Maine DHHS Subsidy Programs
Who Qualifies?How to Apply?
Sheldon Wheeler, Maine DHHSChester Barnes, Maine DHHSVirginia Dill, Shalom House
BRAPBridging Rental Assistance Program
What is BRAP?
Bridging Rental Assistance Program
Transitional Housing Subsidy for adults with mental illness
Serves Individuals and Families
Subsidy program helps to pay for the rent of an independent apartment Tenants pay 51% of gross income to rental costs
Who Can BRAP Help?
Adults with a Severe and Disabling Mental Illness who meet Eligibility For Care Criteria for Community Support Services as defined by the Section 17.02 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual who:
Receive SS/DI benefits or are currently applying; and
Have applied for a Section 8 Housing Voucher; and Meet one of the BRAP’s four priorities
BRAP Priority Criteria 1. Applicant is leaving a State Institution; or a private psychiatric
hospital bed; or has been discharged within the last 6 months from any of these institutions; or
2. Applicant is homeless as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:-sleeping in places not meant for human habitation such as cars, parks, emergency shelters. -is graduating from transitional housing specifically for homeless persons;-is being evicted within the week from private dwelling units -is a person being discharged within the week from institutions in which they have been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days; or
(continued on next slide)
BRAP Priority Criteria (cont)3. The applicant is living in substandard housing in the community. A unit is substandard if the unit:
-does not have operable indoor plumbing-does not have a useable flush toilet inside the unit -does not have a useable bathtub or shower -does not have electricity, -has been declared unfit for habitation by and agency or unit of government;
or
4. Applicant is moving from community residential programs and other behavioral health facilities to more independent living arrangements.
Statewide BRAP Vouchers Distribution by Priority FY11
BRAP Distribution of Vouchers FY2011
Priority 247%
Priority 139%
No Priority2%
Priority 410%
Priority 32%
Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 No Priority
BRAP Tenants by County FY11
Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4No Priority Total All
Hospital Homeless Sub-Standard Group Home
ANDROSCOGGIN 7 56 1 0 2 66
AROOSTOCK 3 4 0 0 0 7
CUMBERLAND 150 133 1 27 6 317
FRANKLIN 1 2 0 0 1 4
HANCOCK 3 0 0 0 0 3
KENNEBEC 49 51 7 17 3 127
KNOX 8 14 1 0 1 24
LINCOLN 2 5 1 0 0 8
OXFORD 0 6 1 0 0 7
PENOBSCOT 66 30 1 30 1 128
PISCATAQUIS 0 0 0 1 0 1
SAGADAHOC 11 21 1 0 0 33
SOMERSET 3 20 0 0 0 23
WALDO 7 4 0 0 0 11
WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0
YORK 41 50 1 17 0 109
Total All351 396 15 92 14 868
40.4% 45.6% 1.7% 10.6% 1.6%
BRAP Tenants by County FY11
ANDROSCOGGIN
HomelessPriority 2
84%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
2%
No Priority3%
HospitalPriority 1
11%
AROOSTOCK
HospitalPriority 1
43%HomelessPriority 2
57%
CUMBERLAND
HospitalPriority 1
47%HomelessPriority 2
42%
Group Home
Priority 49%
No Priority2%
FRANKLIN
HomelessPriority 2
50%
No Priority25%
HospitalPriority 1
25%
BRAP Tenants by County FY11 (continued)
HANCOCK
Priority 1100%
KENNEBEC
HomelessPriority 2
40%
HospitalPriority 1
39%
No Priority2%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
6%
Group Home
Priority 413%
KNOX
HomelessPriority 2
59%
HospitalPriority 1
33%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
4%
No Priority4%
LINCOLN
HomelessPriority 2
62%
HospitalPriority 1
25%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
13%
BRAP Tenants by County FY11 (continued)
OXFORD
HomelessPriority 2
86%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
14%
PENOBSCOT
Sub-StandardPriority 3
1%
HospitalPriority 1
52%HomelessPriority 2
23%
Group Home
Priority 423%
No Priority1%
PISCATAQUIS
Group Home
Priority 4100%
SAGADAHOC
HospitalPriority 1
33%
HomelessPriority 2
64%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
3%
BRAP Tenants by County FY11 (continued)
SOMERSET
HomelessPriority 2
87%
HospitalPriority 1
13%
WALDO
HomelessPriority 2
36%
HospitalPriority 1
64%
WASHINGTON
No BRAP Vouchers in this county for the 7/1/10-6/30/11 year. YORK
HospitalPriority 1
38%
HomelessPriority 2
45%
Sub-StandardPriority 3
1%
Group Home
Priority 416%
How to Apply for BRAP
1.Complete an application form and gather all the required attachments
2.Submit complete application and all attachments to the agency who covers the desired town/county (DHHS Agencies are listed by county in your packet)
Disability Documentation
Applicant is enrolled in Section 17 or 97 DHHS services.
(Section 17 – Case management or Section 97 – PNMI) Attach APS HealthCare document which
includes active enrollment date
OR
Applicant is not enrolled in DHHS services. Attach a completed BRAP Enrollment Form
Priority 1 – Psychiatric Hospitalization
Psychiatric hospitalization in the past 6 months Applicants can be either in a psychiatric hospital
bed or discharged within the last 6 months Submit documentation on hospital letterhead or
designated form Admission note with admission date for people still in
a psychiatric bed Discharge note with discharge date for people who
are no longer in hospital
Priority 2 – HomelessnessApplicant is homeless as defined by the US Department of Housing &
Urban Development for transitional housing programs: Shelter Verification – letterhead from shelter documenting
current residency; or
Streets Verification – documentation from staff person with direct knowledge of the situation (Example: police officer or outreach worker); or
Transitional Housing Verification if homeless directly before entry – letterhead from transitional program and previous homeless situation; or
Proof of Eviction within 7 days – Court document documenting eviction date
Institution for more than 30 days – Letterhead from institution showing admission date and discharge date within 7 days
Priority 3 - Substandard Housing
Documentation a unit is substandard demonstrated by showing it:
-does not have operable indoor plumbing
-does not have a useable flush toilet inside the unit
-does not have a useable bathtub or shower
-does not have electricity,
-has been declared unfit for habitation by and agency or unit of government;
Priority 4 – Community Residential
Documentation applicant is moving from a community residential program or other behavioral health facilities, to more independent living arrangements demonstrated by: Agency letterhead stating:
-Program Name
-Entry Date
-Anticipated Exit Date
Income SourceAll applicants must have an income source to be eligible for
BRAP (i.e. SSI, TANF, Employment, General Assistance, etc.)
Attach SS/DI verification Current statement of benefits from SSA or Documentation of current application or appeal of denial for
benefits (No documentation will be acceptable if action date has expired. Example appointment with SSA has past without action) Proof of application with social security office; or Letter from lawyer stating appeal is being made; or Letter to SSI/DI asking for re-instatement;
Attach income verification documents for all other income sources for household dated within the last 120 days
Section 8All applicants applying for BRAP must apply for
Section 8 to be considered eligible.
Areas with an open Section 8 waitlist Copy of application with date/time stamp; or Letter from Housing Authority regarding status on waitlist
Areas with a closed Section 8 waitlist Complete Section 8 application question on application
stating Section 8 waitlist is closed.
Maine DHHSShelter Plus Care
(SPC)
What is Shelter Plus Care?
Permanent Housing Subsidy for adults with a severe disability who are experiencing homelessness Qualifying disability include: Severe Mental Illness, Chronic
Substance Abuse, AIDS or co-occurring disorders
Serves Individuals and Families
Subsidy program helps to pay for the rent of an independent apartment Tenants pay 30% of adjusted income to rental costs
SPC Homeless Criteria
Applicant is homeless as defined by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development for permanent housing programs: Shelter Verification – letterhead from shelter documenting
current residency; or
Streets Verification – documentation from staff person with direct knowledge of the situation (Example: police officer or outreach worker); or
Transitional Housing Verification if homeless directly before entry – letterhead from transitional program and previous homeless situation
How to Apply for SPC
1.Complete an application form and gather all the required attachments
2.Submit complete application and all attachments to the agency who covers the desired town/county (See list of DHHS agent in your packet)
Shelter Plus Care Disability Graph - FY11
Severe Mental Illness only
62%
Substance Abuse and/or AIDS Only
7%
SMI & Co-occuring
disorder (SMI & SA) Only30%
Severe Mental Illness onlySMI & Co-occuring disorder (SMI & SA) onlySubstance Abuse and/or AIDS only
Maine DHHS - Shelter Plus CareDisability Categories - FY11
Documented Diagnosis Count Percentage
Severe Mental Illness 1024 93%
Chronic Alcohol Abuse 271 25%
Chronic Drug Abuse 212 19%
AIDS 18 2%
Physical Disability 112 10%
Maine DHHS - Shelter Plus CareDisability Categories - FY11
Androscoggin County
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only40%
SMI only57%
Substance Abuse
and/or AIDS3%
Aroostock County
SMI only84%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only16%
Cumberland County
Substance Abuse
and/or AIDS11%
SMI only58%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only31%
Franklin County
SMI only67%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only33%
Maine DHHS - Shelter Plus CareDisability Categories - FY11 (cont.)
Hancock County
SMI only63%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only35%
Substance Abuse
and/or AIDS2%
Kennebec County
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only34%
SMI only66%
Knox County
SMI only79%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only21%
Lincoln County
SMI only100%
Maine DHHS - Shelter Plus CareDisability Categories - FY11 (cont.)
Oxford County
SMI only83%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only17%
Penobscot County
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only27% SMI only
73%
Piscataquis County
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only25%
SMI only75%
Sagadahoc County
SMI only70%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only25%
Substance Abuse
and/or AIDS5%
Maine DHHS - Shelter Plus CareDisability Categories - FY11 (cont.)
Somerset County
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only25%
SMI only75%
Waldo County
SMI only100%
Washington County
SMI only33%SMI & Co-
occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only67%
York County
Substance Abuse
and/or AIDS17%
SMI only51%
SMI & Co-occuring disorder
(SMI & SA) only32%
Additional Questions?
Contact your local BRAP or Shelter Plus Care agent for applications and more information about these programs in your area.
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