FREEPORT – If, as expected, the Town Council approves a measure this week, people who don’t quite meet the state’s rental assistance guidelines could get a little help, courtesy of Freeport Housing Trust.
The council, meeting Tuesday, after the Tri-Town Weekly deadline, was scheduled to vote on an order to establish a $12,000 Freeport Emergency Rental Assistance Fund.
Freeport Housing Trust, a community nonprofit that provides affordable housing to lower- and moderate-income households, had proposed the program for a trial period in calendar year 2014. John Egan, a Freeport Housing board member, said that the money for the program comes from a trust fund.
Freeport Housing and the Town Council will review the program in September, to determine if they want to make a longer-term commitment, according to a letter from Freeport Housing Trust President Amy Cartmell to Town Manager Peter Joseph.
“It is recognized by both parties that there are a number of low-income renter households in Freeport who have limited financial resources and are only one financial setback away from homelessness,” Cartmell wrote to Joseph. “It is the purpose of this fund to provide emergency financial assistance that will prevent a family from losing its housing in the case of such an emergency.”
Joseph said last week that the need for this fund in Freeport is evident.
“There are people who are barely over the state’s rental assistance threshold who might come in,” he said. “There are a fair number of people who are denied for general assistance money. By law, we can’t spend general assistance money unless they meet state guidelines.
Johanna Hanselman, general assistance administrator for the town, looks forward to helping people in these situations.
“The council I’m sure will pass that on Tuesday,” Hanselman said last week. “It’s just another example of how this town is just loaded with people who want to help others.”
Hanselman said that Jim Hatch, executive director of Freeport Housing Trust, approached her with the rental assistance concept two months ago. As far as she was concerned, it was a go.
“We said yes,” Hanselman said. “The Freeport Housing Trust wants to provide affordable housing for people. General assistance is a pretty bare-bones program.”
Evictions happen, Hanselman said, and people are left homeless. Medical situations, loss of income and fires are things that can leave people without adequate resources, she said.
“It’s to keep people in affordable housing,” Hanselman said of the emergency fund.
The fund will be available to anyone who rents, she said. Limits will be established as to how long, and how much money – $4,000 for four months – can be allotted to one household. People receiving emergency assistance must meet with her monthly, and dedicate at least 30 percent of their income to rent.
Hanselman said she would get some referrals from Susan Mack, family services coordinator at Freeport Community Services.
“I’m very excited about it,” Hanselman said. “I’m thrilled that the housing trust has been able to do this.”
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