Governor Ron and Casey DeSantis ‘double down’ on Hope Florida

Governor Ron and Casey DeSantis press conference

Governor Ron and Casey DeSantis tout the benefits of Hope Florida during a press conference in Tampa on Tuesday.

TAMPA, Fla. - Hope Florida has helped more than 30,000 people get off means-tested government assistance, secured jobs for more than 3,000 people and saved the taxpayer more than $100M, according to Governor Ron DeSantis.

Florida’s governor and his wife held a press conference Tuesday morning at the Vault in downtown Tampa to tout Hope Florida’s benefits.

Big picture view:

During the press conference, DeSantis stressed that Hope Florida is not an agency or a bureaucracy.

"It’s an approach to how government agencies should serve the people they represent," the governor said. "For too long you’ve had agencies, particularly when you’ve had means-tested benefits. Their job, and if you are in one of those positions, to process benefits, figure out what people are qualified for, get them on benefits and try to do that."

DeSantis says he understands that concept, but that doesn’t necessarily help broaden horizons.

READ: Rep. Kathy Castor calls for federal investigation into Hope Florida

He said Hope Florida takes that ‘old, outdated’ approach and transforms it so people who are interacting with people in need, their job is not to just get them on programs, but to link them with resources available in Florida to include the faith-based community, the business community, the government, charities and individuals who volunteer.

What they're saying:

"If you have someone in need…and the call goes out in the community. If you have a church that is helping a single mom, chances are they are going to be put on a pathway to self-sufficiency rather than just interaction with the bureaucracy," the governor explained.

"A lot of time people in need don’t know where to turn," DeSantis added. "So, Hope Florida really serves as that nexus to be able to link people in need to the resources available throughout society."

Dig deeper:

Initially, the focus was on child welfare, but it has expanded.

Hope Florida’s partnership with Career Sources Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce has allowed Career Source Florida to identify businesses that are now part of the Hope Florida employment referral network.

"Through this partnership, we can now say all 21 local workforce boards now have Hope Florida liaisons dedicated to helping participants find work and support services quickly and effectively," he shared.

The navigators work directly with referred individuals.

READ: Hope Florida program under fire as Gov. DeSantis pushes for it to become state law

"This is a positive pathway forward now for thousands of Floridians, and I think in the future, thousands and thousands more," DeSantis said.

The governor was joined by his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, who heads up Hope Florida.

"Hope Florida isn’t an agency. It’s a rewiring of how government operates," Casey DeSantis shared.

She added that Hope Florida is a model for the nation.

What they're saying:

"I think a lot of the time, folks get too caught up in the numbers, whatever the calculus is with the budget," Casey DeSantis said. "What about the human component? Imagine you have somebody sitting at home by themselves, a veteran who’s fought for this country, who nearly gave their life, and they feel forgotten. They feel alone. Imagine what it would be like for the faith-based community to knock on their door with a casserole to knock on their door and say thank you for what you have done. That’s so powerful and that’s what we are doing here."

She added that Hope Florida reaches out to people applying for government assistance and tries to get them on the path to self-sufficiency.

"This is not about politics," she stated. "This is about doing good on behalf of the people who deserve a chance and people to fight for them."

The Source: This story was written with information provided during a press conference with Gov. Ron and Casey DeSantis.

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