Homelessness Prevention ad ReHousing Program (HPRP)
In response to the recent and persistent economic downturn and high unemployment rates in southern Rock County, Family Services has begun offering assistance to individuals and families who are at substantial risk of eviction or who are currently homeless. As a sub-contract entity using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment (through Communty Action, Inc.) as well as the generous support of Stateline United Way, the Beloit Foundation, and the Colonel Robert Morse Foundation, the program seeks to assist those individuals in our community that lack sufficient resources to weather the recession and are in need of external assistance to avoid homelessness. The program is intended to do the following:
- provide homelessness prevention assistance to households (that is, prevent evictions due to inability to pay rent and/or utilities), who would otherwise become homeless without this assistance and by
- provide assistance to (rapidly) "re-house" persons who are homeless.
A total of $161,000 of ARRA funds has been made available to Family Services to serve the Beloit area for the above purposes for approximately two years (beginning in August 2009). To our knowledge, this effort represents the primary government-funded resource for this area for preventing homelessness among those who are currently renting.
Targeted recipient population
According to HUD and State of Wisconsin project statements, these funds are intended to target those households that are (a) most in need of temporary assistance and (b) most likely to achieve stable housing (whether subsidized or unsubsdized) after the HPRP program ends. More specifically, the intended participants are those:
- who would likely be homeless except for this assistance and for who
- No appropriate subsequent housing options have been identified, and
- Lack financial resources/support networks to obtain immediate housing or remain in existing housing, or
- who are currently homeless and in need of temporary assistance to obtain/retain housing, and
- whose household income is at or below 50% of Area Median Income.
Program Components
The program provides two categories of services. Financial assistance in the form of rent and/or utilities assistance is the primary focus of the program (and budget). Several restrictions are worth noting. Financial assistance cannot be provided directly to participants. Participants may qualify for an initial "short term rent assistance" which cannot exceed three months and those persons receiving short term assistance must be reevaluated before they receive medium term assistance. Medium term rent assistance is defined as covering costs between 4 months and 18 months; participation at this level requires ongoing verification of income. Funding may be used to cover security deposits, utility deposits, moving cost assistance, and motel/hotel vouchers.
How to Apply
Because we do not have enough resources to help everyone who qualifies and because everyone who has housing related needs may not qualify, we strongly encourage applicants to pursue other resources as well. We are accepting applications on the first and third Fridays of each month, from 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 a.m. Applications may be made by telephone (365-1244) [just indicate that you would like to complete an initial application for the HPRP program] or in person at Family Services offices at 423 Bluff Street, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511. We will let applicants know as soon as possible whether we can help.