Several church-based assistance programs in Hillsborough County offer vital emergency aid, including financial assistance for rent and utilities, food pantries, and clothing. Because these ministries operate locally, most financial aid is restricted to specific zip codes or parish boundaries.
Major local church-based networks and ministries offering support include:
1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP)
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) operates two distinct assistance branches in Hillsborough County:
Parish Conferences: Direct emergency financial aid administered by volunteer networks from local Catholic churches.
SVdP CARES Regional Housing Programs: Professional case management programs focused primarily on rapid re-housing and veteran support.
Since emergency funds for rent and utilities are administered strictly based on parish boundaries and zip codes, you must contact the specific parish conference that covers your neighborhood.
Local SVdP Parish Conferences (Emergency Financial Aid)
If you need one-time assistance with utilities, rent, food, or medication, look up your zip code below and call the corresponding parish conference. Most conferences require a brief home assessment visit before making direct payments to utility companies or landlords.
| Location / Church | Contact Number | Serving Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Christ the King | 813-434-0201 | 33609, 33629 |
| Corpus Christi | 813-490-8421 | 33617, 33637 |
| Incarnation | 813-421-2201 | 33614, 33615, 33635 |
| Nativity (Brandon) | 813-376-8901 | 33510, 33511 |
| Prince of Peace (Sun City) | 813-634-2328 | 33503, 33571, 33573, 33598 |
| Sacred Heart | 813-229-1595 | 33602, 33603, 33606 |
| St. Anne (Ruskin) | 813-645-0304 | 33570, 33572, 33574 (Assistance limited to once every 18 mos) |
| St. Mark | 813-907-7746 | 33647, 33543, 33613 (North Bearss / B.B. Downs area) |
| St. Mary | 813-961-1061 | 33613, 33548, 33549, 33559 (West of I-275 & B.B. Downs) |
| St. Patrick | 813-839-5337 | 33611, 33616 |
| St. Paul | 813-264-3325 | 33618, 33624 (South of Ehrlich Rd.) |
| St. Stephen (Riverview) | 813-325-6440 | 33511, 33534, 33547, 33569, 33594, 33596 |
| St. Timothy | 813-968-1077 x261 | 33618, 33624 (North of Ehrlich), 33625, 33556, 33558 |
If your zip code is not listed above, call the SVdP Referral Line at 813-971-7685 or dial 211 for alternate coverage options.
SVdP CARES (Housing and Homeless Services)
If you are currently homeless or at imminent risk of eviction, the SVdP CARES branch of Hillsborough County offers structured housing programs. They operate from their main center at 5109 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL 33603:
Veteran Services: Call 813-443-8296 (press *) for information on rapid re-housing, emergency shelter at the Hillsborough CARE Center, and job placement. Services for non-veterans: Call 813-999-8973 for information on available permanent housing networks with support services and criteria for emergency rehousing.
2. Catholic Charities (Diocese of St. Petersburg)
Catholic Charities (Diocese of St. Petersburg) offers a robust network of support services throughout Hillsborough County, ranging from short-term financial assistance to long-term housing programs and free medical care.
Emergency Financial Assistance
Catholic Charities offers occasional financial assistance for rent, mortgage, gas, and utility payments (including TECO and Duke Energy bills) to individuals facing sudden crises.
How it works: Funds are paid directly to the landlord or utility provider. Eligibility criteria vary depending on the funding source active at the time.
Application process: First, check the Catholic Charities Hillsborough financial assistance portal to see if the county portal is accepting applications. If active, you will be guided on how to apply online or complete an initial assessment.
Hillsborough Intake Line: Call 813-631-4370 and select the menu option for “Financial Assistance.”
Affordable and Supportive Housing Ministries
To help low-income families and vulnerable groups avoid homelessness, the diocese owns and manages permanent affordable housing complexes:
Bella Vista Apartments: An affordable housing complex in Hillsborough County designed to assist families facing financial hardship.
San Jose Mission (Ruskin): A residential community dedicated to providing low-cost housing, family support, and specialized resources tailored to local farmworkers and their families.
Las Villas Apartments (Ruskin): An affordable housing complex built in partnership with Hillsborough County to support vulnerable community members as they transition toward stability.
Specialized housing programs: Rapid re-housing (scattered-site) and transitional housing programs are available for individuals or families living with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis (through programs such as Mercy House). Contact the housing office at 813-375-3933.
Free Medical Care and Clinics
For families who do not qualify for Medicaid and lack private insurance, Catholic Charities coordinates free health programs—both mobile and at fixed locations:
Catholic Mobile Medical Clinic: Regularly visits rural areas of Hillsborough County to provide basic primary care, prescription management, and health screenings.
St. André Free Clinic: Operates out of the Hillsborough Regional Center.
Location: 2021 E Busch Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612
Immigration & Citizenship Services
They offer affordable legal assistance approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) for newcomers, regardless of their immediate ability to pay.
Services: Assistance with filing political asylum applications, work permit renewals, residency status tracking, and naturalization applications.
Contact line: Call 727-893-1313, extension 208, to schedule a preliminary consultation.
3. The Salvation Army – Tampa Area Command
The Salvation Army’s Tampa Area Command offers comprehensive support services throughout Hillsborough County, focusing on emergency financial assistance, year-round shelter, food security, and seasonal aid. Since programs operate from various facilities, services are categorized based on the type of support needed.
Emergency financial assistance (rent, mortgage, and utilities)
The Salvation Army provides critical, short-term financial aid to prevent evictions and utility shut-offs for households experiencing a sudden crisis.
What is covered: Past-due rent, emergency mortgage payments, and electricity or water bills (e.g., TECO).
Intake process: Walk-ins are not accepted for financial services. Fund availability varies by zip code. Residents must verify eligibility and submit an application via the official portal at SAHelp.org.
Main financial assistance offices:
Tampa Corps: 1100 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604 | Call 813-549-0641
South County Extension: 7409 U.S. Highway 301, Riverview, FL 33578 | Call 813-549-0641
Emergency housing and shelter
The Tampa Area Command manages essential overnight lodging and transitional housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The Red Shield Center: Located at the Area Command headquarters (1603 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602), it is the only emergency shelter in Hillsborough County open 365 days a year. It has a capacity of 172 beds and provides immediate overnight lodging and hot meals for adult men and women.
Recuperative Care Program: A specialized short-term residential shelter program combined with medical case management. It is reserved specifically for individuals experiencing homelessness who are recovering from physical illnesses or injuries following hospital discharge.
Food Pantries & Self-Sufficiency Casework
To address immediate nutritional needs and foster long-term stability, families can access food distributions and assistance from professional case managers.
Food Assistance: Food and emergency provision boxes are distributed through local distribution centers (pantries), operating primarily out of the Tampa Corps office on Sligh Avenue.
Pathway of Hope: A long-term case management initiative designed for families with children. Social workers help participants set personalized financial, educational, and employment goals to break generational cycles of poverty.
“Angel Tree” Christmas Assistance
Each autumn, The Salvation Army coordinates its flagship registration program to provide new Christmas toys and clothing to children (ages 0–12) and seniors from low-income households in Hillsborough County. Registration typically opens online in September or October.
4. Metropolitan Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries is one of the largest faith-based, non-profit resource organizations in the Tampa Bay area. They offer an extensive safety net for Hillsborough County residents, providing everything from immediate food and utility assistance to long-term transitional housing, childcare, and job training.
Emergency Financial Assistance (Rent and Utilities)
Metropolitan Ministries provides crucial financial aid to individuals and families facing imminent eviction or utility disconnection.
What is covered: Emergency past-due rent, mortgage assistance, and overdue utility bills (e.g., TECO).
Intake Process: Walk-ins are not accepted for financial assistance requests. To avoid long lines, all applicants must attend an in-person orientation session to verify eligibility and review necessary documentation.
How to Apply: You must book an orientation appointment online up to 7 days in advance via the Metropolitan Ministries Hillsborough financial assistance portal. Location: 2301 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602
Immediate family support (food, clothing, and identification)
Through their Outreach and Prevention Centers, they address the immediate daily survival needs of families and individuals in crisis:
Food and kitchen ministries: Emergency food boxes and supplies are distributed through their food pantries, where clients can select the items they need. They also serve hot meals daily to residents and individuals in need.
Metro Market and clothing: Families can receive vouchers to obtain clothing, footwear, baby supplies (diapers, formula), and essential household items free of charge. Assistance with obtaining identification documents: They help clients secure valid Florida identification and birth certificates—covering the applicable state fees—so that individuals can qualify for employment or housing.
Miracle Place (Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing)
For homeless families with children and single women, Metropolitan Ministries operates Miracle Place, a secure residential complex designed to facilitate residents’ transition toward independence.
Emergency Shelter: Safe, short-term housing accompanied by immediate crisis stabilization.
Transitional Housing: Longer-term housing (up to 12–24 months) where residents live in apartment-style units within the complex while working toward stability.
On-site Support Services: These include the PromiseLand early childhood education center, trauma-informed counseling, elementary education classrooms, and therapeutic programs for youth.
Uplift U (Job Training and Life Skills)
To help clients permanently break the cycle of poverty, both residents and external clients can access structured professional development programs:
Vocational Training: Specialized training programs in high-demand sectors such as culinary arts, hospitality, and retail operations (often utilizing their social enterprises, such as Inside the Box Catering).
Adult Education: In-person and digital access to GED (high school equivalency) preparation courses, financial literacy classes, and workshops on budgeting and basic computer skills.
5. Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ)
Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) of Metro Tampa is a cooperative network of Christian churches that coordinates resources to help individuals and families build long-term stability. Rather than operating as a direct financial assistance center, Love INC acts as a resource coordination hub. They receive requests, verify needs, and connect individuals with specialized “Gap Ministries” managed by local congregations.
The Help Center and the Connection Center
It all begins with a comprehensive intake process. Trained volunteers from partner churches assess the individual’s situation to design a personalized resource plan.
How to request help: You can request assistance by calling the Love INC Tampa Help Center at 813-222-5683.
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Physical location: 1001 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602.
Gap Ministries (Physical and practical resources)
When individual churches identify a community need that is not being met by traditional social services, they develop a “Gap Ministry.” Once you complete the Love INC intake process, you may be referred to these church-run resources:
Personal needs and clothing: Distribution of personal care items, hygiene products, and clothing vouchers.
Home and vehicle assistance: Coordination of minor home repairs, yard work, or basic vehicle maintenance, subject to the availability of church volunteers.
Furniture and household items: Assistance in obtaining beds, tables, and essential appliances for families transitioning to safe housing.
Lullaby Baby Ministry: Preparation of specialized kits containing baby items, diapers, and childcare products for new mothers.
Journey INC & REACH (Long-Term Growth)
For those ready to break the cycle of chronic financial stress, Love INC offers multi-week programs focused on building relationships.
Life Skills Classes: Free community classes covering topics such as financial wellness, budgeting, goal setting, and parenting.
Support Community: Programs like REACH are held at locations such as The Portico and include free dinner and childcare to make attendance easier.
Mentoring: Participants are paired with a long-term mentor to help them achieve their professional and personal goals.
Important Note on Operations
Love INC of Metro Tampa is not designed to provide immediate emergency services or crisis intervention. If you are facing imminent eviction (e.g., the next day) or an immediate utility shut-off, the organization will guide you toward available resources but cannot issue emergency checks on the spot. An intake interview and reference verification are required before you can be assigned to an assistance program.
