The Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) makes available a continuum of services to homeless or near homeless individuals and families. Rental assistance and housing case management is available to individuals and families who are qualified.

Housing Case Management is overseen by Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services. Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) is the clearinghouse for rental assistance payments. The agencies that provide Housing Case Management are:

Catholic Charities
900 S. Woodard Street
Allentown, PA 18103
(610) 435-1541

Hispanic American Organization
462 Walnut Street
Allentown, PA 18102
(610) 435-5334

Lehigh County Conference of Churches
Pathways
457 W Allen Street
Allentown, PA 18102
(610) 439-8653
 

To qualify for rental assistance, clients are required to be homeless or near homeless and

1. have an agreement with the landlord to rent to them, and
2. have sustainable income sufficient to pay rent in the future or have no income, but have reasonable expectations for sufficient income in the next 90 days to maintain rental agreements, and
3. have an income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.

Individuals and families are homeless if they:

1. are residing in a group shelter; domestic violence shelter; hotel or motel paid for with public or charitable funds; a mental health, drug or alcohol facility; jail; or hospital with no place to reside or living in a home, but due to domestic violence needs a safe place to reside,
2. have received verification that they are facing foster care placement of their children solely because of lack of adequate housing, or need housing to allow reunification with children who are in foster care placement,
3. are living in a 'doubled-up' arrangement for six months or less on a temporary basis,
4. are living in a condemned building,
5. Are living in housing in which the physical plant presents life and/or health threatening conditions (ex. Having dangerous structural defects or lacking plumbing, heat, or utilities),
6. are living on the streets, in cars, doorways, etc.

Individuals and families are near homeless if they:

1. are facing eviction. (Written or verbal notification from the landlord that they will lose their housing unless some type of payment is received. Verbal notification must be followed up with written notification.)