.

Helps with: Aging information, fraud alerts, and member services.

Nationwide. 1-888-OUR-AARP.

Monday–Friday, AARP hours.

A free screening tool that finds benefits you may qualify for — food, medicine, utilities, and more — by zip code.

Who: Older adults and people with disabilities.

Helps with: Benefit screening and enrollment referrals.

Nationwide.

Monday–Friday, office hours

Report suspected Medicare or Medicaid fraud. You will not get in trouble for a good-faith report.

Who: Anyone who suspects Medicare or Medicaid fraud.

Helps with: Fraud and abuse reports.

Nationwide. Email: [email protected].

Monday–Friday, office hours

Report identity theft and get a recovery plan. Also the place to report phone and tax-related scams aimed at seniors.

Who: Anyone who thinks their identity was stolen.

Helps with: Identity-theft reports and scam reports.

Nationwide. 1-877-ID-THEFT. Report online at identitytheft.gov.

Monday–Friday, FTC hours

Register for federal disaster assistance after a declared storm, flood, or other disaster.

Who: Households in a declared disaster area.

Helps with: Disaster registration and recovery information.

Nationwide. For fire, flood, or a gas smell right now, call 911.

24 hours when a disaster is declared. TTY: 800-462-7585.

Finds the local Meals on Wheels program near you. In Brevard, Aging Matters runs the senior nutrition program.

Who: Homebound older adults and caregivers.

Helps with: Referrals to local meal-delivery programs.

Nationwide. Email: [email protected].

Monday–Friday, office hours

A live person who can look up food, housing, repair, and caregiver help. If you are stuck, start here. It is free.

Who: Anyone in Brevard County.

Helps with: Referrals for home repair, aging services, food, utilities, and more.

All of Brevard County. Orange County neighbors can also dial 211.

24 hours

Veterans on staff provide peer support and connect veterans and families to VA and local help. Call 211 and press 2, or use the statewide line.

Who: Veterans, service members, and their families in Brevard and nearby counties.

Helps with: Peer support, VA referrals, housing, benefits, and community programs.

Also 211, then option 2. Brevard 211 desk: 321-632-6688.

24 hours

Free, unbiased help with Medicare, Advantage plans, Extra Help, and billing questions. Counselors do not sell insurance. Appointments at Brevard libraries and senior centers.

Who: Seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole.

Helps with: Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions, appeals, and fraud questions.

Brevard library sites include Cocoa, Merritt Island, Titusville, and Melbourne.

Call for an appointment. Statewide: 800-963-5337.

Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult or a person with a disability. A live person answers 24 hours.

Who: Anyone who is worried about an adult in Florida.

Helps with: Abuse, neglect, and exploitation reports.

Statewide. For fire, flood, or a gas smell, call 911.

24 hours

Apply for SNAP food help and Medicaid. You can start by phone if a computer is hard to use.

Who: Income-eligible Florida residents.

Helps with: SNAP, Medicaid, and related public benefits applications.

Statewide. Apply online at myaccess.myflfamilies.com if you prefer.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

The starting desk for free and low-cost aging services in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Brevard. They screen for in-home help, meals, and caregiver support.

Who: Adults 60+ and people with disabilities 18+.

Helps with: Information, screening, and referrals for in-home and community services.

Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Brevard. Statewide: 800-963-5337.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

Grab bars, small threshold ramps, smoke detectors, deadbolts, and other fall-prevention work for Brevard homeowners 60 and older. No fee. Donations accepted.

Who: Brevard County homeowners age 60 or older.

Helps with: Ramps (except Palm Bay), grab bars, bed rails, chair platforms, smoke detectors, deadbolts.

Countywide. Threshold ramps everywhere except Palm Bay.

Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm

Meals on Wheels, in-home support, caregiver help, and the housing program above. Start here if you are not sure what you need.

Who: Brevard residents 60 and older, and caregivers.

Helps with: Intake, meals, homemaking, respite, housing improvements.

3600 W. King St., Cocoa.

Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm

Builds and repairs homes, including ADA work that makes daily living safer. Call to ask about current repair and veteran-build opportunities.

Who: Partner families and repair applicants who meet Habitat guidelines.

Helps with: Home builds, some repairs, ADA accommodations.

4515 S. Babcock St., Palm Bay. Serves Brevard.

Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm

Help with power bills, disconnection fees, window air conditioners, and cooling-unit repairs for older adults in Brevard.

Who: Older adults in Brevard who meet program rules. Proof of residence required.

Helps with: Utility bills, A/C window units, cooling repairs.

Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole.

Call 211 for the current intake path

Light housekeeping, laundry, meals, companionship, respite, and personal care for Brevard residents 60 and older. Some help is funded. Some is private pay. Call for an assessment.

Who: Brevard residents age 60 or older living at home.

Helps with: Homemaking, companion care, respite, personal care, case management.

Brevard County. Private-pay home care: 321-639-6652.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

Help for people with disabilities of all ages — including seniors — to stay at home. Independent living skills, equipment loans, advocacy, and low-cost wheelchair-accessible rides.

Who: People with disabilities and seniors in Brevard.

Helps with: Independent living skills, Need-a-Ride transport, medical equipment loan closet.

571 Haverty Court, Rockledge.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

Homemaking, light house cleaning, companionship, personal care, and meals for older adults in Orange and Seminole Counties. Start with the Elder Helpline, then this office.

Who: Seniors 60+ in Orange and Seminole Counties who meet program rules.

Helps with: Homemaker services, light housekeeping, companionship, respite, meals.

5395 L.B. McLeod Road, Orlando.

Monday–Friday, 8am–4:30pm

Hot, chilled, or frozen meals delivered to homebound older adults in Orange County. No charge for the meal. Call to start a referral.

Who: Homebound older adults in Orange County.

Helps with: Home-delivered meals.

Orange County.

Monday–Friday, office hours

Joe’s Club adult day care in Melbourne, Micco, and Titusville, plus caregiver respite, homemaker help, energy-bill assistance, and some food-box deliveries.

Who: People living with memory loss and their caregivers in Brevard.

Helps with: Adult day care, respite, transportation for qualifying trips, EHEAP energy help.

4676 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne.

Monday–Friday, 7:15am–5:30pm

A free information line and Senior Resource Center in Melbourne. They help families find local aging help and answer questions about staying at home.

Who: Seniors and families in Brevard.

Helps with: Information, resource counseling, and community seminars.

1344 S. Apollo Blvd., Suite 2-C, Melbourne.

Call the information line

Free civil legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer — including housing, benefits, and other everyday legal problems.

Who: Income-eligible Brevard residents.

Helps with: Civil legal aid. Not a criminal-defense office.

Rockledge office. Call before you go.

Monday–Thursday 9am–noon and 1–4pm; Friday 9am–noon

Food, clothing, and emergency household help for Cocoa and nearby neighborhoods.

Who: Neighbors in need in central Brevard.

Helps with: Food pantry and emergency assistance.

113 Aurora St., Cocoa.

Call for pantry hours

Food, clothing, emergency help, and housing support for Titusville and north Brevard.

Who: Neighbors in need in north Brevard.

Helps with: Basic needs, emergency assistance, and housing support.

4475 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville.

Call for hours

Food pantry, hygiene items, and emergency help in Melbourne and Palm Bay. This was the South Brevard Sharing Center. It is not a shelter.

Who: Neighbors in need in south Brevard.

Helps with: Food, hygiene items, and emergency assistance when funds are available.

17 E. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne. Palm Bay: 321-676-2965.

Call for pantry hours. Register in person.

Emergency assistance for neighbors in Cocoa and central Brevard. Call to ask what help is open this week.

Who: People in financial crisis in north and central Brevard.

Helps with: Emergency assistance when funds and appointments are available.

919 Peachtree St., Cocoa.

Call for intake hours

Emergency assistance for Melbourne and south Brevard. Call first.

Who: People in financial crisis in south Brevard.

Helps with: Emergency assistance when funds and appointments are available.

1080 Hickory St., Melbourne.

Call for intake hours

Meals for anyone who is hungry in Melbourne. No appointment needed for the meal line — call if you need directions.

Who: Anyone in need of a meal in south Brevard.

Helps with: Prepared meals.

815 E. Fee Ave., Melbourne.

Call for meal times

Faith-based help for people who are homeless. Morning outreach brings a meal, pantry food, clothing, and hygiene items. Not a walk-in overnight shelter and not a soup kitchen. Cold-night shelter opens only on some winter nights.

Who: People who are homeless in Brevard County.

Helps with: Meals, food, free clothing, and hygiene items on outreach days. Transitional housing is only for people in their program.

825 Forrest Avenue, Cocoa. Ask for extension 2.

Outreach Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Call extension 2 and confirm today's hours.

The Orange County campus of the same ministry. Tuesday and Thursday mornings: a meal, pantry food, a shower, laundry, and clothing. Not a nightly shelter.

Who: People who are homeless in west Orange County.

Helps with: Meals, food, showers, laundry, and free clothing on outreach days.

611 Business Park Blvd., Suite 101, Winter Garden. Ask for extension 1.

Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30–11:30am. Call extension 1 first.

Housing for families with children in Brevard. The short overnight stay is only by a referral from 211. Call before you go.

Who: Families with children who are homeless or close to it.

Helps with: Transitional housing, longer-term family housing, and a short overnight stay through 211.

1975 Palm Bay Road, Suite 106, Palm Bay.

Call for intake. Overnight stay starts with 211.

Shelter and housing help for families with children. Call or use their website to ask for help. Not a walk-up single-adult shelter.

Who: Families with children in a housing crisis in Brevard.

Helps with: Family shelter and help staying housed.

114 1st Street, Cocoa.

Call first.

A men's recovery campus and Helen's House for women and children, plus meals. Call to ask if a bed is open. This is not a walk-up for every adult.

Who: Men in the recovery program, and women with children at Helen's House.

Helps with: Shelter and meals for the people they house.

2330 Johnny Ellison Drive, Melbourne.

Call for intake.

Supportive housing in Cocoa. This is not a walk-up night shelter. Call to ask who can apply.

Who: People in Brevard who need a housing program, not a one-night bed.

Helps with: Supportive housing.

1490 Dignity Circle, Cocoa.

Call first.

Emergency shelter for homeless mothers with children, pregnant women, and student mothers. Serving Brevard since 1977. Call. It is not a shelter for single men.

Who: Mothers with children, and pregnant women, who are homeless.

Helps with: Short-term shelter and longer student housing for mothers.

Melbourne. Call for the intake address.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm.

A residential program for homeless women with children. Housing, health care, and life skills in a faith-based setting. Call to ask about intake. Not a walk-in night shelter.

Who: Homeless women with children in Brevard.

Helps with: Residential program, not a same-day shelter bed.

Melbourne. Site line also listed as 321-480-9100.

Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm. Call first.

Shelter for men, women, and families in Orlando. A free evening meal is also open to anyone. No ID is needed for the meal. Call about a bed.

Who: People who need a meal, and people seeking shelter in Orange County.

Helps with: Shelter intake and a free evening meal.

18 N. Terry Avenue, Orlando.

Evening meal every day about 6:45pm. Call about shelter intake.

Three meals a day and shelter. Call before you go and ask what is open today.

Who: People who need a meal or a shelter bed in Orlando.

Helps with: Meals and shelter.

1521 W. Washington Street, Orlando.

Meals daily. Call for intake.

Food pantry and emergency help in Orlando. Call and ask what is open this week.

Who: People in a financial crisis in Orange County.

Helps with: Food and emergency assistance when appointments are open.

416 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando.

Call for pantry hours.

Free lunch six days a week. Food pantry and clothing vouchers for people they serve. The lunch line is open to anyone. Call before you come for clothes or a pantry box.

Who: Anyone may come for lunch. Pantry and clothing are for people they enroll.

Helps with: Free meals, food, and free clothing by voucher.

808 W. Central Boulevard, Orlando.

Lunch Monday–Friday at noon, Sunday at 11am. Office Monday–Friday 9am–4pm.

A large drive-up food pantry in College Park. New guests can sign up and receive food on the first visit. They also take donated clothing and household goods for families.

Who: Families and neighbors who need food in Orange County.

Helps with: Food boxes. Clothing and household goods are given as they have them.

2040 N. Rio Grande Avenue, Orlando. No public phone was listed. Use the website or email.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 11am–4pm. Closed Wednesday.

Shelter and help for young people ages 18 to 24. Call before you send someone over.

Who: Young adults ages 18 to 24 who are homeless or at risk.

Helps with: Youth shelter and basic needs.

711 N. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando.

Call first.

Shelter for families with children in Orange and Seminole counties. Call to ask if a family opening is available.

Who: Families with children in a housing crisis.

Helps with: Family shelter.

1000 Clay Street, Winter Park.

Call first.

Church-based food and clothing help. Call and ask what they can give this week. This is not a store.

Who: Neighbors in northwest Orange County who need food or clothes.

Helps with: Food and free used clothing.

770 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka.

Call first.

Free furniture and clothing for a family setting up a home after homelessness, a fire, or another crisis. You need a referral from one of their partner agencies. It is not a walk-in giveaway.

Who: Families with a stable place to live, income, and a referral.

Helps with: Free used furniture and clothing, by referral only.

12 Mustard Seed Lane, Orlando.

Call to ask which agency can refer you.

Free professional clothing for women getting ready for a job interview. A partner agency usually has to refer you. Call and ask how to be referred.

Who: Women preparing for work.

Helps with: Free work clothes, by referral.

9401 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee.

Call first.

Finds the nearest food pantry in Brevard, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. They do not usually hand food out at the warehouse — they will point you to a pantry.

Who: Anyone looking for food assistance in Central Florida.

Helps with: Food-pantry referrals.

Use their food finder or call 211.

Monday–Friday, office hours. Brevard line: 321-733-1600.

Emergency assistance for Brevard and Orange County families. You do not have to be Catholic.

Who: People in financial crisis in Brevard and Orange County.

Helps with: Emergency assistance when appointments are available.

Brevard intake: 321-338-2986.

Call for an appointment. Orange County: 407-658-1818.

Outreach and housing help for veterans who are homeless or close to it in Brevard.

Who: Veterans in Brevard who need housing support.

Helps with: Outreach, housing navigation, and basic-needs help.

1436 W. King St., Cocoa.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30am–4pm. Toll-free: 888-787-6847.

Training, tools, and support so people who are blind or have low vision can stay independent at home.

Who: People who are blind or have low vision.

Helps with: Independent living skills, tools, and vocational help.

1970 Michigan Ave. A-2, Cocoa.

Monday–Friday, office hours

Disaster help after a fire, storm, or flood, plus armed-forces emergency messages.

Who: Families in Brevard after a home fire or disaster.

Helps with: Emergency shelter, relief, and service to the armed forces.

Brevard / Space Coast chapter.

Call 24 hours for a disaster. Office hours vary.

Community clinics for medical and dental care. Sliding-scale fees for people without insurance.

Who: Brevard residents, including Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Helps with: Primary care, dental, and sliding-scale clinic visits.

Several Brevard clinic sites.

Call for clinic hours

State and federal funds for low-income homeowners — roofs, windows, plumbing, electrical, accessibility, and more. Cities listed below run their own programs.

Who: Income-eligible owners outside Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville city limits.

Helps with: Roofs, leaks, windows, water heaters, plumbing, electrical, insulation, accessibility.

Unincorporated Brevard. Ask for the housing rehab desk.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

Helps very low-income homeowners fix code issues and deteriorating conditions. You must have owned and lived in the home for at least one year.

Who: Income-eligible Orange County homeowners.

Helps with: Home repairs that correct code and safety problems.

Orange County.

Monday–Friday, county hours

Free help filing VA claims — disability, pension, health care enrollment, home loans, and burial benefits. Bring a DD-214 if you have one.

Who: Veterans and eligible surviving family members in Brevard.

Helps with: VA claims, documentation, and referrals.

Brevard County.

Monday–Friday, county hours

Help with rent, utilities, and other emergency household costs when funds are open. Call before you visit.

Who: Income-eligible Brevard households.

Helps with: Emergency rent and utility help when funding is available.

Cocoa office: 400 S. Varr Ave. South: 321-952-6334.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm

Fixed-route buses plus ADA paratransit and Volunteers in Motion door-to-door rides to doctors, pharmacies, and grocery stores for people who cannot use the regular bus.

Who: Brevard riders. Reduced fare for ages 60+, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Helps with: Bus routes, ADA paratransit, Volunteers in Motion medical and grocery rides.

Volunteers in Motion: 321-635-7999. 401 S. Varr Ave., Cocoa.

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm. South mainland: 321-952-4672.

Cocoa runs its own repair program for homeowners inside city limits. County funds do not cover Cocoa addresses.

Who: Income-eligible Cocoa homeowners.

Helps with: Critical home repairs through the city’s housing office.

Cocoa city limits only.

Monday–Friday, city hours

Seniors 62 and older who cannot get home insurance may receive up to $25,000 toward roof, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC. Deferred loan — no payment if you stay in the home for the required years.

Who: Age 62+, own and live in a Titusville single-family home, very low income, current on taxes.

Helps with: Roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling.

Titusville city limits only.

Monday–Friday, city hours

Melbourne has its own owner-occupied repair program. County funds do not cover Melbourne addresses.

Who: Income-eligible Melbourne homeowners.

Helps with: Home repair through the city’s housing office.

Melbourne city limits only.

Monday–Friday, city hours

Palm Bay runs its own repair assistance. County ramps and rehab usually stop at the city line.

Who: Income-eligible Palm Bay homeowners.

Helps with: Home repair through the city’s housing office.

Palm Bay city limits only.

Monday–Friday, city hours