Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter assistance programs.
Programs available from the Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter can help tenants that are facing an eviction. The organization provides rent assistance, case management, and other support, such as help in obtaining permanent housing. While financial aid, including interest free loans are available, the agency will also offer struggling families free advice and ongoing support services.
The organization operates from donations from the public, and was created as a partnership between Blue Ridge Legal Services, the Salvation Army, state of Virginia DSS caseworkers, and local churches, among other groups. All these organizations are committed to ending homelessness in the greater Shenandoah Valley area, and they use a combination of financial aid, donations and short term shelter to meet this goal.
Long term, permanent housing
The charity operates as a permanent supportive housing organization, and to this end they provide low income families and individuals with a number of services ranging from counseling, job placement, budgeting, and even access to low cost or free healthcare. So Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter will not only provide help for paying back or overdue rent payments, but many other services are available too in the area, including Winchester and Harrisonburg.
The housing available is subsidized, and with the the high prices of apartments and homes in Virginia, the charity has determined that lack of affordable accommodations is a major cause of homelessness. So the permanent supportive housing will require clients to pay up to 30% of their income towards their monthly rent and utility bills, and the tenant can also access many other case management services. This is similar to section 8 HCV rent subsidized homes in Virginia.
There is also extensive help provided for the disabled or those with a mental illness, as they can really struggle with homelessness. Another key client of the permanent supportive housing is single parents in the region and their children, as they to can struggle with paying the rent and managing other bills at the same time. All clients will partner with a social worker from Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter or one of their partner organizations on the path to self-sufficiency.
Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter Financial help for bills or rent
For people that are facing eviction, they can receive rent assistance from the interest-free loan that is provided by Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter and its partner churches. The money will only be paid out to qualified families that are facing an eviction, and the funds will be issued directly to their landlord. While the funds will need to be repaid, the fact that there is no interest being charge will make that payment a little easier for the tenant, and it may be as low as $10 per month. This is all offered as part of the Alliance's homeless prevention program.
Other support is provided as well by the Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter. In addition to offering funds to help with a rent payment to stop an eviction, they will also offer referrals to social service agencies, ranging from clothing closets to local food pantries in counties such as Shenandoah, Warren, Frederick, and Rockingham.
They also coordinate a number of assistance programs with Northwestern Community Services, Blue Ridge Legal Services, the Salvation Army and other groups. So all of these agencies work to help struggling families in the region with their housing or other needs.
There are other partner organizations in the area, and they include the Salvation Army Shelter in Harrisonburg (call 540-434-4854) as well as the The Mercy House, and that non-profit can be reached at 540- 432-1812.
Applying for social services or Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter resources
For more details on their loan and other rent programs, call 540-277-0012 for intake. A formal assessment and interview process will need to take place, and based on the results of that, assistance will be provided to qualified families.
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