Blair County assistance programs.

Get housing assistance

Families in need car receive rent and utility bill assistance from the Blair Senior Services housing assistance program. It is a nonprofit organization. In 2008 they helped over 1,500 people of all ages pay for their housing and utility costs. In addition to Blair Services, Catholic Charities will help all people, regardless of faith, and provides additional assistance. They can provide food assistance, help with medication, and also housing aid.

Both organizations have a major goal of keeping people in their homes, and will do whatever they can to providing housing aid, funds to prevent utility shut off, and prevent evictions.

Blair Senior Services has historically generally provided grants in amounts of $800 to $1,000 to cover both a first month's rent and also pay for the security deposit.

Rent assistance programs

In addition to the groups mentioned above, some additional charities that provide rent help in Altoona and Blair County include St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Salvation Army.

This groups will usually provide help of $75 or $100 per family because giving the full amount would put the groups out of business as they are low on funds. However, in certain cases they may provide more than the $100.

In addition, the Salvation Army has been helping with food and providing meals, although the groups soon expects soon to be receiving calls for both utility and additional rental assistance.

Blair County Community Action Program (phone (814) 946-3651)

This agency will be receiving almost $200,000 in federal government stimulus funds that will be used to create a Homeless Prevention and Stabilization Program that will provide case management, housing counseling, employment and job training services, housing search and placement, referral assistance, and some immediate cash grants.

 

 

 

Mortgage and foreclosure assistance

A new program can provide residents with help. The Blair County Mortgage Foreclosure Diversionary Program, which is being managed by the  Blair County Community Action Agency, can help homeowners keep their homes and stop a foreclosure.

The Community Action group has been involved with various programs and attempts to restructure mortgages for several years. When the agency helps deal with mortgage foreclosures, the agency has experience in working with banks and lenders to restructure mortgages in a way that homeowners can make the payments and stay in their homes.

In addition, the agency also works closely with Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, which will provide homeowners with loans - not grants - to aid residents in keeping their homes. In addition, it provides budget counseling services to homeowners so they can learn skills on their own.

Even as another option, if for some reason Community Action can't resolve your housing and mortgage situation through a newly negotiated mortgage or by using the PHFA program, the agency and your case will come back to the courts where the judges and the court system will attempt to resolve the financial issues with your lender.

 

 

Blair County Mortgage Court

This is a new resource for homeowners. The Blair County Community Action Agency was the agency that insisted upon additional options for homeowners.  The court will be a joint effort between local non-profits and the county court system. It will give home owners a second chance to save their mortgages and avoid a foreclosure.

The foreclosure prevention / assistance program will utilize the state of Pennsylvania’s Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. This is a resource that is offered through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to provide financial help and mortgage counseling to individuals who own their own homes and who have been notified that their lender or a financial institution is close to or is currently foreclosing on the home.

The mortgage counselors will also meet with officials from the lending institution to mediate between the two parties to try to find a solution. Another part of this foreclosure program will include pre purchase as well as debt and money management counseling. Find additional ways to get mortgage help in Pennsylvania. More.

Credit Card Court

Not only is their a solution for homeowners, but their is another court for people overwhelmed with credit card debt. This credit card Court was established, which seeks to review and resolve credit card cases each and every month.

The credit card assistance program has proved to be so successful to Blair County families that the Pennsylvania Bar Association gave an award this month to the Blair County Bar Association because of the many attorneys who are helping residents work out their credit card problems - either for free or for a very small amount of money. Click here to read more on attorneys who can settle debt, and negotiate solutions to credit card problems.