The DuPagePads Housing Now program assists clients to end their homelessness by providing timely move-in assistance.
This program supports those that can afford the monthly cost of housing costs but that face barriers to accessing housing.
Each Housing Now participant receives support with locating housing and affording upfront move-in costs such as security and utility deposits. Without this assistance, clients would remain in a state of homelessness for months longer to meet the financial burden related to obtaining housing. Once housed, participants have a lease in their own name and pay their full rent to the landlord.
The support of a caring case manager is provided for one year after move-in to ensure that the client is successful in their transition from homelessness to housing. Each participant works with their case manager on their individualized goal plan that focuses on sustaining housing and meeting other needs that lead to improved wellbeing.
have secured income but face significant debt and cannot save money for a place to live. Compounding this issue, many landlords require a security deposit and first month’s rent for tenants with low credit scores. For people living in crisis, saving this amount of money can seem impossible.
Housing Now provides the first month’s rent and security deposit to families and individuals with income to move immediately into housing. The program also provides 12 months of case management after move-in to assist participants in budgeting and accessing community resources.
Housing Now clients are encouraged to participate in the DupagePads Career Employment Solutions program, which networks with over 100 local employers to match clients’ skills and interests with career opportunities.
To ensure each household will be a success in the program, participants are screened for all eligible mainstream benefits, and 100% of participants gained or maintained income through employment or benefits.
To ensure each household will be a success in the program, participants are screened for all eligible mainstream benefits, and 100% of participants gained or maintained income through employment or benefits.
Obtaining employment and gaining housing is a catalyst for positive life changes:
- Behaviors that lead to good health are promoted.
- Those who were homeless and now employed exhibit improved self-esteem.
- When all are housed, communities become safer.
- Taxpayers experience major savings in areas including medical services and the criminal justice system.
With encouragement from DupagePads, Housing Now participants can focus on improving their health, reaching their full potential, and realizing their dreams.
DuPagePads launched the Rapid Rehousing (RRH) program in the fall of 2020 as a new model of permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness.
The program serves up to 10 households with a focus on helping those experiencing homelessness for the first time to quickly obtain permanent housing. Supportive services from a case manager are blended with rental assistance to make housing affordable and sustainable.
The program leads to permanent housing by working towards the household’s ability to fully afford their housing in concert with a gradual reduction in reliance on financial assistance. A supportive case manager works with the household throughout their participation in the program on their goals related to housing and wellbeing, including integrating into their community.
Assisting participants to quickly obtain and sustain stable, permanent housing.
Rapid Re-Housing Program will provide financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. The funds under this program are intended to target individuals and families who would be homeless but for this assistance. The funds will provide for a variety of assistance, including: short-term or medium-term rental assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services, including such activities as mediation, credit counseling, security or utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and case management.
The Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness to obtain housing.
The program serves those that will succeed with support services and financial assistance for a moderate-term of up to two years. Each household receives help with housing location, ongoing support from a case manager, and assistance paying for costs associated with their housing including deposits and a rental subsidy that makes up the difference between the amount a household can afford to pay for housing and the local rent standards.
While participating in the TBRA program, the household works with their case manager on a goal plan focused on sustaining housing long-term. This includes developing increasing financial resources to afford housing after the end of the subsidy or working towards another longer-term solution to meet their needs.
The solution to end homelessness is more complex than providing individuals with food and shelter. Founded in 1985, DuPagePads is the largest provider of interim and permanent housing, coupled with support services in order to help individuals work toward a place to call home – DuPagePads vital support services enable the individuals we help to receive case management and life coaching, employment support such as GED courses and job coaching, as well as engagement with employers—effectively stopping the cycle of homelessness.
DuPagePads IS the solution to end homelessness — because when someone believes in you, everything can change.