Using Homeless Prevention and Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds AND TANF Emergency Contingency Fund to Help Homeless and At-Risk Families

HPRP - Basics $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in Economy Recovery bill Funds will be allocated using Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) formula/mechanisms – ESG rules will not apply to use of funds! Funds can be used for homelessness prevention, shelter diversion, and re-housing. HUD issued guidance on March 19.

TANF Emergency Contingency Fund - Basics Up to $5 billion available to states under TANF Emergency Contingency Fund Funds can be used to reimburse states for 80 percent of increased expenses in provision of: –Short-term, non-recurrent benefits –Subsidized employment –Basic assistance HHS will be providing guidance to states on how to seek reimbursement Local advocacy will be needed to promote maximizing receipt of funds

Opportunities for Collaboration – ST Benefits Maximize prevention/rental assistance resources to meet families’ needs through referral –HPRP funded programs refer families to TANF agency for up to four months of rental assistance –TANF agencies refer families to HPRP funded programs for families who require longer rental assistance or otherwise ineligible for TANF-funded assistance

Opportunities for Collaboration – ST Benefits Identify and use most appropriate point of contact for services, for example: –TANF agency reimburses HPRP funded agency for eligible prevention/re-housing services similar to reimbursement system used for shelter/motel use. –TANF agency administers HPRP financial assistance and rental assistance, subcontracts (or refers) for complementary services

Opportunities for Collaboration – Improve Family Outcomes Facilitate access to cash assistance and appropriate work activities/supports for families at-risk/experiencing homelessness –Outreach to enroll families in basic assistance –Expedited benefits –Sanction reconciliation (e.g. deeper assessments for multiple sanction episodes) –Couple/target intensive services (through TANF/homeless provider for high-risk groups

First Steps Expand current use of TANF short-term, non- recurrent benefits in your community –Identify recent increases in use to understand amount that can be received through reimbursement (including EA funded shelter) –Evaluate whether current eligibility rules and financial caps for prevention/rent assistance is appropriate given rental costs/family needs. If not, how can program rules be modified and expanded? –Explore use of richer interventions and new models (rapid re-housing) with TANF resources

First Steps Evaluate homeless families current use of TANF benefits/assistance – are they receiving assistance, if not why not? What are barriers to use of TANF cash assistance/work support resources? How can they be overcome? Understand questions/challenges faced by key decision-makers about use of both TANF & HPRP resources Encourage communication between state/local TANF agency and those developing and implementing plans for use of HPRP

Be Part of the Solution!! Develop recommendations regarding use of resources and coordination of TANF/HPRP including the division of activities, use of subcontracts, and eligible activities Participate (or lead) the identification of priorities for use of resources in your community and educate new stakeholders on what is effective in homelessness prevention/re-housing programs Facilitate coordination of efforts across homeless and TANF advocacy community

Be Part of the Solution!! Identify the skills you and your partners can bring to the successful implementation and achievement of TANF/HPRP program goals Identify areas of existing capacity and needed development to do the work (prevention, rapid re-housing) Demonstrate how the resources can fill gaps in the community and make progress re: addressing family homelessness

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