Are You Currently At Risk of Becoming Homeless?
The Targeted Prevention Program provides individuals in identified at-risk groups facing homelessness with portable rent supplements and support services to help them access rental housing in the Shenandoah Valley. Through the prevention program, the Western Virginia Continuum of Care (CoC) and its partners target transition points that put individuals in greater danger of homelessness and step in to help low income households at imminent risk. The assistance offered may include rent, security deposits, help with utilities such as heat and water, moving expenses, and potential arrearages.
Who It’s For and How it Works
Prevention assistance is limited to households that will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence within 14 days and that meet all other requirements. Household income must fall below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and lack sufficient resources and support networks necessary to retain housing without assistance.
Provision of any financial assistance is need based. Housing services agencies work closely with each household to determine the level and length of financial assistance necessary. While receiving assistance, participants have the opportunity to work on financial literacy, improve earnings, and save money to ensure future housing stability for themselves and their families.
The following examples are situations where a household may be eligible for Targeted Prevention:
- Households living in someone else’s unit (doubled-up) where the right to occupy has been terminated.
- Households living in their own unit where housing loss within 14 days is imminent and homelessness could be averted.
- Households paying with their own funds to live in a hotel or motel and that cannot pay for additional nights.
Funding for this program is subject to change due to funding cycles and community use. The prevention program is NOT designed to be used for permanent housing assistance. The housing needs of the household determine the level and period of assistance and may differ among each housing agency in the CoC.