Supportive Services in Public Housing · Eligible applicants include certain nonprofits,...
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OPPORTUNITY AGENDA: SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOUSING Anice Chenault, NOAL – Southeast Network AASC Annual Conference – August 23, 2016
Transcript of Supportive Services in Public Housing · Eligible applicants include certain nonprofits,...
OPPORTUNITY AGENDA: SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOUSING Anice Chenault, NOAL – Southeast Network AASC Annual Conference – August 23, 2016
WHAT’S A NOAL? When Secretary Castro came to HUD in 2014, he
labeled the agency the “Department of Opportunity,” recognizing the power of stable housing, when paired with supportive services, to change the lives of families. The plan for getting there is called the “Opportunity Agenda.”
The Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH)
and HUD is divided into 10 Regions and 6 Networks
NOAL: Network Opportunity Agenda Liaison
HUD STRATEGIC PLAN UNDER OBAMA We know that housing can be a platform for driving other outcomes—that housing is not just a typical market good, but a place to anchor services and where different policies central to opportunity can be overlaid.
—HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan October 26, 2009
GOAL 3: HOUSING AS A PLATFORM Stable housing, made possible with HUD support, provides an ideal platform for delivering a wide variety of health and social services to improve health, education, and economic outcomes. Through partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels, HUD will utilize its housing platform to deliver a wide variety of services to improve the quality of life of its residents and the surrounding community. The following subgoals provide a roadmap for accomplishing this goal:
Subgoal 3A: Utilize HUD assistance to improve educational outcomes and early learning and development.
Subgoal 3B: Utilize HUD assistance to improve health outcomes. Subgoal 3C: Utilize HUD assistance to increase economic security
and self-sufficiency. Subgoal 3D: Utilize HUD assistance to improve housing stability
through supportive services for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, people with disabilities, homeless people, and those individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless.
Subgoal 3E: Utilize HUD assistance to improve public safety.
SUBGOAL 3C: UTILIZE HUD ASSISTANCE TO INCREASE ECONOMIC SECURITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Strategies: 1. Support wealth creation and asset building through programs that enable families to build assets and increase financial literacy. 2. Improve access to job opportunities through information sharing; coordination with federal, state, and local programs; and other means. 3. Increase access to job training and career services and work support through coordination with federal, state, and local programs. 4. Increase access to public benefits (such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF] and Supplemental Security Income [SSI]) through outreach and other means. 5. Increase access to broadband Internet and other technology
Employment Jobs Plus
FSS ROSS
Connectivity Connect Home
Supportive Services Re-entry Financial
Empowerment Mobility Pilot Father’s Day
Education Grade Level
Reading College Readiness
STEM ROSS for Education
Opportunity Agenda Programs
IMPACT FSS — Over 71,000 participants nationally Jobs Plus— Over 12,000 work-able residents
eligible to participate ROSS-SC — Over 10,000 people were served by
approximately 120 ROSS Service Coordinators last year
CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION FY16 FY17
President’s Budget
FSS $75 $75m ROSS-SC $35m $0 Jobs Plus $15m $35 $5m for tribes ConnectHOME $5m Mobility Pilot $15 FSS-FUP Demonstration
authorized
EDUCATION ROSS for Education aka Project SOAR – Over
1,500 youth ages 15-24 eligible to participate in receiving FAFSA completion assistance
Summer Youth Opportunity Project – 1,000+ young people received summer youth employment in 10 HUD place-based cities
Campaign for Grade Level Reading – highlights 11 PHA promising practices; by September 30th, will expand 25+ PHAs, with leveraged resources
Youth Summerfest 2016 – 200+ youth (11 PHAs) attending summer camp away from home July 27th – 30th, West Virginia – $90K in private scholarships
OPPORTUNITY: ROSS FOR EDUCATION $2 million PHAs only PH residents only ‘Education Navigators’ in up to six PHAs support hundreds of young people between the
ages of 15–20 to apply for U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
PHA applications are due September 28.
OPPORTUNITY: PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS $30 million in funding to improve educational and
developmental outcomes for students in distressed neighborhoods.
Eligible applicants include certain nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and Indian tribes.
Promise Neighborhoods grants provide support for the implementation and coordination of comprehensive services ranging from early learning, K-12, to college and career, including programs to improve the health, safety, and stability of neighborhoods.
ED anticipates awarding 5-7 grants of $4-6 million each per year for up to 5 years.
For more information, click here. Applicants must apply through Grants.gov by
September 6, 2016.
OPPORTUNITY: EARLY HEAD START EXPANSION PARTNERSHIPS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) $135 million for expanding access to high-quality,
comprehensive services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families through Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships, or through the expansion of Early Head Start services.
Eligible entities include local governments, housing authorities, certain for-profit organizations, and non-profit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations.
approximately 75 grants ranging from $750,000 to $8,000,000 each. ACF’s Grant Application Toolkit contains several resources
for potential applicants, including an archived webinar. Applicants must apply through grants.gov by August 24,
2016.
FY16-FY17 AGENCY PRIORITY GOAL: INCREASE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Increase educational attainment for HUD-assisted tenants by improving access to stable, quality,
and affordable education, as measured by increasing the percentage of HUD-assisted tenants who are currently enrolled in college.
Educational Attainment Milestones 7/15/2016 Release report on the University of Pennsylvania multi-site study on the effect
of HUD assistance on educational outcomes for children and youth, a pilot study that demonstrates the potential of matching housing and education administrative data for research.
9/30/2016 Develop and sign an MOU between HUD, Federal Student Aid (FSA), and IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites serving HUD-assisted households to increase awareness and early completion of FAFSA applications.
3/31/2017 Use behavioral insights to promote completion of FAFSA applications by HUD-assisted students through a low-cost, evidence-based, experimental approach in partnership with the U.S. Social and Behavioral Sciences Team and the Department of Education.
Metrics Percentage of HUD-assisted tenants who are currently enrolled in college Percentage of HUD-assisted tenants ages 16-34 who have completed a FAFSA application Percentage of HUD-assisted tenants ages 16-34 who completed a FAFSA application and then
received aid to attend school Percentage of Housing Choice Vouchers households who are proximate to proficient schools
RESOURCE: GREATSCHOOLS A national non-profit organization that supports parents through a wide variety of web-based resource available at www.GreatSchools.org
GreatSchools helps parents choose the right school for their
children by offering a free on-line database of school performance information for more than 200,000 public, private and charter schools across the US.
The site is available free to all PHAs, and all parents, grandparents, and caregivers looking for schools and ways to help children learn. The site is particularly helpful to Housing Choice Voucher households who are searching for a home and right school in the neighborhood.
PHAs can help families research schools by making this resource known to them and or providing them with local listings of schools in neighborhoods of interest. To locate nearby, good performing schools, go to the www.GreatSchools.org and search using your city, address or just a zip code along with the appropriate grade level.
RESOURCE: CAMPAIGN GRADE LEVEL READING Promoting the importance of low income children reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Will focus on third grade reading proficiency and chronic absenteeism.
Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is a key predictor of
high school graduation and career success. Yet, statistics show that every year, more than 80% of children from low-income families miss this critical milestone.
Launched in 2010, the GLR Campaign is a collaborative effort of funders, nonprofit partners, states, and communities across the nation to turn this around and put children on the path for success.
In February 2016, HUD officially joined the CGLR effort, and will work collectively with CGLR to work closely with PHAs in 25 cities, 5 states who are connected to their existing GLR network, but could benefit from added tools, resources and opportunities to assist low income children.
PHAs are currently under consideration by HUD-CGLR. However, if a PHA is interested and would like to be considered, they should contact Maria-Lana Queen at [email protected]. To learn more go to www.gradelevelreading.net
RESOURCE: FIRST BOOK First Book is an international nonprofit social enterprise that provides access to new books and educational resources for programs and classrooms working with kids from low-income families. Provides brand new, age-appropriate free or low-cost
books for low income kids. www.firstbook.org All PHAs, and anyone working with kids in need can
sign up for free, and everyone in your organization can register. You can use these books for anything--local resident meetings, book fairs, community events, and yes, the annual HUD Father’s Day event!
Contact the First Book Help Team by calling (866) READ-NOW or emailing [email protected]
RESOURCE: ABCMOUSE Early learning resource available to low-income households with children ages 2-7 through PHAs
The leading and most comprehensive online
curriculum for young learners. The curriculum encompasses reading and language arts, math, science, social studies, health, art, and music.
All PHAs and their service providers, such as schools, libraries, Head Start programs, and community centers, can obtain access to ABCmouse.com for free.
Contact [email protected] to get free access to ABCmouse.com for your education initiatives
RESOURCES Resource Guide on Two-Generation Approaches
Department of Ed’s Place Based Initiative Pilot Team http://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/place-based-initiatives/ released a resource that focused on Two-Generation Approaches. Two generation approaches consider the needs of both vulnerable children and parents, together, in the design and delivery of services and programs to support improved economic, educational, health, safety, and other outcomes that address the issues of intergenerational poverty.
Resource Guide on Youth Workforce Development Department of Ed, Performance Partnership Pilots and
Jobs for the Future have released a resource guide focused on Youth Workforce Development.
RESOURCE: EDUCATION DATA-SHARING TOOLKIT The U.S. Department of Education released its
first-ever Data-Sharing Tool Kit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/datasharingtool.pdf for Communities, providing schools and partner organizations with tools for responsible data-sharing to boost student achievement while respecting privacy.
The tool kit dispels myths about FERPA and illustrates how communities can use data to improve academic and life outcomes.
OTHER YOUTH RESOURCES
www.youth.gov
Summer Food Service Program – through USDA www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYr_aFcy_KE
Safe Routes to School – DOT – find your state coordinator - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/
FATHER’S DAY
HUD VETERANS AFFINITY GROUP (VAG) STEM INNOVATION NETWORKS (STEMNET) HUD, United States Military Academy (USMA) and Army
Research Lab (ARL) partnership provides onsite STEM training to inspire, excite and
engage youth living in Public Housing. comprehensive opportunities for students to visit
universities, museums, national and local science and technology venues
works with partners to provide paid internships at local universities and military installation science labs.
project-based curriculum model that allows students to work with technology tools that integrate learning, creativity and problem solving while working on actual community and environmental projects using mapping and modeling techniques that prepare students with relevant skills leading to high paying jobs/careers.
Currently in 30 communities https://youtu.be/airmTN8O9n0
A public-private collaboration to narrow the digital divide for families with school-age children who live in HUD-assisted housing.
Stakeholders provide free and low-cost: High-speed Internet at Home Computers Digital Literacy Training
Program has launched in 28 communities and is going national
www.Connecthome.hud.gov
About Internet Essentials Internet Essentials from Comcast is the nation’s
largest and most comprehensive high-speed internet adoption program. It provides low-cost high-speed internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax; the option to purchase an internet-ready computer for under $150; and multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online and in-person. For more information, or to apply for the program, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. Spanish speakers should call 1-855-765-6995.
Cox Cable offers $10/mo. internet to all HUD-assisted families with school-aged children in their 18-state footprint
CONNECTHOME COMMUNITIES
SEED (HUD, ENERGY & EDUCATION) Utilizes PHA’s energy investments and/or capital
improvements “as a platform” to provide energy literacy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) education and workforce training to residents.
HUD and its federal partners assist PHAs with identifying local and national partners.
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/seed
Commitment at CGI to expansion by 2018 https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-
initiative/commitments?keywords=HUD&=Go®ion=&year=2015
Energy is Everywhere webinar series - http://energy.gov/eere/education/downloads/energy-everywhere-webinar-series
RETURNING CITIZENS It Starts with Housing: Public Housing Authorities Are
Making Second Chances Real showcases PHA reentry models from communities across the country. This Reentry Toolkit includes examples of programs that have been designed to help returning citizens access housing as a platform for opportunity.
The toolkit was launched as part of a federal reentry initiative by
Secretary Castro joined by Attorney General Lynch, Labor Secretary Perez, and Education Secretary King for a conversation about reentry and federal efforts to support second chances. The Secretary outlined a number of HUD initiatives to support returning citizens, also including a new Pay for Success (PFS) Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) demonstration, in addition to our previously announced Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (JRAP) demonstration, Fair Housing guidance, and arrest guidance. I hope that you will take some time to view the Reentry Toolkit and that you find it useful in supporting local PHA reentry efforts.
RETURNING CITIZENS (CONT.) HUD Secretary’s Letter to PHAs clarifying policies on
housing ex-prisoners https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Rentry_letter_from_Donovan_to_PHAs_6-17-11.pdf
Juvenile Re-Entry Assistance Program (J-RAP)
HUD received $1.75 million from the Department of Justice and is distributing those funds to PHAs that have partnered with Legal Aid or other organizations that have experience with expungement/clearing of records.
Eligible people to be served under The Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (JRAP) are people under the age of 24 who are either current public housing residents OR would be residents were it not for a criminal record.
RETURNING CITIZENS (CONT.) Guidance for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Owners of Federally-Assisted Housing on Excluding the Use of Arrest Records in Housing Decisions
PIH 2015-19
Arrest Guidance In November of 2015, HUD announced guidance that
“inform(s) PHAs and owners of other federally-assisted housing that arrest records may not be the basis for denying admission, terminating assistance or evicting”.
The Guidance states that an arrest may be used as a “trigger” to see what happened, but that denial of housing must be based on conduct not an arrest.
One Strike
In the same Guidance, HUD clarified that HUD does not require PHAs and Owners to Adopt “One Strike” Policies.”
RETURNING CITIZENS (CONT.) Innovative Programs
many PHAs are being very innovative in creating programs that allow returning citizens to access housing, and HUD is very supportive of these efforts.
Many programs set aside HCV vouchers for returning citizens. Some PHAs give vouchers to 3rd party organizations who have housing
for returning citizens. Some PHAs have signed onto a program that allows returning citizens
to reunite with their families who already live in public housing.
NYCHA Pilot at least 3 other PHAs have adopted. Community-based organizations that work with returning citizens
pledges to screen and provide case management and other services to individuals who have families in public housing willing to add them to their apartment.
The PHA reviews the list of referred individuals. The individuals are allowed to live with their families for up to two
years. Their income is not counted towards rent, and if the individual
commits a crime, the family is not evicted.
HUD-DOL See HUD-DOL Secretaries’ letter and FAQ on
www.hud.gov/recovery under “partnerships”
From the Ground Up: Creating Sustainable Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc%3Fid%3D14_dol_publication.pdf
JOBS PLUS PROGRAM Place-based program that supports locally-based
approaches to increase the earnings and advance the employment outcomes for Public Housing residents.
Key Elements Employment and Training Financial Incentive (JPEID) Community Supports for Work
NOFA applications were due June 13, 2016 Minimum 200 non-elderly-only ACC units in an AMP (or
combination) with at least 50% unemployment Partnership with the local WIB/One-Stop
Employment and Training
Financial Incentive (JPEID)
Community Supports for Work
JOBS PLUS PROGRAM: 18 CITIES
DOL – ONLINE COMMUNITY - WORKFORCEGPS This site houses several Communities of Practice and Collections all opened to the public: Career Pathways,
https://careerpathways.workforcegps.org/, helps workforce development leaders, practitioners, and policymakers expand state and local career pathways efforts currently underway or being planned.
Reentry Employment Opportunities, https://reo.workforcegps.org/ , offers practitioners new ideas and tools to do the invaluable work of changing lives and renewing futures of former offenders.
Youth Connections, https://youth.workforcegps.org/, is an on-line learning destination for public workforce system staff and partners who serve youth.
HEALTH Federally Qualified Health Centers (and look-alikes) – including
Community Health Centers CHCs provide primary and preventive health care, mental
health services, dental services, transportation and translation services. These Health Centers are public or private corporations created through the initiative of local citizens interested in bringing health care to their areas. They are governed by consumer-majority boards of directors http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
With NHLBI-NIH, disseminating a “With Every Heartbeat is
Life” Community Health Worker model and curriculum to almost 20 PHAs. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/healthdisp/aa.htm
FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCES PIH-2014-26 - Asset Building and Financial Literacy Resources
Assets for Independence
Matched savings accounts and financial literacy http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/afi FDIC’s MoneySmart Program
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html
www.MyMoney.Gov - the one stop shop for the federal government’s financial education resources
CFPB – Your Money, Your Goals - http://www.consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals/ ARE YOU HAVING THE MONEY CONVERSATION? Your Money, Your Goals is a toolkit to help front line staff and volunteers as they work with consumers to…
Make spending decisions that can help them reach their goals Order and fix credit reports Avoid tricks and traps as they choose financial products Make decisions about repaying debts and taking on new debt Keep track of their income and bills Decide if they need a checking account and understand what they need to open one
IRS/EITC HUD-IRS MOU on EITC
http://www.hud.gov/content/releases/hudirsagreement.pdf
find a local VITA center https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-
Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers
SENIOR CITIZENS HUD has been in the process of updating its designated housing rule
for low-income seniors and non-elderly disabled Americans to clarify and streamline procedures for setting designations.
Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households in HUD-
Assisted Multifamily Housing – NOFA due April 18 Applicants must be owners of existing eligible federally assisted
multifamily properties (Section 202) http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-
grants.html?keywords=aging%20in%20place
HUD participates with other agencies and organizations to share information concerning older Americans, including the National Council on Aging's Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment.
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/information_for_seni
or_citizens
OTHER PIH NEWS YOU CAN USE PIH 2015-12 - Guidance on Community Service
and Self-Sufficiency (CSSR) Requirement Rule-Making on Smoke-Free
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2015/HUDNo_15-144
Advanced Notice on Proposed Rule-Making – Over-Income Tenants http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2016/HUDNo_16-012
OTHER PERTINENT HUD NOTICES PIH 2011-51 - Promoting Partnerships to Utilize
Housing as a Platform for Improving Quality of Life.
PIH 2011-33 - Work Requirement/Preference Notice
PIH 2013-21 – Tenant Participation Funds
MTW EXPANSION – AUTHORIZED FY16 100 New MTW agencies
50 < 1,000 units 47 < 6,000 units 3 < 27,000 units 5 = RAD May be regional agencies
7 years to add these 100 agencies Will be added in cohorts Each cohort will address one policy change
Led by Research Advisory Group http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/progra
m_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/mtw/expansion
OTHER RESOURCES MTW Promising Practices http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/mtw/promisingpractices Resources for Community and Supportive
Services http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/css/resources Webinar on Community Gardens in Public
Housing https://hud.adobeconnect.com/p4w82jhr0j8/
FOR MORE INFORMATION – OUR TEAM Youth – [email protected] Returning Citizens/J-RAP – [email protected] Jobs Plus/DOL – [email protected] With Every Heartbeat is Life - [email protected] Financial Literacy – [email protected] Elderly – [email protected] ROSS, ConnectHome, SEED, gardening,
Neighborhood Networks – [email protected] ROSS/FSS – [email protected] STEM – [email protected] FSS & General Collaboration Information -
[email protected] The Big Guy – [email protected]
FSS-SPECIFIC ISSUES AND GUIDANCE
REPORTING/EVALUATION FY15 grants were last year for Logic Model 50058 Section 17 reporting is CRITICAL PIH 2016-8 Notice on FSS Reporting in PIC
Followed by a webinar Very likely that future NOFAs will not allow ad
hoc reports to support eligibility Composite score for each FSS program being
developed Field Offices increasing FSS and ROSS
monitoring Potential changes to SEMAP and PHAS
RAD – IMPLICATIONS FOR ROSS/FSS ROSS -
Convert from PH to HCV or PBRA Can use rest of ROSS grants already made, but units no
longer qualify for future ROSS FSS
Convert from PH to PBV – no changes other than source of escrow because FSS programs have been merged since FY14.
Convert from PH to PBRA May use existing FSS grant to continue to serve RAD-
affected FSS participants and other PBRA residents BUT if convert entire stock to PBRA (no more ACC or
HCV/PBV) = no longer eligible to apply for FSS funding. See PIH-2012-32 Rev. 2
FSS EXPANSION TO PBRA/MULTI-FAMILY PBRA owners can establish their own FSS program to
serve PBRA residents. PBRA owners may partner with existing FSS
programs at a local PHA. PHA manages service coordination and PBRA residents
comply with PHA’s Action Plan PBRA owner manages escrow
PBRA owners (that are not PHAs) are not eligible to apply for funding
Draft Notice on implementation of expansion of FSS
program to PBRA properties was posted for comment on March 15, 2016 and was open for comment until March 30, 2016. Hope to be published soon.
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh/MFH_policy_drafts/MF_FSS
OGC GUIDANCE ON TERMINATION OF FSS PROGRAMS “There are no statutory or regulatory provisions
that allow for the wholesale termination of an existing program. Once a PHA has established a HUD-approved FSS program, it must operate under applicable program requirements. It is our opinion that a PHA, whether operating a voluntary or mandatory program cannot terminate an existing program (e.g. terminate the contracts of current participants) based solely on its not receiving FSS Coordinator Funding or because of a decrease in tenant-based rental assistance.”
FSS-FUP PIH-2016-01 – FUP-FSS Demonstration
PHAs that serve FUP-YOUTH and have FSS programs
Allows FUP vouchers to be used for the whole period the young adult is on FSS.
To apply, the PHA Executive Director must submit a written request to participate in the demonstration co-signed by the PCWA Executive Director and include supplemental information (specified in the notice).
Applications due July 15, 2016
MANDATORY PROGRAM REDUCTION See “Waivers and Alternative Requirements for the FSS Program” Federal Register notice, published on December 29, 2014, at 79 FR 78100. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/12/29/2014-30342/waivers-and-alternative-
requirements-for-the-family-self-sufficiency-program 1. Waiver allowing the Alternative requirement to permit families in either the public
housing or Housing Choice Voucher program to count towards compliance with public housing agencies' (PHAs') mandatory FSS participation level and its reduction. HUD is providing an alternative requirement to Sections 23(b)(3) and (b)(4) to allow public housing agencies to operate a unified FSS program that combines the number of families under the formerly separated programs and formerly count graduating participants from either rental assistance program to both fulfill their mandatory program size requirements and subsequently reduce the program size in accordance with Section 236(b)(4). Without such a policy, PHAs would have to continue the separate tracking of families from each program, which would be unnecessarily burdensome. Moreover, this flexibility will allow some PHAs that have had difficulty meeting program requirements to come into compliance, and enable more families to benefit from FSS. This will apply to all PHAs, including those that administer only a single FSS program now and choose to expand to serve residents from the other rental assistance program. For example, if a PHA serves voucher participants only through their FSS program and the PHA expands its FSS program to public housing residents as well, then the PHA may count both its voucher FSS and public housing FSS graduating participants in reducing its mandatory program size.
EARNED INCOME DISREGARD The new Streamlining Rule changed how EID
works 24 months with no start/stop
EID over-rides FSS escrow (always has) and is mandatory (can’t choose escrow instead)
HOTMA Eliminated EID It’s not “lost” time and doesn’t have to be a
dampener on motivation Great time for financial empowerment, credit repair,
IDAs.
HOTMA – IMPACT ON RENT CALCULATIONS Interim re-certs only for change in income +/-10%
and increased earned income is disregarded – so the rent will only go up/start or increase escrow a maximum of once per year
Rents will be calculated looking backwards 12 months, as opposed to anticipating forwards, so the first year a person is working, that next re-cert will result in a smaller increase than it would have if the new income was assumed for the following 12 months.
PORTABILITY UNDER FSS Portability provisions under the FSS program are found at 24 CFR 984.306. FSS portability provisions remain unchanged after publication of the final portability rule.
On August 20, 2015, HUD published a final rule that revised the portability regulations to provide greater clarity to the portability process and allow families to more easily search for and lease a rental unit in their desired location.
An FSS participant may port after having leased a unit for at least 12 months after the effective date of the FSS contract in the jurisdiction of the PHA that selected the family for the FSS program. The PHA may allow a portability move during this 12 month period.
When a FSS family ports and is under a billing arrangement, the initial PHA is responsible for managing the FSS escrow account regardless of which PHA is administering the family’s FSS contract.
The receiving PHA is responsible for managing the escrow account if the family’s voucher is absorbed by the receiving PHA.
Once a port-in record is submitted into PIC for the family, the initial PHA no longer has access to that record. It follows then that the receiving PHA will be responsible for PIC FSS reporting for the family. Further guidance on FSS PIC reporting is forthcoming.
FSS regulations allow for continued participation in the FSS program of the initial PHA under a portability scenario if the family can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the initial PHA, that the family will be able to fulfill its responsibilities under the FSS contract at its new place of residence. Continued participation at the initial PHA’s FSS program will not be possible in all portability scenarios.
It is important that PHAs clearly inform FSS families of the impact the portability move will have on the family’s FSS participation, so that the family can make an informed decision.
Coordination between PHAs is critical under a FSS portability scenario.
REGIONAL MOBILITY On January 21-22, 2016, HUD held a convening with a group of practitioners that
have implemented or are in the process of implementing regional collaboration efforts around mobility counseling. The purpose of the convening was to gain a better understanding around the
implementation of a regional mobility counseling program, including defining opportunity and setting program goals, delivering mobility services to families, paying for programs and services, and planning and partnering.
Represented at the convening: Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis/Twin Cities, Philadelphia, Rockford, IL, St. Louis.
One of the take-aways of the convening was the great potential for pairing such efforts with FSS.
FY17 Budget - HUD requested the authority to operate a mobility demonstration program. 10 regional sites for 3 years The primary goal of the program is to provide PHAs with the flexibility to
partner with one another and other entities to build programs that encourage family moves to better neighborhoods.
Also requested was $15m for: mobility services, regional program start-up and operating costs, and an impact evaluation intended to identify interventions that motivate families to
move to and remain in better neighborhoods.
FSS METRICS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Best Practices guidance document and on-line
training forthcoming by end of fiscal year Informed by FSS Community of Practice
[email protected] – for all FSS questions (after your field
office)
FSS website - http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/fss
Sign up for the FSS listserve - http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/subscribe/signup&listname=Family%20Self-Sufficiency%20(FSS)%20Program%20Listserv&list=FSS-L
FSS – KEY PRACTICES
FY15 FSS OUTCOMES Over 71,000 households actively participated in the program (58,000+ in the
Housing Choice Voucher program and 13,000+ in Public Housing). 4,245 families successfully completed their FSS contracts and graduated.
(3,601 in Housing Choice Voucher FSS and 644 in Public Housing FSS). 100 percent of graduating families did not require temporary cash assistance
(TANF/welfare). This is a requisite of graduating from the program. 52 percent of graduates have escrow savings, at an average of approximately
$6,500. 1,529 FSS program graduates (36 percent) exited rental assistance within one
year of leaving the program. (1,240 in Housing Choice Voucher (34 percent), 289 in Public Housing (45 percent)).
499 FSS program graduates (11.76 percent) went on to purchase a home. (386
in Housing Choice Voucher (10.72 percent), 113 in Public Housing (18 percent)).
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=7-Family_Self-Suff.pdf
FSS STUDIES The first national evaluation of FSS conducted by
HUD in 1995 revealed that the median income of FSS participants increased 72% during participation in the FSS program, while a similar group of non-FSS participants’ median incomes increased by only 36% during the same period.
A study conducted by HUD’s Office of Policy Development & Research, found that between 2005 and 2009 found the average annual income for FSS graduates had increased from $19,902 to $33,390.
The average escrow balance of graduates in that study was $5,294.
First experimental design longitudinal study of FSS underway – results expected 2018.
Properties with family service coordination have lower property damage, eviction and turn-over
DO YOU HAVE STORIES LIKE THESE? WHO KNOWS ABOUT THEM? Q.P. (Waterbury, CT) a single mother of three, had been on the voucher
program since 2005. She enrolled in the FSS program in 2010 with an income of $14,000 from temporary work. While on FSS she received her Associate’s degree and became a licensed radiographer. After 4 years, she graduated from FSS and was no longer in need of voucher assistance, as her income had increased to $72,000, which is 104 percent of the local area median income (AMI).
Agnes (Lincoln, NE) a single mother of five, had $13,156 in income and was paying $386 in rent at the time of her FSS enrollment. With FSS support, she was able to graduate with her Associate’s degree in human services from a local community college and obtain and maintain full-time employment. At FSS graduation, her income was $44,330 per year and she received $5,019 in escrow. She is now able to pay her full contract rent for the Housing Choice Voucher program of $1,100 per month and will soon be ending voucher assistance.
J.M. (Portland, OR), a single mother of two, had been living in public housing for over 7 years. She was earning $6,816 and paying only $5 per month in rent when she enrolled in FSS. With FSS support, she secured full-time employment with benefits, earning $38,728. She enrolled in financial education and improved her credit score. At the same time, J.M. enrolled in an Individual Development Account (IDA) program to build assets for homeownership and she completed homebuyer education. After two-and-a-half years, she had $12,000 ($3,000 personal savings + $9,000 matching funds) available for a down payment. At FSS graduation, J.M was earning $41,733 and paying $849 in rent until she purchased her own home.
TELL/SELL YOUR BEST STORY Name Family Enrollment stats
Income Employment situation Initial rent Benefits
What happened? Exit stats Stayed in assisted housing? or left for rental or
homeownership? (hint: they’re both good!)
KNOW YOUR DOCUMENTS 24 CFR 984 NOFA Grant Agreement FSS Action Plan Logic Model
ACTION PLAN
Update your Action Plan to reflect policy changes, as required in regulation. Interim disbursements Motivation as a selection factor Re-enrollments Program size Goal changes Grievance policy
COLLABORATION Establish a comprehensive program with an
array of services and Work closely with social services agencies and other non-traditional partners – a significant portion of a Coordinator’s time should be working with partners and building and maintaining a network.
Train your FSS program staff and other staff at the PHA that work with FSS – or COULD – like intake, rent re-cert staff, property management, etc.
Interact periodically with other PHAs who administer an FSS program.
GOAL SETTING Two required final goals. Help participant establish challenging but reachable
goals – not all participants should have the same goals.
Consider financial empowerment through financial education, budgeting, and/or coaching as an important self-sufficiency goal.
Focus on soft skills is also important. Examples include how participants present themselves at an interview and at work, and how the participant handles difficult situations at work.
While an important (and required) goal, employment doesn’t need to be the only focus of a participant’s plan. Assess whether the participant is more suited to focus on education/training first.
ONGOING SERVICE COORDINATION Connect with your participants either in person
or via phone (or some other technology such as skype) on an agreed-upon schedule. Newer participants may need to be seen more often than more stable participants – it’s not one-size-fits-all – consider a triage system.
Continue to support participants after employment is obtained.
Provide support to the entire family where necessary.
Celebrate your participants’ successes. Translate the success into Property Management
language
SERVICE COORDINATION – QUESTIONS TO ASK Do you have an outreach plan? Is it working? Do you do anything to create a “with” or an “in-
group” for FSS participants? Have you capitalized on graduates as potential
“thought leaders” or mentors? Do you use social media – for outreach and/or for
communication with participants?
SERVICE COORDINATION – QUESTIONS TO ASK Needs Assessment
Are you using a standard tool or did you create one? Pros/cons?
does it ask the “right” questions for your population? How have you tweaked it since you started using it?
How do you determine what service(s) are needed?
How do you decide what comes first in the plan? (e.g. substance abuse, domestic violence, low
education, no work history… what comes first?) Are you able to have a “long view”? Do you have a standard triage of needs?
SERVICE COORDINATION – QUESTIONS TO ASK Based on what you are finding in your needs
assessments, are the right providers in place? Has your PCC been useful? How do you utilize
them? Do you have to seek out any partners/services
that you don’t already have lined up? Are you having trouble finding partners for any
specific needs?
SERVICE COORDINATION – QUESTIONS TO ASK How do you make referrals?
Do you call for/with your participants to make appointments?
Do you accompany them? If not, how do you ensure that they know how to get there/have
the confidence to walk in the door/will sit and wait if needed? If so, how do you do so without encumbering independence?
Have you actually been to the service provider’s site and walked through the process yourself?
Do you walk the participant through what to expect at each service provider? Do you make sure they have whatever paperwork is needed for intake?
Do you have a point person at each partner to whom you refer directly?
Do you have any special intake provisions with your partners? Are these special provisions in an MOU?
SERVICE COORDINATION – QUESTIONS TO ASK How do you follow up with your provider partner?
Is your data sharing all aggregated or do you do “co-staffing?”
Does the case manager function as a “hospitalist?” How do you follow up with the participant? What do you do when a referral doesn’t go well?
