If you suspect a heroin or prescription pain medication drug overdose, call 911. It is important to tell the call taker that you or someone is having a medical emergency.

Living with an addiction to drugs and alcohol is difficult, that is why getting help from local organizations is an important and crucial step toward treatment.

Anyone in Orange County can call or text 211 to get connected to local organizations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a confidential and anonymous resource for people looking for substance abuse help. If you are looking for treatment resources in our community, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Greater Orlando Area of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a non-profit fellowship of people for whom drugs have become a major problem. Recovering addicts meet regularly to provide support to help each other live drug-free. It is free to attend a meeting. This organization can also be reached using their 24-hour helpline at 407-425-5157.

Recovery Connections of Central Florida is a non-profit organization providing access to needed resources and support. Their professional health care professionals connect people to long-term recovery opportunities. To reach their hotline, call 407-RECOVER (732-6837).

Aspire Health Partners offers public behavioral health and substance abuse services in Orange County. Aspire offers inpatient crisis stabilization and follow up services such as case management, counseling, medication management and medication assistance. Aspire Health Partners also trains deputies on how to best support and help people in crisis. If you are in crisis, or know someone who is, contact Aspire Health Partners at 407-822-5052.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELP FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Collegiate Recovery Community is a health service through the University of Central. Although its focus is helping young adults and students, they contribute to our community through advocacy, treatment and prevention programs. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, please call 407-823-2924 to make an appointment.

IMPOWER – The Grove supports adolescents suffering from alcohol or substance abuse who are in need of a more intensive individual support plan. Their voluntary residential program is available for children, ages 13-17. For more information about The Grove, call 407-215-0095, option 3.

Orange County Government is committed to ensuring those who are homeless, or experience housing instability get all the help they can. No one should be without a place to call home. Here in Central Florida, the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida is the lead organization that manages a coordinated system of care to serve Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. If you are homeless, or assisting someone who is homeless, there are several ways to enter the system of care which assesses, identifies and tracks assistance.

For a complete list of organizations that can help, check out OCSO’s Community Resource Guide.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Heart of Florida United Way serves as a 24-hour resource for individuals experiencing homelessness. Call 211, a hotline designed to connect callers to a multilingual specialist who can put them in touch with local organizations that provide critical services to improve and save lives.

The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness facilitates the development of homeless services to ensure that living without a place called home is rare and brief. For those who are literally homeless, visit a Central Florida HUB – a safe location where individuals and families can go for a face-to-face assessment.

• Orange County HUB | Christian Service Center is located at 808 W Central Blvd, Orlando FL. For assistance, call their Family & Emergency Services line at 407-425-2523 ext. 237. This location is ideal for individuals, but they are open to anyone experiencing homelessness. *This is the busiest location and often operates at capacity.
• Orange County HUB | United Against Poverty is located at 150 W. Michigan St, Orlando, FL. For assistance, call 407-650-0774. This organization serves those in poverty by providing crisis care, case management, along with food and household subsidies.
• Orange County Veterans HUB | The VA Medical Center located at 5201 Raymond St; Building 500, Orlando FL, connects homeless and at-risk veterans with housing solutions, health care, and other support. If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for help.

FOOD & CLOTHING

Florida Food Assistance Program provides food benefits and access to a healthy diet to households with a low-income. This program is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – a hunger safety net. Visit their website to apply for benefits online or call the program at 866-762-2237.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is able to help fight hunger by collecting, storing, and distributing donated food to hundreds of partners within Central Florida. If you need immediate food assistance, please call Second Harvest Food Bank at 407-295-5009.

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida is a furniture and clothing bank within our community. Their focus is to help people who have suffered disaster or personal tragedy. This organization is able to provide household furniture, along with clothing, to those who need it most. To reach their furniture bank or their clothing services, call 407-875-2040 during normal business hours.

HELP FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Orange County’s Great Oaks Village Youth Shelter provides temporary housing for youth experiencing a variety of problems. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, youth at the shelter may be homeless, runaways, lockouts or may be seeking a cooling off period during a family crisis. The Youth Shelter accepts referrals from families, schools, the court system, DJJ, DCF, law enforcement and other agencies. Call the Shelter at 407-836-7626 for more information.

Head Start is Orange County’s pre-school and early education program for children age 3 -5. Students will learn from teachers while also receiving medical and nutritional care. If you live in Orange County and you have a child who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1st and your household income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, please call (407) 836-6590 for more information.

Central Florida Diaper Bank is an organization that supports families by offering diapers, food, and other essentials for infants and toddlers. For children that are newborn to age three, this organization can help provide appropriate resources for families in need. For help, call 407-656-7055 during normal business hours.

We know that investing in children and families builds a stronger community. Being able to help families when they need it most is crucial to ensuring parents and families can focus on what is important – providing a happy and healthy living environment at home. These resources address a variety of needs of children and families in Orange County.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Orange County offers a Family Counseling program for children and families in need of services. They accept referrals from families, school, the criminal justice system, and other agencies. Please call 407-254-9370 for more information.

Orange County’s Great Oaks Village Youth Shelter provides temporary housing for youth experiencing a variety of problems. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, youth at the shelter may be homeless, runaways, lockouts or may be seeking a cooling off period during a family crisis. The Youth Shelter accepts referrals from families, schools, the court system, DJJ, DCF, law enforcement and other agencies. Call the Shelter at 407-836-7626 for more information.

Orange County’s Family Resources Program promotes residents who are at risk due to health, disability, age or other circumstances outside of their control. The program offers a variety of services, such as learning how to budget to finding community services for your needs. For more information, call the Mable Butler Family Center at 407-836-6500. You can also call the Hal Marston Center at 407-836-8439.

Head Start is Orange County’s pre-school and early education program for children age 3 -5. Students will learn from teachers while also receiving medical and nutritional care. If you live in Orange County and you have a child who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1st and your household income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, please call (407) 836-6590 for more information.

Energy and Water Bill help is available through Orange County Government’s Community Action Division. For eligibility, you must be a legal resident of Orange County and meet certain income requirements. For more information, call 407-836-7429 during normal business hours.

Senior Resources Alliance is our local resource for senior citizens, their caregivers and family members. SRA provides a lot of information and services offered by local organizations within our community. They have answers to your questions and help you make informed decisions. You can reach the Elder Helpline by calling 800-963-5337.

We know that navigating the criminal justice system can be confusing and difficult at times – it shouldn’t be. For people who either don’t have a lawyer or cannot afford one, these services and organizations will help get you legal guidance.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Orange County Clerk of Courts Self Help Center offers low-cost legal assistance for people who need help with Family Law, Small Claims and Residential Evictions. Their office is located at the Orange County Courthouse at 425 North Orange Avenue in Orlando. For more information from the Clerk of Courts, visit the Clerk’s website at myorangeclerk.com. You can visit the Self Help Center during normal business hours or call 407-836-6300 for more information.

Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is a volunteer organization created by attorneys that provide civil legal services for civil and criminal cases. Legal assistance provided by the Legal Aid Society are 100% free of charge for those who qualify. For legal assistance, call 407-841-8310 Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida provides no-cost legal services to the most vulnerable in Central Florida. Their services are available online and through their helpline at 800-405-1417.

Florida Law Help is a free website funded by the Florida Bar Foundation. It provides individuals with information about a variety of topics and provides access to legal aid organizations and projects. Visit their website to get more information about legal self-help forms, lawyer referral programs, going to court, and free and low-cost legal services.

Florida Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic in which users can ask civil legal questions at no cost to be answered by pro bono attorneys. You can ask questions about legal problems pertaining to Family, Divorce, Housing, and much more. Visit their website to get more information.

IDignity helps residents get their Florida ID cards and licenses, birth certificates, Social Security cards and other documents. There is no charge for their services for those in need. If an immigration/citizenship document has been lost or stolen, they can help in obtaining replacement documents with proof of legal status. To request an appointment, call 407-792-1374 or fill out their service request form here.

Senior Resource Alliance is our local resource for senior citizens, their caregivers and family members. SRA provides information about Elder Law, Healthcare Law and Public Benefits. They have answers to your questions and help you make informed decisions. You can reach the Elder Helpline by calling 1-866-41-ELDER (3-5337).

StatesideLegal helps people with military experience by providing them legal assistance, along with information and resources. This organization helps service members with their livelihoods, their health, housing and families. Be sure to visit their website for some self-help tools.