Eviction prevention and rehousing programs Allegheny County
Eviction prevention programs in Pittsburgh PA and the greater Allegheny County area help low-income families and renters. Several non-profit agencies, along with the Department of Human Services, administer these resources. Get emergency help to stop an eviction or rehouse homeless people in Allegheny County.
Grant money, free pro-bono lawyers for tenants, motel vouchers and funds for paying rental arrears to stop an eviction. The two main homeless prevention options, including Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) as well as the Shelter Allowance (ESA) programs are available from the government. There are also charities that work to prevent homelessness. Find details below.
Emergency Solutions Grants homeless prevention programs
There are a few agencies that run these programs to stop or delay evictions on behalf of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as the County of Allegheny. Examples include Mercy Center as well as the Urban League of Pittsburgh. But others may help low-income families, seniors or single moms that have an eviction letter from their landlord. However the money goes quickly.
Most of the grants are given to families facing an eviction on a first come-served basis, however there are never any guarantees to receiving support. When allocated by the federal government to Allegheny County, each charity or non-profit decides what services to provide to struggling tenants or homeless people in the Pittsburgh PA area. Some will use ESG in order to stop evictions.
Other agencies in the Pittsburgh region will provide legal aid, homeless shelter, or rapid rehousing. So no two non-profits will tend to offer the same type of support. But each will usually have referrals readily available if and when needed.
What ESG may provide around housing resources is as follows. As noted, each agency is different. For example, the Allegheny County Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods provides Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing, or HPRP. Other used of the money may below:
- Free legal assistance for stopping evictions. Lawyers across Allegheny County help struggling renters. This includes advice, a requite of a pay or quit notice, and in some cases representation in eviction court.
- ESG can be used to pay for short term housing, both from emergency shelters as well as motel or hotel vouchers in Pittsburgh.
- Grant money can be directly used to stop homelessness. Fund can be used to prevent families and individuals from becoming evicted, and the money can pay for rental arrears, heating costs, utility or water bills, and more.
- Homeless shelter residents can be given critical services, such as hot meals, clothing, and eventual placement into transitional housing.
- Some agencies, such as the Pittsburgh United Way, may pay for the creation of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) or an eviction defense database using HUD funds.
Therefore the Emergency Solutions Grants in Allegheny County allow for a diverse amount of financial aid to be paid out to qualified, low income tenants. While the grants for paying for arrears on rent or utilities to stop an eviction are difficult to get, it may very well be likely for the applicant to be given access to case management instead.
Help with an eviction in Allegheny County from Emergency Shelter Allowance
This particular homeless prevention and rapid-rehousing program in Allegheny County is strictly run by the Department of Human Services. It is available in towns across the county as well as the city of Pittsburgh. This too is another resource used to pro-actively prevent eviction as well as homelessness in the community.
One of the advantages to ESA is that it helps both struggling tenants and homeowners as well. So it can be used to prevent homelessness that may be the result of a foreclosure as well as a landlord eviction, whether from a section 8 home or private landlord apartment. The Emergency Shelter Allowance program in Allegheny County also provides for rehousing, so it can move someone from a shelter or transitional home into a new apartment.
When applying, residents should have a copy of their monthly budget, income statements, proof of hardship, and identification easily available. This is needed for all household members. The grants available for financial needs, such as rent to stop an eviction, will be issued to people who qualify, provided they have the ability to sustain the housing costs on their own in the future.
Emergency Shelter Allowance is also part of rehousing in Pittsburgh. The government will also help people find a place to live. This includes rehousing the homeless, or moving a family that now lives in an unaffordable home due to a change in their circumstances. There are programs for veterans, single mothers or fathers in Allegheny County, and the chronically homeless.
In these cases, when eligible, Human services may issue funds for the security or utility deposit. There is also long term advice around housing stability to stop future evictions. They will also help on locating a new home, or moving the family into a shelter or motel if those are better short term solutions. Or look here for homeless shelters in Allegheny County.
Contact information
Allegheny County agencies as well as Department of Human Services all provide this help as short term relief. This are not entitlement services but are meant to help in an emergency. For more information on these homeless prevention programs, or other services, call for referrals. DHS is at 800-692-7462, the Council to Improve Neighborhoods has a number of (412) 824-2444, Mercy Life Center can be reached at (412) 323-4500, and eviction help can be obtained from the Urban League at (412) 829-7172 or (412) 227-4802.
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