Medicaid, Homeless Services, Utilities, and Housing: What Changed This Summer—and What Tampa Bay Families Can Do Now

As a community assistance team working every day with Florida seniors, caregivers, and families, we’re seeing a clear pattern in 2025: Medicaid enrollment is settling after the continuous coverage era, states are experimenting with health–housing solutions, and key safety‑net programs like LIHEAP remain critical to keeping utilities on during extreme weather. Below we summarize the most important recent developments, what they mean for Tampa Bay residents, and the exact steps you can take to stay covered and connected.

Medicaid and CHIP: The Latest Enrollment Picture

Nationally, Medicaid enrollment has been edging down as states continue post‑pandemic redeterminations, while CHIP (children’s coverage) has edged up:

• Between April 2024 and April 2025, Medicaid dropped by 3.6 million people (about 5%), while CHIP grew by 110,000 (2%), according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ monthly snapshot for April 2025 (CMS April 2025 snapshot).
• Even with recent declines, Medicaid remains significantly above pre‑pandemic levels: up 6.9 million people (11%) since February 2020; CHIP is up by 414,000 (6%) over the same period (CMS April 2025 snapshot).

Florida’s current enrollment is large and relatively stable:

• As of March 2025, Florida’s total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment was 3,735,641, essentially unchanged from February (−0.1%), per CMS’s March 2025 state table (CMS March 2025 snapshot).
• In April 2025, Florida had 1,306,616 adults enrolled in Medicaid and 2,408,879 children enrolled across Medicaid and CHIP (of which 2,240,500 were Medicaid children and 168,379 were in CHIP) (CMS April 2025 state detail).

Our take: The steady Florida numbers signal two practical realities. First, coverage is still within reach for many low‑ and moderate‑income adults and children. Second, families who lost coverage in renewals can often regain it if they act quickly—especially for kids, where CHIP has absorbed some of the shifts seen nationwide.

If You Lost Medicaid or Need to Enroll: Steps to Take Now

• Watch your mail and text messages: CMS publishes monthly data to monitor processing and renewals across states, but the most critical step is local. If you received a renewal packet or a request for information, respond by the deadline. CMS’s snapshots emphasize renewals and processing timelines as an ongoing operational focus (CMS March 2025 snapshot overview; CMS April 2025 snapshot overview).
• Update contact information: If you moved or changed phone numbers, make sure your Medicaid case has your current address and phone. Missed mail is a common reason for procedural terminations.
• Reapply if you were terminated for paperwork: Many families can be reinstated if income is still within limits and missing documents are submitted promptly. Children may qualify through CHIP even if adults do not.
• Keep kids covered: With national CHIP enrollment rising, families who exceed adult Medicaid income thresholds may still get children covered under CHIP (CMS March 2025 national trend).
• If you’re experiencing homelessness or housing instability: Consider using a trusted mailing address (such as a shelter or service provider) to ensure you receive time‑sensitive notices. Research focused on Medi‑Cal in California provides practical insights on improving renewals for people experiencing homelessness—like flexible contact methods and proactive outreach (California Health Care Foundation’s guidance on renewals for people experiencing homelessness, Aug. 2024). While that resource is California‑specific, the strategies it highlights are relevant when you’re trying to stay connected to your health plan.

Health Care and Homelessness: What Other States Are Doing—and Why It Matters

Several states are pressing forward with models that link Medicaid to housing supports where possible. These developments can inform what to ask for locally:

• California’s Medicaid program (Medi‑Cal) is scaling “Housing Community Supports” under CalAIM—non‑clinical services like housing navigation, tenancy support, and medical respite aimed at stabilizing health for people experiencing homelessness. The California Health Care Foundation documents how these supports improve health and reduce costs for members without stable housing (CHCF feature: A Home and Healing, June 2025; CalAIM Housing Community Supports factsheet, Mar. 2025).
• For frontline providers, sustainable funding is a priority. California‑focused analyses explore how managed care contracting can support street medicine and housing‑related services (CHCF analysis, Mar. 2025).

Our take for Tampa Bay: While Florida’s Medicaid program has different rules and benefits, these national examples show what to ask your plan or case manager about: housing navigation, connections to medical respite after hospital discharge, and care coordination for those without a fixed address. Even when these exact benefits aren’t available, plans can often refer members to community partners for housing and social‑service help.

Rapid Rehousing and Prevention: A Look at Current Initiatives

Rapid rehousing (short‑term rental assistance and services) and prevention funds are a key bridge out of homelessness. Recent state announcements illustrate where funding is flowing:

• The Iowa Finance Authority awarded nearly $10 million in January 2025 to develop supportive housing units and bolster homeless services statewide, including $3.625 million for 18 supportive rental units in Des Moines (IFA Jan. 9, 2025 press release).
• Additional targeted support—more than $150,000—went to agencies in disaster‑impacted areas in February 2025 (IFA Feb. 7, 2025 press release).
• In September 2025, IFA announced nearly $200,000 for innovative homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing efforts, naming organizations like Friends of the Family and Iowa Legal Aid (IFA Sept. 9, 2025 press release).
• Iowa also continues a statewide Rapid Rehousing Project, a pilot funded with more than $21 million through state‑directed American Rescue Plan resources (Iowa Rapid Rehousing Project overview).

Why this matters here: Florida communities, including Tampa Bay, tap similar federal and state streams (like HUD Continuum of Care and state‑managed relief) to fund prevention and rapid rehousing. When you contact local housing or homeless service providers, ask specifically about rapid rehousing slots, prevention funds, and legal aid for eviction defense—these Iowa announcements underscore the kinds of support that may also be available locally during periods of high housing cost and weather‑related displacement.

Utilities Assistance: LIHEAP Remains Essential for Seniors and Families

If you’re struggling with power bills or at risk of disconnection during Florida’s hottest months, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the primary federal help:

• LIHEAP is a block grant to states that can pay past‑due bills, prevent shutoffs, restore service, or fund weatherization to reduce future bills (ACF LIHEAP Fact Sheet).
• In FY 2023, LIHEAP released about $6.2 billion and served 5.9 million households; 261,000 occurrences of home energy service were restored. Critically, 2.4 million of those households included an older adult, and 2.1 million included a person with a disability—two groups common in Tampa Bay’s safety‑net caseload (ACF LIHEAP Fact Sheet).
• FY 2024 LIHEAP funding was approximately $4.1 billion nationally (ACF LIHEAP Fact Sheet).

Action steps for LIHEAP in Florida:
- Gather a photo ID, Social Security numbers (if available), proof of income, and your current utility bill.
- Apply as early as possible each program cycle; funds are limited. If you receive a shutoff notice, notify the intake worker—LIHEAP can prioritize imminent disconnections.
- Ask about crisis assistance and any weatherization referrals that can permanently lower your energy burden.

Housing and Homelessness: Workforce and Policy Priorities in 2025

National advocates are emphasizing two big priorities that shape local capacity:

• The National Alliance to End Homelessness’ 2025 State of Homelessness highlights the need to expand the homelessness services workforce to address burnout and turnover, boost federal homelessness funding, and expand the affordable housing supply—alongside building climate‑resilient communities (NAEH State of Homelessness 2025).

What that means for Tampa Bay families: The more capacity local providers have, the faster households can access case management, legal help, and housing placements. If you’re on a waitlist, stay in touch weekly and share any change in your situation (e.g., an eviction notice, hospital discharge, or a new disability determination), which may change your prioritization.

What to Do Now: A Practical Checklist for Tampa Bay Residents

1) Keep or regain health coverage
- If you got a Medicaid renewal letter: Complete it by the deadline. If you need more time, submit what you have and ask about acceptable alternate documents. CMS emphasizes ongoing monitoring of renewals and call center operations; responding promptly is the best way to avoid gaps (CMS April 2025 snapshot overview).
- If you lost Medicaid for paperwork: Reapply. Many households remain income‑eligible. Children may qualify even if adults do not, as national data show CHIP growth during 2024–2025 (CMS March 2025 national trend).
- If unstably housed: Use a reliable mailing address through a shelter, clinic, or trusted organization. California‑based renewal guidance for people experiencing homelessness underscores how flexible contact options reduce churn (CHCF renewals guidance).

2) Ask your health plan about housing‑related supports
- Inquire about housing navigation, help with documentation, or referrals to medical respite after hospital stays. California’s example shows Medicaid programs can play a role in stabilizing housing for better health outcomes (CHCF on Medi‑Cal housing supports). Even if Florida’s exact benefits differ, plan care managers can connect you to community partners.

3) Prevent shutoffs with LIHEAP
- Apply for LIHEAP assistance if you’re behind on your power bill, at risk of disconnection, or managing expensive cooling needs due to age, disability, or young children in the home. LIHEAP served 5.9 million households in FY2023 and prioritized households with high energy burdens (ACF LIHEAP Fact Sheet).

4) Explore rapid rehousing and prevention
- Ask local providers about rapid rehousing slots (short‑term rent + case management), prevention funds, and legal aid for eviction. States are continuing to invest in these tools, as shown by the Iowa Finance Authority’s 2025 awards (IFA Jan. 2025; IFA Sept. 2025).

5) If you work in homeless services
- Track Medicaid policy briefs that can unlock sustainable funding for care coordination and street medicine. California’s managed care contracting insights illustrate options for stabilizing provider finances and expanding services for people without housing (CHCF street medicine financing, Mar. 2025).
- Watch for state public notices that may affect rates, waivers, and program design. For example, Iowa HHS posts regular Medicaid State Plan Amendment and HCBS updates for public comment (Iowa HHS Public Notices). Many states, including Florida, follow similar public‑comment processes that providers can engage.

Key Numbers to Keep in Mind

• Florida, April 2025: 1,306,616 adults enrolled in Medicaid; 2,408,879 children enrolled across Medicaid and CHIP (CMS April 2025 state detail).
• National trend, April 2024–April 2025: −3.6 million in Medicaid (−5%); +110,000 in CHIP (+2%) (CMS April 2025 snapshot).
• LIHEAP scale: $6.2B in FY2023 supported 5.9M households; 2.4M included older