HopeSource offers several types of help for people who are homeless using a Housing First model. This means we take people as they are, without preconditions, believing that a person’s first and primary need is a safe and secure roof over their head. We believe everyone is housing ready and we support our clients with connections to community based help once their housing is stabilized.
If you are homeless, there are several types of assistance available. An intake specialist will ask you a few questions after you make an appointment and then work with you to identify the best path forward. Please know, we do our best to stretch limited resources as far as possible and sometimes there still isn’t enough to meet all of the need. Our agency works to support people in our community in a lot of different ways so even if we can’t help with housing right away, we will make sure you are connected to all the assistance our agency and service partners offer.
Specially trained client advocates work with people who are homeless to help them identify their own solutions to their housing crisis. Maybe doubling up with a friend or family member makes sense, maybe they need help talking to a landlord or maybe they only need help with a rental deposit. The goal is to keep a household out of the shelter/homeless system and instead quickly rehouse them with their own good ideas and resources. HopeSource believes people are their own best experts on their lives and that sometimes talking through an idea with a diversion specialist can help them with next steps. Limited Flex Funds are available to help a household obtain housing.
It’s not okay with HopeSource that anyone ever has to sleep outside. The HopeSource Emergency Shelter is available to homeless families with children. In addition, we consider emergency hotel/motel vouchers for single adults on a case by case basis. All shelter clients are offered client centered case management, support and resources with the goal of permanent housing. Limited Flex Funds are available to help a household obtain housing.
Research tells us that the shorter time a person is homeless, the better the longer term outcomes. Our rental assistance program operates under a “Rapid Rehousing” model meaning that we will work with clients to identify affordable rental units, complete applications and help clients negotiate leases with landlords so everyone is set up for success. HopeSource may be able to pay deposits and several months of rent assistance depending upon the client’s needs with the goal that the household take over the rental obligation as soon as possible. All rental assistance clients are offered client centered case management, support and resources with the goal of permanent housing.
If you have a Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) Referral from DSHS, please come see us. We will review your eligibility for housing assistance and provide “essential needs” as is available.
Prevention assistance is available to help people who are housed solve an imminent housing crisis so they don’t lose their unit. This may be mediation with a landlord to set up a late rent payment plan or something else. Limited Flex Funds are available to help a household keep their housing.
Households are at imminent risk of homelessness if they will lose their primary nighttime residence within 14 days of the date of application for assistance, AND no subsequent residence has been identified, AND the household lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing.
The SSVF program works with Veterans who are homeless or facing homelessness. Services may include eviction prevention, move-in assistance, rental assistance, general housing stability items (include employment support items), assistance securing benefits (SSI or VA) and referrals to other entities providing services for Veterans.
Eligibility: Clients must be a Veteran with a discharge status other than dishonorable. Veterans of the National Guard are eligible only if deployed for at least one day of active duty. The next criteria for eligibility is income—Veterans must be at 50% of area median income to qualify for services. Veterans who are 30% of area median income qualify as very-low income and may be eligible for assistance over a longer period of time.
The Senior Support and Advocacy Program (SSAP) is a Permanent Housing program that provides rental assistance for seniors who are low income and stably housed or homeless. The amount of rental assistance is determined based on income and provides rental support to cover costs that exceed 30% of the household’s adjusted gross income. The number and length of time rental assistance can be provided is dependent upon the number of households and amount of funding for the year.
Seniors who are homeless can be served by the Rapid Re-Housing Program, then move to the SSAP program for ongoing rental assistance.
Eligibility: Clients must be at least 65 years of age and low income.
(Kittitas County’s rent assistance program is currently operational per Proclamation 21-09 through T-RAP and CDBG CV1 funding)