Berks County homeless prevention and rapid rehousing program.
Low to moderate income families in an emergency can get help as they try to avoid homelessness. The programs available in Berks County as well as Reading are used by tenants and homeowners, as the services combine eviction as well as foreclosure help. The end result, whenever possible, is stabilized as well as permanent housing opportunities for the client. The homeless in Berks County can also get help from rapid rehousing.
There are a few criteria in place in Berks County, and the structure of the homeless prevention program is flexible in an effort to try to meet all scenarios. Most of the assistance is run by the Berks Coalition To End Homelessness as well as Family Promise. Application criteria may be as follows.
- -Applicants need to be close to (or have) an eviction or foreclosure notice.
- -The tenant or homeowner needs a source of income.
- -Any assistance provided, including financial, will be contingent on people enrolling into monthly meetings to monitor progress towards self-sufficiency.
Financial help to stop evictions or foreclosures in Berks County
While both foreclosure counseling as well as eviction prevention are available, how this is done and the agencies that administer them differ. More details are below, but the bottom line is that money to pay a mortgage is very rare as counseling is generally used. Financial aid for rental arrears, while also rare, is more likely using Housing and Urban Development grants as well as United Way funding.
Tenant programs - Berks County homeless prevention is supported by the Continuum of Care as well as agencies that are affiliated with the United Way. Other charities that may be involved include Family Promise, the Salvation Army, Berks Coalition To End Homelessness or Catholic Charities. They try to stop evictions from occurring using resources ranging from mediation, legal aid in housing court, to emergency money to pay for rental arrears. There may even be loans to help with rent.
- -Lawyers will be available to review a pay or quit notice to ensure it is legal.
- -Housing discrimination, unsafe homes or apartments, and landlord repair issues are addressed.
- -Financial aid, including ESG government grants, can be used for rental or security deposit costs.
- -Berks County individuals with exceptional circumstances, such as the disabled, single parents, or elderly, can be provided specialized homeless prevention assistance.
- -Specialists will try to find a solution other than eviction, such as determine if the landlord in Berks County will accept a payment plan.
There are also several federal government Housing and Urban Development programs available in the region as well. This will be focused on certain scenarios. Note these will not be emergency type programs, but rather the application periods can take weeks, months, or even longer.
Berks County SSVF - Supportive Services for Veteran Families will help those members of the Armed Forces. It also assists their immediate family members. It combines short and long term housing assistance with information on benefits for everything from medical care to transportation or job placement.
Another HUD option is Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Berks County residents, or their family members, that are impacted by HIV and/or AIDs can apply for help. Similar to some of the other federal programs, the applicant may be able to receive a grant to pay their rent to stop an eviction, but it gives so much more. HOPWA will arrange for prescription drugs, supportive housing when a client is ill, and other services.
Long term homeless prevention can be met by HUD section 8 vouchers in Berks County and Reading Pennsylvania. The applicant will be placed into a private home or apartment, but they will need to pay rent based on their income. The demand is very high and it may take months if not even years to be approved. More on emergency section 8 vouchers in PA.
Assistance for Berks County homeowners – Families in arrears on their mortgage can get assistance as well. Non-profit HUD counseling agencies are used in these scenarios. If the applicant's income is low enough, the homeless prevention services for homeowners may be free.
The process will involve contacting the mortgage server to review payment options. Other forms of mortgage help in Berks County include applications to federal programs such as grant aid; discussions on principal reduction; short sales; and much more.
Ongoing homeless prevention support – When assistance is given, the follow up process is critical. This will ensure that any future is eviction is stopped before it occurs. Or follow up is used by homeowners to ensure they are on the correct path with paying their mortgage on time.
Berks County homeless prevention will be used to enroll the client into life-skills as well as budgeting workshops from charities such as Family Promise or Coalition To End Homelessness. This may last for weeks if not month, until trust has been built and all barriers to stopping homelessness has been stopped. The classes are used to ensure the person is stable after any type of assistance has been provided to them.
Applying for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing in Berks County
Homeowners and tenants should dial Berks Coalition To End Homelessness (phone (610) 372-7222) in an emergency or Family Promise of Berks County at (610) 373-3323. All resources for stopping homelessness will be explored.
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