Homeless prevention is given to people who are struggling to keep their homes due to exceptional circumstances. There are a few organizations in Hartford County, Connecticut that can provide help, including financial assistance, educational workshops, and counseling.
The help available is very restricted and also has conditions attached. This means that something can be done in more than one way. For example, a problem can be solved in more than one way, or a task can be completed using different methods. There will not be any grants available to help a tenant or homeowner who is living in a property they can’t afford. Applicants need to attend budgeting workshops and have a source of income. Only a small amount of money is available for paying rental arrears or a mortgage. There are even fewer grants available to pay for a security deposit.
The three main agencies that help prevent homelessness or help people find housing again are the Salvation Army, local community action agencies, and the Department of Housing. Both the state of Connecticut and the federal government provide funding for these services.
Details on homeless prevention and rehousing in Hartford County
The agencies will help people who are in danger of losing their homes. This may be caused by something catastrophic like a fire or the building being condemned, or it could be more likely due to tenants getting a vacate notice from their landlord or a foreclosure notice. The homeless can sometimes get money to help pay for things like a security deposit when they move to a new place.
All applicants who are hoping to receive a grant from the organization need to be able to show that they have faced a difficult situation in the past that was not anticipated and that they have documentation to back up their story. The applicants need to live in an affordable apartment or house where their total monthly mortgage or rent payment can’t be more than 60% of their gross monthly income. No money is given to a family that lives in a place they cannot afford.
The majority of the aid given will be in the form of a cash grant. Since the funds are limited, any back rent payment will be capped at a maximum dollar amount. This is because the non-profits or Department of Housing require the applicant to contribute to their housing. This means that there may be help available to pay for utility bills or security deposits. The most you can get paid is $300.
The Homeless Prevention program in Hartford County also has a requirement for case management. The recipient will need to attend a budgeting workshop and participate in other activities in order to receive the grant. For this session, we will have both lawyers and credit counselors to help with topics like saving money and paying off debts.
The lawyers from Hartford will also talk about what landlords and renters are responsible for as part of figuring out what to do about the case. This will make sure that the tenant knows what the rules are for the rental property and what their rights are if they get an eviction notice, have maintenance issues, or are disturbed by noise.
The homeless prevention program may offer a loan to cover any back mortgage or rent payments. The reason this is done is to ensure that the client gains financial skills and is able to repay the loan. The interest rate on this form of financing will be very low.
Mediation is a process in which two disputing parties attempt to reach a resolution with the help of a neutral third party. The Department of Housing provides a lot of housing options in Hartford County, Connecticut. The landlord or bank often benefits from working with the tenant or homeowner to find a solution. It can be expensive to force a family to move out of their home, so mediation may allow for different solutions such as a plan to catch up on payments, reducing the amount owed, or other options.
Phone number to apply at
There are a variety of social service agencies in the county that provide assistance with different needs. Some agencies focus on specific populations, such as children or the elderly, while others provide more general assistance. The Salvation Army of Southern New England provides assistance to residents of East or West Hartford, as well as city proper. They also help people who are in danger of losing their homes in Bloomfield, Newington, or the town of Windsor.
For more information on these programs designed to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please call 1-800-203-1234. There are other organizations in the community that can offer assistance, from financial assistance to counseling.