The latest news and updates
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The Good, the Bad, and the Hurricanes
by Susana McIntosh
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Hurricane Season is upon us. As Floridians, living in zone of high hurricane traffic, it is vital to be prepared for any possible outcome. Depending on the nature of the storm, you may have to live in your home without water, electricity, or go as far as to evacuate.
In a time of high stress, being prepared for a hurricane can provide peace of mind. Experts suggest creating a Disaster Prevention Kit, in which you keep tools and supplies in case of an emergency, such as an evacuation or loss of power.
Common Items include, but are not limited to:
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- Non-perishable food items
- Cash
- Medication
- Personal Toiletries
- Flashlights
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- Batteries
- Water
- 1 gallon/person/day
- Important documents
- First Aid Supplies
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The Seminole County website has more suggestions, including specialized kit guides for families, businesses, and individuals with special needs.
Having a plan in case of a natural disaster like a hurricane enables you to keep calm and make sound decisions. This plan could be as simple as determining at which point you decide to evacuate, or making sure that your home is protected in case of said hurricane.
Seminole County has medically enhanced shelters for those with special needs who do not live in care facilities. Qualifications include a reliance on electricity to maintain health, refrigerate medications, or those whose daily living is restricted by immobility. Individuals with special needs, or family members of those with special needs interested in signing up for the shelter program can find more information about qualifications and registration here.
Make sure to sign up for emergency alerts specific to Seminole County. You can do so by texting SEMINOLE to 888777.
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Announcing Our Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser Theme for 2021!
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Legal Survivor Guide for Students
by Susana McIntosh
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The Legal Survivor Guide is an online guide administered by the Law Related Education Committee of The Florida Bar. The purpose of this guide is to promote law related education for Florida youth, with a particular emphasis on teaching young citizens about the law, and a respect for the legal system.
The website is designed to help youth understand the responsibility of entering legal contracts, and the consequences of breaking the law. It is written for the easy comprehension of young citizens interested in learning about law and Florida’s legal system. The guide explains not only the basic definitions of areas of the law which may pertain to their lives, but also what to expect if they are involved in these kinds of legal issues.
The Legal Survivor Guide has a Florida’s Legal System 101 page which reviews all the basics about the legal process and the judicial system of Florida. The page discusses the various courts in the system, what types of cases are seen in these courts, and how to conduct oneself when interacting with the police. The page also explains the rights of a victim of a crime, and the rights of someone with a criminal charge against them.
In addition to the legal system basics, the Legal Survival Guide website also covers a multitude of other laws which young citizens might find relevant to their lives. These topics include driving laws, health and wellness laws, internet laws, housing and transactional laws, employment laws, family laws, and citizenship laws. A young person can find out about a multitude of issues, including laws surround texting and driving, underage drinking, mental health, and medical marijuana.
The website keeps up to date on issues like divorce, marital laws, parenting, and emancipation, providing the target audience with instructions on court procedures, when one needs an attorney, and all of the details necessary needed to understand any other kind of contract, like a housing contract, student loans, or motor vehicle protection.
Education about an individual’s rights and responsibilities as a U.S. Citizen once they turn 18 is highlighted, including obligations like voting, the selective service system, or jury duty. The importance of understanding and filing one’s taxes is also discussed. The website explains laws regarding social media, the responsibility of the individual to use social media, how to spot and what to do about cyber sexual harassment.
The Legal Survivor Guide is a wonderful resource to use to educate friends and family about the law is a simple way. To access the guide, please click here.
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Opening a Bank Account as a Young Adult
by Susana McIntosh
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Opening a bank account is a good way to begin healthy money management skills, especially for young adults.
Different banks offer different kinds of accounts. Some banks have special accounts just for students and young adults. Each individual has different monetary needs, so it is important to read about each kind of bank account before choosing one. Some banks, and different bank accounts, have different fees based on the type of account, and the services used. These fees could be ATM fees, maintenance fees, or overdraft fees. Once a bank account has been opened, it is important to be familiar with the way that money is credited to, and debited from the account. This way, it is easy to keep a close eye on the movement of your finances.
Mobile banking can be extremely helpful in maintaining a bank account, and performing different activities, such as transferring money, tracking spending, depositing checks, and paying bills. There are also apps designed to help with budgeting. It is vital to have a strong password on these accounts, in order to protect your money.
Once you get comfortable with tracking your spending, you can begin to put money aside in a savings account. Savings accounts are important, as they allow for some extra emergency money, and due to compound interest, can grow over time. While for most young people, retirement can seem far away, it is imperative to begin saving in order to grow a retirement account, and to bolster your Social Security benefits. Money management is an important skill to have and sharpen, and having a bank account is a great way to get started.
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Child Tax Credit to the Rescue
by Susana McIntosh
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Beginning on July 15th, 2021, millions of American families are going to begin receiving monthly checks as a part of President Biden’s ‘American Rescue Plan’ in response to the economic turmoil following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American Rescue Plan has increased child credit payments, made them automatic, and is to deliver them on a monthly basis. Working families can expect to receive from $250 to $300 per child per month in their bank accounts (or in their mailboxes).
Nearly all families with children qualify for the Child Tax Credit, and most get it automatically. Low-income families can receive up to $3,000 for each child between ages 6 to 17, and up to $3,600 for children under 6. Payments taper off depending on income and marital status, but families can still receive the $2,000 credit if their income is below $200,000 for individuals, or $400,000 for married couples.
If you have not filed for taxes, make sure to use the IRS Child Tax Credit tool for non-filers found here.
If you are late to filing taxes, you can file a return to get the monthly payments in 2021.
As of right now, the Child Tax Credits enacted by the American Rescue Plan are only for 2021. Please click here to learn more.
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Economic Impact Payments Available for the Homeless
by Susana McIntosh
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As citizens of a nation in which economic inequality runs rampant, it is important to be educated in the ways in which we can improve quality of life across the United States.
Florida is one of the most economically unequal states (second only to New York), in which the top 1 percent earn average incomes of more than 35 times those of the bottom 99 percent. Additionally, Florida has an estimated 28,000 people experiencing homelessness, ranking it in the top three states with the highest percentage of total homelessness, behind New York and California.
There is a way to help. The IRS distributes millions of dollars nationwide to the economically disadvantaged of America, through Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as stimulus checks. However, many of the homeless in America, and Florida, do not know how to access these payments, nor do they know that they qualify. The only way that the IRS can know that a person exists, and qualifies for an EIP, is for the person to file a basic 2020 tax return, by using the IRS's free filing system. To receive an EIP, an individual does not need a permanent address, bank account, or a job. The only requirement is an SSN and to have declared independence.
EIPs can be delivered to the IRS's trusted partner address, commonly men’s or women’s shelters, or churches. The IRS’s green dot card functions as a debit card for those who do not have a bank account.
One of the best ways to help the homeless in obtaining their EIPs is to spread the word. By doing so, someone you know, or an organization you are a member of, may be able to help by volunteering their time or addresses to the homeless, providing them with a life-changing payment of up to $1,400, or possible more.
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Credit Score Comeback: The Eviction Crisis and Credit Reports
by Susana McIntosh
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The federal CDC moratorium will be ending this month on July 31st, 2021. Despite emergency rental assistance programs attempting to provide aid, seven million Americans are still behind on their rent, according to the US Census Bureau. What does this mean for those who are facing eviction? Evictions can be detrimental to one’s credit and public record, but with the ongoing eviction crisis in Florida, for many, this nightmare is becoming a reality.
When facing eviction, it is important to understand the ways that an eviction can affect your credit report, and your public record, and possible solutions to minimize the damage. An eviction does not automatically appear on a credit report. Evictions only appear when a landlord sends your debt to a collection agency. If the landlord does send the debt to collection, you must wait seven years for the eviction to fall off your credit report naturally.
Those who have been previously evicted are often denied a lease. Many landlords use a screening service and look up possible tenant’s credit history. The best way to counteract a low credit score and public record of an eviction are to:
- Try to negotiate with the potential landlord by providing a large security deposit or several months of rent upfront.
- Have a co-signer with good credit
- Live with friends who already have a home or good credit.
- Make good on old debts and getting your previous landlord to comply in writing. This statement can then be supplied to a potential landlord and may help with renting a new property.
- Pay the debts and request that the previous landlord change the status on your accounts to “paid”.
If you agree to move out, there is no court decision, and therefore you have not been evicted. Any civil judgement will appear on your public record, which can prevent you from qualifying for a lease, credit, or other forms of payment.
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CDC Moratorium on Evictions Extended until Jul 31, 2021.
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To view full Order released by the CDC please click here.
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Am I eligible?
You are eligible if you:
- Are a renter in Florida;
- Are low-income
- Have qualified for unemployment, experienced a loss of income, incurred significant costs or faced financial hardships; and
- Are at risk of losing your home
How do I apply?
I. Gather your documentation
- Identification, such as driver's license, birth certificate or passport;
- Current lease agreement or other proof of rental arrangements, such as receipts, bank records, or canceled checks that show a pattern of rent payments;
- Documentation of income, such as tax filings, or pay stubs;
- Documentation of unemployment, reduction of income or burden of expenses; and
- Notice of past due rent or eviction
III. Eligible rental payments will be made directly to landlords or qualifying
management companies, and eligible utility payments will be made directly to
utility companies for applicants who qualify. Payments are determined by lease
agreements, associated fees, and statements for utilities.
I have already received relief. Can I still apply?
If you have already received assistance through the CARES Act, state and local relief funds, or private non-profit organizations, the rent or utility bills that were covered by these programs are not eligible for payments through OUR Florida. Rent and utility bills that were not covered by these programs may be eligible for support from OUR Florida.
OUR Florida provides rent relief for Florida citizens. To learn more about the OUR Florida program, or to begin your application process, please click here.
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"Back to the Future" Annual Fundraiser
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This year, on December 16, 2021 we will be hosting our annual Silent Auction fundraising event, but we need your help!
We would like to ask your business to please consider donating an item(s) and/or sponsor our event. All of the funds raised from this event will be used to help local families in the community gain access to the justice system.
We are so fortunate to have individuals in the community like you who support and believe in our mission. You are participating not only in our program but in the future of our community. Your contributions enable us to serve many more members of our community.
If you have any questions regarding donations or would like to donate, please contact Maria Machado, Pro Bono Coordinator, at mmachado@scbalas.com or call 407-834-1660, ext. 108.
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Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day!
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The Gift Outright
by Robert Frost
"The land was ours before we were the land's.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was Ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia,
But we were still England's still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed a gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become."
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Resources for Victims of Crime
by Maria Machado
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The Bureau of Victim Compensation's brochure provides useful information for those within our communities that have fallen victim to such crimes. The resources provided are:
- Toll-Free Victim Services Information and Referral Line 1-800-226-6667
- Benefits Available
- How to Apply
- Qualification Guidelines for Applying
- Information Need to Apply
- Next Steps after a Claim is Submitted
To view the full brochure and get complete information please click here.
Also, to view a list of other resources available to victims of crime please click her.
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New Administrative Orders
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In Re: Fees - Establishment Of Due Process Service Provider Rates And Policies Governing The Appointment Of Expert Witnesses
In Re: Administrative Rules - Covid-19 Procedures
In Re: Judges- Seminole Division Reassignment for Judge Jessica Recksiedler Division L
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Upcoming Events
- July 1-7, 2021- "Freedom Week" Sales Tax Holiday
- July 4, 2021 - Independence Day
- July 31, 2021- CDC Moratorium Ends
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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE 1-800-435-7352, WITHIN THE STATE OR ONLINE AT WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. OUR REGISTRATION NUMBER IS 1944.
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