The Neighbor Center

Housing is available to individuals or families who are literally homeless or at-risk of homelessness. We provide assistance with housing search and short-term financial assistance necessary for securing housing.

2020 Report: 24 neighbors placed in transitional or permanent housing

Homelessness and incarceration are related in several ways. Research has demonstrated that a significant percentage of individuals were homeless at the time of their arrest. Nearly 50% of the U.S. homeless population has been incarcerated, and a significant percentage of returning citizens are homeless or insecure in housing. Because public housing is unavailable to most individuals with a record, even as a guest of family members, returning citizens must seek private accommodations. Leasing companies as well as some private landlords often refuse to rent to those with records. Stable housing is essential to obtaining a job, health care, and building positive relationships. The inability to find adequate housing often leads our neighbors back to prison. Knowing these barriers, TNC hired a housing manager who went out and advocated for our neighbor clients, and now, our housing program is one our most successful reentry programs.Since 2017, TNC through MAIC became the applicant agency for funding housing resources for individuals with criminal records, including Emergency Solutions Grants ADECA ESG Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention grants and the Continuum of Care grant for transitional and rapid rehousing of those who are homeless. These housing assistance programs are renewable annually and have been renewed for 2021. The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention grants are for returning neighbors who are homeless, able to sign their own lease and can afford to move into a home with some assistance to get started. Those eligible will receive assistance with arrears and up to 3-months for rent and utilities. Assistance also includes case management to secure adequate income for housing stability. The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a housing grant that provides Rapid Rehousing and Transitional Housing for returning neighbors who are literally homeless and need transitional housing. With this housing program, the lease is in the agency’s name and we can assist individuals for up to twelve months while a case plan is implemented for securing permanent housing when the individuals are employed. The CoC Rapid Rehousing program assist individuals who are homeless and able to sign their own lease. MAIC can pay a portion of their rent for up to a year.  Last year, 24 families were placed in stable housing so they could become self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the process of housing a client is taking longer but we are diligently working to secure housing for our homeless returning neighbors.