Broward County, anchored by Fort Lauderdale, has five separate local housing authorities serving different cities, plus two DCF service centers covering the county.
Assistance available in Broward 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.
Broward County applicants apply through ACCESS Florida online, by mail, or in person at the Broward County Central Service Center in Sunrise, with a second location (North Broward Regional) in Fort Lauderdale.
🩺 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.
Broward County Medicaid applications are processed through the Broward County Central Service Center, or online via ACCESS Florida.
🏠 Housing Assistance
Broward County has multiple housing agencies: the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale (437 SW 4th Avenue), the Broward County Housing Authority (4780 N State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes), the Hollywood Housing Authority (7350 Davie Road Extension), the Housing Authority of Pompano Beach (321 West Atlantic Boulevard), and the Housing Authority of the City of Deerfield Beach (533 South Dixie Hwy).
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.
Broward County TCA applications go through the Broward County Central Service Center and the ACCESS Florida system, same as SNAP and Medicaid.
Broward County contact information
Broward County Central Service Center
3511 N Pine Island Road, Sunrise, FL 33351
Broward County is served by two centers: Sunrise (3511 N Pine Island Road) and Fort Lauderdale (1400 W Commercial Blvd, Suite 160).
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 Broward 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 Broward County.
- For housing assistance, contact Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale / Broward 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.