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 re- housed 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 HUD- VASH. 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 pdf 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 9.pdf 9.pdf