The Woodward News

Local News

December 18, 2009

New program offers housing assistance

A new program in Woodward offers money to help homeless and low-income individuals and families secure housing.

The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) is now a part of Northwest Domestic Crisis Services, Inc. (NWDCS), which serves Alfalfa, Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Texas, Woods and Woodward counties.

The new program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is administered through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Our main goal is to step in and intervene if someone is about to become homeless or is currently homeless,” said Don Bradley, who is the HPRP coordinator.

Bradley also noted, “With this money we will be able to help women and children who have had to flee their homes as a result of domestic violence,”

Approximately $250,000 in HPRP funds have been allocated to NWDCS that will be used to assist individuals and families in who are currently in housing but at risk of becoming homeless, as well as to help re-house and stabilize individuals and families who are already homeless.

Bradley said the funds will be targeted and prioritized to serve households most likely in need of temporary assistance and most likely to achieve stable housing. He said that money will be used to provide rental assistance or motel and hotel vouchers as well as to help cover moving costs, security deposits, and utility deposit and bill payments. However, no mortgage assistance will be available through this program.

Financial assistance may be provided in one of two ways: short-term assistance for one to three months, or medium-term assistance for up to six months.

In addition to NWDCS, three other Oklahoma agencies have also received HPRP funds: Opportunities Inc., in Watonga; Hope Community Services in Oklahoma City; and Youth and Family Services in El Reno.

People living in the ten counties served by NWDCS may begin the application process by contacting Don Bradley at 580-256-1215.

There are some qualification requirements, including:

• A person must be homeless or facing eviction.

• A person must be able to maintain housing after receiving assistance by achieving long-term employment.

• A resident must make above 30 percent of the annual median income for their county.

Bradley said the funds are intended to last for three years, and serve at least 25 families.

However, he said, “I feel with the financial downturn that we will go through the funds rather fast.”

“I do wish that we had a bigger part of the grant package to help more people, but our goal is to serve as many people as possible until the money runs out,” Bradley said.

Text Only
Local News
Business Marquee
AP Video
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Stocks