Foreclosure prevention counseling and assistance

Receive free counseling from a HUD approved specialist. The Atlanta Urban League provides counsel and advocacy that only a HUD Approved Counselor can provide. These specialists’ are often a welcome addition to the foreclosure mediation or negotiation process for the mortgage company, and they can do a tremendous job in providing a sense of relief to the client as well as information on solutions. The Housing Counselor creates a detailed budget for the client to use, they offer foreclosure prevention and mortgage delinquency counseling. These services are offered to homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgage or facing a lose of their home due to a foreclosure. The program offers people an opportunity to get their home loan back on track. Learn more on mortgage assistance, or dial 404-659-1150 for foreclosure help.

Financial assistance for bills, rent, free food, and medications

Several agencies and non-profits exist. Call them for help. The Decatur Area Emergency Assistance Ministry/DEAM agency provides assistance by offering free food (receive a maximum six times per year of food), funds for utilities, prescription medication vouchers, mortgage help, debt reduction advice, and rent assistance. Programs are available to residents that live within the service area boundaries. Dial (404) 373-2300.

A program known as Project Take Charge is run by the Decatur Cooperative Ministry, Inc. Dial (404) 284-4411. This project is a rent assistance and homelessness prevention program that provides low income and others who may be struggling with emergency financial assistance with rent expenses, mortgage payments, utilities, and free food.

Salvation Army - DeKalb County Service Unit provide emergency assistance to families and individuals who are in a crisis situation. Get help from the agency in the areas of food, clothing, rent and lodging, housing expenses and utility bill assistance, referrals to other comprehensive crisis centers (charities and non-profits) and also access counseling. Dial (404) 486-2714.

Society of St. Vincent De Paul is another charity organization that provides a host of services to DeKalb Georgia residents including but not limited to financial assistance for bills and expenses, a food pantry, GED instruction, and also life skills education programs.

United Methodist Children's Home – Homeless families and people on verge of eviction, with children less than 17 years of age may qualify for financial assistance. The financial assistance provided to qualified applicants is very limited. At most $75 will be mailed directly to the landlord or company that needs payment. 500 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur, Georgia 30030(404) 327-5872.

DeKalb County Georgia programs that provide assistance to all residents

Additional programs that help people in DeKalb County, Decatur as well as all of Georgia include the following.

• Georgia fHUD foreclosure counseling
• Georgia section 8 housing assistance
• Georgia foreclosure and mortgage help
• Georgia free legal assistance
• Georgia utility bill assistance
• Georgia free food banks
• Georgia health care and community clinics
• Georgia free dental community clinics

Job finding and employment services

Thousands of local individuals have lost their jobs. They now have somewhere to turn to for help finding a new job. A new program, called Creating Careers – Developing Employment Program, will provide the opportunity for individuals to obtain a certificate, which can help them find a job and improve their career aspects. The certificate is available in a variety of different programs, i.e., computer training, health careers, computer skills, customer service specialist, health care, automotive, etc. If you are qualified for the program, a Career and Education Coordinator and Job Developer will partner with the program participant to ensure they complete the training and find placement in a new job that will allow for them to establish a career path and increase their income. Various work experience placements will be made available for individuals that need additional training before taking a permanent position.

Partnership for Community Action, Inc. administers the Creating Careers – Developing Employment Program, and the agency will pay for the fees for the certificates, training courses, books and other associated fees for those individuals who are interested in the program and who are unable to secure financial aid. If a student secures financial aid, from the state of Georgia or the federal government, PCA will cover other fees that may be required for completion of the training. Another great benefit is that support services of transportation and child care will also be provided by the program. For more information or to apply, dial 404.929.2462, or click here to find a listing of scholarships.

Another organization to turn to to help find a job is Atlanta Urban League. They offer several employment, education, and job training programs. 404-659-1150.

 

 

Electric and Energy Bill Assistance

The federal government funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides qualified individuals a one-time cash grant/payment that will assist low to moderate income families with paying for their home heating and electric bills. The program is also partially funded by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services. For more information or to apply for energy assistance, dial 404-929-2451 to learn more.

Emergency Assistance

The Futon Atlanta Community Action Authority offers grants and crisis assistance. They provide the following services.

• Emergency food and grocery assistance
• Assistance to avoid evictions from an apartment, and funds to help people stop foreclosures
• Energy bill assistance to prevent disconnection from a utility service.

Dial (404) 320-0166 to learn more.

Decatur Weatherization Program

Save hundreds of dollars per year on your energy bills from this free program. It focuses on low to moderate income homeowners, the elderly, and the disabled. An audit of the entire home will be performed to determine what weatherization and energy conserving measures are needed in order to make the home as energy efficient as possible. The program can pay for the significant home improvements including such updates as attic and wall insulation, air sealing measures, and weather-stripping, and these improvements are done to help low-income household’s save on their energy bills. It can also provide for the repair or replacement of gas appliances, heating units, and/or refrigerator units, if required, with more energy efficient units. Please call 404.929.2464 to apply.

Rental assistance in DeKalb

Interfaith Outreach Home, Inc. runs the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Fund which focuses on rent and housing concerns. The agency will offer financial assistance and services to prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless and it will help them pay rent. (770) 457-3727.

 

 

Emergency food services

Receive free food, vouchers, clothing and other aid from. Call these locations to learn the specifics. Columbia Drive United Methodist Church (phone (404) 284-4151), Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross (phone (404) 284-1211), M.C. Church Library Education Center (dial (678) 743-2021). If those locations can’t help you, find more DeKalb food pantries.

Legal aid and advice

Atlanta Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm that low income, the elderly and disabled can turn to for free legal aid. The firm wants to ensure that everyone has full access to justice and legal support. They can provide foreclosure help, eviction prevention, and even help with utility disconnections. Click here for more information, or call the law firm at (404) 377-0701.