ECHO is excited to announce renewed funding from the United Way Blackhawk Region for the ECHOWay Home Program for Calendar Year 2018 and First Half of 2019 totaling $90,000.
ECHO Way Home, established with our first United Way funds in 2012, is a housing program, serving Rock County low-income people who are experiencing homelessness, or are at immediate risk of homelessness. They may be in ECHO’s lodging program, at local shelters, living in a car, temporarily living with someone, or may have received a 5-day notice. They must be willing to work to improve their situation by participating in case management. ECHO case managers help them work on budgeting, employment and education issues, and address other barriers to self-sufficiency. Seeing their case manager weekly while in lodging and at least monthly for rent assistance, they may receive security deposit, single or multiple-month rent, utility assistance and other wrap-around services.
The United Way grant funds will be used for direct housing-related assistance for low-income people in Rock County, not just in the Janesville area. None of the funds will be used for staffing or operating costs. The funds will be used to pay: security deposits; single- or multiple-month rent (usually multiple); utility assistance, including paying past bills if required to get the utilities turn on in the new apartment; and other direct costs related to stabilizing housing. The security deposit and rent funds go directly to the landlords or management companies, on the client’s behalf. Utility and other assistance go directly to the vendors, such as Alliant Energy. ECHO also uses other grants, as well as ECHO Donated Funds to get people out of homelessness and into stable housing. With the $90,000 grant funds from United Way Blackhawk Region, ECHO projects providing 150 months rent, at about $600/month average.
