HUDVASH and HUDs Homeless Prevention and Rapid ReHousing

HUD-VASH and HUD’s Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Cynthia W. High, MSW Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs Office of Community Planning and Development U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 1

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 • Provided $1. 5 billion under the Homelessness Prevention Fund for homeless prevention and rapid re-housing activities • Established as Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) • Notice published 3/19/09.

Eligible Grantees • Funds allocated by CDBG/ESG formula, with grant minimum set by HUD at $500, 000 • Eligible grantees are States, metropolitan cities, urban counties, and territories • Total of 535 grantees (was 540; allocation for five went to State). • Communities are now in the very early stages of using the funds.

Program Overview and Intent Prevention: Prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless Rapid Re-Housing: Help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly rehoused and stabilized • Funding is directed to persons who are or would be homeless but for this assistance. • Intent is to help persons who can remain stably housed after this temporary assistance ends

Program Overview and Intent • Temporary assistance: not intended to provide long-term support • All eligible program participants can obtain: – Financial Assistance – short and long term – Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services • HPRP is not a mortgage assistance program-Congress has established other funds to assist homeowners

HUD-VASH Participants • Some HUD-VASH Participants lack the resources to get into housing. • Specific Language in the HPRP addresses HUDVASH. • HPRP funds may be used to pay for security deposits, including utility deposits, for eligible HUD-VASH program participants.

HUD-VASH Participants (continued) • Eligible HUD-VASH participants seeking financial assistance through HPRP must be evaluated or assessed for the assistance. • The assessment and referral process is established by the grantee. • A list of grantees is available on HUD’s Homeless Resource Exchange, otherwise known as the HRE.

Additional Information • To view the entire HPRP Notice, including an overview of HPRP eligible activities, please visit http: //www. hudhre. info/documents/HPRP_Notice_ 3 -19 -09. pdf. • An appendix to the Notice gives the original 540 grantees and their allocation amounts. • For the list of HPRP grantees and the Point of Contact for each, please go to http: //hudhre. info/documents/HPRPContact. Info. Jul 09. pdf