EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT

Application Webinar 2010-11

Agenda

•Application Logistics

•ESG Program Overview• Eligible Applicants• Eligible Activities

•Review Application – note changes

•Application evaluation

•HEARTH Act

Application Logistics

Application Webinars- not required, attendance strongly encouragedJanuary 19, 2010 (1-3pm EST)January 28, 2010 (10-12pm EST)

 Deadline: Due in IHCDA office by Wed., Feb. 24 at 5:00pm EST. Application posted on IHCDA Web site. http://www.in.gov/ihcda/3131.htm

Submitting the Application: Send only one (1) paper/hard copy of Application Forms only. No faxed, e-mail applications. No handwritten applications. Place with clip around application. Place full-page dividers to indicate tabs in listed order. Double-sided OK!

Do not staple application, enclose in folders, or three ring binders. The tabs should be labeled dividers and placed behind Exhibits 1 and 2. Tabs should be easily removable.

Emergency Shelter Grant OverviewESG is a HUD grant that provides funding for essential services, operations and homeless prevention activities to emergency homeless shelters, transitional housing for homeless and day/night homeless shelters.

Objectives: • To increase the number and quality of emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities for

homeless individuals and families;• To help operate these facilities and provide essential social services; and • To help prevent homelessness.

•The ESG program is designed as the first step in the continuum of assistance to prevent homelessness. Enables the homeless population to move steadily toward independent living.  

•State of Indiana (IHCDA) receives a formula amount of ESG funding each year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is responsible for the state’s allocation of ESG funding. In program year 2009, State received allocation of $1.9 million.

ESG Overview

•Maximum Request and Award: • $50,000 – for applicants that received State ESG grant in 2009-10

program year• $25,000 – for applicants that did NOT receive State ESG grant in

2009-10

• Unlikely that any application will receive the requested amount

•Award Term: One fiscal year: 7/1/10-6/30/11

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• Applicants must be a private non-profit organization (defined as tax-exempt secular or religious organizations described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code), or a local unit of government in the state of Indiana. • Shelter/TH must be currently operating and serving homeless population• Have among its purposes significant activities related to providing services or shelter to homeless persons;• Are in good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State's office. • Have no part of its net earnings inuring to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor or individual;• Have a functioning accounting system that is operated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or have designated an entity that will maintain such an accounting system;• Can demonstrate integration, or the willingness to partner, with the existing local or regional continuum of care.

HUD DEFINITION OF HOMELESS

Clients must meet HUD’s definition of homeless: A homeless person is someone who is living on the street or in an emergency shelter, or who would be living on the street or in an emergency shelter without HUD’s homelessness assistance. A person is considered homeless only when s/he resides in one of the places described below:

•In places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings, on the street• In an emergency shelter;• In transitional or supportive housing for homeless person who originally came from the streets or an emergency shelter;• In any of the above places but is spending a short time (up to 30 consecutive days) in a hospital or institution;•Is being evicted within a week from a private dwelling unit and no subsequent residence has been identified and the person lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing. Or their housing has been condemned by housing officials and is no longer considered meant for human habitation;•Is being discharged within a week from an institution in which the person has been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days and no subsequent residence has been identified and the person lacks the resources and support to obtain housing;•Is fleeing domestic violence housing situation and no subsequent residence has been identified and the person lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

1. Essential Services

2. Shelter Operating Costs

3. Homeless Prevention

ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES

• Assistance in obtaining permanent housing;• Medical and psychological counseling and supervision• Employment counseling;• Nutritional counseling;• Substance abuse treatment and counseling;• Assistance in obtaining other Federal, State, and local assistance including mental health benefits; employment counseling; medical assistance; Veteran's benefits; and income support assistance such as supplemental security income benefits, aid to families with dependant children, general assistance, and food stamps;• Other services such as child care, transportation, job placement and job training; and• Staff salaries necessary to provide the above services

OPERATIONAL COSTS

•Expenses incurred by a grantee operating a facility related to the provision of emergency and transitional housing. Expenses such as:

• Maintenance, Operation, Repairs• Staff salaries for operating shelter, not providing direct service. Limited to 10% of total grant.• Furnishings, Equipment• Rent• Security• Fuel• Insurance• Utilities• Food• Payment for short-term motel/hotel stays for an individuals/family who are not able to stay at the shelter (due to capacity)

HOMELESS PREVENTION ACTIVITIES

• Short-term subsidies to defray rent and utility arrearages for families that have received eviction or utility termination notice; • Security deposits or first month's rent to permit a homeless family to move into their own apartment

• Mediation programs for landlord-tenant disputes;

• Legal services programs for the representation of indigent tenants in eviction proceedings;

• Payments to prevent foreclosure on a home; and

• Other innovative programs and activities designed to prevent the incidence of homelessness.

2010-11 APPLICATION CHANGES

•Separated policies (PDF) & application forms (Excel). Only need to submit application forms. Text boxes are smaller and limited space provided.

•HMIS not limited to ESG funded shelter program- now required to enter data into HMIS for ALL residential program serving homeless

•Fewer attachments/tabs •Designate one shelter program to receive ESG funds•Documentation of consolidated plan hearings attendance•Participation of homeless persons in policy-making and operations•Brief description of organization and shelter program•Non-homeless clients served, per-diem received•Report on # housed and # moved to permanent housing upon discharge

APPLICATION EVALUATION

•Evaluated on a point based system, ~150 points. Minimum point threshold must be met to be funded.

•Remaining applications are divided into buckets based on shelter type, so similar shelter types compete against one another.

•Significant amount of points are given to CoC involvement, # served, capacity, % moved to permanent housing and HPRP involvement

•ASPECTS EVAULATED BUT NOT ON APPLICATION•HMIS data quality (new!)•Annual Progress Report Training•Late Reports•Unclaimed ESG funds

MIGRATION TO HEARTH (2011-12) (HOMELESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RAPID TRANSITION TO HOUSING ACT OF 2009)

•Changes definition of homeless to be more inclusive of persons at imminent risk of becoming homeless

•Will change ESG application process•Will add on to current ESG activities and be somewhat of a merging of HPRP

and ESG. ESG will also fund rent assistance activities. •More funding for homeless prevention and rapid-rehousing.•Legislations was passed by Congress in 2009 and HUD is currently writing

rules. Will be up for public comment in early spring and will be passed in early summer. Will affect 2011-12 program year.

•Read legislation at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1877 We will let you know when public comment is available and how to submit that to HUD.

•Once written, IHCDA will hold extensive trainings on “Migration to HEARTH”

QUESTIONS?

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Technical assistance questions by e-mail. Scoring tools are not available for viewing.

ESG technical assistance questionsContact Kelli Barkerkbarker@ihcda.in.gov

317-233-4611