The Housing Contingency Fund (HCF) provides one-time housing start-up costs and emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction or utility shutoff to adult Chester County residents who are engaged with mental health case management via an approved service provider and meet the criteria of Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI). Additionally, HCF can assist households who are experiencing homelessness with temporary respite in hotels while they seek permanent housing. 

No self-referral! Referrals must be made by an approved service provider. Referrals can only come from one of the following mental health service providers:

• Creative Health Services
• Elwyn
• Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems
• Human Services, Inc.
• Penn Psychiatric Center, Inc.
• St. Luke’s Penn Foundation – ACT team

If you would like to find out more information, please contact Layne Hammond-Champion by phone (610) 792-9282 x. 207 or email [email protected].

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the best practice for ending homelessness for any targeted population is through the creation and management of a By-Name list.  Open Hearth, Inc.’s Targeted Homelessness Resource Coordinator is responsible for maintaining this list for Chester County, and overseeing a community-wide effort among all housing providers to prioritize individuals experiencing chronic homelessness for permanent housing opportunities that are available.   

The Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program (CoC) is a federal housing program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  As the administrator of this program for Chester County, Open Hearth manages permanent housing subsidies for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and have a documented disability. Additionally, supportive services are also offered to every household who wants assistance with resource coordination or housing stability services.

CoC operates on a housing-first model so that any barriers to housing stability such as a poor rental history, criminal background, or having zero income does not prevent applicants from being approved.  The goal of the program is to target those facing the most barriers to finding permanent housing and provide them with permanent housing and supportive services so that they can maintain housing stability and end the cycle of homelessness.

No self-referral! All referrals are determined by case conferencing.

Open Hearth’s Family Savings Partner Program (FSP) provides a match (up to $4,000) towards the purchase of a home!

Participants must commit to making monthly deposits of at least $30 at one of Open Hearth’s banking institution partners for a minimum of three months before they qualify for match money. Funds must be used within one year of beginning the program and are provided directly to the seller of the house.  Open Hearth does not assist in the selection or financing of homes.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Saver must be a resident of Montgomery or Chester County
• Saver must have income
• Adjusted gross income must be less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level OR the family must qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit

Those accepted into the Family Savings Partner Program are required to participate in 8 hours of financial education including Open Hearth’s Financing Your First Home and Home Buying Basics workshops. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  If you would like to find out more information, please contact Taryn Alexander by phone (610) 280-1033 or email [email protected].

Fill out a Family Savings Partner Program Application