Housing Initiative: Homeless Prevention Program and Second Chance Housing Services Homeless Prevention Program St. John’s Community Development Corporation was recently awarded a grant by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance under the New York State Emergency Homeless Needs Program. The purpose of the project is to meet the emergency needs of homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless by providing an array of services. The Homeless Assistance Program at St. Johns will provide the following services: short-term financial assistance, crisis intervention, case management services, landlord/tenant mediation, life skills building, resources and referrals. Each service area is outlined below: Short-term financial assistance: applicants may receive up to one-month back rent or one-month back mortgage to prevent an individual or family from eviction. Case management services: case managers will work with applicants to set personal goals and to develop action plans to achieve stated goals. Crisis intervention: the homeless or near homeless can access provisions of food and/or clothing. Landlord/tenant relations: applicants will have access to an advocate that will help mediate landlord/tenant disputes that could jeopardize the tenant’s housing status. Additionally, applicants may be referred to free and/or low cost legal counsel. Life skills building: applicants will have access to in-home education, budgeting, food-preparation, and other life skills as needed. Resources and referrals: Individuals and families will be connected to area services not currently available at St. John’s. Restrictions apply. Second Chance Housing Services St. John’s Community Development Corporation was formed for the purposes of improving the quality of life for individuals and families living in the Greater Capital Region with a particular emphasis on residents in the South End neighborhood of Albany. One of St. John’s Community Development Corporation’s (CDC) many projects aimed at fulfilling that purpose is the Homeless Initiative. The Homeless Initiative is comprised of two programs, the Homeless Prevention Program and Second Chance Housing Services. The first endeavors to intervene to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless. Crisis intervention, landlord/tenant dispute resolution, life skills, resources and referrals are the primary means by which people at-risk of becoming homeless are served. Despite our best efforts, many individuals and families find themselves without a place to lay their head. The number of children that go to bed with the hunger in their hearts is astounding. Second Chance Housing Services will provide the homeless with more than a place for the night. On the contrary, Second Chance Housing Services will provide the homeless with the comprehensive services that they need to embark upon a new beginning. Not only will the residents be placed in transitional housing, but residents will also receive job training, life skills training, budgeting assistance, financial planning, and participate in character building and leadership trainings. Our residents will gain first hand experiences in these areas as they work with the management staff as assistants in the day to day operation of Second Chance Housing Services during their tenure. Residents will be expected to maintain employment or attend a vocational or post-secondary educational program and abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol or face immediate dismissal from the program. Residents will contribute financially to the maintenance of the housing unit as well. Few communities would support transitional housing that did not provide supportive services for consumers. The program design form Second Chance Housing Services recognizes these concerns and will put in place a series of measures to ensure the continued safety and quality of life that residents in any community should expect and deserve. St. John’s CDC is fortunate to be in possession of several properties in the city of Albany that can be used to support this component of our Homeless Initiative. To apply for assistance, print and fill in our Intake Form and mail it to us at: St. Johns CDC, Attn: Housing Program, 94 Herkimer Street, Albany, NY 12202, and someone will contact you.

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