Story Created:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:20 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:20 AM EDT
On Thursday, Indiana officially began a program that offers aid to people who are homeless or are just two weeks from becoming homeless.
It helps with a range of expenses, from rent to child care.
The goal isn't to ease poverty in general, it's to prevent homelessness, said Rodney Stockment, community services manager for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman came to South Bend to announce the Homeless Prevention and Rapid ReHousing Program a week ago.
South Bend's Center for the Homeless will coordinate the program for St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Fulton and Kosciusko counties, with help from Madison Center.
What it is: The three-year program will bring about $996,500 to St. Joseph County and $582,000 to Elkhart, Marshall, Fulton and Kosciusko counties. An extra $1.1 million will come for South Bend residents. Just under 50 percent of that will pay for case management, and the rest for direct aid, officials say. That comes out of $16 million in federal stimulus money that Indiana spread across the state to prevent homelessness.
Who qualifies: Recipients' income must be no more than 50 percent of something called the area median income. Also, recipients must be at risk of becoming homeless in two weeks or already be homeless or living in a shelter or transitional housing.
What it pays for: The aid can help with rent, utilities, child care, moving expenses, storage, and a range of other expenses.
It won't help with medical debt and consumer or credit-card debt.
It also won't help with mortgage bills. But if a person has a sheriff's notice to vacate a house because it's going through foreclosure, the program may pay for rent in an apartment. That's only if the person doesn't have other resources, Stockment said. That is, it's for "anyone who, but for this assistance, they'd end up in a shelter," he said.
Recipients can receive up to 18 months of aid. That includes no more than six months worth of utility aid.
Expectations: Recipients of the aid will be required to go through case management, helping them work toward self-sufficiency.
For help with rent, recipients will be asked to pay no more than 30 percent of their adjusted income toward rent — but only if they have an income.
Where to call: Call the Madison Center Mondays through Fridays. Call (574) 234-0061 in St. Joseph County. Call (574) 523-3750 in Elkhart, Marshall, Fulton and Kosciusko counties.
