SARASOTA, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced "Activate Hope," an expansion of the Hope Florida initiative aimed at assisting Floridians recovering from disasters. Activate Hope will serve as the emergency response arm for Hope Florida, integrating resources from the private sector, nonprofits, and government to aid in recovery efforts.
“The state of Florida leads the nation in storm preparation and disaster response,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The launch of Activate Hope through Hope Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management will enable us to strengthen our recovery efforts and rebuild stronger communities by utilizing the existing Hope Florida network to help those impacted by disasters find the help they need.”
“With today’s launch of Activate Hope, we can now bring Hope Florida directly to a community in exceptional need—like those dealing with the impacts of a storm,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “This new Hope Florida expansion will ensure that in the future, Floridians impacted by storms or other emergency situations can readily connect with Hope Navigators and receive the help, services, and supplies they need. On the flip side, Hope Florida can rally communities and empower them to help their fellow Floridians in need, especially during a disaster.”
“Thanks to the leadership and dedication of Governor and First Lady DeSantis, we prepare our residents and prioritize the resiliency of our communities year-round and with partnerships not seen anywhere else in the nation,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “Activate Hope is another example of how the state continues to innovate our disaster response and recovery practices, and FDEM is proud to support the recovery of those in need with this program.”
Through Activate Hope, Florida will expand its reach by adding a box truck and an ADA-accessible Hope Bus. This expansion aims to increase capacity for collaboration between Hope Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management at Points of Distribution sites, State Business Recovery Centers, and Multi-Agency Resource Centers across the state. After a storm, on-site volunteers from state agencies will distribute supplies such as food, water, baby items, cleaning materials, etc., while offering navigation services.
Additionally, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that a new toll-free number at 833-GET-HOPE is now active for Floridians seeking assistance. The line connects callers with a Hope Navigator who can identify barriers such as lack of resources or basic necessities.
Hope Navigators assist individuals in identifying needs, setting long-term goals, mapping out paths forward, and ensuring community involvement for lasting solutions. Since its launch in July 2022, nearly 30,000 Floridians have reduced or eliminated their reliance on government assistance through Hope Florida—a reduction projected to save nearly $800 million over ten years.
Floridians needing support can visit www.HopeFlorida.com or call 833-GET-HOPE. Organizations interested in joining CarePortal can also visit www.HopeFlorida.com.
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