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Housing & Homelessness Support
Services & Programs

CSO offers a variety of services designed to help individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness connect with resources, stabilize their housing, and build long-term stability.

Basic Needs Supplies

Supplies such as hygiene items, blankets, and canned food are available to walk-ins.  Please call 570-644-6575 ext 0 to let us know how we can help you. 

Coordinated Entry (CES) Assessments

Individuals experiencing homelessness can complete a Coordinated Entry assessment in person. This process helps identify housing needs and connect households with available housing programs and community resources.  

Case Management Programs

  • Street Outreach Case Management: CSO’s Street Outreach team works directly with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Northumberland, Columbia, and Montour counties. Outreach staff provide engagement, assessment, and case management services while connecting individuals to basic supplies, community resources, and housing services, including Coordinated Entry assessments. Program enrollment is based on staffing capacity and available resources.

  • Rapid Rehousing Case Management: Rapid Rehousing supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Northumberland, Columbia, and Montour counties by helping them move into stable housing as quickly as possible. When funding is available and program guidelines are met, CSO may provide rental assistance. 

  • Homelessness Prevention Case Management: For households at risk of losing their housing within 14 days in Northumberland, Montour, or Columbia counties, CSO may be able to provide rent assistance when funding is available and program guidelines are met.  

  • HOME-ARP Housing Support: HOME-ARP (Home Investment Partnerships Program – American Rescue Plan) provides housing assistance and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at high risk of homelessness. When funding is available, eligible households in Northumberland, Columbia, and Montour counties may receive assistance to help secure or maintain stable housing. Participants must meet program eligibility requirements.

How to Complete a Coordinated Entry Assessment

If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless:

  • Call 211 anytime for information, referrals, and assistance.

  • Our offices provide Coordinated Entry intakes. Call our front desk at (570) 644-6575 ext 0 to ensure staff availability.

  • 211 can help connect you to the nearest Coordinated Entry access point or other housing resources.

If you need housing assistance at any time, please call 211 to get started or to learn about available resources in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Coordinated Entry Assessment?

The Coordinated Entry System (CES) is the process used by the local Continuum of Care to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with housing programs and services. The system helps ensure that limited housing resources are distributed fairly and consistently based on each household’s level of need rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.

What happens after I complete a Coordinated Entry assessment?

After completing a Coordinated Entry assessment, information about your housing situation and needs is collected using a standardized assessment tool. This information helps identify appropriate housing resources and prioritize households with the greatest need. When housing opportunities become available, referrals may be provided to individuals or families for programs that best match their needs. Final eligibility is determined by each housing program.

Can I get rent assistance without a Coordinated Entry Assessment?

No. Our funding sources require that individuals complete the Coordinated Entry assessment before being referred to our housing programs.

I completed the Coordinated Entry (CES) assessment.

Will I receive assistance now?

Completing a Coordinated Entry assessment does not guarantee housing. Housing programs have limited openings, and when assistance becomes available, referrals are made to households with the highest level of need that best match the program requirements.

Why did someone else receive rent help but I did not?

Housing and rental assistance programs have limited funding and specific eligibility requirements, and funding availability may change from day to day. Some programs also require a referral through the Coordinated Entry System after a housing assessment has been completed.

Assistance is prioritized based on each household’s level of need and vulnerability. In some cases, another household may receive assistance first because they have more urgent housing needs or meet the requirements of a specific program.

Because of these factors, two households may have different outcomes even if they both request assistance.

Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc.

Need assistance? Give us a call and we'll be happy to assist you!

Call Us

(570) 644‑6575 ext. 0

 

Shamokin — 2 E. Arch St., Shamokin, PA 17872

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Sunbury — 217 N. Center St., Sunbury, PA 17801

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Bloomsburg — 160 W. 6th St., Bloomsburg, PA 18715

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For emergency services outside office hours, call 211.

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© 2025 Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

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This publication was financed in part by a CSBG Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

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Workforce development programs are made possible through the support of the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation, the leader and active partner in workforce development efforts. 

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Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS as exempt from income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Contributions to Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. The official registration and financial information of Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

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This website is supported by Grant Number C00081868 from the Office of Community Services withinthe Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, contral, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, tchenical infrastructure, and policies, and any services of tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Community Services. 

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