The Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) provides time limited financial assistance to eligible people in the New River Valley who are homeless or are in imminent danger of becoming homeless. HIP provides grants for rental assistance and rental deposits and no- interest loans for mortgage assistance. HIP provides a housing counseling component to facilitate the goal of long-term financial independence for the program participants.

To be eligible for the program, applicants in permanent housing must be in danger of losing their housing. Applicants in temporary housing or without housing must be in need of a security deposit(s) and/or rental assistance to secure permanent housing. HIP recipients must be in temporary financial crisis due to unavoidable circumstances, including, but not limited to, accident, illness, job layoffs or reduction, job termination, loss of day care or transportation necessary for employment, or a delay in receiving approved benefits. The applicant must have been self-sufficient prior to the crisis, the crisis must not be a chronic problem, and the applicant must be able to be self-sufficient at the end of the HIP financial assistance. The applicant must be within the HIP maximum income limits (80% of HUD Area Median Income) and have exhausted their own resources and all other sources of assistance.

A housing counselor, together with the approved applicant, develops short-term goals which will be monitored during the course of the assistance and revised as necessary. There is an emphasis on housing counseling, financial management and budgeting skills training. Each HIP participant is required to comply with their goals to continue to receive HIP assistance. The housing counselor advocates for participants and helps them access additional support services as needed.

HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION
Educates first-time homebuyers and support them in the process of purchasing a home through classes, one-on-one assistance and connections to other community resources.

HOUSING COUNSELING
Provides support and resources related to different housing situations: pre- and post-purchase, mortgage default counseling, rental counseling, fair housing, and homelessness.

Contact the local New River Community Action office in your area for more information and/or prescreening for the Homeless Intervention Program.