(formerly Mountain Shelter, Inc.)

Dedicated to improving the lives of people in southwest Virginia

 

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Assistance Programs
HOPE provides several assistance programs designed to meet the needs of individuals and families struggling with a crisis, homelessness or a disability. Housing and budget counseling are major components of these programs to help each client develop goals to work toward self-sufficiency.

Crisis and Homeless Intervention

The Crisis and Homeless Intervention Programs provide financial assistance to clients experiencing some kind of short-term crisis beyond their control, such as a serious accident, illness or injury; an unexpected job layoff, termination or reduction in hours; a loss of daycare or transportation that has affected a client's ability to work; or a delay in approved benefits.

Financial assistance may include:

bulletRents and deposits
bulletMortgage payments
bulletUtilities
bulletTransportation
bulletOther household expenses

Funding support for these programs include:

bulletEmergency Housing Trust Fund (EHTF) (private donations and local United Way funds)
bulletFEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program (Wythe County only) (federal funds)
bulletHomeless Intervention Program (HIP) (state funds)

Funding sources have specific program guidelines that determine eligibility for each client. Assistance may be in the form of a grant or no-interest (0%) loan.

Disability Advocacy
(**Program suspended effective October 27, 2008 due to lack of funding**)

The Social Security Disability Advocacy Program provides assistance to individuals who wish to apply for disability benefits. Trained advocates provide clients with the following services:

bulletSocial Security disability benefits application and process
bulletSupportive listening, moral support and problem-solving assistance with ALL issues (not just those related to the disability benefits application)
bulletScheduling and transportation assistance for disability-related appointments (including medical, dental and vision care)
bulletSelf-help information and techniques
bulletLong-term follow-up care and case management

Financial assistance in the form of a 0% interest loan may be provided for a client's living and household expenses while waiting for approval of benefits; however, eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis and the availability of funds.

Intake

To apply for HOPE's Assistance Programs, complete the intake package and return it to the HOPE office.

HOPE Intake Package (pdf)

Publications

Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) Information Sheet (pdf)
Social Security Disability Advocacy Program Update, May 2008 (pdf)

Contact

For more information about HOPE's Assistance Programs, call Trina Miller at (276) 228-6280, Ext. 215, or email tmiller@wythehope.org.

Related Links

www.ssa.gov/disability

Send email to hope@wythehope.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Helping Overcome Poverty's Existence, Inc.
(Not affiliated with any entity utilizing the unincorporated name.)
Last modified: 11/18/2008