SPOKANE -- There’s a group of people now that are being identified as the “new homeless”, people that because of the economy who are facing homelessness for the first time or for the first time in a long time. Now new programs paid for with federal stimulus dollars are aiming to help keep people in their homes and off the streets.

Until one week ago Jamie Sherwin had a roommate in her home helping pay the bills and make ends meet.

“The bills, the rent, utilities, everything we just split it down the middle. That's how I was able to afford living here,” Sherwin said.

But one day that roommate, along with her half of the money, just up and left.

“I was going Oh my God how am I gonna make it,” she said. “Either pay this and have this shut off or pay rent and have that shut off.”

Her bills are due, her rent's past due and time for her and her three-year-old daughter is running out.

“I’ve been stable here since I had my daughter and that's everything to me,” she said.

After her roommate left Jamie says she went to several local charities to ask for help but she kept hearing the same thing.

“They told me the only way they could help me is if we became homeless,” Sherwin said. “It doesn't seem right.”

Now a new homelessness prevention program paid for with federal stimulus dollars has been set up to help people out. The City of Spokane has $1.5 Million to help around 400 families before they become homeless. Spokane County has an additional $620,000 to help people.

“Really the idea is to help people before they become homeless,” Christine Barada with Spokane County said. “We could help them with their rent. We could help them with their utilities. It really is to keep them in the house until they can become more stable.”

“It’s smart to help them out when they're in the situation instead of waiting till they're on the streets and have nowhere to go,” Sherwin said.

The money is not for mortgage assistance or food but is set up to pay for rent and utilities to help keep people off the street.

The City of Spokane says their program will be up and running by the end of the year. Spokane County's Homelessness Prevention program is already going and they've already received applications from 165 families.