At the beginning of January, a young, single father of three arrived at Community Service Programs (CSP) of West Alabama, Inc. He was seeking rental assistance.
He had no transportation, was in between jobs and had little family or social support, shares Elisha Maston, housing counseling supervisor. "During our time with him, we discovered that he not only faced eviction, but multiple utility disconnections."
By the next day, his power and water services were restored because of CSP's diligence in working with him and the utilities companies.. He also received assistance with gas, and the NeighborWorks network member helped him sign up for SNAP benefits, too.
Their conversation with him didn't stop there. The man was also a veteran — something CSP staff learned in subsequent conversations, Mastin says. But he'd been unsuccessful connecting with Veterans Affairs. "CSP was able to remedy this situation by using its own connections and linking the young man with the lead case manager at Priority Veteran, who would then utilize their resources to cure his rent arrears."
Underlying and supporting efforts like Mastin shared? A grant from NeighborWorks America's Keeping People Housed Initiative. It helped support CSP's housing counseling department, which, in turn, helps residents in many ways. The grant, made possible by support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is also helping 10 other network organizations as they continue their commitment to keep people housed.
CSP has been a HUD-approved counseling agency for two decades and has helped the community with stable housing for decades longer than that. "Our lens has always been through housing stability counseling programs," says Antwon Prince-Sealy, director of housing programs. "It's ingrained in what we do. NeighborWorks' grant helps us continue what we're doing."
In some communities, COVID-era moratoriums ended a year or more ago. But in Western Alabama, some of those moratoriums ended as recently as December. "Our busiest time is now," Mastin says. "I don't see it slowing down."
Helping families remain stably housed means many things to the staff at CSP. It may mean financial and housing counseling, says Prince-Sealy — the organization saw 440 families last year. It may mean home maintenance. The organization helped 80 families with owner-occupied rehabs last year. A community action agency, CSP has also worked on weatherization programs and home maintenance programs to help people stay in their homes in ways that remain comfortable and safe.
"Everything works together," Prince-Sealy explains. "We've been focusing on bundling everything for the families we serve." For example, they've worked with the state department of insurance to help families access fortified roofing, a higher standard that protects homes and the residents in them from high winds. Other grants support addressing environmental hazards and digital inclusion.
CSP carries out its motto, "Committed to Building Stronger Families and Communities," under the direction of its Executive Director Cynthia W. Burton. "That's the foundation on which the agency provides services through innovative programs in supportive services, education and housing," Prince-Sealy adds.
Other organizations also report that NeighborWorks' Keeping People Housed Initiative allows them to do more. "We have really used this grant across the board to provide supports throughout the housing stabilization process," says Karen Schroeder, chief communications officer at Home HeadQuarters.
As an example, she shares the story of a long-term rental customer who became a first-time homebuyer with her organization's help. "The customer received intensive financial counseling and support," she says. "Homebuyer education, home improvement and Realtor services — just about everything Home HeadQuarters has to offer." NeighborWorks' grant allowed the organization to provide an "all hands on deck" approach and get her into her new home.
This is the third year of NeighborWorks' Keeping People Housed Initiative, which started during the pandemic to help organizations reach even farther. Together with NeighborWorks' Housing Stability Counseling Program, supported by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and designed and administered by NeighborWorks America, organizations are able to receive support for housing counseling, described by leaders as an essential way to help residents find a safe place to call home — and to stay there.
Sara Zakaria, senior specialist, Resource Development and Communications & Marketing, contributed to this blog post.
02/29/2024
