Housing NOW

Rental Assistance: The average cost of rental assistance is $4,500. Families always pay an increasing portion of their rent until assistance is not needed. Funds given towards rental assistance can be designated as a dollar for dollar match for funding requirements.

Rental assistance for 1 family: $4,500.

Deposit and Application Fee Assistance: Many families receiving services through Housing Now often have low credit scores and evictions on their records. In our current housing market, when these strikes are against a household, landlords often require 1.5 or double deposit plus higher application fees.

Average cost of deposit and application fees per household: $2,000

Homeless Prevention Assistance: Ben Franklin's proverb that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" makes sense to all of us, especially in housing. It only costs about $1,500 to prevent an eviction when compared to at least $6,000 to set up a stable new place of living. The minimal cost of eviction prevention saves the cost and impact of intensive case management, setting up a new house, overcoming evictions and collections and the trauma incurred by all involved by resulting homelessness.

$1,500 can prevent a family from becoming homeless

Emergency Food/Gas: To qualify for the program, families must be literally homeless. This often means that they do not have means to purchase gas to keep their car warm in the winter (before they secure housing) or funds to purchase food before food stamps kick in or important medication. A gift card means that families can meet their basic needs to fill a gap as they work to secure employment and housing.

$50 per household fulfills a family’s emergency need

Welcome Home Store: Housing Now hosts a small shopping space where families can shop for new household items to help them establish their new home. Most families move into their apartments with very few personal items due to their former homeless status. All items must be new. Average cost: $350 per family

Kitchen starter kits: include pots, pans, dishes, silverware, utensils, glasses

Cleaning kits: mops, brooms, buckets, sponges and cleaners

Bedroom supplies: twin and queen sheets, blankets, comforters, pillows

Bathroom supplies: toilet paper, shower curtains, bath mats, towels and washcloths

Hygiene items: full size items including deodorant, diapers, wipes, shampoo/conditioner, feminine hygiene products (pads and tampons)

Beds: Since it takes nearly everything a family has to secure a home, most families move in with no furniture. We find that if we do not provide beds, despite having a roof over their heads, families will sleep on the floor for months on end. Queen and twin beds (with metal frame) are the program’s priority. If the program does not have access to mattresses/bed the program will distribute air mattresses as alternative if funds are available. Pack-and-play cribs are also needed for infants and toddlers.

$330 per bed (includes metal frame & bed bug protector)

$80 per high quality air mattress

$60 per pack and play

Moving Costs and Arrears: Many families do not have the funds to pay off their past evictions or collections debts, these fees close the doors to safe, stable and permanent housing. Help removing an eviction from a family’s record can be the difference between homelessness and housed. Particularly in families with seniors or disabled family members, moving costs can be a barrier to getting a family’s meager belongings into their new home. Help renting a truck can make all the difference.

Rental Arrears can be up to: $4,000 when needed by a family

Moving costs can be up to: $150

Bus Passes: When recovering from homelessness and joblessness, finances are tight. At the start of the program, families often do not have funds to purchase bus tickets to and from interviews, new employment or to locate housing. Get some bang for your buck because bus tickets will be purchased at a half-price non-profit rate.

$20 per family

Child Care Assistance: Families with small children often experience gaps in their CCAP (DEFINE) coverage. Or if they do not have employment, have trouble securing employment because they do not have child care for children. Assistance for child care can help ensure that families can secure and maintain their housing.

Maximum Child Care Assistance per family: $500

GED Costs: Not having a GED can mean the difference between a living wage that supports a family and minimum wage that requires government assistance to survive. With a GED, a person is also eligible for the The Salvation Army’s Post-Secondary education scholarship to help boost a household member’s earning potential to support their family and become more self-sufficient.

$200 for GED tuition and textbooks