Homeless Prevention Project

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In November 2011, Mobile County allocated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to Legal Services Alabama to hire a Homelessness Prevention Project (HPP) attorney to provide free civil legal services to the underserved areas in Mobile County. In 2013, CDBG funds expanded services and targeted representation of domestic violence victims. The HPP addresses civil legal issues that cause homelessness. The targeted clients are those experiencing problems with homelessness which include housing (evictions, warranty of habitability, and other landlord tenant issues), consumer (wage garnishments, debt collection defense, and bankruptcy), family law (domestic abuse, divorce and custody), and public benefit cases (disability and unemployment compensation denials, and food stamps). The project identifies people on the verge of becoming homeless and takes necessary steps to keep them in their homes. This “front end” assistance has the greatest benefit for those in poverty. In summary, Mobile County partners with Legal Services Alabama for a homelessness prevention project that provides a designated attorney to identify legal needs and represent residents to allow them to keep a roof over their head, receive eligible benefits, keep families safe and preserve family income for basic needs.