Eviction and rehousing assistance Miami-Dade County.
The solutions to an eviction in Miami-Dade County include federal government grants for paying rental or utility bill arrears to free legal assistance as well as rehousing. There are other programs that will provide assistance to tenants as well, such as the use of a motel voucher for the currently homeless, mediation, and help with entering into a payment plan. More information on these as well as other resources in Dade County Florida are below.
There are a few different sources of information for low income families that are threatened with homelessness. If the reason for the eviction is fleeing an abusive situation (whether it is a man, women, or child) the Dade County Domestic Violence Hotline can provide both eviction prevention and many other services, and the phone number is 1-800-500-1119. The immediate solution may be a voucher to pay for a motel room to keep the person safe.
Veterans in Dade County (as well as their immediate family members) will always be given priority when it comes to an application for any homeless prevention program. While they too will need to qualify for the programs and there are no guarantees to a veteran receiving eviction help, the fact their request will be looked at towards the top of the list will be helpful nonetheless. The phone number for them to dial for information on Miami VA Healthcare System programs and other resources is 1-877-424-3838.
Homeless prevention for legal issues only is organized by the Legal Services of Greater Miami. Not only can they provide support to tenants with a 3 day notice from their landlord, but foreclosure counseling is also available from the lawyers that are offer these services. Many attorneys will also stress mediation as part of this approach.
The Miami-Dade County firms that offer this service deal with many civil issues. One of the main requests in the county is due to housing discrimination, which may be when a landlord tries to evict a renter for non-legal issues or refuse to lease to them in the first place. The Legal Services can also provide guidance as families living in poverty try to apply for public aid, such as section 8 vouchers or public housing programs. So free legal aid can cover many different needs, and dial 305-576-0080.
Financial help for stopping evictions is available from several different Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded programs. Some of the primary ones in Miami-Dade County include Emergency Solutions Grants as well as charitable resources. Some non-profit based organizations in the city of Miami, such as the Homeless Helpline as well as Catholic Charities are a great source of information on them.
There are various Eligibility Requirements needed to receive a grant. First and foremost, the family needs to be low income and homeless or at risk of eviction. They also need to be a resident of Miami-Dade County. Applicants can be immigrants, Spanish speakers, or disabled, and there is no discrimination allowed.
ESG grants will be used for housing costs, whether rent, motel rooms or energy bills. Therefore the applicant also needs to have a notice of eviction from their their landlord or shut off notice from their electric company or water provider. They also need provide proof of hardship and income so they can show the ability to pay future expenses on their own.
Families in Miami will need to go through a full application process. There will be interviews help by the non-profit that may issued the rent. If found to be qualified, then the eviction prevention services offered include grants for rental or mortgage assistance, utility assistance, food vouchers to help the family free up their income, and money for security deposits.
Financial assistance will also come with case management services. An assessment will take place that needs to determine the true reason for their hardship. Some people need eviction and rehousing assistance due to an event such as a job loss. Other reasons may bills such as unexpected car repairs, medical bills from an illness, or disabled. The Dade County apply will be referred to a solution for that need as well.
The homeless, as well as tenants that will just not be able to afford their future housing needs on their own, may be candidates for Miami-Dade County Rapid Rehousing. The program will help the struggling household resettle into a new home, whether that is with a family member, local shelter, or an affordable apartment in southern Florida.
If the applicant needs money to pay for the security deposit, then the Emergency Solutions Grant may help with that. The team at Legal Services of Greater Miami can also assess the new lease to ensure it is fair for the tenant, and help answer questions or on the responsibilities of all parties. While rapid rehousing is always an option, the preferred approach is the pro-active one that stops the eviction in the first place.
Applying homeless prevention in Miami Dade
Arguably the best place for someone that is homeless, or facing eviction, to call is the emergency helpline in place. The telephone number for this service is 877-994-4357.
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