DESCRIPTION
Hinton Adult Learning Society (H.E.L.P.) will deliver a Tenant Stability & Housing Support Program providing targeted, short-term financial assistance and integrated supports to individuals and families at risk of housing instability in Hinton and surrounding rural areas. The program will offer rent supplements, eviction prevention funding, damage deposit assistance, and utility arrears support to address immediate financial barriers to maintaining or securing housing. Through existing programs, including Freddy’s Resource Room, the Emergency Shelter, and the HART Program, H.E.L.P. regularly serves individuals experiencing housing precarity who fall outside traditional funding streams or require immediate intervention. This initiative will provide flexible, rapid-response supports combined with case management, housing navigation, and employment services to stabilize tenancies, prevent homelessness, and support long-term housing retention in permanent housing.
DETAILS
Affordability Framework
The program will follow a modified Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) framework, targeting housing costs at approximately 30% of gross household income to ensure long-term affordability. Financial assistance will be provided as short-term, targeted supports, including rent supplements, damage deposits, and eviction prevention funding, based on individual need and sustainability. Assistance amounts and duration will be guided by income, housing costs, and a housing stability assessment to ensure supports are appropriate and time-limited. This approach balances fairness and flexibility, allowing the program to respond to urgent situations while promoting long-term tenancy and housing stability in the private rental market.
Target Completion Date
N/A
Populations Served
Homelessness
Total Project Cost
$409,000
Total Units
40
Affordable Units
40
Project Funding
Funding Required
Hinton Adult Learning Society (H.E.L.P.) is requesting $300,000 in grant funding over three years ($100,000 annually) to deliver a Tenant Stability & Housing Support Program. Funding will support direct financial assistance, including short-term rent supplements, eviction prevention, and damage deposits, as well as staffing required for case management and housing navigation. This program builds on $41,000 in confirmed annual funding from Reaching Home and The Share Shop. Funding is requested by July 1, 2026, to align with the start of our fiscal year and ensure timely implementation.
Funds Raised
$14,000 annual grant funding (Reaching Home; confirmed Years 1–2);
$27,000 annual community funding (The Share Shop; confirmed Years 1–3); in-kind staffing, program infrastructure, and administrative support (Hinton Adult Learning Society; confirmed).
Use of funds
Requested funds will be used to provide flexible, short-term financial assistance and integrated tenant supports to prevent eviction and improve housing stability. This includes rent supplements, damage deposits, utility arrears, and targeted assistance to address immediate financial barriers. A portion of funding will support staffing required to deliver case management, housing navigation, and service coordination.
Human Impact Story
An individual experiencing housing instability accessed support after losing their housing and having no immediate alternatives. H.E.L.P. provided short-term assistance with a hotel stay for one month, creating the stability needed to focus on next steps. During this time, the individual was supported with employment services and successfully secured a job. With income in place and continued support, they were able to find and move into stable, permanent housing. This intervention prevented prolonged homelessness and demonstrated how timely, flexible support combined with wraparound services can help individuals regain stability and independence.
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