Homeless Services & Supportive Housing

We're Here to Help

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.

Contact 211 for Homeless Support Services

Supportive Housing Program

Twelve-to-Twenty-Four-month program that provides case management to assist and ensure that families become self-sufficient by increasing their income, reducing their expenses, and getting connected to services that support their needs. The family is required to meet with the Housing Specialist once a week, provide documentation for budgeting, and to show effort to take financial responsibility over their housing costs. Referrals are only accepted from Children, Youth, and Families or the Juvenile Probation 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
  • Provide a stable and suitable living environment for their children that meet therequirements of CYF

Rapid Re-Housing

Rapid Re-Housing is a HUD program that utilizes the Housing-First approach to reduce the time someone spends in the shelter system or unhoused. Participants work with a Housing Specialist to obtain affordable housing and from there, set goals that will help them maintain their housing and work toward self-sufficiency. Based on monthly budgets created with participants, the program can help financially assist with rent for maximum total assistance of 24 months. Referrals are only accepted through the Chester County Case Conferencing system.

Rental Assistance

The Rental Assistance Program provides help to low- and moderate-income families and/or individuals who are facing eviction, are homeless or are near homeless. The program can assist with up-to $1,500 for an adult only household, and up-to $2,000 for a household with children for rental arrears or security deposit assistance. There cannot be a balance owed after this assistance is granted.


Eligibility requirements include:

  • Household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income
  • Household income that can sustain ongoing housing costs
  • For security deposit, must be homeless, have an order of possession, fleeing domestic violence, have been evicted within the last 30 days, have a non-renewal of lease, or qualified for public housing
  • For rental arrears, must be in danger of eviction, be able to show a hardship during time that rent was not paid

 

Call 610-200-6222 prompt 2 to be connected to our rental and utility assistance line for more information.

SOAR

The SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) Program increases access to Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits for eligible adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder. The benefit to working with the SOAR Case Manager is to increase the likelihood of a successful application for benefits and to have assistance navigating medical records and the multiple steps in applying.

Individuals with a desire to apply for benefits with the support of the SOAR Case Manager, must have a provider or agency representative submit a referral on behalf of the individual. Individuals may not have income over 125% of the federal poverty guideline. Please have your provider, case manager, or representative call our main number for more information or questions.

CTI - Critical Time Intervention

Critical Time Intervention (CTI) is an evidence-based case management model that works with people in a time of transition, and for us, that is from homelessness to housed. We work with some of the most vulnerable individuals due to their lack of housing and their diagnosis of a Serious and Persistent Mental Illness. This program uses a phased approach, working with folks over a 9-month period to stabilize housing and work toward additional goals. As individuals come closer to the end of the program, time spent with the case managers is reduced to allow a smooth transition out of the program. Individuals cannot self-refer to this program, but can have another agency or provider help them complete a referral form.


Eligibility requirements include:

  • Individual must be homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness
  • Must have a diagnosed Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
  • Must have received a Psychological Evaluation within the last 12 months
  • Must have a history of hospitalizations for mental health
  • Must not have other Mental Health Case Management

HACM - Homeless Acute Case Management

HACM provides necessary outreach and engagement strategies to assist individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness to participate in MH and D&A screening for appropriate levels of service. Individuals are then referred to Substance Abuse Treatment services and Mental Health services. An appropriate referral is for those Individuals who are homeless or are facing homelessness and who wish to be connected to continuing case management who may be experiencing a need for mental health or drug and alcohol services. Referrals can be self-made, through Street Outreach, community supports such as a church or homeless shelter, referred from any service provider and/or through coordination of care.

HACM serves as an ancillary service to help bridge those individuals to services that provide mental health and substance use support, as well as housing options. This is a free service and voluntary provided to members of Chester County, through Human Services, Inc.

MEAF - Matching Energy Assistance Fund

The Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF) for PECO customers assists households who have fallen behind on their bill and have received a Shut-Off Notice. This is a one-time payment that can assist with balances up-to $1,250. Households can only apply every 12 months and the financial grant must bring the balance to $0. The grant will be paid directly to PECO to stop the shut-off on your account.


Eligibility requirements include:

  • Household must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline
  • Have a shut-off notice or have their service terminated
  • Must apply for LIHEAP prior to applying for MEAF (only from November – April during LIHEAP season)

 

Call 610-200-6222 prompt 2 to be connected to our rental and utility assistance line for more information.