Community Stewardship is the effective management of limited community resources in meeting citizens' needs. The Community Services Network has a long history of providing fiscal and accounting management of emergency funds for human services providers and collaborative community networks in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Key features of our Community Stewardship program are:

• MAINTENANCE OF A CENTRALIZED DATABASE which reduces duplication of services by tracking the types of assistance provided to clients, amount of disbursement, type of fund and the date funds were issued.
• COORDINATION WITH SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS to ensure that funding guidelines are followed, clients are served confidentially and expediently, and that participating agencies have access to all transactions and fund balances.
• ACCOUNTABILITY TO FUNDERS through reports on allocations and expenditures by all participating emergency funds agencies.
• LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE in the establishment and utilization of short term emergency funds to assist citizens after a disaster or during periods of prolonged illness.
• FUNDING SOURCES AND PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
  The following list of social services agencies are part of the network that provides emergency assistance to the tri-county area. Collectively the agencies provide emergency financial assistance in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Persons seeking financial assistance for rent, mortgage or utility payments should contact 211 Community Resources & Elder Helpline for further information and referral to an appropriate agency.

AGENCY PARTNERS

EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM (EFSP) - Federal dollars funded by the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program, and available to eligible residents of Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties

FAMILY EMERGENCY FUNDS (FEF) - Funded by the Heart of Florida United Way, and available to eligible residents of Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

ENERGY NEIGHBOR FUND (ENF) - Funded by Progress Energy Corporation, and available to its eligible customers in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties

UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (OUC) - Funded by Orlando Utilities Commission, and available to eligible OUC customers.

FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR FUND (FNF) - Funded by City of St. Cloud Utilities, and available to eligible City of St. Cloud Utilities customers.