PRISM Receives Additional Funding To Help With Rent And Utilities
People facing homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have another resource to turn to for help. PRISM, a Golden Valley nonprofit, has recently received additional money to assist with rent and mortgages.
Allysen Hoberg, program director at PRISM
The organization has always had a Homeless Prevention program in place, but significantly expanded assistance because of the pandemic.
“We are seeing people who went from making $100,000 a year, who are now barely surviving on unemployment and qualify at very low-income levels,” explained PRISM program director Allysen Hoberg. “They can’t make ends meet.”
Hoberg says PRISM has seen a 60 percent increase in low-income people who are accessing the food shelf and receiving rental assistance.
More People Qualify for Rent Assistance Due to Guideline Changes
But there is a bright spot, says Hoberg. The organization can now serve more people because it received additional funding from the federal government and Hennepin County to help people with rent, mortgage, utilities and mobile home payments.
More people qualify for rent assistance program because of guideline changes.
“PRISM has about $300,000 in rent, rental assistance funding and direct service funding that we would like to spend down by December, ” she said. “With the new COVID regulations, this lending is actually 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline. Many people who wouldn’t normally qualify for our program will now be eligible for rental assistance.”
To apply for the PRISM rental assistance program, you have to apply through the Hennepin County website.
