Liberty County has received $201,000 to help residents who are homeless or in imminent danger of becoming homeless.
The grant was confirmed by Hinesville City Assistant Manager Ken Howard on Monday.
“We have spent very little of (the fund) thus far,” Howard said.
The city of Hinesville, Liberty County, the Liberty County Homeless Coalition and the Salvation Army are collaborating on the program. To apply for assistance, call the Salvation Army at 1-866-387-2657.
The Salvation Army will screen applicants and determine who meets eligibility requirements for the homelessness-prevention program, Howard said.
The Rev. Hermon Scott, pastor of Baconton Missionary Baptist Church in Allenhurst and chairman of the Liberty County Homeless Coalition, said the toll-free phone number is a “pre-screening” number, and would be the first step in the application process.
Howard has stressed the homelessness-prevention program does not provide rent and utility payment assistance to residents who are experiencing financial difficulties. HPRP is only for those people and families who are homeless or are on the verge of becoming homeless, he said.
The program also does not provide cash assistance.
To be eligible for HPRP, applicants must earn an income equal to or less than 50 percent of the area median income. They must also be verified as being literally homeless, that is, living on the street, in a car or at a shelter, or be subject to eviction. Eligible applicants for the HPRP would participate in case management and be willing to work toward a stable housing situation and contribute to monthly bills, according to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Web site.
Howard said if an applicant does not have viable transportation to meet with a case worker in Savannah, once they are pre-qualified for the program, office space in the county would be found. He said the city, the county, the coalition and the Salvation Army want to make the process as “accessible and seamless as possible.”
“We’re working diligently with the Salvation Army to streamline the program to make those funds readily accessible to Liberty County,” Howard said.
The grant was confirmed by Hinesville City Assistant Manager Ken Howard on Monday.
“We have spent very little of (the fund) thus far,” Howard said.
The city of Hinesville, Liberty County, the Liberty County Homeless Coalition and the Salvation Army are collaborating on the program. To apply for assistance, call the Salvation Army at 1-866-387-2657.
The Salvation Army will screen applicants and determine who meets eligibility requirements for the homelessness-prevention program, Howard said.
The Rev. Hermon Scott, pastor of Baconton Missionary Baptist Church in Allenhurst and chairman of the Liberty County Homeless Coalition, said the toll-free phone number is a “pre-screening” number, and would be the first step in the application process.
Howard has stressed the homelessness-prevention program does not provide rent and utility payment assistance to residents who are experiencing financial difficulties. HPRP is only for those people and families who are homeless or are on the verge of becoming homeless, he said.
The program also does not provide cash assistance.
To be eligible for HPRP, applicants must earn an income equal to or less than 50 percent of the area median income. They must also be verified as being literally homeless, that is, living on the street, in a car or at a shelter, or be subject to eviction. Eligible applicants for the HPRP would participate in case management and be willing to work toward a stable housing situation and contribute to monthly bills, according to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Web site.
Howard said if an applicant does not have viable transportation to meet with a case worker in Savannah, once they are pre-qualified for the program, office space in the county would be found. He said the city, the county, the coalition and the Salvation Army want to make the process as “accessible and seamless as possible.”
“We’re working diligently with the Salvation Army to streamline the program to make those funds readily accessible to Liberty County,” Howard said.