BRAP Bridging Rental Assistance Program What is BRAP

BRAP Bridging Rental Assistance Program

What is BRAP? Ø Bridging Rental Assistance Program Ø Transitional Housing Subsidy for adults with severe and persistent mental illness Ø Subsidy program helps to pay for the rent of an independent apartment Ø Tenants pay 51% of their 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 Maine. Care Benefits Manual who: l Receive SSI/SSDI benefits or have applied but are in the appeals process; and l Have applied for a Section 8 Housing Voucher; and l Meet one of BRAP’s four priorities

BRAP Priority Criteria 1. Applicant is leaving a State Institution, or a private psychiatric hospital bed; or a state funded residential treatment program (MH PNMI) or has been discharged within the last 24 months from any of these institutions. 2. Applicant is homeless as defined by BRAP priorities 3. The applicant is living in substandard housing in the community. 4. Applicant is being discharged within the next 30 days from a correctional facility (jail/prison); or has been adjudicated through a mental health treatment courts and meets Section 17 criteria

How to Apply for BRAP 1. Complete an application and gather all the required attachments / verifications l l Verification of income from or application to Social Security Verification of application for Section 8 housing Verification of priority status Verification of Section 17 eligibility (APS verification or BRAP enrollment form) 2. Submit completed application and all attachments to the LAA who covers the desired town/county

Disability Documentation IF Applicant is enrolled in Section 17 (Community Integration) or Section 97 (PNMI) services: Ø Attach APS Health. Care document which includes active enrollment date OR IF Applicant is not enrolled in SAMHS services: Ø Attach a completed BRAP Enrollment Form with a diagnosis given date (within 90 days of application submission) and LOCUS score.

Priority 1 – Psychiatric Hospitalization / PNMI Ø Ø Applicant actively being discharged from a State Psychiatric Hospital (Riverview or Dorothea Dix); or being discharged after a 72 hour or greater psychiatric inpatient hospital admission; or leaving a State funded residential treatment program (mental health PNMI) Applicant received treatment from a State Psychiatric hospital (Riverview or Dorothea Dix), or a State funded residential treatment program, within the last 24 months Applicant has had two or more episodes of inpatient treatment for mental illness, for greater than 72 hours per episode, within the past 24 months Applicant has been committed by a civil court for psychiatric treatment as an adult Ø Submit documentation on hospital or program letterhead or designated form that clearly indicates admission date and discharge dates (or expected discharge date if still hospitalized).

Priority 2 – Homelessness Applicant is homeless as defined by BRAP priorities: Ø Shelter Verification – letterhead from shelter documenting current residency; or Ø Streets Verification – documentation from staff person with direct knowledge of the situation with dates homelessness was witnessed (Example: police officer or outreach worker); or Ø Transitional Housing Verification if homeless directly before entry – letterhead from transitional program and verification of previous homeless situation; or Ø Proof of Eviction within 7 days – Court documenting eviction date

Priority 3 Substandard Housing Applicant is living in substandard housing in the community which can be 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, and/or -has been declared unfit for habitation by an agency or unit of government

Priority 4 – Jail / Prison Ø Applicant is being discharged in the next 30 days from a correctional facility Ø Agency letterhead stating: Ø Ø Name of facility Entry Date Anticipated Release Date Applicant has been adjudicated through a Mental Health Treatment court and no subsequent residences have been identified and they lack the resources and support networks needed to obtain access to housing Ø Documentation of adjudication through mental health treatment court

Income Source l All applicants must be receiving SSI/SSDI or another form of income to be eligible for BRAP (i. e. SSI/SSDI, TANF, Child Support, Employment, General Assistance, etc. ) Ø All household income verifications must be dated within the last 120 days l All applicants must attach SSI/SSDI verification to their application Ø Ø Current statement of benefits from SSA or Documentation of current application or appeal of denial for benefits

Section 8 l All applicants applying for BRAP must apply for Section 8 to be considered eligible. When applying, please submit: Ø Ø Copy of application with date/time stamp; or Letter from Housing Authority regarding status on waitlist

Shelter Plus Care (SPC)

What is Shelter Plus Care? Ø Permanent Supported Housing Subsidy for adults with a severe disability who are experiencing homelessness Ø Subsidy program helps to pay for the rent of an independent apartment Ø Tenants pay 30% of adjusted income to rental costs

Shelter Plus Care (SPC) l SPC vouchers are prioritized for (Severe and Persistent Mentally Ill, Chronic Substance Abuse, Co-Occurring Disorders, and HIV/AIDS) according to the following homeless priorities: l l 1) HUD defined Chronic Homeless 2) Maine defined Long Term Stayer 3) HUD defined Literal Homeless 4) HUD defined moving from/graduating Transitional Housing with documentation of homelessness upon entrance.

SPC Homeless Criteria Applicant is homeless as defined by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development for permanent housing programs: Ø Shelter Verification – letterhead from shelter documenting current residency; or Ø Streets Verification – documentation from staff person with direct knowledge of the situation (Example: police officer or outreach worker); or Ø Transitional Housing Verification if homeless directly before entry – letterhead from transitional program and previous homeless situation Ø Staying with friends or family does not qualify (i. e. couch surfing)

How to Apply for SPC 1. Complete an application and gather all the required attachments (homeless verification & signed disability verification) 2. Submit complete application and all attachments to the agency who covers the desired town/county

Additional Questions? As a reminder, all applications can be found online at www. shalomhouseinc. org/subsidies l Contact your local BRAP or Shelter Plus Care agent for applications and more information about these programs in your area. l