Eviction prevention and Homeless Assistance in Pennsylvania.
Eviction prevention programs in Pennsylvania are provided through the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP). The program is administered by local nonprofit organizations in each county in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Using state and federal funding, emergency help may be available from the agencies / counties listed below with the goal of stopping homelessness or rehousing people.
The type of help that may be provided, based on funding, varies. But homeless prevention money may include funds to help pay rent, utility bills, security deposits, and other housing-related expenses for households facing eviction. The Homeless Assistance Program also supports residents who are currently unhoused. Assistance from HAP or a local non-profit may include help accessing emergency shelter, transitional housing, or rehousing options. Some locations may have limited financial support to help secure stable housing including housing units with no waiting list. Program availability and eligibility depend on county funding and local nonprofit administration.
Pennsylvania takes a preventative approach to homelessness by focusing on stopping evictions before they occur. State agencies and nonprofit partners recognize that providing emergency financial help with rent in PA or social services to stabilize housing is less disruptive for households and more cost-effective than responding after homelessness occurs. Preventing eviction is a central goal of the Homeless Assistance Program.
Emergency financial help to stop evictions from the PA Homeless Assistance Program
Emergency financial assistance may be available to help prevent evictions, depending on county funding levels. Support may include help with past-due rent, utility bills, foreclosure-related housing costs, or security deposits. Some funding may come from federal Emergency Solutions Grant resources or related programs administered at the county level.
- Assistance to pay rent or any bills is limited and often provided on a first-come, first-served basis to households that meet eligibility requirements. In certain situations, support may be issued as a loan rather than a grant. Local nonprofit agencies and Pennsylvania community action assistance programs administer rental assistance and determine availability based on current funding.
Many counties also provide tenant mediation and counseling services to help resolve disputes with landlords and prevent eviction. In some cases, free legal services may be available to eligible households to stop the eviction.
Homeless Assistance Program funds may also be used to help move households out of shelters or from unsafe housing. The money may be used to people move into low-income housing by covering costs such as security deposits or first month’s rent.
Short term, emergency shelter services are available for individuals and families who are currently homeless due to eviction, foreclosure, or loss of housing. Pennsylvania also has specialized shelters for survivors of domestic violence, veterans, families with children including single moms and other vulnerable populations. Assistance programs for the homeless, including a shelter, typically include case management services focused on employment, stability, and transition to permanent housing.
Hotel or motel vouchers, while limited, may be issued in some counties when emergency shelters are full. Vouchers are generally reserved for situations where health or safety is at risk, such as extreme weather such as cold winter temperatures in Pennsylvania or when families with children need immediate housing. Availability varies by county, and some charities may also provide emergency motel vouchers.
Households leaving any local emergency shelter may be referred to transitional housing through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bridge Housing program. This program serves as a step between emergency shelter for the un-housed and permanent housing.
- While exact details, including type of housing, length of stay and other details of the Bridge Housing vary by county, the Bridge Housing is an option for housing or apartments for a limited period, typically at most 18 months. People in the program will need to need to pay a portion of their income toward rent and receiving case management support. When Bridge Housing is unavailable, other short term transitional housing options may be offered.
Housing stability from HAP helps people with an eviction
In addition to emergency financial assistance to people facing an eviction or that need rehousing, the Homeless Assistance Program provides ongoing case management services to help households remain stably housed over the long term. Local case managers work with participants to identify challenges and connect them with appropriate resources.
Case management may address issues such as budgeting, income stability, and credit concerns - but exact goals will depend on the resident. Another focus is also around employment as people need to be able to afford the place they live. The goal is to address the underlying causes of housing instability, give people skills and try to reduce the likelihood of future eviction or homelessness.
Local Pennsylvania organizations that offer Homeless Prevention programs
Government agencies, nonprofits, and charitable groups across Pennsylvania work in partnership with the Department of Human Services or other agencies to prevent eviction and reduce homelessness. Local city, county, and regional organizations, with links below, administer the Homeless Assistance Program or other eviction prevention - rehousing services. Eligibility and available assistance vary by location and funding.
Allegheny County
Berks County
Bucks County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lehigh County eviction and homeless prevention programs
Montgomery County
Philadelphia County
York County
Organizations in each of them will help struggling, low-income renters that are threatened with an eviction (due to unpaid rent or utilities). Other rehousing and eviction help is offered in PA too from DHS, and get more details here. https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/homeless-assistance.html.
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