Seneca County assistance programs

Prevention, Retention and Contingency assistance program.
The Seneca county, Ohio DJFS (Department of Jobs and Family Services) manages this program. The program was established with the underlying goal of helping as many residents as possible. The PRC program provides services and benefits to families and households with at least one child. Most of the aid is intended as short-term relief, and was not meant to provide indefinitely help. Call them at 419-447-5011.

The PRC program offers assistance to Seneca County families in five different categories, including utility bill assistance, rental assistance, transportation services, disaster services and even gas cards to help pay for gasoline.

Statistics show the need for help is greater than ever. For example, more county residents than ever are receiving food stamp assistance,. Over thirty percent more families and individuals are receiving food stamps when compared to just one year earlier. During May 2008, about 5,115 individuals were receiving food stamp assistance and compare that to May of 2009, in which 6,996 received food stamp assistance. Just since January 2009 the number has grown by more than 1,000.

Utility bill help

St. Vincent de Paul (419-447-3691) and FISH food pantry (419-448-0355) provide financial assistance, especially help and grants that can be used for utility bill payments. Between the two organizations they are paying out several thousands dollars per month for energy bills.

Normally St. Vincent de Paul and FISH limit financial requests to three per year. Cash assistance grants are limited to $50 per request. So, for example, a person who needs help with a $90 utility bill would need to approach other agencies or charities to obtain the remaining $40 for the bill.

Also, the St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop has plenty of clothing available, but as everyone knows clothing cannot be used to pay the bills. So they are offering other help as well. Like the FISH food pantry, St. Vincent is continuing to receive more requests for assistance paying utility and heating bills, as well as rent payments. People also even need money for gasoline to get to work or to look for work. In addition, low-income people who need medical attention may need to travel out of town and need money for gas. St. Vincent de Paul is doing what it can to provide cash to as many people as possible.

Foreclosure Help

Tiffin, Ohio and Seneca County residents who are facing a possible home foreclosure may be able to get assistance at the WSOS Community Action Commission from the Community Housing Improvement Program.

This foreclosure and mortgage assistance program provides housing counseling to homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes to a foreclosure filing. Assistance can be provided in many forms, and it can  include access to Ohio foreclosure mediation between borrowers and lenders, possible refinancing of the mortgage, review of the homeowner's credit, restructuring of debts and the homeowners budgets, assistance with a pre-foreclosure sale, explanation of the foreclosure process, possible rescue funds and financial grants.

For more information on this program that can provide foreclosure help or to make an appointment to apply, call Barney Kreilick at (419) 639-6123 or you can dial them toll free at (1-800) 775-9767.