A security deposit and the first month’s rent may be a big headache for low-income people who have to depend on a fixed income. They struggle with the growing cost of basic needs, let alone saving a little amount of money. But security deposit and first-month rent may be the urgent need sometimes. Different people occupy different realities and this reality may be very bad and may also lead to homelessness due to no savings on hand as a security deposit. For any reason, people may have to move in and there is also a cost named move-in cost as a security deposit.
As the landlords take this security deposit as security for any loss, damage, and violation of lease terms and for backing rent. So people facing a crisis may not be able to manage such security deposits, which also may lead to homelessness in a different situation. Fortunately, there are some resources to get first-month rent and security deposit assistance and we are going to discuss such issues as well.
Content Outline
Security Deposit: Its Function
When the landlords are going to rent their apartments, they focus on the financial situation of the tenants. No landlord wants to stay at risk of not collecting rent on time and they check background as part of the screening process and their financial capabilities. In this process, the landlord may rent his property without any surety and security deposit. When the landlord has the experience of moving out by a tenant for one month of rent due or damaging a part of the property, then it becomes a financial loss for the landlord.
For this, the landlords don’t want to face such situations. They may require the first month’s rent and security deposit to make sure this amount can be covered for loss caused by the tenants. So the first month’s rent and security deposit is just an amount that is paid by the tenant upfront. It protects the landlord from any financial loss in the event of a violation of lease terms, rental agreement, damage to the property, leaving the apartment without paying due rent, key replacement, and many other issues.
A security deposit may be the first month’s rent or the last month’s rent. This may also be one month’s rent or two-month rent. It depends on the nature of the property and the landlord’s focus on the tenants. More importantly, this amount is specified on the lease terms to make sure there is no dispute in the future between the tenant and landlords.
The Reality Of Managing Security Deposit For Low-income Families
Low-income families have limited and fixed incomes, and they need to meet the growing cost of health care, house rent, food, clothes, and many other expenses. It may be hard to balance income and expenses. For this, Low-income households try heart and soul to meet the basic needs such as food, clothes, education supplies of the children, and health care. For this, there is no surplus of their monthly earnings and they may need such surplus money to cover any emergency expenses. As part of emergency expenses, a security deposit may be one as well. They can’t accumulate a single month’s rent to use as a security deposit indeed.
But this security deposit is one of the most important things because those low-income households may face homelessness that is not expected any away. When there are children, senior people, and disabled people in their families, homelessness may bring more serious problems because homeless people are supposed to live under the sky, on the roads on a risky night, and stay at an emergency shelter. More importantly, someone who has escaped from domestic violence needs emergency housing for Safe living, but at that moment, the security deposit or first or last month’s rent may be necessary for renting an apartment.
Managing security deposits may also be difficult for those low-income families as they may not have any information about the security deposit. This could also lead to more problems such as keeping away from better schools for the children, health care for the people, and many more.
Places That Help With First Month Rent And Security Deposit
So there are some platforms and organizations where people may get a security deposit and the first month’s rent; truly, this assistance must go to the people who are facing a dire crisis. For this, some organizations and non-profit organizations have come forward to help them.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army is one of the biggest names in the world of assistance. This organization responds to emergency crises the people in numerous ways. There are food assistance, furniture assistance, house rent assistance, and any other need faced by the ill fortunate people. As part of the first month’s rent and security deposit, there is also financial assistance that may vary by center and state. When you need an amount of rent as the first month’s rent and security deposit, this organization may ensure that individuals sign up for case management and other social services to make sure they are self-sufficient.
Homeless people are the distressed people, and Salvation Army arranges hotel and motel vouchers for emergency homes. When they want to move from shelter to transitional housing, they may need the first month’s rent and security deposit. Surely funds and financial assistance from the Salvation Army may help them stand on their feet as well. So there may be the availability of such assistance for the people by fulfilling all goals.
When you face such a reality, you need to contact the local Salvation Army Center. Surely you should proceed with your tough reality and explain it to get assistance. For any type of crisis that may affect children, senior people, disabled, assistance stands beside them from a different source.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a faith-based community that also stands beside the neediest people. This faith-based organization and its mission are to ensure service and assistance for people in need. So Catholic Charities may also provide financial assistance as first-month rent and security deposit based on availability. But you need to get started with a church and branch near your location.
When you are facing a horrible financial crisis such as the first month’s rent and security deposit, you may approach this organization. Surely you need this assistance to prevent any other crisis as you want to prevent eviction, and you want to save your children from any more danger as well. Then you should explain such a reality to make sure attention is at your side. You need to contact the church and branch near you, and your case may be checked by onsite social workers.
St Vincent De Paul
St Vincent De Paul is one of the platforms to get any assistance as it stands beside the needy people. When people are recently homeless or going to be homeless, low-income families may search for security deposit assistance from this platform. You should explain how important a security deposit is right now for you and why you need to save yourself from other problems. There may be funds to support those types of people, and your request for a security deposit may be verified by St Vincent De Paul or local churches. More importantly, this faith-based community may also help people with help paying rent for needy families.
United way affiliated agencies
Security deposit is a big amount of money and so many people may not afford to pay and they are more likely to be homeless. But there are funds, cash assistance, grants, and loans that may be provided by United Way Affiliated Agencies. When people have tough realities such as homelessness, eviction, or new tenants with a financial crisis, this place is helpful for you as you may get help from this program.
Community Action Agency
Community Action Agency works to eliminate hardships for needy families. This community action agency works in your town and county. But sometimes, these community action agencies may be found in neighboring counties and towns. So in every community and county, there are people who face financial hardships and they need a security deposit to get back on their track. When low-income families face such a financial crisis, they help with funds according to the request of the distressed community people. This help is not just confined to security deposit but helps pay with rent, food, and clothes as well. So you may check out the community action agency for any help such as a security deposit.
Security deposit guarantees program
There is another way to manage security deposits and this is going to be a different way. Some banks, insurance companies, and financial institutions provide a security deposit guarantees program and it is one type of insurance and surety bond and it is designed for low-income people. This may be one type of assistance for low and moderate-income people. In this case, those institutions pay the landlord that requires as security money.
Continuum of Care
Funds may be available in this program and it helps low-income people pay their security deposits. Local non-profit organization runs these programs to make sure low-income people can get assistance in their crises. This program aims to help the people who are going to be homeless due to eviction and other reasons. Additionally, the homeless may find their apartments as part of rehousing and they can live in the apartment by getting assistance from this program. There may restrictions and a lack of fund availability and you should make sure that this program is available and designed for you.
Here to Help Foundation
Here to Help Foundation is a great place to get temporary assistance for a security deposit. This is a platform that helps people in the event of an unanticipated emergency. Some programs address the big emergencies people face. Part of this security deposit is one of the assistance that may be helpful to get people to the apartment instead of staying on the streets. It is important to note that you can only get assistance when you reside in Wayne or Oakland County of southeastern Michigan. So you need to check out their website for more details.
County of San Diego Security Deposit Assistance Program
County of San Diego’s Security Deposit Assistance programs helps with security deposit assistance for eligible residents. The low-income people having financial crises can get one-time payment assistance and they are not able to pay this amount. This amount is ensured through a security deposit voucher. But voucher is limited and one should check out the availability of this program and then need to apply for a security deposit. So you may check out their current program for security deposits.
5 Best Security Deposit Management Ways
Surely assistance is worth helping in the tough time. But there are also some steps from the personal side to improve and develop financially. These are
Engage in extra work
When you have a fixed job with fixed earnings, it may be hard to manage security deposits. For this, there should be a personal effort with extra work. Even if you are busy with your current work, there are still part-time jobs with good earnings. These jobs may be based on any local business, online work, and many more. So people who have the plan to move in recently need to engage in such type of work for additional income. This extra money beyond your fixed earnings and expenses may support this case.
Cut unnecessary spending
Even if you have fixed earnings, you may also cut spending, which is not necessary. For example, going to restaurants, traveling, and other types of spending may be limited and you may deposit little by little to see a bigger amount that may be helpful for the time of the security deposit.
Sell things not needed now
You may have used furniture, appliances, and other home appliances which are not used and required for you right now. You may sell such things to manage your security deposit to make sure you can pay for a security deposit. Surely things are not urgent but you need to move in when you are more likely to face homelessness.
Go for negotiation
Sometimes the move-in cost may be limited and sometime this may not need to pay to the landlords. All that needs is effective negotiation with the landlords. You may explain your situation that may be considered with sympathy. Then your security deposit may be limited compared to the full month’s rent.
Find the landlord that ignores security deposit
Surely some landlords may see their properties vacant and they may ignore security deposits as well. In this case, it is important to find out the landlord who doesn’t focus on security deposit but they may focus on your financial strength and rent guarantees monthly. When you get such landlords, you may not require a security deposit as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are so many issues to know about the security deposit and how it may be possible to get it. So we are going to answer some questions to make sure you can know more.
What is the alternative to a security deposit?
When people are not capable of managing Security deposits, they need to think of an alternative way. This means you should follow the steps that can convince the landlord even if you don’t afford to pay for a security deposit. These include surety bonds, rent guarantees, deposit installment solutions, and credit authorization services. But this depends on the landlord, who might focus on such issues instead of the security deposit.
How can I get help with a security deposit in Michigan?
There are low-income families who are going to be homeless but this homelessness is never expected. For this, there are local resources that can help get a security deposit. You may check out the local government and social service office to get help with a security deposit as well.
How long does it take to get a security deposit back?
When tenants move out, it becomes an issue to get a security deposit back. But it depends on the agreement between you and your landlord and agencies. It is important to know the amount how much you will get and it depends on the agreement as well. Additionally, there may be a time frame to get a security deposit but it normally takes 10 days. When your security deposit is in a custodial scheme, you may get interested on security deposits as well.
Final Verdict
Surely security and the first month’s rent may be the final decision for so many landlords and it is important to keep this amount to pay the landlords. You have difficulties managing this amount and there are also some organizations and platforms to help you get the apartment as well. For this, you need to do extensive research and study some organizations and platforms where security deposit and first-month rent are available for you. Surely there may be restrictions and eligibility criteria to get such assistance, and you need to follow that carefully. Additionally, you should get started with the application process for appropriately getting a security deposit according to the instruction of the organization which you are getting started with.