Homeless Prevention
Please Note: If you need rental assistance due to hardships related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please apply for ERAP through Baltimore County (click here)
What We Provide
We are here to help. If you live in Baltimore County and are facing eviction from your apartment, we may be able to assist you.
For 12 months we provide:
Rent subsidies
Group counseling
Financial literacy & budget education
Goal setting & life skills attainment training
Job search assistance
In return, we ask that you work with us for 12 months and make lasting changes to transform your life. If you are ready to work hard to make a shift from living in fear of homelessness to celebrating stability, then read our qualification requirements.
Requirements
Part of our vision is to help create a community in which families are able to make a shift from just surviving to flourishing. However, at the present time our resources are limited and we are unable to assist everyone who needs our help. To be considered for assistance, you must meet all of the following criteria:
Live in Baltimore County
Have a current eviction notice
Have at least one dependent child living in your home
Have a source of income and fall below the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s moderate income level
If you need help and meet these criteria, please call 410-252-4465 x115 or contact communitycenter@stfrancismd.org
Process
Our intake process is simple and straightforward. We form groups of new program participants throughout the year. If you meet our qualifying criteria, are ready to make the commitment to change your life, contact us. We will screen you for eligibility and then send you an application, which will be followed by an interview.
What to bring to the initial interview
We want our initial interview with you to be productive. Therefore, we request that you please
come prepared with the following documents:
Your CURRENT eviction notice
A photo ID which includes your current address
Your lease
Income verification, such as pay stubs, child support statements or temporary cash assistance statements
Proof that at least one dependent child resides with you, such as an income tax statement or school records. Please also have your children’s social security numbers with you.
This meeting will simply be an opportunity to meet and for us to send you home with paperwork that will need to be completed by an assigned deadline. An interview will then be scheduled.
What to expect at the interview
The primary purpose of the interview is for our Program Coordinator and a Neighbor-to-Neighbor volunteer to review your documents with you. You will be asked a series of questions so they get to know you and better understand your personal circumstances. Within two to three weeks, your information will be presented to our Intake Committee. The Committee will review all potential participants’ information on the same day. You will then be notified by phone regarding whether or not you are accepted into our program.
If you have questions, please contact us or at 410-205-6444.
Expectations
We expect our program participants to work hard at making permanent changes in their lives. This includes attending mandatory cohort evening meetings twice per month for 12 months.
What you need to know about the meetings
The meetings are a key part of our program.
Each participant is assigned a case manager from our staff. The case manager and participant meet at one of the meetings each month to work on goal setting, financial literacy skills and budgeting.
We offer group counseling at the other monthly meeting. Some previous topics included stress management and parenting skills.
The meetings are 90 minutes long.
Childcare is provided at the meetings.
All meetings are held at locations in Timonium or Dundalk.
Our expectations of program participants
We expect 100% meeting attendance or prior contact with our Program Coordinators if there is a justifiable reason for being unable to attend.
We expect our participants to work hard at achieving their goals.
We expect our participants to communicate their concerns to us.
