Purpose

The purpose of the program is to help assist with past due rent to prevent a tenant's eviction. At this time, we can only assist Cunningham Township GA clients; however, this restriction is subject to change.

Our office finds that homelessness frequently results from an economic crisis such as a loss of employment, medical emergency, or loss or interruption of public benefits and that the prevention of homelessness, as opposed to providing temporary shelter or offering other short-term solutions to persons who become homeless, is cost-effective, preserves family self-respect, and helps to keep families intact.

Eligibility

This booklet cannot cover all of the eligibility requirements for this program. However, the following summary lists the basic requirements:

• the applicant must be a current General Assistance client of the Cunningham Township General Assistance Program. This restriction is subject to change.
  
  
• the applicant must be living in the dwelling unit from which she or he is being evicted.
  
  
• the applicant must be in imminent danger of eviction for non-payment of rent. Proof includes a five-day notice or a summons to appear in court for eviction for non-payment of rent.
  
  
• since the purpose of the program is to keep individuals in their homes, it must be possible to remedy the potential loss of the rental dwelling unit with the payment of rent arrearage.
  
  
• Cunningham Township will be the payer of last resort after other possible financial resources have been exhausted.

Benefits

The amount of assistance shall be the smallest amount of money necessary to prevent eviction.

Cunningham Township pays this amount directly to the landlord. For each GA client, the maximum amount of benefits from the Homelessness Prevention Program cannot total more than $325.00 within any period of 365 days.

The amount of money necessary to keep the GA client from being immediately evicted will be negotiated among Township staff, the client, and the landlord.