Housing Assistance Program

Community Teamwork, Inc.
167 Dutton St.
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 459-0551

Housing Assistance Program

CTI's Housing Assistance Program (HAP) provides low-income families with housing search services and homelessness prevention counseling. The HAP program is administered by CTI within the Merrimack Valley area under contract with The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). HAP caseworkers are out-stationed at the Lowell and Lawrence DTA offices to provide a variety of services to homeless families or those at-risk of becoming homeless.

The HAP caseload pipeline starts at the local DTA office. Clients determined to be eligible for Emergency Assistance Housing Search benefits by the DTA are referred to the local DTA Homeless coordinator who screens and prioritizes referrals. Appropriate referrals are then given to the HAP worker for an initial assessment, intake, and development of a Housing Search Plan. HAP case managers then work closely with both the client and the DTA staff to resolve all housing issues in the shortest possible time. Additionally HAP workers establish and maintain positive relationships with area providers to increase the supply of affordable housing units.

Services vary according to the needs of the individual family and can include clarification of eligibility status and assistance in obtaining public and/or subsidized housing programs, landlord/tenant mediation, accessing and researching suitable market rate housing options, developing financial literacy skills, and advocacy efforts to help clients access services with other organizations. HAP caseworkers are also members of the SHIFT Coalition and work closely with SHIFT to ensure a seamless approach to case management.

For more information about CTI's Housing Assistance Program, call (978) 446-2446.