ORLANDO, Fla. — As many Haitians who live in Central Florida prepare to apply for Temporary Protected Status, an Orlando-based nonprofit is helping them with it and much more.

​“They’ve helped me a lot,” Franzont Cardio said. “My family and I’ve been able to survive and provide for my family because of them.”

Catholic Charities of Central Florida helped Cardio apply for TPS in early October.

The nonprofit reports its helped 350 Haitians submit their applications since the application window opened in August.

The processing times of TPS and work permit applications have taken longer than expected. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reports TPS processing times can take up to five months, and it can take more than 14 months to get a work permit processed.

It’s a big reason why the nonprofit provides comprehensive refugee service clients like Candio with food donations. In fact, the nonprofit reports about 75 of its clients receive food donations.

Currently, Candio, his 3-year-old daughter, and his daughter’s mother depend on the nonprofit. He doesn’t have a job or a car but expects that to change once he gets his work permit.

“First things first, to work in this country you need a work permit,” he said.

Raul Pinzon, a staff attorney for the nonprofit who is working on Cardio’s case, said he’s come across people who’ve been victimized in fraud schemes aimed at Haitians applying for TPS.

The Dr. James R. Smith Center, Catholic Charities of Central Florida and several other organizations will host a legal clinic on Nov. 13 to help Haitians in Central Florida. The legal clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.