Welcome to West Virginia
In West Virginia, we provide a variety of programs including farmworker employment and training, home-ownership and housing repair, homebuyer education, budget & credit counseling, transitional and permanent housing for the homeless, and information & referral services. Each of these programs is designed to assist participants in improving self-sufficiency. You can review brief descriptions of each program below, and contact us if you would like more information.
Through the National Farmworker Jobs Program in West Virginia, eligible farmworkers and their dependents can receive a wide array of services, including job search assistance, English as a Second Language instruction, occupational training and higher education options. Trained case manager’s work with NFJP customers to establish career goals, which may result in an enrollment at a local community college, an On-the-Job training program through local employers, and/or support services needed to obtain or retain a job at a living wage. See Eligibility Criteria for more detail.
The primary goal of the National Farmworker Jobs program is to assist customers in acquiring and maintaining employment that provides a living wage and meets the financial needs of the family. Telamon provides customers with supportive services such as transportation, work clothes and other family supports needed to insure that they succeed in completing training and maintaining the job they choose. For farmworkers in need of food in an emergency, food pantries are available in our Martinsburg and Romney offices.
Emergency Food Program
A food pantry located in the Martinsburg & Romney Offices. Martinsburg food pantry is open Monday’s & Tuesday’s 9am-12pm. Romney food pantry is open Monday’s & Tuesday’s 9am-11am with the exception of the 1st Tuesday of every month when pantry is closed. U.S.D.A. commodities supplemented with purchased food items provide relief for those in need. The pantry is open to the public, and pantry distributions are based on need.
Self-Help Housing
We are currently recruiting for our Elizabeth Station Project located in Inwood, WV.
Self-Help Housing is families working together, to build their own homes, like the Church and Barn raisings of the Amish and Mennonites. The program helps low-income participants achieve the dream of homeownership through "sweat equity." A USDA 502 loan is used to purchase their land, materials and pay the sub-contractors for completing the technical items. Five participant families work together as a group under the supervision of a construction supervisor to provide 65% of the labor needed to complete their homes. Each family contributes 30 hours per week until the group of homes is complete. Families work in their spare time (evenings, weekends and days off) so as not to interfere with regular family employment. Together families do the framing, setting of trusses, roofing, sheathing, siding, drywall, painting, and interior trim work. The program takes up to 12 months and no one moves in until all the homes in the group are completed. USDA loans feature interest rate subsidy as low as 1% up to the current market rate, depending on the family’s adjusted annual income. The repayment period can go as high as 38 years and no down payment is required. Mortgage payments are deferred during the course of construction.
Benefits to Community
- Increases and maintains affordable housing
- Boosts local economies through the purchase of building materials and hiring subcontractors
- Stabilizes communities by giving residents safe, decent and affordable housing.
How to Participate
To participate in the Mutual Self-Help program you must be willing to set aside your spare time for approximately 12 months. Participants are required to contribute a minimum of 30 hours per week - 15 hours head of household, 15 hours from volunteers.
There is no cost to participate in the program. The only up-front money required is what is necessary to purchase a Builders Risk Policy to insure your home and materials while under construction. You will also need to purchase work boots, a tool belt and small tools such as a hammer, tape measure, chalk box, etc.
Qualified families are eligible to receive a subsidized interest rate that will keep monthly mortgage payments affordable. Eligible applicants are those who do not currently own a home and meet USDA Rural Development requirements: including good credit, allowable debts and whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, which is $52,950 for a family of four in Berkeley, Jefferson & Morgan Counties.
Program Requirements
- U.S. Citizen or Legal Alien of 18 years of age or older and capable of entering into a binding contract.
- Unable to obtain a conventional loan.
- Adequate and dependable income to cover living expenses and all debt with income meeting program requirements.
- Credit History that indicates a reasonable ability and willingness to meet obligations.
- No bankruptcy in the past 3 years, non-medical collections and judgments cleared and no defaults on student loans.
- Able to work at least 30 hours per week “Sweat Equity”.
Click here for Pre-Qualification Worksheet.
Return completed application to:
Self-Help Housing Program
Telamon Corporation
129 S. Queen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
or
Email: selfhelpwv@telamon.org
If you have any questions please contact (304) 263-0916
or email: selfhelpwv@telamon.org
HELP Program
The West Virginia Housing Development Fund HELP Loan Program is designed to meet the emergency housing repair needs of low-income home owners. "Emergency" in this context includes any structural or construction problem that threatens the health and/or safety of its inhabitants, such as heating and cooling systems, roof and window repairs and sewer or water systems. Loans range in amount from $1,000 to $10,000 and can be applied for through Telamon Corporation. Telamon Corporation offers a variety of programs to assist low- to moderate-income homeowners with the renovation of their current homes. Low interest loans and grants are available options to finance these repairs, depending on which program an applicant qualifies for.
On-site Loan Program
Loan program designed to provide a low interest loan to eligible homeowners, to install, repair or replace existing onsite septic tanks. This program can also cover the cost of connecting to new publicly-owned sewer treatment systems once they become available.
Group Workcamp – July 26, 2009 – August 1, 2009
The volunteers of Shining Apples Workcamp will rehabilitate homes around the community, providing repairs such as porch and wheelchair ramp construction, interior and exterior painting, light carpentry and weatherization. At each workcamp, 400+ teenagers and adults—all members of church youth groups—volunteer a week of their time to repair around 75 homes throughout the community. Applications are currently being accepted. Deadline for applications is April 30, 2009.
Please see attached information and application. Shining Apples Workcamp - July 26, 2009 ~ August 1, 2009
Housing Counseling
Homebuyer Education
We provide quality Homebuyer Education Classes using "Realizing the American Dream" text material in a classroom setting. Classes are taught by a Certified Homebuyer Education Counselor and meet the National Industry Standards for Homebuyer Education and Counseling.
Homebuyer Education classes are provided for those wanting to learn about the process of purchasing a home. Classes are structured to provide customers with information that assists them in preparing for homeownership, managing your money, understanding your credit, getting a mortgage loan, shopping for a home as well as property maintenance once the purchase is complete.
Homebuyer Education Class is offered in Spanish. Please call to schedule an appointment.
Budget & Credit Counseling
One-on-one budget and credit counseling sessions are offered to prospective homebuyers who seek assistance in preparing their household budgets and preparing their credit histories in anticipation of their new home purchase.
Homeless Transitional Housing Services
The Successful Transitioning in the Eastern Panhandle to Self-Sufficiency (STEPS) Program and Victory House Program assists homeless customers with acquiring affordable permanent housing. Historically, the families and veterans served by these two programs have repeatedly required emergency assistance to feed, house and clothe their families. Telamon’s Family Mentor works individually with program customers to help them utilize their skills and abilities to develop and follow self-sufficiency plans. The primary goal is to assist program customers with establishing the skills and resources they need to reach and maintain self-sufficiency.
Chronic Housing
The Chronically Homeless Program is designed to assist individuals who have been deemed chronically homeless in securing permanent residences in the Martinsburg area.
Individuals are eligible for this program if they have been homeless for one (1) full year OR four (4) times in the last three (3) years, have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, substance abuse issue, and/or mental health condition, and are employed.
Individuals that qualify for this program will be provided with a one (1) bedroom apartment at a subsidized rent located in Martinsburg. Individuals will also receive intensive case management, budgeting assistance, and other life skills that will lead them to becoming self sufficient.
Information & Referral
2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with important community services, disaster information and volunteer opportunities. 2-1-1 brings together existing information and referrals to service providers and crisis services into one coordinated system.
Regional Resource
Provide service coordination for individuals who are not having critical needs met by Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) programs. The Regional Resource Coordinator works with partner agencies to serve as a one-stop connection for individuals and families in need. It’s purpose is to…
· Ensure that eligibility information is collected only one time by DHHR and partner agencies. Coordinate the provision of services with community agencies.
· Facilitate communication and information sharing among partner agencies, therefore preventing duplication of services.
· Ensure those who qualify first access DHHR services before approaching limited community resources.
· Capture data about unmet needs in the community.
VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
This program provides assistance with preparation of income tax returns for individual and families with incomes of approximately $30,000.00 or less to ensure families receive all possible tax benefits and credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits.
For more information or to schedule appointment please call (304) 263-5090.
Right from the Start Project
Having a new baby can be one of the most rewarding times of your life, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Having someone to talk to during your pregnancy and/or after you have your baby can make this time easier.
You can have a local community nurse or social worker, called a “care coordinator”, meet with you while you are pregnant to help you learn ways to have a healthy pregnancy. The care coordinator can help you find resources in your community to help with your needs.
To be eligible for Right from the Start you must:
- Be pregnant
- Live in West Virginia
- Have a current, active Medicaid Card or medical coverage through the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health (OMCFH)
- Be an infant who is Medicaid eligible
If you are denied Medicaid coverage for your pregnancy you may still be eligible for RFTS services contact our Romney office for more information.
