In 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act made available $1.5 Billion for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing. The intent of these funds is to provide temporary financial assistance and/or services to help individuals and families gain housing stability.

Joseph’s House & Shelter in partnership with Unity House of Troy will be responsible for the administration of that portion of the grant allocated to Rensselear County. The program we have developed for that purpose is Emergency Community Housing Options which we call The ” ECHO” Project.

ECHO will be an additional community resource to assist people whose housing is precarious (Homelessness Prevention) and enable those without housing who are living in shelters or on the streets, to find appropriate housing (Rapid Re-housing).

The ECHO Project will be able to offer assistance to qualified applicants for rent subsidies, rental arrears, first months rent and security deposits. Funding for utility arrears and subsidies will also be available. Other types of assistance offered will be for moving and storage costs, credit repair, motel vouchers and legal aid services. The ECHO Project will run for 22 months beginning October 1, 2009.