Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program Monthly

1
Homelessness Prevention Rapid Re-Housing
Program

• Monthly Workshop
• Regulations Refresher

State of Rhode Island HPRP Partnership
2
HPRP Managers Workshop

• Welcome Overview
• HPRP POLICY UPDATES REMINDERS
• Review of HPRP Regulations Paperwork
• Questions?

State of Rhode Island HPRP Partnership
3
HPRP - Welcome

• HPRP Partnership Introductions
• Agency Introductions
• Handouts
• Next Workshop
• Client Engagement and End of Program
  Transitions
• Monday July 25th, 2010, 1-3 pm
• Warwick Public Library
• 600 Sandy Lane
• Warwick, RI

4
HPRP Welcome

• Got Questions?
• Contact the Office of Housing and Community
  Development at
• cfrumerie_at_doa.ri.gov or 222-5778
• Or..
• City of Pawtucket, Barney Heath, 724-5200
• City of Providence, Garry Bliss, 351-4300
• City of Woonsocket, Paulette Miller, 767-9232

5
HPRP Resources

• HUDs HPRP Regulations http//www.hudhre.info/doc
  uments/HPRP_NoticeRedline_6_08_09.pdf
• OHCDs Website
• http//www.hrc.ri.gov/index.php
• HUDs FAQs
• http//www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?doviewFaqsByTopi
  ctopicid102byTpc

6
HPRP Updates Reminders

• Website will be updated on Friday
  http//www.hrc.ri.gov/HPRP.php
• Reporting Reminders
• Quarter Ends June 30th, 2011
• HMIS DATA MUST BE COMPLETE BY
• July 4th, 2011
• Make sure that ALL clients have CM transactions!!
• FederalReporting.gov due Oct 10TH, 2010
• STATE GRANTEES ONLY

7
Lead Updates

• RI Legal Services

8
HPRP Updates Reminders

• FY 2011 Income Limits have been updated
• Effective starting June 1st, 2011

9
HPRP Updates Reminders

• New FAQs
• QUESTION Would a client in a Section 236 unit be
  able to receive rental assistance? The unit has a
  HUD interest rate subsidy to the owner.
• ANSWER Households residing in units assisted
  with Section 236 funds cannot also receive HPRP
  assistance because Section 236 is considered
  another federal housing subsidy.

10
HPRP Updates Reminders

• New FAQs
• QUESTION Can HPRP funds be used to pay for pet
  deposits?
• ANSWER Fees for pet deposits are not an eligible
  HPRP expense. Fees may not be charged for service
  animals that are required for a member of the
  household due to a disability.
• Service animals are not pets and reasonable
  accommodation law prohibits pet fees to be
  charged for service/assistance animals.

11
HPRP Updates Reminders

• New FAQs
• QUESTION If a prevention client becomes homeless
  while being assisted by HPRP, do we need to
  transfer them to a Rapid Re-Housing agency?
• ANSWER A client retains the housing status they
  entered the program with, even if this changes
  during the course of service. A prevention client
  who becomes homeless during their services would
  still be eligible for prevention services and
  would retain the at-risk of homelessness status.
• Similarly a rapid re-housing client who is
  receiving rental assistance, would still be
  considered literally homeless, making them
  eligible for other Continuum of Care resources
  (reserved only for homeless clients).

12
HPRP Updates Reminders

• New FAQs
• QUESTION What is considered a clients Program
  Entry Date?
• ANSWER The first day that the client is
  considered to be officially enrolled in the
  program, after all paperwork has been collected
  showing their eligibility for assistance.
  Typically the day staff signs the STAFF
  CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY can be considered
  the Program Entry Date.
• DATES IN HMIS MUST RECONCILE WITH CASE FILE

13
HPRP Updates Reminders

• Preparing for Phase Out of HPRP
• Schedule Meetings with Fiscal Staff to determine
  funds remaining for financial assistance.
• Estimate number of clients to be served by
  remaining funds

14
HPRP Updates Reminders

• Preparing for Phase Out of HPRP
• Monitor intake of clients needing large amounts
  of financial assistance
• Provide more social services (help with housing
  search or linking with other resources)
• Increase follow-up and case management for
  existing clients (to ensure positive outcomes)
• Devote more time to HMIS and file clean-up and
  organization
• Other ideas??

15
HPRP Updates Reminders

• Preparing for Monitoring Visits
• DOCUMENT! DOCUMENT! DOCUMENT!
• Prove Homeless but for Assistance (Bank
  statements, letters from clients, friends,
  outstanding bills, etc)
• Ensure Sustainability (Case manage clients and
  link to resources to increase income)
• Use checklists!
• Next Monitoring Visits
• August September 2011

16
Rules and Regulations

• Ensuring Compliance with HPRP Policies and
  Procedures

17
HPRP HUDs Vision

• Program Intent
• Focus of HPRP is housing Stabilization
• Provides temporary Financial Assistance and/or
  services to help persons gain housing stability
• Temporary assistance as a bridge to long-term
  stability

18
HPRP HUDs Vision

• HPRP intends to serve persons who
• Are homeless or would be homeless but for this
  assistance
• Can remain stably housed after this temporary
  assistance ends

19
Who is Eligible for HPRP?
20
Who is Eligible for HPRP?

• Two Most Important Questions
• Would the client be homeless if not for the
  assistance of HPRP?
• Can the client sustain their housing after HPRP
  assistance ends?

21
HPRP Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible households must meet the following
  criteria
• Households MUST have a stable or consistent
  income in order to sustain housing and total
  income cannot exceed 50 of Area Median Income
• Households MUST be homeless or imminently
  homeless within two weeks (Must be Verifiable!)
• Households MUST have no other housing options,
  financial resources, or support networks
  identified.
• Households MUST be willing to receive case
  management, attend Financial Counseling, and
  adhere to any other program restrictions and
  requirements.

22
Self-Declarations

• Remember, self declarations should only be used
  as a very last resort, in rare cases where 3rd
  party verification is not attainable.
• The reason for the 3rd party verification should
  be clearly documented in the file, if not, the
  agency may be found in non-compliance with HUD
  procedures.

23
Homelessness Prevention VS Rapid Re-Housing
24
HPRP - Homelessness Prevention

• Homelessness Prevention Assistance
• For persons who are at risk of IMMINENT
  homelessness, which may include clients who have
  the following
• Eviction Notice
• Five Day Demand Notice for Rent
• Utility Shutoff Notice
• Foreclosure Notice (HPRP cannot assist with
  Mortgage Payments)
• NOT EVERY CLIENT WITH THE DOCUMENTS LISTED ABOVE
  WILL BE ELIGIBLE

25
HPRP - Rapid Re-Housing

• Rapid Re-Housing Assistance
• Available for persons who are homeless according
  to HUDs definition, which includes clients who
• Lack an adequate nighttime residence, which is a
  place not designed human beings.
• Are living in a supervised shelter providing
  temporary living arrangements. Includes
• Emergency Shelters
• Transitional Shelters
• Motel/Hotel Vouchers

26
HPRP - Rapid Re-Housing

• Rapid Re-Housing Assistance
• Available for persons who are homeless according
  to HUDs definition, which includes clients who
• Previously resided in a shelter or place not
  meant for human habitation and who is now exiting
  an institution.
• Are fleeing domestic violence or other dangerous
  conditions in their current housing situation and
  have no other resources to obtain other housing.

27

• POP QUIZ
• Question
• Are the following clients considered to be an
  HP or an RR ?

28
POP QUIZ!

• Renting an apartment with substantial utility
  arrears that will result in an eviction of the
  client
• Homelessness Prevention

29
POP QUIZ!

• Living in a institution for less than 180 days,
  was homeless prior to entry, and will be exiting
  into homelessness.
• Rapid Re-Housing

30
POP QUIZ!

• Living in motel or hotel with NO VOUCHERS or
  Assistance from a non-profit, local/state/federal
  agency
• Homelessness Prevention

31
POP QUIZ!

• Doubled-Up
• or
• Couch Surfing
• Homelessness Prevention

32
POP QUIZ!

• Living in motel or hotel with a voucher or
  assistance from a non-profit or another
  local/state/federal agency
• Rapid Re-Housing

33
POP QUIZ!

• Renting an Apartment with an Eviction or Five Day
  Demand Notice
• Homelessness Prevention

34
POP QUIZ!

• Living in an Emergency Shelter
• Rapid Re-Housing

35
POP QUIZ!

• Own a home that is being foreclosed and wish to
  move to a rental
• NOTE No Mortgage Assistance
• Homelessness Prevention

36
POP QUIZ!

• Living in a place not meant for human habitation
  (Car, park, etc)
• THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE DOUBLED UP
• Rapid Re-Housing

37
POP QUIZ!

• Owning a home and have substantial utility
  arrears that will result in an eviction of the
  client
• Homelessness Prevention

38
POP QUIZ!

• Any client who is fleeing or attempting to flee
  domestic violence
• Rapid Re-Housing
• NOTE A person who identifies themselves as
  fleeing domestic violence is not an HP client

39
POP QUIZ!

• Homeless prior to entry, living in an institution
  for more than 180 days, but will be exiting into
  homelessness
• Homelessness Prevention

40
POP QUIZ!

• Renting an apartment that has been foreclosed on,
  resulting in the eviction of the client.
• Homelessness Prevention

41
POP QUIZ!

• Living in an TRANSITIONAL Shelter
• Rapid Re-Housing

42
POP QUIZ!

• Rent an apartment that has been condemned and are
  being forced to move
• Homelessness Prevention

43
What assistance is available?
44
HPRP Available Assistance

• Financial Assistance
• (NO MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE)
• Short Term Rental Assistance
• Rental Arrears (Up to 6 Months)
• Security/Utility Deposits
• Utility Payments
• Utility Arrears (Up to 6 Months)
• Moving Assistance
• No participant can receive more than 18 months
  of HPRP Services (includes arrears)

45
HPRP Available Assistance

• Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services
• Case management
• Outreach/engagement
• Legal services
• Housing search/placement
• Financial counseling
• Each program participant may receive housing
  relocation and stabilization services for up to
  18 months.

46
What is required of clients?
47
HPRP Client Requirements

• Clients MUST participate in
• Case Management
• Financial Counseling
• Clients will work with their case manager to
  develop and follow a Housing Stabilization Plan
• Clients will follow other various program rules
  and regulations

48
HPRP Unit Requirements

• To receive financial assistance, clients MUST
  reside in (or be relocating to) units that meet
  the following criteria
• Units MUST pass a HUD Habitatability or Housing
  Quality Standards Inspection (HQS)
• ALL Pre-1978 units MUST have a Lead Certificate
  of Conformance, Lead Safe Certificate, or Lead
  Free Certificate
• Unit MUST have a lease with Tenant(s)

49
Additional Program Regulations

• Clients with severe and persistent mental health
  issues may require more support than HPRP can
  provide and may be best served elsewhere
• HPRP cannot knowingly serve unqualified aliens.
• HPRP cannot move clients into Board and Care type
  facilities unless every resident in that facility
  has a lease.
• HPRP cannot count undocumented income towards
  household sustainability

50
HPRP National Monitoring Findings
51
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Case file doesnt document ALL components of the
  but-for clause
• that participants were at risk of losing housing
• AND
• lacked appropriate subsequent options AND
  financial resources and support networks to
  obtain/maintain housing
• Client recertifications were not performed at
  least every 3 months for households receiving
  assistance

52
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Case notes and file does not demonstrate
  conversation between client and staff
• Notes do not illustrate participants situation,
  barriers, needs, and other factors
• Missing Housing Stabilization Plans
• There is a lack of evidence to support prior
  housing status
• No eviction notice or paperwork showing a loss of
  housing

53
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Provided assistance to participants who exceed
  50 of AMI
• Files were missing 3rd party documentation to
  support income level (pay stubs, etc).
• First person documentation can only be used on
  very RARE occasions.
• Household income was miscalculated, not based on
  current income
• But rather past (pre-30 days) or future income
• Household income did not include additional adult
  household members
• Still need income documentations for adult
  children living in a household (18 and up)

54
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Paperwork and case notes did not show that staff
  asked about other sources of Federal, State, or
  local subsidies received for the same cost and
  during the same period of time
• Applies to all financial assistance, not just
  rental assistance (includes utility assistance,
  etc)
• No Staff Certification of Eligibility completed
• Not signed by supervisor
• Not updated when staff changes

55
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Proper inspections not performed at all, or
  completed poorly (important problems missed)
• Forms not complete address, tenant name, other
  key information
• Form does not match unit number on lease
• Form not signed
• No lease or written occupancy agreement
• Lease was Incomplete or inaccurate agreement in
  the file incorrect tenant(s), address, rent,
  etc., or not signed and dated
• Listed household members as tenants that did not
  apply for assistance

56
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• No documentation indicating rent reasonableness
  determination PRIOR to financial assistance
• Cost Effectiveness (Includes moving, hotel, and
  storage expenses)
• Missing or insufficient documentation for
  expenses paid
• No comparison review to determine that costs were
  reasonable (need to get quotes from multiple
  vendors)
• No evidence to support lack of shelter beds or a
  subsequent residence is identified BEFORE
  hotel/motel expenses were incurred

57
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Common Ineligible expenditures
• Agency paid more than is allowable
• Paying for rental assistance while in
  transitional housing (cannot pay to keep a client
  homeless, but can pay rent to transition a client
  out to permanent housing)
• More than 6 months of utility and/or rental
  arrears
• More than 3 months of storage costs
• More than 30 days of hotel/motel costs
• Insufficient Support for Arrears (Utility bills,
  rental bills, etc)

58
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Missing documentation to show rental arrears
• Name of tenant(s) not identified
• Amount owed is not identified
• The address is not clearly identified
• No contact information for the landlord
• Amount not broken out per month
• Documentation is not legible

59
HPRP National Monitoring Findings

• Missing documentation to show utility arrears
• Name of tenant(s) not identified
• Amount owed is not identified
• Amount not broken out per month
• LIHEAP/other utility assistance is not shown (to
  ensure that same cost type and period are not
  being paid)
• Documentation is not legible

60
HPRP Question Forum

• Questions, comments, or concerns?
• Program Suggestions?

61
HPRP - Contact

• Caitlin Frumerie 222-5778
• cfrumerie_at_doa.ri.gov
• http//www.hrc.ri.gov/HPRP.php

State of Rhode Island HPRP Partnership