Steps to Take If You Are Facing Homelessness
Facing homelessness can be a scary thing, but thankfully there are people than can help. If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless there are ways to find help in your community. There are agencies that provide a wide range of services including, food, health, safety and housing. In the following article we will show you some helpful steps to take if you are facing homelessness.
Steps to Take if You Are Facing Homelessness!
Step 1. Dial 2-1-1, most communities have a hotline that has a trained staff available 24/7 to help people get access to shelter, food, healthcare and other social services.
Step 2. Contact your local shelters or housing service offices. HUD has an easy tool that can help. Just click here and follow these steps below:
Step 3. Use the drop down and select your state to filter to homeless service provider in your community and state.
Step 4. Start by contacting the Homeless Service Provider nearest to your location and then contact any statewide provider.
Step 5. We suggest that you email and call the providers that are nearest to you. Be persistence in your process!
Step 6. Keep track of the office, person you spoke with, email address and date and time that you contacted the office. Take notes on the conversation you had and store all information in a safe place that you can access when needed.
Step 7. Be sure to follow up on your conversation. Most likely the homeless service provider will give you an application to a Housing Program that best suits your needs. Be sure to follow the instruction given to you.
Contact your Local Public Housing Agency
In most cases if you or your family is in need housing assistance, it is important to contact your local Public Housing Agency (PHA). A PHA will be able to help you with your state and community programs like Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other programs like the CoC.
If you are facing homelessness a PHA may be able to approve your for Continuum of Care Program (CoC), which is a special program designed to help end homelessness through the funding of nonprofits in the community. Click Here to locate a PHA in your area and ask them about the CoC program and your options for applying for a homelessness assistance program in your area.
Contact a Housing Counseling Program
HUD has a Housing Counseling Program available that provides counseling and assistance to people facing homelessness, among other services.
Each counselor is certified by the government to help you evaluate your options and create a plan to help you in the future. If you would like to find a Housing Counseling Agency near you, click here, then just choose your state and you’ll see a list of Housing Counseling Agencies that are in your area and ways to contact them directly. Housing Counseling Agency can help you understand your options if you have failed to pay rent or your mortgage and are facing evictions.
How to Contact Community Organizations that Help People at Risk of Homelessness?
There are multiple organizations in each state that can help you if you find yourself at risk of homelessness or are already homeless. You can find a list with contact information for organizations near you that assist with homelessness by clicking here and choosing your state on the map or list.
After doing so, you will see a variety of Organizations in your state and community. there will be a variety of different organizations depending on the state you live in, start by contacting the Organization that offers statewide housing services. Visit their website to learn more about the services they offer. Look for organizations that can specifically help you with rental assistance and homelessness.