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

1
Using Homeless Prevention and Re-Housing Program
(HPRP) funds AND TANF Emergency Contingency Fund
to Help Homeless and At-Risk Families
2
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.

3
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

4
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

5
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

6
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

7
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

8
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

9
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

10
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

11
More detailed information

• http//www.endhomelessness.org/section/tools/preve
  ntion/