Kenneth Long
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Ursula, I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your grandmother. It sounds like she was a great provider for your household.
I assume that where the apartment previously housed three people, that now there are only two in the home. The question I must ask is this: Is the apartment still appropriate for your needs? I realize there is likely a sentimental attachment to the apartment, but it can also relieve stress if you are able to make a move to a more affordable apartment. There are grant programs that could help with making this transition if you were open to the possibility.
The vast majority of the rental assistance programs are based on the premise that they can provide you with a quick cash grant to get you through a temporary hardship. If the situation is ongoing, then it would not permanently solve the problem and thus you would not be a candidate for those programs.
I would encourage you instead to look for ways to increase the income for yourself and your brother. These same organizations that provide rent aid can also provide classes and/or referrals to employment training programs. Some of these job help services include a small amount of rental aid, so it definitely helps to find out!
We periodically feature some of these programs so please feel free to visit us again.
Cherise, a good starting point is the Metropolitan Council on Housing. They manage a hotline where you can be screened for potential eviction prevention funds. If a match is found, they can help you apply for the grant and provide ongoing support until your housing situation is stabilized. Call 212-979-0611. Metropolitan Council on Housing is one of several community partners that join forces to fight homelessness in Brooklyn.
We referred another client to this agency as well.
Kelly, have you tried contacting any of the popular nonprofit credit unions in Richmond?
- Argent Credit Union
- Call Federal Credit Union
- Dominion Credit Union
- Entrust Financial Credit Union
- Henrico Federal Credit Union
- The Virginia Credit Union
Germaine, there is an organization that provides assistance with move in costs for a new rental unit. OHCAC provides this security deposit help in Crawford and Morrow counties but not in Marion County. Still I recommend calling them at 740-383-2154 to see what local referrals they can make. Often a small church or aid charity can help with needs even though specific programs are not necessarily publicized.
Heather, there is a program called The Family Place. They may be able to provide you with help towards the security deposit. They have a few services that can help you make the transition to a permanent rental property in Ramsey County. You can call them at 561-225-9354. Please let us know what types of assistance you receive through that organization.
Heather, there are programs in Minnesota that assist with security deposits. Most cover a regional area of one or more counties. Which part of Minnesota do you live in?
Hi Nicole,
You are in luck. There are many organizations that provide grants to Dallas residents who are facing eviction. Some of them provide cash aid to tenants, while all focus on intensive case management to determine which options will help improve a housing situation. We previously profiled Cathedral of Hope, North Dallas Shared Ministries and Catholic Charities of Dallas for another Dallas resident facing eviction.
There are several others, including:
- Dallas County Human Services
- White Rock Center of Hope
- Irving Cares
- Mesquite Social Services
- The Family Place (Metrocrest Counseling Center)
- Duncanville Outreach Ministry
Have you been in contact with any of these eviction prevention organizations yet?
Dear Marcedes,
Your options will depend on your monthly income. If it is higher then you could borrow money from a credit union to catch up on rent and prevent the eviction. Just make sure you can afford to repay at least $110 per month based on that amount.
If your income has taken a downturn, then you may wish to contact one of the agencies that provide rental aid in Broward County. Grants are preferred since they will not have to be repaid.
Hi Nicole,
I must caution you against taking out a loan in your current situation. Loans should only be requested once you have already cured your income situation and just need some quick cash to cover you in the interim.
There are some aid programs in Denver that I believe may be a better fit for you. Please consider checking them out prior to putting yourself in debt.
If you do need to borrow, it is best to start with your own bank or a nonprofit credit union loan before turning to other lenders.
Dear Iliana,
We had another LA client with a similar situation. CalWORKS had some pretty attractive grant opportunities for those enrolled in its programs.
L.A. Family Housing can help you if you are definitely getting evicted. They provide help with the transition from an eviction through temporary housing to ultimately help you find a permanent rental property. You can call them at 818-982-4091.
Dear Lola,
I am sorry to hear about your experienced getting scammed out of rent money. We are hearing about these types of scams with greater frequency.CalWORKS focuses mostly on preventing evictions but they also have a Moving Assistance program that pays up to $2,000 towards security deposits and first month’s rent payment. More information is available through a response to another client in Los Angeles.
I’d be interested to hear back on the outcome of your contact with CalWORKS.
We previously helped a client from Chesterfield who was looking for loans to cover her rent. That approach of using loans to pay rent is not advisable, except in the situation where income has been restored and the household earns too much to be approved for emergency rental assistance grants.
I am wondering if you are within the local service area of some of the organizations that help Richmond residents with rent emergencies. We had a Richmond client whom we referred to a couple of these organizations. Have you spoken to or applied for aid with any of these community partners yet?
Aljaneen, where do you live? Have you already received an eviction notice? I can help match you with a program that can intervene.
Oddly enough, your local community based bank or credit union offers these loans for exactly this type of purpose. Many credit unions offer rates cheaper than preferred rate credit cards, and with only a modest credit score.
