American Red Cross
3220 E. Jefferson Blvd South Bend, IN 46615
Contact: Sue Gulley, Executive Director Northern Indiana Chapter
(574) 234-0191 Ext. 21
melinda.gulley@redcross.org
The Red Cross offers many services for veterans and their families in the South Bend area including: referrals to community resources, benefits claims, emergency communication services. The Hero Care phone app can be downloaded to a smartphone in order to: request emergency services, gives the family access to information on their service member in emergency situations, non-emergency behavioral health assistance (financial assistance, free workshops for family members), local resource list, government resource list.
Bright Point
224 W. Jefferson Blvd Suite 101 South Bend, IN 46617
Contact: Mary Neher
(260) 423-3546
Main Office: 227 E. Washington Blvd PO Box 10570 Fort Wayne, IN 46853
(800) 589-3506
Bright Point offers multiple services by county; a complete list of services offered for your county can be given upon request. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, helping homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless find and sustain housing, is offered in St. Joe County. The SSVF program can help: locate and secure stable housing for the veteran and their families, provide rental assistance along with security and utility deposits and also help with other housing-related costs, assist the veteran in obtaining VA benefits (such as vocational and rehabilitation counseling, employment and training services, and educational benefits), and provide support and resources for different life situations.
Veterans Opportunity: Under the United Way 2-1-1 program. Veteran will call 2-1-1 to request housing assistance, complete the "I Hope" assessment, the assessment will be sent to the Bright Point coordinator who then contacts the veteran for a meeting. If approved: vet is assigned a caseworker to assist with/provide help with anything preventing them from being successful (job, food, transportation, ect.)
Habitat for Humanity
402 E. South St South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: Montana Knapp
(574) 288-6967 ext. 218
mknapp@habitat-for-humanity.org
Repair Corps Program: sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation, serves military veterans through critical home repairs and home preservation. Veteran must: reside in St. Joseph County, have a general or honorable discharge, own or live in their own home full-time OR live with another homeowner as primary residence, up to date city and property taxes, meet program gross income guidelines. Veteran may qualify for up to 15,000$ per property for repairs. Total repayment is 500$. 250$ is due upon contract signing, remaining 250$ will be due once the repairs have been completed.
- Repairs may include: Code related improvements, Accessibility improvements, Energy efficiency improvements, and Structural improvements.
Contact: Andrew Cary
(574) 288-6967 ext. 219
acary@habitat-for-humanity.org
Vet Initiative Home Ownership Program: provides an affordable, interest-free mortgage that helps build and rehabilitate more homes in St. Joseph County. "Future Homeowners" invest time in Sweat Equity by taking homeowner classes, working on other build sites, and help to build their own home. Habitat follows it's 5 Pillars of the Veterans Initiative: Build, Educate, Mobilize, Employ, and Honor.
- Open enrollment. Veterans with a general or honorable discharge, families of at least one veteran, those that meet program income requirements, attend a meeting at the Habitat office to receive an application.
Homes for Heroes
1638 Day Road E. Mishawaka, IN 46545
Contact: Jim McKinnies
574) 299-8808
https://www.mckinniesrealty.com/homes-for-heroes/
Mission: to provide extraordinary savings to local heroes who provide extraordinary services to our community everyday. Heroes include: military, police, fire, first responders, nurses, doctors, teachers and clergy.
Homes for Heroes Foundation
www.homesforheroesfoundation.org
Non-profit organization with the purpose of providing or coordinating financial assistance and housing resources to our Nation's heroes through it's growing network of contractors and generous donors.
- Works with Habitat for Humanity and Miller's Vet Center. Hero Award. Local Fundraisers. Vet Appreciation Fund. Flag awareness programs. Rising Vets Fund.
Miller’s Vet Center
747 S. Michigan St. South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: Kent Laudeman, Director
(574) 968-5349
klaudeman@cfh.net
Contact: Ed Buras
(574) 234-6335
esburas@aol.com
Residential center for homeless veterans. Helping vets get into housing and attain jobs. Vets are required to register with WorkOne, and are assigned a therapist and coach. Counseling services, job search assistance, drug and alcohol treatment assistance.
Veteran’s Opportunity: must have past or present substance use issue, mental health issue, or chronic physical condition. must be able to document homelessness. No dishonorable discharge. Vets can utilize at no cost for 3-6 months, 3 times in a lifetime. Volunteer opportunities for student veterans to participate in services provided to the community: color guard, flag raising, parade marches, and military funeral honors.
REAL Services
www.realservices.org
1151 S. Michigan St. South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: Latasha Bosse, Family Development Program
(574) 284-2060 (department phone number, but callers can ask to be transferred to her)
lbosse@realservices.org
Contact: Megan Rogers
(574) 284-7107
megan@realservices.org
Family Development Program: assists lower income households; long-term case management, family development consultant, monthly meetings, workshops, textbook assistance.
Energy Assistance Program:
The following information must be submitted with the application (either mail-in or office appointment) for ALL household members. WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THESE: (Please send copies. Do not send originals. Originals may not be returned.)
- Copies of Social Security Cards.
- Copies of ID’s
- Proof of income for ALL household members 18 years and older. This includes all of the following types of income: wages, military pay, odd jobs, self-employment income, Social Security (also submit if receiving for a minor), SSI (also submit if receiving for a minor) , VA benefits and other pension, Workman’s Compensation, Unemployment Compensation, strike benefits, severance pay, dividends & interest on savings accounts and CD’s, rental income, royalties, income from estates and trust funds, annuities, insurance benefits and gaming winnings of over $400.
- Recent copies of electric and heating bills. (If bills are in the landlord’s name or included in the rent, a landlord affidavit MUST be submitted.)
- Landlord Affidavit or copy of signed lease (less than 24 months old).
- Proof of homeownership if applicable
- Eligibility
- Eligibility is based on the previous 3 months of income (instead of 12 months of income).
- Households who have electric and/or heating utilities included in their rent may qualify for an EAP benefit. (The household must submit a full application with required documents, and meet the EAP income guidelines.) A household with utilities included in their rent MUST SUBMIT A LANDLORD AFFIDAVIT.
- Households with electric and/or heating utility in a non-household member’s name may still qualify for an EAP benefit (please complete and return a Utility Affidavit).
- Applications may be submitted online.
- The fax number is 574-236-4891
- Office number is 574-232-6501
Weatherization Program: This program helps income eligible households reduce fuel consumption and fuel expenses by providing weatherization measures for homes at no cost to those served. These procedures include: health and safety inspection on the furnace and water heater, cellulose insulation in attics and side walls.
Phone number is 574-284-7113
Counties served is: Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph
All information found and used from https://realservices.org/services/energy-assistance/
Team Heat: November - March, matching bill pay up to 50$.
IDA Program: to grow savings account and assets; must have earned income, IN matches funds 3-1, can use for education, home purchase or repairs
St. Joseph County Problem-Solving Court
227 W. Jefferson Blvd. 4 th Floor South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: Tara Paiano
(574) 235-9565
tpaiano@co.st-joseph.in.us
Veteran’s Opportunity: Veteran’s treatment court
Senator Joe Donnelly
www.donnelly.senate.gov
205 W. Colfax Ave. South Bend, IN 4660
Contact: Lauren Varga, Regional Director
(574) 288-2780
lauren_varga@donnelly.senate.gov
Contact: Duane Arndt, Special Assistant
(574) 288-2780
duane_arndt@donnelly.senate.gov
Connections to VA benefits, overseas issues, issues at home while service member is overseas, passport losses; can expedite the process of replacing on short notice for service members, federal agency issues
Veteran’s Opportunity: Senator Donnelly can be contacted with any Hoosier issue, but as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee he is especially concerned with the welfare of Indiana's veterans and active service members
United Way 211
Contact: Melisa (Castro) Monterroso, 2-1-1 Quality Assistance Specialist
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone
melisa.monterroso@uwa
Call center facilitating local resource navigation, and SSVF (supportive services for veteran families).
Veteran’s Opportunity: Currently working on veteran specific resource guide. SSVF offers case management, financial assistance, and support services to help transition homeless and nearly homeless veterans and their families into permanent housing.
VA NIHCS HUD/VASH
340 Columbia Place South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: Ernie Rivas, Employment Specialist
(800) 360-8387 ext. 72882
ernesto.rivas@va.gov
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing Program. HUD-VASH is a collaborative program that combines housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans who are homeless and their families find and sustain permanent housing. HUD provides rental assistance vouchers for privately owned housing to veterans who are eligible for VA health care services and are experiencing homelessness. VA case managers can connect these veterans with support services such as health care, mental health treatment, and substance use counseling to help them in their recovery process and with their ability to maintain housing in the community.
Veteran’s Opportunity: Chronically homeless veterans are the target population. Case management, employment assistance. Veterans are selected based on health care eligibility, homeless status, and income. Must be honorably discharged. 120 days to get housed, then 2 years on program with the possibility of and extension.