Homeless prevention assistance in New Haven County.
A countywide homeless prevention program in New Haven is used to both stop evictions as well as rapidly rehouse families that need support. The program, known as CTRRP, is operated by the state's housing authority and new-profits in New Haven County. Qualified families can get both financial help and non-monetary support.
Eviction help will only be given to tenants that meet the various guidelines that are in place. There is assistance given, such as grants for paying rental or utility bill arrears, to applicants with a source of income as well as those that are facing a crisis. If a potential client has no means to gain stability in the short term, then they may be rehoused into a shelter or even given a very short term voucher to use at a local New Haven County motel or hotel.
The money for this services is part of the HUD Emergency Solution Grant program. This is a time limited financial aid program. It not only pays for housing needs such as security deposits, rent, or energy-related bills, but it also allows non-profits such as the United Way to coordinate legal aid in New Haven County. ESG is the main funding source, whether for pro-active eviction prevention programs or other needs.
When it comes to preventing the eviction (and keeping the family in their own home or apartment) New Haven CTRRP is used. It is used to keep people in place, in safe and stable permanent housing. The main components of it are as follows.
- Non-profits will be involved in counseling tenants regarding their legal rights and lease obligations, ensuring timely rent payments to their landlords, job placement, and other services.
- Referrals to other government benefits, including Emergency Solutions Grant City of New Haven, the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Lifeline Telephone Bill Assistance Program, and section 8 vouchers from the Housing Authority.
- Linkage to New Haven Legal Assistance, which can be called at (203) 946-4811, can assist senior citizens and the very low income with free eviction defense programs.
- One time government grants to pay off any arrears on rent, heating bills, and the like.
- Placement into life skills classes, such as budgeting, credit repair, and more.
- Tenant counseling, mediation with landlords, and other support is given.
All of this are pro-actively done to keep the family in their current residence. CTRRP will require that some form of income is available from the tenant, as the non-profits will not help clients over the very long term. Therefore, when applying for eviction help, applicants need to bring their recent work history, current employment, income verification from all sources, and copy of residency. More information may be requested as well.
New Haven County rapid rehousing is a statewide program. Counselors will not only help the homeless, but when someone is about to be evicted, this can be a tool to keep them off the streets for as short of a time-frame as possible. The fact is that homeless prevention will also have the goal of ensuring everyone in the county as well as city has access to affordable and safe homes to live in. While it can be difficult to do as a result of the expense involved in the New Haven Connecticut area, it is the goal nonetheless.
Applications are also needed. The person seeking assistance can be a family (including single mom or dad) or they can be a single resident living in a shelter or motel. It can also be someone with an eviction notice that has no way to contest it and they need to move no matter what. Rapid rehousing in New Haven will reduce the average length of time clients are homeless.
The types of assistance available are as following. Case managers will perform outreach to local landlords who may be renting a home. They will also help clients apply for security deposit assistance or assist with moving costs. If and when needed, lawyers from the New Haven Legal Assistance team will also review a potential lease agreement to ensure it is valid and safe.
When an apartment has been found in New Haven County, an inspection will take place. The family may be given some furniture they need to get established (or vouchers to shopping at a thrift store) and can also apply for financial help. This can help with utility or rental deposits, and maybe offset a few months worth of expenses. This up front help from Rapid Rehousing will ideally get the tenant off on the correct footing, thereby reducing any chances for a future eviction or homeless event.
Apply for rapid rehousing and homeless prevention in New Haven County
There is an intake process for homeless prevention in New Haven. For more information, the phone number is 203.492.4866.
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