Homeless Households

This show is a compilation of policy found throughout Volume II regarding Homeless individuals.

Definition of “Homeless”: MS 2000

A Homeless Individual is defined as someone who either:

Lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence,

OROR...

Their primary nighttime residence is one of the following:

A supervised shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations

An institution providing temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized

A temporary accommodation of less than 90 days in the residence of another individual

A place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, such as a tent, box, car, etc.

Residency

Individuals and/or families residing in temporary shelters for the homeless, may receive SNAP, if otherwise eligible. (MS 2460)

This is one instance when residents of an institution can receive FB. (MS 2090)

Verification of Residency

Whether the homeless individual/family is in a temporary shelter or not, obtain verification of residency in conjunction with the other information such as shelter expenses and identity.

Acceptable Verification

Accept any documents or collateral contacts which reasonably establish the applicant’s residency.

For homeless households, an exception can be made when verification of residency cannot be reasonably obtained. (MS 7000 D)

What’s the Mailing Address?

Households that do not have a fixed residence, including homeless individuals or migrant farm workers, must provide the agency with a mailing address.

Mailing Address Options

If the individual has no mailing address, allow the household to select one of the following options: The address of their church, minister, neighbor General Delivery (at the Post Office) The local DCBS office address.

Local Office Delivery

If the household chooses the local office, store the household’s mail with their EBT card, or if they have already picked up their card, place mail where local office pickups are stored .

Advise the household to check their mail regularly for important notices to ensure their eligibility is not adversely affected.

Purging Old Mail

After 30 days, or if the case is otherwise inactive, mail which is delivered to the local office, but not picked up, is purged. Notices are filed in the case record.

ETP reimbursement checks are returned to the Nutrition Assistance and Accountability Branch.

Transitional Housing Defined Housing to encourage the movement of

homeless individuals/families to independent living within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the Secretary of HUD.

This includes housing primarily designed to serve formerly institutionalized homeless individuals, homeless individuals with mental disabilities, and homeless families with children.

Transitional Housing Assistance

Do not exclude housing assistance paid by Federal, State or local agencies for households residing in transitional housing for homeless.

Although these payments are made to a third party, this is countable unearned income in the SNAP case. (MS 5210, item B.3)

The Homeless Standard: MS 5485

A Homeless Standard Allowance choice is allowed for homeless households who incur a shelter expense, instead of a shelter deduction.

The allowance is deducted after the medical deduction, and before the child support deduction, rather than as a shelter deduction.

Homeless Standard Amount

The Homeless Standard Allowance is subject to change each year when the shelter cap is adjusted.

Go to the KAMES Eligibility Tables, and locate the current Homeless Standard Allowance amount.

Mission Possible!

Locate a FS-103 form in your local office, and find the line used for the Homeless Deduction on this form.

Homeless Standard Verification

If the household states that they expect to incur a shelter cost during the calendar month, accept client’s statement as verification, unless questionable. (See also MS 7010 D.3)

If questionable, and written verification cannot be obtained, collateral contacts may be used.

Using the Homeless Standard

Homeless households which reasonably expect to incur a shelter expense are allowed to use this standard deduction.

When the homeless standard is used, the household is not entitled to any additional shelter deduction.

Give Them a Choice...

Households claiming shelter expenses greater than the homeless standard may choose to use their actual rent and the SUA or BUA, if eligible and verification of expenses is provided.

If verification is not provided, use the homeless standard allowance instead.

Explaining the Homeless Standard

Explain that it is the homeless household's choice to provide verification of rent and entitlement to the utility standard, or to use the homeless standard allowance.

Help Them Choose

Even though it is the client’s choice, it is your responsibility to advise the client what is to their benefit.

Help the client choose the option that is best for them.

No Shelter Expenses?

Homeless households receiving free housing and utilities throughout the month are not eligible for the Homeless Standard Allowance.

Examples

On your Notes Pages, give an example of a Homeless household that would be eligible for the Homeless Standard deduction, and each of the shelter deductions.

Homeless Roommates For two homeless households living together

temporarily and incurring shared shelter expenses, allow each household the homeless standard allowance, if they choose to use it.

Do not prorate the standard between the two households.

Sharing Utility Expenses

For non-homeless households which are entitled to the SUA and also share utility expenses with a homeless household: Allow the non-homeless household the SUA Advise the homeless household that they are

entitled to choose either the Homeless Standard Allowance, or the SUA if verification is provided.

SNAP Use

In addition to regular Food Benefit use, homeless households may purchase meals prepared and served by a public or private, non-profit establishment that feeds the homeless, such as a soup kitchen or shelter for homeless, which is approved by FNS to accept FB.

Shelter Representatives: MS 2465

Employees of shelters that accept SNAP as payment for meals may not apply or act as a FB representative for persons residing in the shelter.

Policy Into Practice

Please return to Blackboard, and complete the Homeless Households Activity to apply the information you have gathered during this segment!