- March 2, 2025
Flagler County has spent more than $700,000 since 2009 assisting residents who need help paying for rent and utilities.
Janet Nickels, director of the county’s human service department, told the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting Monday that county staff members have created a referral system in partnership with community organizations like Access Flagler and the Flagler/Volusia County Coalition for the Homeless to help keep families from ending up on the streets.
“We try to help them meet their goals and sustain their residence,” she said.
Since 2009, the county has spent $475,149 to pay 82 months of rent and $274,680 to make 1,539 utility payments for residents, she said.
The county has strict requirements for the families it assists. Applicants have to have been living in the county for at least six months, and county staff review applicants’ bank statements to see if expenses are exceeding income, and, if so, why.
Sometimes staff members help families manage spending and identify “obstacles” that are causing finance problems, she said. There are also limits on the amount of money an individual or family can make and still receive aid.
The vetting system lets the county identify the “worthy poor” who truly need assistance, Nickels said.
Once the county determines someone is eligible, Nickels said, staff members create an agreement of short- and long-term goals with the applicant and sometimes help them apply for child support or food stamps.
The county tries to provide the help in a way that will keep people from having to return for it a second time.
“It’s our belief that it’s education and self-sufficiency that’s going to lead to that goal,” she said. “We want to give you the tools so you don’t have to come back.”
Nickels said county staff would also like to create a database to centralize information on applicants and refer certain cases to other agencies.
The county also maintains updated, categorized lists of community associations that help can help residents. The resource lists can be found under the "quick links" section at the upper right corner of the county's human services page at http://www.flaglercounty.org/index.aspx?nid=113.
