Center in the Park assistance programs.
Center in the Park is a social service agency in Chester County. The non-profit assists the less fortunate with energy needs, provides Ombudsman services for senior citizens, refers tenants and homeowners to housing services and more. Most of the assistance is in the form of free referrals and advice. Staff can also help clients with applying for grants.
Note most of the assistance is for older people, including senior citizens and those over the age of 55. However other struggling families may get referrals too. More information on the various social services is below.
Housing resources
As a number of issues contribute to housing instability in the Chester County region, Center in the Park offers housing counseling to both tenants and homeowners. This will help clients an array of services to help resolve their issues. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has certified the non-profit as a housing counseling agency. These services address.
-Financial aid for rent or mortgages.
-Literacy, education and training.
-Credit repair as well as money management.
-Access to affordable loans. They can be used to pay for housing costs. More on low cost loans.
-Creation of social skills, health and nutrition.
-Information on buying a home, including closing cost assistance programs.
- Center in the Park addresses other needs too including parenting and child care.
In addition, the housing counselor makes referrals to a wide range of other community resources. The goal is to stop homelessness and ensure every family has an affordable home to live in. They have information on banking services, battered women’s shelters, programs to help with mortgage programs, educational services, church groups, and Habitat for Humanity homes.
Center in the Park offers services to help home buyers, renters, and homeowners improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy. The agency’s counselor provides low to moderate income individuals and families with information about safe, affordable housing and helps clients resolve issues.
They tackle problems having to do with fair housing, leasing a new apartment, homeownership, budgeting, mortgage default and rent delinquency. Individual counseling sessions are available by appointment at offices too. Depending on the topics to be covered, the first session typically lasts between 45 minutes and one hour at most, but follow up is given when needed. (215) 848-7722 ext. 219
Financial aid from Center in the Park
Find help from one of a number of utility bill assistance programs. The main one in Chester County and Pennsylvania is LIHEAP, which is a government funded program. But there is also Weatherization, which is used to help pay for energy-related minor home repairs. They also have applications to Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) as well as water conservation measures.
These resources are not meant to pay for all of the families energy costs for the month, season, or year. In fact, LIHEAP will only pay for the home or apartment's main heating source. Therefore if a client were to heat their home with gas, they might get help with a gas bill from LIHEAP; but it will not pay for an electric bill.
It is a short term program, so Low Income Home Energy Assistance keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP can help client stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Staff from Center in the Park will assist seniors, low income households and people with disabilities with understanding public health care programs that are available to them, namely Medicare and Medicaid. The team can direct the client to a social service issues, where they get help with completing the Medicaid application. Or the elderly can learn about Medicare Rights.
Also as part of this process there is assistance in finding prescription resources, including pharmaceutical assistance programs as well as Medicare Part D plans. Staff are available by phone or in office, but appointments are recommended.
Senior assistance is offered. Center in the Park Caregiver Support Group, combined with Respite and In Home Care, is used to ensure the elderly and disabled get the help they need. The program provides caregivers with an opportunity to share both positive and negative experiences with others as well as get a “break” that is often much needed.
There is also other help for older clients. Transportation in Chester County for medical appointments or critical shopping, Adult Day Care, items such as free hearing aid for seniors, and other support. Free Meals on Wheels is another assistance program.
Family caregiver can be a professional, but in many cases it refers to a family member or other adult who acts as an informal, unpaid provider of in-home and community care. The person from the Chester County region will help a senior over the age of 60, who is home-bound and requires constant attention. The non-profit will also get the client information, support, and answers to their needs.
Apply for assistance from Center in the Park
Center in the Park supports Chester County too. For more information on their social services, dial 215-848-7722.
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