St. Lawrence County assistance programs.

Find how to get assistance paying rent

Families and individuals who live in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis County, so called northern New York country residents, have a new way for how to get help from social services offices and nonprofit organizations. These groups are working together to combat what they call an increasingly apparent problem, and that is being an increasing number of people facing eviction and homelessness.

A new program known as Helping Eradicate All Roads to Homelessness, or the HEARTH program, will provide assistance. St. Lawrence County Social Services was provided hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government stimulus plan to be used to prevent evictions, homelessness, and even help people who may currently be homeless.

The HEARTH will provide many forms of assistance, including help with rent, heating and money for energy bill assistance, funds for security deposits, emergency free hotel and motel vouchers, money for moving costs, landlord-tenant dispute resolution, free legal help and also assistance to find affordable housing for households who are at or below 50 percent of median income in St. Lawrence. Find additional low income programs.

Struggling families are becoming an increasingly large problem in St. Lawrence County, and there are more families and individuals looking for temporary housing solutions and rent help than before.

The HEARTH program is intended to provide financial assistance in order to help people avoid homelessness. As people apply for aid, they will be assessed and it will be determined if over the long term they can afford to stay where they are and pay rent over the years. If the applicant can get back on their feet over the long term, and they just need short-term assistance, we'll help them with their rent. If there is no good plan for sustainability and for them to be successful over the long term, they will explore other options.

Contact St. Lawrence County Social Services ((315) 287-0285) for more information.

 

 

 

Find financial help for emergencies, and funds to pay bills, rent, and other aid

St. Lawrence County Community Development Inc. - This non-profit can assist families and individuals through a wide variety of assistance programs, resources, and counseling. Some of the programs this non-profit runs includes the Section 8 Housing Voucher program. More.

The agency also runs Head Start, which can provide food, health care, and education for children. Other services offered include the government weatherization program. Call the Development agency, which is located in Canton New York, at 315-386-1102.

Salvation Army has two different locations in St. Lawrence County New York. One is in Massena, and the other is in Ogdensburg. Between the two locations, they can provide people with free food, clothing, rent assistance, funds for paying heating and utility bills, clothing, holiday gifts and meals, and even job training. You can dial the Massena branch at 315-769-5154. The Ogdensburg location can be called at 315-393-3351.

St. Lawrence County Community Development Program, Inc. - This is the local community action agency. Get help from the following programs.

• Utility Bill and Rental Payment Assistance - Low income individuals can get access to financial assistance and grants that can be used to prevent utility shutoff and eviction, and the assistance is available through funding provided by the federal government funded Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Also, get information on housing resources, including HUD approved foreclosure counseling agencies and other housing support.
• Energy Services - The CAPC agency provides home weatherization services and other energy conservation measures to households meeting financial eligibility. Services offered by weatherization could include floor and home insulation, furnace repair or replacement and more to assist homeowners and renters to conserve energy and reduce energy bills.
• Food Stamps - Counselors can help with the following. Prescreening, Application Assistance, Re-certification Assistance and Barrier Advocacy with local departments of social services.  Staff from the community action agency can explain procedures, help with documentation gathering and help with completing the application.
• Free Income tax counseling and filing - Get your taxes reviewed and filed, for free, by IRS trained volunteers.
• Food banks - The agency can partner with local pantries and banks to provide free food, groceries, and other non-financial aid to the low income in the community.

Call the Canton NY agency at (315) 386-1102.