First Avenues Programs:
Eviction Prevention Program
Move-in Assistance (deposit, first month's rent)
Rental Subsidy Program
Home Based Support Services
Program Descriptions:
Eviction Prevention Program
Eviction Prevention Service offers short-term family support services that include financial assistance to prevent an eviction, landlord advocacy, and support services that provide follow-up and emphasize housing sustainability. In addition, the Eviction Prevention Program offers assistance in working with landlords to ensure that both the rights of both the client and the landlord are protected.
The goal of this program is to assist families who are at risk of eviction due to critical family need, and who would be able to retain their housing with the short-term assistance.
Eligibility Criteria
- Family unit with legal custody of minor children, or single adults residing in San Francisco permanent supportive housing only.
- Family resides in housing with a legal lease in their name
- Family has been served an official eviction notice dated within the last 14 days.
- Maximum grant is up to $1000
- The Grant Must prevent an eviction
- Budget must balance; family must be able to pay rent and all other expenditures while not exceeding the family income.
- The Family Has exhausted all other Eviction Prevention
services
- Catholic Charities, call to confirm eligibility/ineligibility (415)972-1301
- Season of Sharing Fund (with a signed release, Hamilton Staff can verify)
- Family lives in San Francisco, or is active participant in Hamilton Family Center’s First Avenues Program.
Please note: this funding only covers back rent expenses for current tenants, it does not cover back rent expenses towards a former residence where the tenant has already been evicted.
For specific questions, contact the Eviction Prevention Specialist at 415-292-9930 ext. 332
Move-in Assistance (deposit, first month’s rent)
First Avenues can assist homeless families in San Francisco with part of their move-in costs, first month’s rent and deposit. To qualify for this funding, a family must be homeless and living in San Francisco. However, families may move outside of San Francisco and many chose to due to the cost of living in the city. The Housing Services Specialists can assist families in finding resources to help them with their move (furniture, utilities, etc.).
Eligibility Criteria
- Family unit with legal custody of minor children
- Homeless, must provide appropriate documentation
- Moving within or from San Francisco.
- Family has not previously used monetary services of First Avenues or Hamilton Family Center.
- Family is not eligible for other move-in assistance/aftercare programs
- Family has sufficient income to pay monthly rent
For specific questions, call the Housing Services Specialist at 45-292-9930 ext. 322
Rental Subsidy Program
First Avenues Rental Subsidy Program provides eligible families with monthly rental assistance for twelve months (with the possibility of a three month extension). This subsidy is used to enhance each family’s employment goals and maintain their housing goals as they move towards self-sufficiency.
The shallow rental subsidy amount will be determined by each household’s income to rent ratio. Thus, the private marker, monthly lease agreement the household has entered into will be calculated against each household’s monthly income. This calculation will also guide the parameters for the housing search. The maximum rental subsidy is $500 per month. The rent income to rent ratio range will be 50% or lower.
Families will be asked to sign a Letter of Commitment and to work closely with an assigned Home-Based Support Services Specialist with an emphasis on housing sustainability; which includes rent management, landlord/tenant mediation, employment support, childcare advocacy, earned income tax credit education, household budgeting related issues and linkage to community resources. This will involve monthly contact with the Case Manager and four Home Visits per lease year.
Eligibility Criteria
Homeless Family Criteria
- Living in a shelter or transitional housing program in San Francisco or on the Connecting Point waitlist;
- Have a household member who is working part or full-time, and/or families on CalWORKs who are transitioning into work;
- If the family did not receive the subsidy they would be paying over 50% of their income toward rent;
- Income must be less then 30% AMI in San Francisco, or less then $27,300 annually;
- The subsidy will only apply to the custodial parent(s);
- Primary leaseholders that are receiving disability benefits will be exempt from the employment criteria. However, they must agree to sign up for the Shelter Care waitlist and open, permanent supportive housing waitlists.
- Family has custody of minor children;
Housed Family Criteria
- Families must be residing in San Francisco, or enrolled in First Avenues Home-Based Support Services Program;
- Families must have a legal lease in applicants name; and submit a current (within last 30 days) utility bill in their name;
- Income must be less then 30% of AMI in San Francisco, and paying over 50% of their income toward rent;
- Must be “at risk” of becoming homeless, which can include but is not limited to a critical family need involving temporary or permanent loss of household income, medical emergency, or death of household member;
- The subsidy only applies to the custodial parent(s)
Documents:
The following documents MUST be included (attached to the application) when sending an application:
- Release of information (for First Avenues Staff to speak to the referring agency).
- Income Verification (total family income)
- Resume (if available)
The client must be prepared to bring the following documents to the intake meeting (or to attain them before the application process can be completed)
Homeless Family Documents:
- Most recent Income Verification (dated within the last 60 days)
- Certificate of Homelessness
- Credit/Eviction Report
- Birth Certificates for all minor children
Housed Family Documents:
- Recent Income Verification (dated within the last 60 days)
- Copy of current lease
- Copy of any eviction notices
- Credit/Eviction Report
- Birth Certificates for all minor children
- Current (within last 30 days) utility bill in the client’s name
For specific questions about the program, eligibility or to obtain an application, please call the Housing Services Specialist at 415-292-9930 ext. 322.
Home Based Support Services
Once a family signs a lease agreement and moves into permanent housing the family becomes part of the Support Service component of the program and is provided supportive services for one year. The objective is to assist families in maintaining their housing by linking families with resources in the community and providing assistance with setting goals to increase self-sufficiency and housing sustainability. The Support Services Specialist assists families in maintaining their housing and meeting their goals through consistent monthly contact (telephone consultation or in-office meeting) and quarterly home visits. Families are always encouraged to participate in workshops and support groups offered by The First Avenues Program. To complement the supportive services, the program sponsors 2-4 social events a year for families to re-unite and share their stories with others in the program.
Brief Outline of Support Services
- Referral and Linkage to community resources
- Income & Employment plan
- Budgeting assistance
- Parenting and Soft Life Skills support
- MUNI fast passes; school uniforms, and backpacks for school aged children attending SFUSD public schools.
- Quarterly newsletters
- Educational workshops
- Birthday gifts for children (based on availability)
- Food Box distribution
- Translating correspondence and assisting with placing case related calls
- Advocacy