ICAN Housing

Ican Housing provides Housing, supportive services, homeless prevention, workforce development and street outreach, across stark county. Housing programs include permanent supportive Housing, rapid rehousing, affordable Housing and an adult residential facility. Ican Housing owns, manages and maintains 45 scattered-site residential properties across stark county. The properties include single family homes and multi-unit buildings and total 141 units. Participants served by permanent supportive Housing include individuals or families who were homeless with an individual or a family member who has been diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness. Eligibility is dependent on a history of homelessness and an income level at or below 35% of average median income. Participants living in affordable Housing are eligible if their income is either 50% or 80% depending on the property. A number of these properties are for veterans. The rapid rehousing and Housing first leasing assistance programs provide rental subsidies with participants paying no more than 30% of their income including utilities and the controlled rent. These participants rent from private landlords. The adult residential facility houses eight adults whose disabilities have rendered them unable to live fully independently. The facility provides 24-hour staffing. The property manager and leasing administrators guide participants through the leasing process. The maintenance team has the range of skills to make most repairs, outsourcing some and ensuring units meet safety and quality standards.

Ican offers support to people who are literally homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. The path-outreach program works to connect homeless individuals or families to community mental health services, Housing and basic needs items. Participants are identified through street outreach, referral and through the agency's drop-in center. Ican Housing assists these participants providing clothing, bus passes, toiletries and information about food pantries and meal sites for example. Ican Housing also helps participants overcome barriers to service by procuring their id's, birth certificates and social security cards. In addition, Ican Housing offers homeless prevention funds that are used to support non-lease holders who are at imminent risk of homelessness. Funds can be used for rental assistance, security and utility deposits and utility payments both in arrears and forward with a goal of stabilizing the recipient in their own Housing.

Ican Housing administers several rent subsidy programs for clients who prefer greater independence, enabling clients to choose private market apartments within fair market rent limits. In these programs, administrators and Housing specialists work directly with clients helping them find appropriate Housing, inspecting units to ensure they meet hud Housing quality standards, and assisting clients to access mainstream benefits and community services, and with establishing goals to gain further independence. The Ican Housing program team collaborates with outside agencies to provide these services. Ican Housing also collaborates with landlords who agree to accept rent vouchers and work with care providers to provide tenants stable Housing. These subsidy programs provide a wide array of rental and utility assistance. Rent subsidy programs include rapid rehousing, intended to support tenants in moving to independent affordable or market rate Housing. Other programs offer permanent supportive Housing.