Human Services Inc. offers a number of homeless services and supportive housing programs for children, youth, and families. Please see our services below.
If you need emergency housing, please call 211 for assistance, which offers emergency services information 24/7. Intake is done from 8am to 5pm Monday – Friday.
50 James Buchanan Drive
Thorndale, PA 19372
610-200-6222
610-918-2100
Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat-Sun: Closed
Six to twelve month program that provides case management services through the Housing Case manager to assist and ensure that families become self-sufficient
The case manager is required to see active families on a face-to face basis at least once a week for a minimum of one hour
As families become more self-sufficient and are nearing successful completion of the program, the intensity of direct series may decrease from weekly to every two weeks
Located at our Market Street office
The direct services provided include:
-Formally assessing the family’s housing and financial needs
-Developing a service plan with quantifiable and concrete goals with expected timeframes
-Developing a budget with the family
-Presenting families to the Housing Action team
-Providing intensive support services to ensure the family can access, afford, and maintain appropriate housing and achieve financial stability in less than twelve months
-Provide a stable and suitable living environment for their children that meet the requirements of CYF
Housing First Approach to housing those experiencing homelessness, quickly!
-An average of 4-6 months of rental assistance
-Assistance with security deposits and utility deposits
-Supportive services component through case management
Located at our Market Street office
HSI provides emergency rental assistance to low and moderate income families and/or individuals who are facing eviction, are homeless or are near homeless. The program guidelines require that applicants demonstrate that they meet income requirements, that the need for assistance was caused by an emergency, and that they have sufficient income to maintain a stable housing environment after receiving assistance from the program.
Located at our Market Street office.
To access the program, residents must call 2-1-1 to conduct an initial intake and referral to one of Chester County’s five contracted providers.
Funding will serve individuals and families that are obligated to pay rent and meet the following three criteria:
-Qualify for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship, directly or indirectly, during COVID-19.
-Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
-Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median (Income limits are subject to change per guidance from the federal government).
The SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) Program is designed to serve homeless individuals with disabilities in accessing benefits through the Social Security Administration. The process allows for direct access by the SOAR Specialist to identified staff at the local and state level in order to monitor the process from assessment to approval or denial.
These two programs are in effort to prevent recurrent homelessness in people with severe mental illness leaving shelters, hospitals, or other institutions.
People with such illness are estimated to comprise one-quarter of the U.S. sheltered homeless population.
Nine Month Intervention
The nine-month intervention is delivered to each participant by a single caseworker.
Our caseworkers are a bachelor or master’s level person trained in CTI and supervised by a mental health professional
The intervention has three phases, each of which lasts approximately three months.
When an individual is homeless or under-housed and is suffering from MH and/or D&A needs, they can be referred to the Homeless Acute Case Management Team. Most referrals are received through the 211 Street Outreach Program. The HACM Specialists work with individuals who need housing or shelter and who need assistance in accessing MH and D&A services. The HACM Specialists are typically working with individuals for 30-60 days and provide case management until the client is referred and entered into a housing program or shelter. The HACM Specialists are able to refer to the HACM/CTI program as well as other case management programs and other housing programs. The individuals in the HACM program have a history of being treatment resistant and have often been involved with multiple other programs previously.
The West Chester Area Information and Referral program provides routine information and referral services to individuals requesting information about social services, healthcare needs, rent and utility assistance, and other services throughout Chester County. Staff provides relevant information on, and referrals to, community resources providing basic needs and services. These services are provided by phone or walk-in basis.
In addition, the I&R program provides utility assistance for PECO customers through the Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF) Program. This allows households with utility shut-offs to utilize funds that assist with paying off owed balances. Along with the MEAF Program, HSI was also awarded a flat amount from PECO which is referred to as Settlement money. This money can assist families who need the assistance but do not meet the criteria for MEAF.
The I&R Case Worker also provides Spanish interpretation and translation services internally to other staff in the Homeless Support Programs. The Case Worker also has developed a partnership with the West Chester Food Cupboard that allows her to work in their space once a week to serve mutual clients and provide information and referral services to clients of the Food Cupboard.
