Georgia Department of Community Affairs Shelter Plus Care Program Overview February 2011

Shelter Plus Care Program S+C is designed to link rental assistance to supportive services for hard-to-serve homeless persons with disabilities (psychiatric, substance abuse related, or those with AIDS) and their families.

Shelter Plus Care Contracts For S+C, the grant agreement is between HUD and the DCA(recipient)(1). HUD holds the DCA responsible for the overall administration of the program. Under the grant agreement, the DCA must agree to operate the program in accordance with the provisions of Part 582 and other applicable HUD regulations. The DCA will hold the Sponsor (sub-recipient) to the same standards. (1) (1) Contracts are signed by HUD and the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority

S+C Award / Implementation

Who can move into a S+C unit? Eligible participants A homeless person, who is also A person with disabilities (primarily SMI, Chronic SA, Dual, or AIDS), who is also A very low income person- meaning a (family) income not to exceed 50% of median. Or the homeless (and very low income) family member of such a person.

S+C Definition of Homelessness The S+C program specifically targets homeless persons who: are sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned or condemned buildings; or are sleeping in emergency shelters. this may include persons who ordinarily sleep in one of the above places but are spending a short time (30 consecutive days or less) in a hospital or other institution.

DCA Homelessness Verification Form

Eligible Disabilities A person shall be considered to have a disability if such person Has a physical, mental or emotional impairment which is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration; substantially impedes his or her ability to live independently; and is of such a nature that such ability could be improved by more suitable housing conditions, or Has a severe and chronic developmental disability. NB The person with the disability MUST be an adult within the household

DCA Disability Verification

Household must not exceed 50% of the AMI (Area Median Income) Sponsors can use the DCA Income form and the HUD webpage at to determine income requirements S+C Income Limits

Supportive Services Match § Sponsor must provide or ensure the provision of supportive services appropriate to the needs of the population being served and at least equal in value to the aggregate amount of the rental assistance. Match includes: Salaries, Value of services (except in patient hospital) provided by others, Volunteer time at $10/hr, Leasing costs of service centers; and Street outreach, working with persons in shelters, etc. § HUD defines supportive services to mean assistance provided or arranged by the [sponsor] that addresses the special needs of eligible persons. Assistance includes, but is not limited to: health care mental health alcohol and drug services child care case management, counseling Supervision Education job training; and Independent living services

Other factors when starting a S+C Grant Environmental Reviews for each site HQS inspections performed initially and then annually by DCA staff Rent Reasonableness- § All Grant awards are based on FMR, but unit rents are set at a different standard. Sponsors must demonstrate that rents are reasonable (for standard, not luxury units) for the area.

Lifecycle of a S+C Grant

Extension vs. Renewal The year prior to the expiration date of a new grant there is a critical decision:

Further Shelter Plus Care Regulation and Information Available on our website s/ShelterPlusCare.asp Corporation for Supportive Housing HUDs Homelessness Resource Exchange