As California Cancels Walgreens, Casey DeSantis Partners With The Company To Help Needy Floridians

Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, is spearheading the Hope Florida program. The program was launched in September 2021 and aims to connect government agencies and faith-based organizations in order to provide meaningful assistance to struggling Floridians. The program also offers greater transparency and accountability in how taxpayer funds are used.

DeSantis sought to eliminate wastage and provide better outcomes by creating an online portal that allows those receiving public benefits, pregnant mothers dealing with substance abuse, and youth in foster care to share their needs. The portal would connect them directly to more than a thousand faith-based organizations and non-profits, who could immediately offer aid, such as household items like food and furniture, or help with job training.

The program also assigns “hope navigators,” state employees who act as a single point of contact for participants and families. This transformed the public assistance system from only providing payments to providing whole-life support.

The Hope Florida program has a retention rate of 91% and has helped 43% of its participants reduce or entirely eliminate their reliance on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In one year alone, the program has saved taxpayers up to $11 million and is expected to save up to $120 million over the next decade.

DeSantis recently announced the expansion of Hope Florida to include private businesses, starting with Walgreens, which Governor Gavin Newsom is attempting to cancel in California over their decision to abide by laws in 21 states that restrict the distribution of abortion pills. DeSantis believes that the participation of the private sector will enhance the effectiveness of the program by maximizing resources and getting people off of government assistance and helping them reach their full potential.

Overall, DeSantis wants the Hope Florida program to create a collaborative way of working between government, non-profits, private sector and faith-based communities to provide a path to prosperity for all Floridians.