Housing Mobility Counseling and Search Assistance

Housing Mobility and Counseling Search Assistance (HMCSA) is a program designed to assist low-income renters who wish to relocate to qualified private housing in the community of their choice. New Opportunities Inc. helps those residing in Western Connecticut who qualify for HMSCA with resources, housing search and training that will make possible a smooth transition to life in a new area. In short, HMSCA seeks to help participants in this program “move and improve.”

Those currently benefiting from any of three government-sponsored housing assistance programs are eligible for HMSCA. The three programs are:

• Section 8, a Federal housing rent subsidy program for low-income individuals and families which may be used in public or private housing;
• Rental Assistance Program (RAP), the major State-funded program that helps low-income families find decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market;
• Transitional Rental Assistance Program (T-RAP), designed to help those leaving Temporary Family Assistance afford privately owned rental housing and thus ease the transition from welfare to work.

Program participants receive a 120-day search period to find new housing in their chosen neighborhood. Services provided to those looking for a new address include assistance with

• A list of suburban rental listings tailored to the renter’s housing objectives.
• Touring new communities for possible locations.
• Finding and attending showings of potential housing.
• Rental applications and completion of paperwork.
• Landlord/tenant mediation and conflict resolution.
• Needs assessment and referrals to various programs.
• Information on local moving resources and a moving checklist.

Tenant Education Workshop

All program participants are required to take one Tenant Education Workshop. These are held monthly with refreshments served. Although less than three hours in duration, the workshop gives those wishing to change their residential location all they need to know to find and maintain the housing of their choice. The workshop helps people

• Form a statement of their goals and develop an action plan.
• Learn how to conduct a successful housing search.
• Create a family budget.
• Find out how to establish or repair their credit.
• Learn how to establish a good rental history.
• Better understand landlord and tenant laws, including lease obligations.
• Review Fair Housing practices and better understand the nature of discrimination.

Helping people move to a different area which they believe will improve the quality of their lives is the stated goal of this program. Toward that end participants are also given information on near-by higher education programs, tours of local facilities, notice of college fairs and more.

For more information on how to complete a tenant workshop and begin actively working for new housing, contact the Program Manager at (203) 575-4357.