Trustee's Office Assistance

There are three (3) rules of thumb concerning trustee assistance:

• Applicants should apply for assistance within the township where you live.  If you are unsure of which township you live in, you can enter your address into https://in.wayeo.us/ - on the right side will list who are the elected offcials in your area.
• Be in need of essentials of life.
• Be willing to help yourself as much as possible.

A person does not need to have lived in the township for any particular length of time, however the person must have established themselves as a permanent resident of the township. To make this determination, the trustee will consider if the individual has done the following: secure permanent housing in the township, obtain employment in the township, and/or paid taxes in the township. A traveler stranded in the township may apply for assistance as a transient with or without the assistance of the local police or county sheriff’s department.

Township assistance is provided to individuals or families who do not have enough income or resources to meet their basic necessities of life. These necessities include food, shelter, utilities, medical care, household supplies, and other essential needs.

Eligibility for assistance is determined by the Township Trustee or staff, who assess each household’s situation based on written standards adopted by the township. (These standards can be found on our Resources page).  These standards ensure that assistance is given fairly and consistently to those who truly need help. Applicants must provide documentation of their financial situation to demonstrate their need for support.

The township assistance application process consists of two steps:

1. Intake Appointment
   • Call 317-842-8595 to schedule an intake.
   • Bring a photo ID and a copy of the bill you need assistance with (such as a utility bill) or a current lease if requesting housing support.
   • During the intake, you will receive a copy of the application and a list of additional documents needed for your assistance appointment.
2. Assistance Appointment (Held within 2-3 days of intake)
   • You must bring the required documentation to verify your household’s financial situation and need for assistance.
   • The Township Trustee’s office will review your application according to established guidelines to determine eligibility.

This process ensures that those in need receive timely and appropriate support.

At your intake appointment, township staff will provide you with a list of required documents to bring to your assistance appointment.

If you are unable to print these documents, please email them to staff at least 3 hours before your appointment so they can be printed for the meeting.

⚠️ Important: If you are missing any required documents, you should still attend your appointment. However, missing documents may delay the Trustee’s ability to make a decision regarding your assistance request.

The Township Trustee’s office staff will review your application, supporting documents, and any other relevant information with the Trustee.

The Trustee will make a determination on your application within 72 business hours from the date of your assistance appointment. You will be notified of the decision once it has been made.

The Trustee's Office will inform you in writing of the decision in a "Notice of Action" and the reasons for it after determining your eligibility.

You can appeal within fifteen (15) days. The “Notice of Action”, which gives the reasons you were denied, and information how to appeal with the Country Commissioners.

The Board of County Commissioners will set a time to hear your side of the story and the Trustee's offices position. The County Commissioners will make a decision on your appeal. They are bound to use the same set of guidelines that the trustee is. You can bring documents and witnesses to the hearing to help prove your case. You can be represented by legal counsel or anyone you choose.

Yes, the trustee’s assistance can continue as long as your needs exist, IF you continue to try to help yourself by seeking employment and/or other forms of assistance. However, eligibility is determined each time a request is made. For instance, each month that you need rent assistance, a request must be made with the trustee, completing the “Application for Continuing of Additional Assistance”; once again verifying your income and expenses since the last request.

Specifically, the trustee can meet the following basic needs:

Food – Delaware Township Trustee’s Office has an onsite food pantry available to residents in Hamilton Southeastern School District.

Household Supplies – cleaning and hygiene items.

Medical Assistance – not otherwise provided by insurance, clinics, and HIP.

Shelter – rental payments not to exceed established schedule (if specified in the township assistance standards). The landlord or property owner does not have to accept trustee payment. The trustee will not pay for housing that is unfit. The trustee can assist in emergency relocation.

Utilities – bills in the current name of the applicant for the current residence. Apply for utility assistance as soon as you realize you are unable to pay your bills- do not wait until the bills are delinquent or service is disconnected.

Other services – burials and transportation to seek and/or maintain employment.

The Work Requirement:

By law, the trustee must require any able-bodied, unemployed member of a household receiving assistance to seek and accept employment, unless:

• Disabled
• Under age 18 or over 65
• Needed to care for another person
• Employment would violate fair labor standards or the law
• The trustee may require proof of your inability to work, such as a doctor’s statement.

Other self-help requirements:

Any member of the household receiving assistance is required to apply for other forms of aid if it might help the household meet basic needs. Examples of other forms of assistance are:

• Food Stamps
• TANF
• Social Security
• SSI
• Unemployment
• Veteran’s Benefits
• Medicaid
• Medicare

The recipient must cooperate with the trustee’s office in getting necessary papers signed. For instance, in order for the trustee to pay rent, the person receiving help must sign a “voucher” to go to the landlord. Failure to cooperate with the trustee could result in denial or termination of assistance.

If you are unemployed but able to work, you may be assigned to a workfare project. The work you perform will help pay for the aid you receive. For many, workfare has been a major step on the road to a job in the private sector.

The trustee issues vouchers, never cash, to pay for the goods and services which they provide. A voucher is not money, but is a written promise that the trustee will pay money to the company or person who provides the aid.

Depending on which trustee’s office you go to, if you need food, the trustee may give you a food voucher to take to a grocery store. The voucher is good only if you take it to that particular store. The grocery takes the voucher in exchange for the food you select. You will receive no change if you use less than the full amount of your voucher. Then the store turns the voucher back in to the trustee and the grocery store is paid the amount on the voucher.

Some trustee’s office do not supply food vouchers and instead have a food pantry.

The trustee can help IF the tenant qualifies for assistance. You can refer the tenant to the trustee’s office to make an application. If eligible, the recipient will sign a voucher for the rent. This voucher will be sent to you for your signature and should be returned to this office immediately. A check will be forwarded to you, normally within four (4) weeks. Any questions about rent vouchers may be directed to the Trustee.