Residents of Westchester County who are at risk of eviction or foreclosure and have no financial resources or other solutions can apply for help with eviction or foreclosure. The help available in White Plains (and the surrounding area) and Westchester County will provide housing and case management, as well as financial assistance if needed.
The programs are designed to help people who are either currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs. The family or individual applying for help must not have any other housing options available to them, for example from a friend, family member, or local charity. Some partners of the organization include the Hispanic Coalition, Westhab, Samaritan House Shelter, and Sharing Community, among others. The landlord or lender must agree to be involved in eviction prevention programs.
Financial help in Westchester County
If you are eligible for assistance, the type of support arranged is below. The type of aid given will depend on other factors as well. There are several programs in place that aim to prevent homelessness. These include providing financial assistance to help cover rent or other housing-related costs, as well as programs that offer support services such as counseling and case management.
The money can be used for utility or security deposits, and grants to pay off some of the arrears due to a landlord. If you’re low on money, section 8 of HUD may be able to help you pay for some of your mortgage costs, including property taxes, fees, and home loan refinancing expenses. They may also be able to help with some of your utility bills, including water, electric, and/or heating.
Westchester County has programs to help people who are about to be kicked out of their homes or have their homes foreclosed. If your household income is more than 30% of the median income in your area, you may be able to get help from some agencies, though it is up to each agency to decide whether or not to provide assistance. This means that every source will be included. If you are a single mom, you will need to take child support into account. If you are disabled and receive SSI, you will need to report it. And if you are a senior citizen and receive income from a pension, you will also need to report it. This means that anyone who is trying to avoid being evicted or foreclosed on will have their income sources looked at.
Many refugees and immigrants have difficulty affording housing in Westchester County and towns such as New Rochelle, White Plains, and Peekskill. Other people can also ask for help from organizations such as the Hispanic Coalition. The HUD ESG grants can help pay for some of the legal services when they are needed. Although the immigrant may require assistance, they will also need to give back to the community. There are organizations that can help with immigration and citizenship needs.
The only grants that are provided by the ESG are when all other funding sources in the community have been used up. If a tenant or homeowner can find support from other charities, then the homeless prevention program is more likely to give them a loan for their housing, mortgage payment or rental need. This means that agencies will need to have a record of everything that is done for each applicant, no matter what it is.
The new home or apartment will have shared costs. The amount of money given for homeless prevention will not be enough to cover the entire cost of rent or utilities. The amount of rent a tenant owes will be decided based on their income. Government aid for rent may only last for a few months. The client’s balance owing will gradually increase by 25% per year over this time period. Both the government and low income families should share responsibility.
Attorneys and case managers for homeless prevention in Westchester County
If you are homeless, a tenant, or a homeowner, you will need to meet with a case manager or free legal aid attorney to get help from social services. This process will be used to determine if an eviction/foreclosure or even rehousing program will work for the individual. This will help the client overcome any challenges they may be facing and address the root cause of their crisis. Attorneys in Westchester County help people who are facing foreclosure or eviction, and can represent them in housing court. All applications will be checked for accuracy, and any cases of fraud will be investigated and dealt with by the authorities in Westchester County.
In order to prevent homelessness in Westchester County, a case plan will need to be created. Making sure the client has a place to stay. This prevents future evictions or related events. This is a process in which goals are set and deadlines are met in order to achieve those goals. There will be verification of non-profit organizations as well as employers in the region.
Any money given for a deposit or rent is only for a limited time. The situation could change at any moment. There is a greater chance that funds will run out sooner rather than later for those people who do not meet the goals in the plan. The client will work with Westchester County based agencies on improving their credit, learning new job skills, and increasing their income.
Assistance for homeless in Westchester County
Rapid rehousing is a type of housing assistance that helps people who are homeless to quickly find and move into their own homes. There are also centers in the county that provide emergency services for people who need to either cool down or warm up. If you have been evicted by your landlord or have lost your home to a foreclosure, you will need to create a budget that lists your income and expenses. In order to receive help with moving into a property, this will be required. Pregnant women and parents with children under the age of six are given priority for rehousing, including at shelters run by partner organizations like Samaritan House Shelter.
This means that the applicant cannot sign a lease for the new apartment until the grant has been paid out. The Westchester County agency needs to approve the property for affordability and habitability before the family can move in or start working with the landlord. This requires an appointment.
Applying
If you need help with homelessness in Westchester County, dial (914) 995-2099 for Emergency Services. There are also lawyers that help immigrants, the low income or elderly for free. Westhab is an example of a non-profit that works to stop homelessness.