As the inventory for low-income housing units continues to dwindle while families experiencing homelessness are at critical mass, acquiring permanent housing is a financial struggle for those trying to progress to self-sufficiency.
Most landlords require that a family’s income be three to four times the amount of rent, and that the family has a good credit history. Expenses for application fees, first month’s rent, security deposits, utility deposits and actual moving expenses can further hinder a low-income family’s ability to secure permanent housing.
Some social service agencies are awarded grant money to help families with rental assistance and moving expenses, but these funds are limited at best and often depleted within a month or two because of high demand for the resources.
In response to this gap, FUSION has created a Finally Home fund to help FUSION families with their first month’s rent, security deposit, application fees, utility deposits, and actual moving expenses to secure permanent housing when no other community funds are available.
Finally Home funds help bridge the gap for FUSION families who are gainfully employed, ready to move into permanent housing and are able to sustain their rent, but do not have the initial resources to secure and move into a unit.
Families seeking Finally Home help must fill out an application and verify that community resources have been exhausted. Applications are reviewed and approved by the FUSION Executive Director. Finally Home expenditures are tracked and reported quarterly by FUSION.
