Alachua County, home to Gainesville and the University of Florida, has its own DCF service center and two distinct housing agencies — one for the city, one for the wider county.
Assistance available in Alachua County
🛒 SNAP Food Stamps
SNAP provides monthly food benefits on an EBT card. Florida households generally qualify with gross income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, with deductions for housing, child care, and medical costs for elderly or disabled household members reducing countable income further.
Alachua County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the 16th Avenue Complex in Gainesville.
🩺 Medicaid
Florida Medicaid income limits vary sharply by category — children and pregnant women qualify at higher income levels than parents or other adults, since Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Seniors and people with disabilities may qualify through separate long-term care pathways with different rules.
Alachua County Medicaid applications are processed through the 16th Avenue Complex, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Alachua County has two housing agencies: the Gainesville Housing Authority (1900 SE 4th Street) manages public housing within the city, while the separately-run Alachua County Housing Authority (703 NE 1st Street) covers the broader county area.
Waitlists for Section 8 vouchers commonly close for extended periods due to high demand. Check directly with the housing authority for current waitlist status before assuming a program is unavailable.
💵 Cash Assistance (TCA)
Temporary Cash Assistance provides monthly payments to families with children under 18 (or under 19 if a full-time high school student). Households must have countable assets at or below $2,000, and adults face a lifetime limit of 48 months of benefits with work or job-training requirements unless exempt.
Alachua County TCA applications go through the 16th Avenue Complex and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Alachua County contact information
16th Avenue Complex
1000 NE 16th Avenue, Building J, Gainesville, FL 32601
Handles SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Cash Assistance for Alachua County and acts as a regional hub for Union County as well.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (call ahead to confirm)
Statewide Contact Numbers
ACCESS Customer Call Center: 1-850-300-4323
General DCF/SNAP helpline: 1-866-762-2237
Elder & disability long-term care (Medicaid): 1-800-963-5337
Florida Relay (deaf/hard of hearing): 711
How to apply for benefits in Alachua County
- Create an ACCESS Florida account at myflorida.com/accessflorida to apply for SNAP, Medicaid, or Temporary Cash Assistance online.
- Gather documents — photo ID, proof of income (pay stubs or benefit letters), proof of residency, and Social Security numbers for household members.
- Complete the interview — most applications include a phone interview with a DCF caseworker serving Alachua County.
- For housing assistance, contact Gainesville Housing Authority / Alachua County Housing Authority directly — this is a separate application from ACCESS Florida.
- Watch for your decision and renewal notices — most certification periods last 6–12 months, and DCF mails a renewal reminder before they expire.