Sep 19, 2014 3 min read

The Washington County commissioners accepted a $171,327 block grant from the state Department of Public Welfare to assist the homeless through June 30, 2015, through four agencies.

“We’re at level funding,” said Jennifer Johnson, who coordinates services for the homeless provided through Washington County. “We had some money left over. There may’ve been some increase at the end of the year, but I think we’re pretty level.” The commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to allocate the funds.

The providers, programs and amounts for the state’s current fiscal year are: Connect Inc., emergency shelter services, $85,077; Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania, bridge housing for victims, $15,372, and emergency shelter services, $18,480; Washington City Mission, case management, $6,087; and Community Action Southwest, rental assistance, $46,311.

Jeffrey Fondelier, vice president of operations of Washington-based Community Action Southwest, said Thursday, “Rental assistance can also help those who are facing utility shutoffs. If a person has received an eviction notice through a magistrate’s office, Community Action, through its rental assistance program, can intervene to keep a roof over his or her head.

“Rental assistance can also aid a person who has come out of a shelter but is staying in a place that is unfit for human habitation. This funding of $46,000 may sound like a lot of money, but they have to have their own means of support or we cannot help them with this fund. It’s doled out in increments for monthly rent and security deposits.”

The person must demonstrate self-sufficiency, and the limit on rental assistance through the state’s program is $1,000 per individual and $1,500 per household, and he or she must meet income limitations tied to the federal poverty level.

Eviction doesn’t occur out of the blue, but because of a crisis such as job loss or unexpected bills for car repair.

Those who enter the program also go through financial literacy classes to acquaint the person facing eviction with borrowing, saving and prudent spending habits. Community Action also can refer participants to adult education.

Bridge housing moves a person from being homeless into permanent housing. This is usually the next step up from an emergency shelter. This service allows people to stay in a shared facility or apartment for as long as 18 months for a small co-pay, depending on income. The person is to continue to receive case management services.

Case management provided by the City Mission is designed to identify needs and the reasons why someone became homeless or near-homeless. Its focus is to provide a person with the tools and skills needed to prevent them from ever being in a homeless situation again. The many services include budgeting, life skills, job preparation, home management and referral to drug and alcohol services, if necessary.