Hampden County assistance program.

Locate resources and programs to help with bills and expenses

If you are struggling in toady’s’ difficult economy, or if are considered low to moderate income, Springfield Partners for Community Action, Inc, which is located at 619 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109, phone (413) 263-6500 is the local community action agency that offers programs and resources to help. Some of the programs they offer are below, but they also offer others.

• Weatherization Assistance Program
  Springfield Partners for Community Action offers residents this free program. They have been helping low to middle income Hampden county and Springfield families for over the past 20 years. Weatherization assistance programs provides energy assistance and home insulation to low-income and elderly renters  throughout Hampden County. Last year over 1,000 families and homes had weatherization services and upgrades completed on their home, which resulted in lower utility and heating bills for those families. These services will lower the average annual energy bill by about $250 per home. In addition, the organization works closely with all the local utilities and gas companies to provide various weatherization services to low-income families. As just one example, Bay State Gas has their own, separate program that helps with both heating and insulation needs to low-income families that is referred to as their Partners in Energy Program, and this can also help people save money.
   
• Eviction Prevention and Clinic
  A partnership between Western Mass Legal Services, Massachusetts Justice Project, and Housing Court was formed to provide people with counseling and referrals to programs. Clinics are held weekly. The goal is to educate as well as inform tenants who are facing eviction of their responsibilities and rights and to prepare them for housing court hearings. They can also refer people to programs that can help them access grants that can provide them with short term rent help. The goal of the clinic and eviction prevention services is to ensure tenants know, understand and excise their housing rights and obligations.
   
• Credit and Debt Counseling
  They provide local residents with assistance in improving their credit, eliminating their debt, establishing credit or even repairing and improving their credit scores. Their Credit Counselors work closely with clients to ensure confidentiality but also facilitates workshops on budgeting, financial literacy, and debt counseling.

Find rent and housing assistance.
The city of Springfield has announced that two local agencies and charity organizations will receive funds from a $1.7 million federal government stimulus grant. The money will be used to help prevent evictions, homelessness, provide rent and utility bill aid, and the government funds will have an overall goal of concentrating on homeless prevention efforts and the rapid rehousing of families who may have lost their homes.

The groups that will be receiving the money and that will be distributing the aid include HAP, Inc., which is slated to receive about $1.1 million from the grant. Another agency that will be providing assistance is Catholic Charities, which is receiving almost $600,000. City officials announced the government funds during a press conference that was held at City Hall.

The Mayor of Springfield, Domenic J. Sarno, in announcing how the housing assistance funds will be dispersed said there will be added focus on preventing evictions, helping currently homeless families and also really focus on assisting families who are at danger of homelessness while continuing to help individuals.

The assistance will be provided in various forms, and will range from direct grants to pay for rent, assessment and counseling to rapid rehousing through aid such as utility bill help, rental subsidies, and also money for security deposits.

Contact Catholic Charities for more information or to apply. Note that they have has various programs and services that assist the poor and needy in addition to this rent assistance.

Help to avoid foreclosure

There are programs and agencies that are providing foreclosure assistance to Springfield Massachusetts families. Funds are available from the Homesaver Rescue Fund to homeowners who are in danger of losing their home to foreclosure. HAPHousing is another local agency that provides of variety of assistance programs. In addition, read about the state of Massachusetts foreclosure assistance programs.

HAPHousing, is a local non-profit agency that is based in Springfield, and they have been offering loans of up to $5,000 for qualified borrowers and homeowners may lose their home. According to the agency, with foreclosures climbing, they've seen an increase in demand for help and they are doing their best to meet that demand.

The agency has housing counselors that will work directly with the borrower in foreclosure prevention tactics, and the counselors are well trained to set up an immediate plan of action for the homeowner. Housing counselors will arm an applicant with financial tools, information on programs, education and support that will assist the homeowner in overcoming immediate financial issues and hopefully save their home.

In addition, those looking for foreclosure and mortgage help can contact the Western Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Hotline at (413) 233-1622.