Who gives emergency rental assistance in Swain County?

(Request from Nancy in Bryson City, North Carolina) I need emergency assistance to pay rent, electric and water if I do not get the assistance I will end up homeless. Help me please.

Dear Nancy,

You appear to have come into a situation where you have no money for your living costs. I would normally ask if you are currently without income, or if something had occurred (injury, car repair, theft) that caused you to fall behind on all of your bills.

I certainly do not want to see you become homeless. As such, we can examine the programs that could help provide emergency rental assistance in Swain County.

Four Square Community Action

The organization that serves as the local Community Action Partnership affiliate is Four Square Community Action, Inc. This organization provides case management services to tenants in Swain County as well as Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.

The purpose of this program is to help people like you avoid becoming homeless statistics. Instead, the agency wants to help you benefit from affordable housing, even if that means staying in your current rental property.

Actual cash payments for emergency rental assistance is not as common, since the organization has only limited resources. It may be able to match you with a cash benefits program through a local church or other smaller organization that provides general aid to needy individuals and families. Sometimes this aid comes in the form of help with back rent and other times it is more for helping you with a security deposit to help you move. Food and utility assistance is often more common.

To see if Four Square Community Action can help you either directly or indirectly with emergency rent help, call their Andrews office at 828-321-4475.

DSS

The Swain County Department of Social Services can provide emergency rental assistance in Swain County. Funds are distributed to needy tenants through the Crisis Intervention Program. Much of this money is focused on the utility help that you need, although your case manager can talk with you about options for getting your rent under control.

Past due rent payments can be made by the agency if it will keep you from becoming homeless. A maximum of $300 can be paid for this purpose, and only once per year for each applicant. Occasionally the agency receives a rental assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If this occurs, then you could potentially receive two payments in one year totaling $600.

If it is not feasible for you to remain in your current home, then the money could be used to help you meet the security deposit requirement on a new home. The agency will need to see evidence that you are either homeless or about to become homeless (eviction notice).

To find out more about gaining access to these public benefits, call Swain County DSS at 828-488-6921 or visit their Academy Street office.

Even though there are a limited number of programs providing emergency rental assistance in Swain County, you have better alternatives than rent loans. Instead of paying back big time interest, you could receive a generous housing grant that does not have to be repaid. For more information, talk about your options with your case manager.