Chapter 6: Other Financial Help for your Housing

You may find that you will need financial assistance when you are ready to move into a more independent housing setting. If you are planning to rent, help with your security deposit and first month's rent may be needed. There are also programs to help with your utilities, if you are responsible for paying for them. You may also be eligible for assistance from "mainstream resources". This section will briefly explain some of the programs that are available to help with your housing. Help with your rent, or "housing subsidies" are discussed in the "How to Find Affordable Housing" Section.

Mainstream Resources

"Mainstream Resources" is a term used to describe many different Federal and state government assistance programs. You may already receive some of these benefits, or may be eligible to receive them.

These benefit programs account for billions of dollars in Federal and state funds that are available help low-income persons, including individuals with disabilities. They can offer cash payments and supportive services to help meet your housing, health care, food, and job training needs among other things.

For a variety of reasons, many people who have a disability are not accessing the mainstream services to which they are entitled such as: Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Social Security Disability Income (SSDI); Veteran's Benefits; Medicaid; and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Your case manager will direct you to the proper places to apply for various types of mainstream assistance.

Utility Assistance

Paying for utilities such as electric, gas, and telephone services are part of the responsibility of living in a home or apartment. At the time you move in, each utility company must be contacted to put the service into your name. Credit checks are often made during the application or transfer process. You may not have had a utility service in your names before, or you may have a poor history of making utility payments. In this case, you may be asked for a security deposit to turn your utilities on. If you owe past balances from a previous address, your outstanding balances will follow you. Most utility companies offer payment plans and/or budget plans for persons who are low income.

Resources for Security Deposits and First Month's Rent

One huge obstacle that prevents many individuals from renting an apartment is the difficulty in securing a sufficient amount of money to pay the initial security deposit and the first month's rent. For persons with a severe and persistent mental illness receiving services through OCCMHA, security deposit funds and/or first month's rent may be available. Contact the housing specialist from each core provider for more information.

Please find contact numbers for agencies providing additional assistance in Appendix D.