Sometimes tenants face a short-term emergency. When someone is about to be evicted from their home, agencies in Memphis, Tennessee can help to prevent it from happening. There is also government funding from ESG for families who are currently homeless and need to be rehoused. These services benefit hundreds of Shelby County residents each year, even though the amount of support is limited.
The goal of eviction prevention programs is to keep families stable. This needs to happen, and can be done through different methods. Some of this may go towards paying rent or giving motel vouchers to the homeless, but most of it is focused on mediation, case management, and non-financial support. The Emergency Solution Grants program provides funding to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The program offers financial assistance for a variety of services, including emergency shelter, food, and clothing.
There are several requirements that must be met in order to enroll in the homeless assistance programs. Some of the things that they talked about are listed below.
Shelby County residents who are at risk of eviction, such as those who are behind on their rent or have received a pay or quit notice from their landlord, may be eligible for support from eviction or rehousing programs. To be eligible, residents must have an income below 30% of the average in the city of Memphis and have a source of income, such as from a job, SSI, pension, or another source. Residents who are seeking rehousing must be in a shelter, transitional housing, or living in a place not meant for human habitation. Other criteria may need to be met, and terms can change, as these programs are not guaranteed.
Programs for stopping evictions in Memphis
As a way to prevent someone from being evicted or homeless, mediation and counseling is often the first solution that is explored. This can help solve conflicts that may arise between you and your landlord. If you’re renting from someone else, such as a family member, that can be arranged too.
If someone is unable to pay their bill, lawyers from across Memphis will often volunteer their time to help negotiate a payment plan. The goal is to provide the tenant with time to find a long term solution to stopping the eviction, or to be rehoused. An eviction is when a landlord forces a tenant to leave a property. Evictions can be prevented if the tenant has an extension, which is an agreement that allows the tenant to stay longer. Extensions have many benefits, such as giving the tenant more time to pay rent or to fix damage to the property.
A landlord will typically agree to let a tenant make payments over time, or to give the tenant time to apply for other forms of financial assistance to cover rent or energy bills. The homeless program in Shelby County will help the family connect to a source of help.
If a tenant is eligible for financial assistance and there are funds available, non-profit organizations in Memphis that are part of the federally funded Emergency Solutions Grants program (ESG) may provide money for housing costs. This means that if you are evicted because you missed a rent payment, you may be able to get money to help you pay for it. ESG grants can help cover utility bill arrears (including water, heat, or electric), miscellaneous fees, and other expenses.
Assistance in locating and paying for a new home
Rapid Re-housing in Shelby County is for those who meet the HUD guidelines of being homeless. This program provides financial assistance and case management services to help participants secure permanent housing. The government can help fund people to leave a shelter or transitional housing facility and also help them get off the streets. The goal is to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
All applicants will need to be enrolled in a case management process that looks at the whole person. This will help explain why the tenant was removed from the property. This will be an honest assessment that will address all of the problems that were faced. This process will not continue until this has been done.
The city of Memphis provides direct financial assistance to help people with rehousing. Case managers will help the client find an apartment to live in that is affordable. The case workers will also help the homeless people find a motel voucher program to apply for in the meantime. The government provides grants from the Emergency Solutions Grants program to help with lease application fees and moving costs when people are homeless and need to find a new home. This may include paying for a truck rental or storage fees. Rehousing can help cover the cost of a security deposit or first month’s rent.
In some cases, people also have to pay for utility expenses. This may include a deposit required by the utility company to set up service. There may be help in setting up a phone, or applications to Lifeline. A family is not stable until they have electricity. This is why having electricity is so important.
The participant must meet with a case manager from the agency in Shelby County, Tennessee in order to prevent further evictions. It typically happens once a month and can last up to 12 months. This process will help with employment, health, child care, and income. We will help you with anything you need, whether it is a job or help applying for government benefits.
Applying for homeless prevention programs or rehousing in Shelby County
For every situation, a plan to prevent it from happening is made. The client will work with a case manager to set goals and expectations. The risks of future homelessness or eviction need to be addressed and minimized. This is done to help the Memphis family keep their current home. To get more information or to see if you qualify, call (901) 260-4663.