Pennsylvania Assistance Programs for the Homeless

by Guest Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:02 pm

Homeless Assistance Programs

Are you or someone you know in danger of
being evicted from your apartment or home? Or perhaps, you have already
been evicted and are currently homeless and do not know where to go for
help. The Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) helps to assure that
homelessness can be avoided, people who are homeless can find refuge
and care and homeless and near homeless clients are assisted in moving
toward self-sufficiency.Where You Can Get HelpThe Homeless Assistance Program County Contact List
will provide you with the name and phone number of the organization in
your county that you need to contact to request help with your housing
situation.Homeless Assistance Program Services Available:Case Management: This
service is designed to assist you in identifying your needs and the
reasons why you became homeless or near homeless. The focus of Case
Management is to provide you with the tools and skills that you need to
prevent you from ever being in a homeless situation again. The many
services include budgeting, life skills, job preparation, home
management and referral to drug and alcohol services, if necessary.Rental Assistance:
If you are in danger of being evicted from your apartment or home, your
county may be able to assist you with payments for rent, mortgage,
security deposits and utilities. Your county HAP provider will work
hard with your landlord to maximize your chances for staying in your
apartment or home, or work with you to find a more affordable
apartment. HAP can also be used to move you out of shelter into an
affordable apartment.Bridge Housing: This is
"The Bridge" that will move you from being homeless into permanent
housing. This is usually the next step up from an emergency shelter.
This service will allow you to stay in a shared facility or apartment
for up to 18 months for a small co-pay depending on your income and you
will continue to receive case management services to assist you with
your goal in living in your own home or apartment.Emergency Shelter:
If you are currently homeless and have no permanent residence or are a
victim of domestic violence, the Emergency Shelter component provides
you with shelter, for a short period of time. During that time, you
will be provided with case management services to assist you with
securing more permanent housing.Innovative Supportive Housing Service:
This component enables the service provider to design a supportive
housing service for homeless and near homeless persons that is outside
the scope of existing HAP components and addresses unique county needs.Other Resources:If you are a victim of Domestic Violence, contact the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence,
(PCADV), a private non-profit organization. The Web site will provide
you with the name and phone number of the domestic violence service
provider, by county.The National Alliance to End Homelessness
is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to mobilize the nonprofit,
public and private sectors of society in an alliance to end
homelessness. This site has an extensive selection of referral links to
help you if you are homeless and puts you in touch with providers who
can assist you.The National Coalition for the Homeless
is one of America’s top 100 charities and has a section on their Web
site that gives you step-by-step instructions on what to do if you are
facing homelessness.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) has many programs to assist the homeless and has specific
information for obtaining help in your area if you are homeless.

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/foradults/homelessassistance/index.htm