Rental Assistance is Available

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has debuted a new look up tool for renters and landlords to find information on rental assistance in their area and apply for assistance. The CFPB offers resources in English and Spanish to help renters and landlords access additional financial assistance related to housing costs. State and local programs are taking applications from renters and landlords to distribute money from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program in their own communities to cover rent, utilities and home energy costs. The CFPB is encouraging people to help spread the word and connect others to the new tool.

The following resources will continue to be valuable to both renters and landlords:

• Help for Renters (CFPB Info Sheet)
• Help for Landlords (CFPB Info Sheet)

Here is a Dear Colleague Letter we encourage you to share to help get the word out about the ERA program.

Finland and Housing First

Finland is a leader in the “housing first” approach to addressing chronic homelessness—a model that provides immediate housing to those in need with few to no conditions—and has reduced long-term homelessness by 35 percent over the past decade. A recent article in The Guardian describes why housing first works well in Finland, and how broader housing policies affect the ability to implement this proven cost-effective approach.

Learn more about Finland’s approach here:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/03/its-a-miracle-helsinkis-radical-solution-to-homelessness

Free Visual Library on RHY and Rapid Re-housing

Point Source Youth, a nonprofit serving populations disproportionately affected by homelessness, offers a free online library that includes videos on rapid re-housing, and a storytelling archive focused on the experiences of homeless youth and housing advocates. Rapid re-housing videos describe lessons learned in cities like LA and Seattle, dos and don’ts, and implementation tips for organizations new to the model.

View the library here: https://www.pointsourceyouth.org/media-library

Forming Volunteer Families for RHY

Children’s Voice magazine recently highlighted a Baltimore, MD program called Thread which matches struggling high school freshmen with teams of volunteer “friends and family.” Volunteers invite youth to social activities, and provide rides, tutoring and help with college for up to 10 years—well past high school—ensuring follow-through and commitment. According to the program, 87 percent of participants graduate from high school within six years, and 83 percent complete degree or certificate programs within ten years.

Read the article here: https://www.cwla.org/from-the-next-childrens-voice-weaving-a-bright-future/

New Handbook on Rapid Re-housing for Youth

Point Source Youth recently released a comprehensive guide on using rapid re-housing approaches with youth. The handbook includes lessons learned by youth-serving organizations that employ the model, sample materials and planning tools, and discussion about how rapid re-housing approaches address social inequities. There is also a series of related video shorts on the organization’s website. 

Download the handbook here: https://www.pointsourceyouth.org/rapid-rehousing/