SARASOTA, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Wednesday at a fire station in Sarasota, announcing that Hope Florida would become a permanent component of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and take on a new name, “Activate Hope.”
Spearheaded in 2021 by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis and implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Hope Florida has been billed as a care portal connecting the needy to resources via volunteer groups, businesses and faith-based organizations as a means of transitioning off government assistance. The program’s mission statement reads, “We’re not just offering a handout — we’re empowering individuals to embrace their full God-given potential.”
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According to DeSantis, the group’s so-called Hope Bus will tag along with FDEM to disaster response scenarios in order to help stricken Floridians plan for and make their next move.
“Activate Hope will go directly to the communities impacted by the disaster to help connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs,” DeSantis said Wednesday. “(…) One of the things that happens when disaster strikes is a lot of times people just don’t know where to turn, it’s confusing, it’s very stressful, and so Hope Florida can really serve as a way that – if you go to the Hope Bus – they’re going to be able to point you in the right direction, they’re going to have these resources that they’re going to be linked with.”
The governor was joined Wednesday by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris and FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie.
“Each storm is very different. Each response and recovery effort is very different and unique, meaning that we at the state level must be prepared for absolutely anything. Through the dedication and the leadership of Gov. DeSantis and the first lady and the collaboration and support of our partners like Shevaun and other state agencies, the state continues to innovate so we can better serve our residents,” Guthrie said. “FDEM’s collaboration with Hope Florida is another useful tool in our toolkit that allows us to reach more survivors who need help and find ways to connect them with the services and resources faster than ever before. In response to Hurricane Debby, the state emergency response team has completed over 1,200 missions which involve assisting counties in obtaining vital resources for the residents, deploying state resources such as food and water and managing flooding in impacted areas. This addition of Activate Hope to our response to recovery efforts has made it easier to connect survivors across broad regions with varying needs to recovery resources.”
Floridians who are in need of support can connect with Hope Florida by visiting www.HopeFlorida.com or by calling the Hope Line (833-GET-HOPE), according to the governor’s office. Organizations interested in joining Hope Florida’s care portal can visit www.HopeFlorida.com.
Watch the news conference again in the video player below or by clicking here.
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