Clients are referred to us through the Coalition of the Homeless. Case managers proactively find the referred client wherever they are currently sheltering, explain the housing opportunity to them, and offer to help them gather all necessary documents for housing. Once accepted for the housing program, clients talk to a housing specialist, who determines what kind of income the client has and any specific needs the client may have. A background check is run for on-campus housing options, and once these steps are taken, the application for housing is processed. Clients who have been offered a voucher for a scattered-site unit begin the difficult hunt for an apartment.
We have on-campus housing and scattered off-site housing, where St. Vincent de Paul Louisville has a relationship with the landlord. If clients are scheduled for on-campus housing, the housing specialist identifies the available apartment and processes the paperwork that will provide supportive funds for the client for housing and other needs like utilities. Case managers assist clients who have a scattered-site voucher in locating a unit in the community and in completing the landlord’s application process.
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville receives funding from the government and through donations to provide assistance with rent, utilities, fees, and deposits. These funds pass from SVDP directly to the landlord/property manager or utility.
Each year, the housing specialists review a client’s information to ensure that the client still qualifies for the housing they have. Changes in household composition might mean that the family needs a bigger or smaller unit, and increased income might mean the family is able to pay a part of their rent on their own.
Manager of Housing Priscilla Massey works tirelessly to get and keep our clients in their homes. Sometimes that means confronting either a landlord or a client about failures to honor the contract.
“A housing specialist acts both as a landlord and a tenant advocate. We are on the lease, and if landlords don’t fulfill their responsibilities, we have a duty to withhold the rent for a unit. I am there to ensure the client and the landlord are upholding their sides of the contract. Sometimes I must be the heavy on one side or the other, but I’m always working to help our clients stay housed,” Priscilla explains.
The work can be difficult. There are times when emotions can run high. After all, this job can mean the difference between a client staying housed or losing that stability again.
When asked why she does this job, Priscilla says, “Handing someone the keys to their new home makes me so happy. Knowing I played a part in their journey makes it all worthwhile.”
While government grants pay for rental assistance, many of our clients need help with utilities, rental deposits and fees, and more. Your donations help ensure that we can house those in need with compassion and dignity. Thank you for making a difference.
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