Using Homeless Prevention and Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds AND TANF Emergency Contingency Fund to Help Homeless and At-Risk Families

HPRP - Basics

• $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in Economy Recovery bill

• Funds will be allocated using Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) formula/mechanisms – ESG rules will not apply to use of funds!

• Funds can be used for homelessness prevention, shelter diversion, and re-housing.

• HUD issued guidance on March 19.

TANF Emergency Contingency Fund - Basics

• Up to $5 billion available to states under TANF Emergency Contingency Fund

• Funds can be used to reimburse states for 80 percent of increased expenses in provision of:– Short-term, non-recurrent benefits– Subsidized employment– Basic assistance

• HHS will be providing guidance to states on how to seek reimbursement

• Local advocacy will be needed to promote maximizing receipt of funds

Opportunities for Collaboration – ST Benefits

• Maximize prevention/rental assistance resources to meet families’ needs through referral– HPRP funded programs refer families to

TANF agency for up to four months of rental assistance

– TANF agencies refer families to HPRP funded programs for families who require longer rental assistance or otherwise ineligible for TANF-funded assistance

Opportunities for Collaboration – ST Benefits

• Identify and use most appropriate point of contact for services, for example:– TANF agency reimburses HPRP funded

agency for eligible prevention/re-housing services similar to reimbursement system used for shelter/motel use.

– TANF agency administers HPRP financial assistance and rental assistance, subcontracts (or refers) for complementary services

Opportunities for Collaboration – Improve Family Outcomes

• Facilitate access to cash assistance and appropriate work activities/supports for families at-risk/experiencing homelessness– Outreach to enroll families in basic assistance– Expedited benefits– Sanction reconciliation (e.g. deeper

assessments for multiple sanction episodes)– Couple/target intensive services (through

TANF/homeless provider for high-risk groups

First Steps

• Expand current use of TANF short-term, non-recurrent benefits in your community– Identify recent increases in use to understand amount

that can be received through reimbursement (including EA funded shelter)

– Evaluate whether current eligibility rules and financial caps for prevention/rent assistance is appropriate given rental costs/family needs. If not, how can program rules be modified and expanded?

– Explore use of richer interventions and new models (rapid re-housing) with TANF resources

First Steps

• Evaluate homeless families current use of TANF benefits/assistance – are they receiving assistance, if not why not? What are barriers to use of TANF cash assistance/work support resources? How can they be overcome?

• Understand questions/challenges faced by key decision-makers about use of both TANF & HPRP resources

• Encourage communication between state/local TANF agency and those developing and implementing plans for use of HPRP

Be Part of the Solution!!

• Develop recommendations regarding use of resources and coordination of TANF/HPRP including the division of activities, use of subcontracts, and eligible activities

• Participate (or lead) the identification of priorities for use of resources in your community and educate new stakeholders on what is effective in homelessness prevention/re-housing programs

• Facilitate coordination of efforts across homeless and TANF advocacy community

Be Part of the Solution!!

• Identify the skills you and your partners can bring to the successful implementation and achievement of TANF/HPRP program goals

• Identify areas of existing capacity and needed development to do the work (prevention, rapid re-housing)

• Demonstrate how the resources can fill gaps in the community and make progress re: addressing family homelessness

More detailed information:

http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/tools/prevention/