Continuum of Care is a group of agencies in Hillsborough County, Florida that work together to provide care and services to people with medical needs. These agencies may be eligible for federal government grants to help prevent evictions in the area. The Federal government provides funds to states and localities through the Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) program to prevent homelessness and help those who are already homeless. The funds can be used to pay for a variety of activities, including rental assistance, utility assistance, security deposits, and case management services.
There are different organizations that may be able to help with housing problems. This means that organizations such as charities and non-profit organizations that help with things such as social services and public housing in Tampa Bay are included. The Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI) is a group of organizations that work together to help prevent evictions and find new homes for homeless people in the area.
Some residents may have difficulty paying their rent or utility bills on time. If someone is in danger of being homeless or has already been evicted from their home, they can apply for help from a homeless prevention program. There are some documents you’ll need to provide to prove your income, like a copy of your lease or other supporting documentation. You’ll also need to show some form of identification.
The money for this task in Tampa Bay, Florida comes from emergency solution grants. This program gives money to people who are close to being homeless to help them keep their homes or, if that’s not possible, to move to new housing. If you are in danger of being evicted from your mobile home in Hillsborough County, there may be financial assistance available to you.
Each agency that is part of the Continuum of Care will have a say in how the money is spent. HUD provides guidelines for what is considered a “qualified mortgage,” but there is also some flexibility built in. This means that lenders can use their own discretion when it comes to approving mortgages, as long as they stay within HUD’s guidelines. The money may be used for the following things.
If your family is facing eviction or disconnection from your electric or water company, you may be able to get financial assistance. This is a one-time opportunity and the applicant must be able to cover future housing costs independently. When money is available, it is given out until it runs out.
Non-profits in Hillsborough County will often target one or two specific groups of people. There are agencies that focus on helping women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, such as single parents or domestic violence survivors. If veterans don’t have the money to pay for their housing, SSVF funds will be used to help them. There may also be grants for disabled people, people who are unemployed for a short time, and other families who are struggling.
The Continuum of Care may not just provide money for stopping an eviction, but also provide resources and support to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place. Agencies can provide different types of support. A service that may be commonly available is legal aid, which provides support for people who need legal assistance but cannot afford it. An attorney can help bring two sides together to try and come to an agreement. The free legal assistance in Hillsborough County can be effective in resolving this, whether the eviction notice is for unpaid rent or for other issues, such as needed repairs to the home or a lease violation.
The Hillsborough County CoC Program can pay for housing relocation and stabilization services. This is generally for a resident who was previously evicted and is now considered to be homeless according to the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH). The applicant needs to be almost completely independent before they can be rehoused.
The money from the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program can help people who are homeless by giving them a place to stay, food, and other necessities. A Tampa Bay non-profit will typically offer a Street Outreach service, which helps pay for the costs of people who are unsheltered or living on the streets. The expenses paid for can be broadly classified into two categories: emergency health or mental health care, and case management. These services can help a homeless person get back on their feet and find stable housing.
The next step in the rehousing process is finding emergency shelter. The grants can be used to help fund and operate facilities, as well as to help pay to place Hillsborough County residents into them. A CoC organization can help a single parent by providing child care, legal advice, employment assistance and job training, mental health and substance abuse treatment, or transportation.
The goal of the program is to prevent future evictions and homelessness, so support services are very important. This means that clients will be given help to access low income housing or other social services that they may need, and they will also be given ongoing support. This will help Hillsborough County break the cycle of poverty.
Rapid rehousing may provide financial assistance. A case manager from the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative will help the client find a new place to live, or they may be placed into public housing. This apartment has a lower monthly rent, so it will be more affordable and help prevent eviction in the future.
ESG funds may be used to pay for the legal review of their lease agreement. The THHI may give you money to help pay for things like the cost of moving, storing your things, or connecting your utilities at your new place. The government provides funding to agencies to help prevent homelessness. The agencies have flexibility in how they use the government funds.
For more information on Hillsborough County Florida, residents can dial 813-272-5900 or 813-247-7233 for intake.