Kenneth Long
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Aaron I understand a drop in hours made it difficult to meet the rent. Is your problem short-term in nature, and is your landlord aware of the concern?
I have followed a program in Ypsilanti that uses volunteers to keep families in their homes despite the economic challenges that they face. Have you been introduced to Friends in Deed? Given the limited amount of time that you expressed (5 days) I would encourage you to call them immediately to be connected with this local support network.Dear Lanette,
These programs in Cobb County may be able to help.
Hi Francine, try PROCEED which provides aid to families in Elizabeth, NJ. They provide assistance to those who need help getting back on their feet with a new tenancy.
Don’t wait to request assistance. They will let you know whether you must wait for an eviction notice to receive help with a late rent payment.
If you are falling behind for the first time, your landlord deserves to know why. Being upfront might give you more flexibility in getting your rent caught up as you wait for the new paychecks to arrive in late September. It is not easy to admit that you are having trouble honoring your lease agreement, but at least letting the landlord know that you both intend to repay the arrears and already have the new job lined up could give you the time you need.
Hi msbutton35,
There are a few possible sources of assistance to help you gain access to new housing when you are unable to come up with the security deposit. Self Help can meet with you to evaluate your situation and link you with available security deposit aid. Accion may similarly be able to help. EFSA aid is available through the Goulds Community Enrichment Center or Liberty City. Some aid is direct while referrals can also provide some funding towards your next deposit.
River City Ministry is based in North Little Rock. Helping with security deposits is one potential option for keeping people out of homelessness. They received some federal grant money last year that could improve your chances of getting assistance. We featured this organization in a response to another Arkansas resident.
Hi Tammy, your best bet may be to go directly through one of these New Jersey security deposit aid programs. Some can also help with first month’s rent. Be prepared to answer questions about your household income and explain any hardships that you have experienced.
It appears that you are doing so much to head off the eviction. I strongly recommend documenting everything that you have done and put together an action plan that shows how you will get back on track. Taking this to your landlord might be enough to get them to request that the hearing be rescheduled. Also, if you are able to bring in part of the amount it may show an act of good faith to allow for more time.
The only sure way to prevent the eviction though is to come up with the full amount. A loan is not possible due to your unemployed status. Do you have any items that you can sell to raise a few hundred dollars?
Hi, our organization does not provide direct cash aid, but many of the agencies featured in the local assistance section do provide payments for emergency aid. Those payments are grants that do not have to be repaid. You could look at a credit union if you want to borrow money for a security deposit, though a peer lending product could work also.
Sarah, the short notice can make it very challenging to line up a grant to cover your arrears. It may be possible, though there may also be some other opportunities for helping you maintain safe housing for you and your two boys.
Due to the complexities of your case, I believe that a meeting with a social worker is the best starting point. They can help you with housing stability, since that is most important for family stability.
It will be important to know that you will be able to afford the rent on this home or any other should you move to a new place. If rent exceeds 40% of your monthly income, then it makes it incredibly challenging to pay this on time plus all of your other living costs. I realize that children are not cheap, so it really takes discipline to keep living costs as low as possible.
There are also these Durham aid agencies that can match you with a case manager. If a grant is possible they can work quickly to find a way to make it happen. Please keep your mind open to other options, since those could be more sustainable in the long run.
Tricia, the security deposit is still yours, though the landlord may place any claims for damages beyond normal wear and tear as well as arrears and legal expenses.
It might be possible to get an Emergency Solutions Grant from Community Action Southwest. There are some other emergency assistance agencies to consider also.
You may receive funds to avert the eviction, but the case manager will need to know how you intend to be able to afford your rent in subsequent months. Make sure that you have some evidence to support your attempts to find a new job so that you pass the feasibility test.
Joey, it may be wise to discuss your new job with the new landlord. If you let them know the date of your next paycheck, it may be possible to avoid any serious problems. Landlords don’t like to hear about payment delays, but becoming scarce when the rent is late is far worse.
There are potential options for paying the rent on time.
- You could borrow the money from your bank or credit union. An unsecured loan may be possible if you have a good banking relationship. Park Community Credit Union is one nonprofit lending option.
- You could
- You could borrow money from family.
- You could request a pay advance, though this is usually unwise with a new employer.
- You could access grant funding through one of the Richmond rental assistance agencies.
- You could apply through a peer lender.
You can evaluate the options and choose based on what is best for your situation. Your income will dictate if you qualify for grant-based aid. Your credit rating could affect your ability to obtain loans.
Ebony, a loan can solve the problem if you earn too much to qualify for aid programs but lack the savings to pay first month’s rent and deposit. Loans are harder to obtain with bad credit but there are some alternative options including borrowing from peers to provide the cash you need.
Are you open to transitional housing? If you are, there are several programs in Mecklenburg County that can help you save money over a couple of months to build the savings that you need.
Sherryl, your best bet is to contact your bank or credit union directly. Credit concerns can make a loan harder to come by, unless you borrow from a peer.
You could contact one of the Gwinnett County programs that we referred Charles to in the post above. I strongly recommend using the free access for aid before putting yourself on the line for another debt that has to be repaid.
