The Mohawk Valley doesn’t have enough affordable housing and many projects have been launched to address the issue by constructing or remodeling existing buildings into safe, affordable housing.
But the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, or MVCAA, has received funding to address other issues that can lead to homelessness at a time of rising rents, rising utility bills and rising prices.
It’s received $80,000 in federal Community Services Block Grant discretionary funding to help about 56 local families pay bills to help them remain in stable, safe housing.
Half will go to assist residents of Oneida County and half to residents of Herkimer County.
“This funding comes at a critical time for the communities we serve,” said Evon Ervin, MVCAA executive director. “We are seeing a significant increase in families struggling to keep up with rising housing and utility costs. These resources will allow us to intervene early and prevent crises before they escalate.”
Pushing families to the brink
Inflation and rising rents are pushing more local families “to the brink,” agreed Kelly Conroy-Scott, director of the Mohawk Valley Housing and Homeless Coaltion.
“This is exactly the immediate support that households need to prevent a temporary hardship from becoming a deeper crisis,” she said.
And there are few local resources that can be used to prevent homelessness rather than addressing it, which is far more expensive, she said.
The funding will help families with expenses such as rental and security deposit assistance, utility bills so service doesn’t get shut off and gasoline cards to make sure they get to work, medical appointments and other necessary services.
“This program is about stability,” said Allison Cox, MVCAA's planning director. “Whether it’s keeping the heat on, helping someone stay in their home or making sure they can get to work, these supports make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
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Bad luck away from homelessness
Housing instability is compounded by the shortage of affordable housing and long wait lists for assistance programs, according to MVCAA. Over 75 households in the area are already waiting for support from the Section 8 housing program, which leaves them at risk of eviction, according to information released by MVCAA.
The nonprofit received 68 requests for rental or security deposit assistance just in February.
And gas prices rose by about 55% in recent months, adding to the financial strain on families, especially in rural and suburban areas without public transportation.
Many families are just some bad luck away from potential homelessness, which can happen faster than the time it takes for a car to be repossessed, Conroy-Scott said
“All it takes is one medical bill or the loss of a job,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be anyone's fault. Many of us are much closer to experiencing homelessness than we realize.”
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The best way to attack homelessness is to use all sorts of different strategies at once, whether that means building more housing, preserving existing housing, making housing more affordable or helping families remain in their current housing, Conroy-Scott said.
“It’s much cheaper helping someone to catch up on their bank rent typically,” she said, “than it is to rehouse a household.”
Residents of Oneida and Herkimer counties can learn more about eligibility and available resources by calling MVCAA at 315-624-9930.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch:MVCAA receives funding to prevent homelessness by helping to pay bills
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