Semcac’s Outreach Services offers homeless prevention and assistance as funding is available. The following programs are administered through Semcac’s Contact Centers in Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Steele and Winona counties:
Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program
This program is designed to decrease homelessness by providing one-time assistance with a rent or mortgage payment for households that need a short-term “bridge” until their financial situation is expected to stabilize. Participants must meet program and income guidelines and be able to financially sustain their housing payment after Semcac’s assistance. Households interested in applying for the Family Homeless Prevention Program must have a verifiable crisis situation that may cause them to lose their housing. Participants also agree to follow-up visits.
- This is the form that will need to be completed for housing assistance: Outreach Housing Pre- Application Screening
FHPAP is funded, by the State of Minnesota, MHFA.
Rapid Rehousing Program
This program provides information, referral, advocacy, and first month’s rent and/or security deposit assistance to homeless persons. Participants must meet the HUD definition of homelessness and be able to financially sustain their rental housing after Semcac’s assistance.
Freeborn County Homeless Shelter
The homeless shelter consists of three apartments adjoining Semcac’s Freeborn County Contact Center in Albert Lea, MN. A case manager meets regularly with each shelter household, helping residents work toward stability, secure permanent housing and transition back into the community. The case manager works one-on-one with the household to develop a growth plan, improve financial literacy, and access other resources such as transportation, child care, job-seeking skills, medical care, food and clothing. Residents may stay at the shelter for up to 90 days.
COVID Housing Assistance Program (CHAPs)
The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program provides housing assistance payments to help prevent eviction, prevent homelessness, and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. Local administrators will review applications from individuals and families requesting assistance, verify eligibility, and process payments for eligible expenses on behalf of households. Semcac is one of the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program local administrators around the state that is working with individuals located in southeastern Minnesota.
For complete details about who is eligible to apply and what costs are covered by the program, visit www.211unitedway.org or www.housinghelpmn.org. Interested applicants may also call 211 (Toll Free: 1.800.543.7709) or text “MNHOME” to 898-211. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program, 8 a.m.– 8 p.m. Monday – Friday.