Home Again is a collaboration of several Summit County social service agencies, which together operate the Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) for Akron and Summit County.

The Partners For Home Again are:

• Info Line, Inc. - Central assessment and eligibility determination
• The Salvation Army - Homeless prevention services for homeless individuals and families
• H.M. Life Opportunity Services - Rapid re-housing services for homeless individuals and families
• Summit County Children’s Services - Homeless prevention and rapid re-housing services for emancipated youth who have aged out of foster care in Summit County.

Home Again HPRP funds can provide temporary financial assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services to those individuals and families who are homeless or would be homeless but for this assistance.

For more information call 330.615.0566. Office hours are 9:00am to noon, Monday through Thursday.

HOMELESS PREVENTION

Homeless Prevention's main focus is on preventing those who are at risk of losing their existing housing and becoming homeless. This will keep these households out of the shelter system.

Target Population Eligibility:

Must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• Live in Summit County
• Household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income
• Lack financial resources and support networks needed to obtain immediate housing
• Have sufficient income to sustain housing after receiving assistance, this generally means a household income of at least $500/month
• Moderate barriers to obtaining market housing

Must also meet AT LEAST ONE of the following requirements:

• Notice of eviction within 2 weeks from a private dwelling
• Reside in housing that has been condemned by housingofficials
• Sudden and significant loss of income that may result inloss of housing
• At risk of utility disconnection that may result in loss ofhousing
• Pending foreclosure of rental housing
• Current or past involvement with child welfare
• Being discharged within 2 weeks from a hospitalor other institution without a housing plan
• High overcrowding

If Eligible, Agencies Can Provide The Following:

• Financial assistance in the form of Security deposit, Rent, Utility deposits and payments AND Other household “start up costs”
• Housing search and placement
• Legal assistance
• Case management to resolve issues that are barriers toachieving housing stability
• Initial and follow-up inspections meeting localhabitability standards

Ineligible Activities:

• Mortgage costs including fees, taxes, refinancing expenses and legal services
• Other costs such as construction or rehabilitation of shelters or housing, credit card bills or other consumer debt, carrepair or other transportation costs, travel, food, medical and dental care and medicines, clothing and grooming, homefurnishings, child care, pet care, entertainment activities, employment training, and work or education related materials.

RAPID REHOUSING

Rapid Re-Housing services are provided by The Salvation Army and Summit County Children Services. The main focus is to assist those who are experiencing homelessness to quickly access and sustain permanent housing. This will minimize shelter stays and increase stability by offering supportive services. This is a program of last resort - all other options must be exhausted.

You must meet ALL of the following eligibility requirements:

• Live in Summit County
• Lack financial resources and support networks needed to obtain immediate housing
• Have sufficient income to sustain housing after receiving assistance; this generally means a household income of at least $500/month
• Moderate barriers to obtaining market housing
• Household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income

Must also meet AT LEAST ONE of the following eligibility requirements:

• Age 18 to 30 and aged/aging out of foster care in Summit County
• Sleeping in an emergency shelter OR
• Sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (cars, parks,abandoned buildings) OR
• Graduating from, or timing out of a transitional housing program OR
• Staying in a hospital or other institution for up to 180 days but was sleeping in an emergency shelter or other place not meant for human habitation prior to hospitalization OR
• Victim of domestic violence

The program will NOT assist with:

• Mortgage costs including fees, taxes, refinancing expenses and legal services
• Other costs such as construction or rehabilitation of shelters or housing, credit card bills or other consumer debt, car repair or other transportation costs, travel, food, medical and dental care and medicines, clothing and grooming, home furnishings, child care, pet care, entertainment activities, employment training, and work or education related materials.

For more information call 330.615.0566. hours are 9:00am to noon, Monday - Thursday.