III. HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
   Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney-Bruce Vento Homeless Assistance Act in 1987, creating a variety of homeless assistance programs. Subsequent housing acts have amended the McKinney-Vento Act, eliminating, merging, and adding programs. Homeless assistance programs vary widely by what agency oversees them, how to apply for funding, and what activities are eligible. Although some of the programs that provide funds for housing development and/or housing services are managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this guide also lists programs that include housing components administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and others. Additional programs, such as the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program administered by the Department of Education and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project administered by the Department of Labor, that do not include funds for housing development or services were also authorized by the McKinney-Vento Act but are not included in this guide.
   The Rural Homelessness Grant Program, created by the Community Development Act of 1992, was authorized exclusively for rural areas. The program has not been funded, however, since 1994.
   Although homeless assistance programs are spread among several agencies, the McKinney-Vento Act did require that a single executive branch organization, the Interagency Council on the Homeless (ICH), be established for gathering information on federal homeless assistance programs from all agencies. In 1993 the ICH became a working group of the White House's Domestic Policy Council staffed by HUD, but it eventually became inactive in the late 1990s. In 2001 the Bush administration announced it would reactivate the ICH, and in January 2002 Phil Mangano was named as ICH executive director. Information on the ICH can be found at http://www.ich.gov.
   A rural applicant may successfully obtain funds from any one of the homeless assistance programs included in this guide. However, some programs have been more effective in reaching rural areas than others. Historically, the McKinney-Vento Act programs that have proven to be most accessible to small communities are the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) program and the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) program.
   There are some general requirements that organizations must meet to participate in any McKinney-Vento program. Title XIV of the Housing and Community Development Program Reauthorization Act of 1992 includes amendments requiring all recipients to involve homeless individuals and families, to the maximum extent practicable, in construction, renovation, maintenance, and operation of facilities assisted by any McKinney-Vento program. Each recipient, other than a state, must also provide for the participation of at least one homeless individual or formerly homeless individual on its board of directors or other equivalent policy-making entity. An application for a McKinney-Vento program must include certification from the lowest level jurisdiction (this will be the state for almost all rural applicants) that the proposed project is consistent with the jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan.³ The applicant must also certify that the proposed project complies with the Fair Housing Acts, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. The project must also be certified as affirmatively furthering fair housing. Finally, there are regulations regarding termination of assistance to individual beneficiaries in the McKinney-Vento programs. Although these regulations vary somewhat from program to program, generally the individual must be notified of the pending assistance termination in writing and a formal appeal process must be available.
   Since 1994 HUD has issued combined Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs), or SuperNOFAs, for many HUD Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs, including the homeless assistance programs administered by its office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPs). In order to compete for the competitively awarded HUD-administered homeless assistance programs – Supportive Housing, Shelter Plus Care and Single Room Occupancy – eligible grantees submit project applications as part of their areas' Continuum of Care applications. Each rural housing and/or homeless assistance provider should contact its local HUD field office to find out whether a continuum plan exists for the community it serves. Continuum of Care plans that address rural areas can be based on a single county, multiple counties, the entire state or the balance of the state. More information on HUD's Continuum of Care system is available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/index.cfm.

2. EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM (EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER) (CFDA 83.523) (administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency)
   1. Purpose
      This program supplements and expands ongoing efforts that provide shelter, food, and supportive services for needy families and individuals. The program provides assistance for:
      • food and feeding related expenses such as transport of food, food preparation, and serving equipment;
      • mass shelter, other shelter such as hotels and motels, and rent and/or mortgage assistance for one month only per individual/family per year; and
      • utility assistance and limited repairs to feeding and sheltering facilities.
   2. Eligibility
      Local boards are formed and approved by a national board. Local boards then distribute formula-allocated program funds to Local Recipient Organizations (LROs) or sponsor organizations – private nonprofit organizations or public organizations. Emphasis is placed on domestic violence centers, Native American organizations and organizations providing food or shelter to AIDS patients, persons with disabilities, the elderly, teenage runaways and many other groups with emergency needs.

   3. Terms
      Local boards are expected to monitor expenditures in their jurisdictions. Any LRO that receives $25,000 or more in EFS funding must have an independent annual audit and comply with OMB Circular No. A-133.

   4. Comments
      The National Board, chaired by FEMA, is congressionally directed to have representatives from United Way of America, the Salvation Army, the National Council of Churches, Catholic Charities USA, the United Jewish Communities, and the American Red Cross. Local boards are made up of affiliates of the national organizations, other nonprofits, and representatives of local governments.

   5. Contact
      a FEMA Regional Office
      or
      Federal Emergency Management Agency
      Preparedness, Training and Exercises Directorate
      Washington DC 20472
      202-646-3107
      or
      Director, Emergency Food and Shelter Program
      701 North Fairfax St.
      Suite 310
      Alexandria, VA 22314
      703-706-9660
      http://www.fema.gov

3. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS (CFDA 14.231) (administered by HUD)
   1. Purpose
      This program is designed to help improve the quality of existing emergency shelters for homeless people, to make additional shelters available, to meet the costs of operating shelters and of providing essential social services to homeless individuals, and to help prevent homelessness. Eligible activities include renovation, major rehabilitation or conversion of buildings for use as emergency shelters, provision of essential services to homeless people, shelter operating costs such as maintenance, insurance, utilities, rent and furnishings, and homeless prevention efforts.

   2. Eligibility
      Grants are provided to states, metro cities, urban counties, and territories. Local governments receiving formula allocations may distribute all or part of their grants to nonprofit recipients to be used for ESG activities. Only local governments and nonprofit organizations may apply for ESG funds directly from states. The territories receive their allocations based on their population. The Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act established a separate set-aside of 1 percent of the total ESG appropriation for tribes and Alaskan Native Villages. ESG funds are used to serve homeless families and individuals and low-income persons in immediate risk of losing their housing due to eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs.

   3. Terms
      Eligible grantees generally receive letters of allocation in January and must submit applications to HUD within 45 days. States must distribute all but a 5 percent administrative set-aside of ESG funds to units of local government and/or nonprofit organizations. States and other grantees may spend only up to 30 percent of allocations on the provision of essential services. There is also a 30 percent limit for homeless prevention activities.

   4. Comments
      Nonprofit recipients apply to their states or local governments for ESG funds. Note that activities such as buying or building a shelter (other than renovation, major rehabilitation, or conversion of an existing building) are not eligible. HUD reallocates ESG amounts that are recaptured, returned, or unused.

   5. Contact
      a HUD Field Office
      or
      Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs
      U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
      Room 7262
      451 Seventh St., S.W.
      Washington, DC 20410
      202-708-4300
      http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/esg/index.cfm

4. PROJECTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS (CFDA 93.150) (administered by HHS) (PATH)
   1. Purpose
      The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program provides financial assistance to states to support services for individuals who are suffering from serious mental illness or serious mental illness and substance abuse and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Programs and activities include (1) outreach services; (2) screening and diagnostic treatment services; (3) habilitation and rehabilitation services; (4) community mental health services; (5) alcohol or drug treatment services; (6) staff training; (7) case management services; (8) supportive and supervisory services in residential settings; (9) referrals for primary health services, job training, educational services, and relevant housing services; and (10) a prescribed set of housing services.

   2. Eligibility
      1. Applicant.  States, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands are eligible to receive funds.

      2. Beneficiary.  Eligible beneficiaries are individuals who have a serious mental illness or serious mental illness and substance abuse and are homeless or are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

   3. Terms
      Funds are awarded to states via formula grants. The formula allots funds on the basis of the population living in urbanized areas of the state, compared to the population living in urbanized areas of the entire United States except that no state receives less than $300,000 ($50,000 for territories). States must agree to make available, directly or through donations from public or private entities, non-federal contributions equal to at least $1 (in cash or in kind) for each $3 of federal funds provided.

   4. Comments
      Each state chooses how to use its funds to achieve the described objectives, except that funds cannot be used (1) to support emergency shelters or construction of housing facilities; (2) for inpatient psychiatric or substance abuse treatment costs; or (3) to make cash payments to intended recipients of mental health or substance abuse services. Not more than 20 percent of the payment may be expended for housing services, and not more than 4 percent for administrative expenses. States must use the funds to provide grants to political subdivisions of the state and to nonprofit private entities (including community-based veterans organizations and other community organizations) for the purpose of providing the eligible services.

   5. Contact
      PATH Program
      Homeless Programs Branch
      Division of Knowledge Development and Systems Change
      SAMHSA/CMHS
      Parklawn Building, Room 11C-05
      5600 Fishers Lane
      Rockville, MD 20857
      301-443-3706
      http://www.samhsa.gov

5. RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH (CFDA 93.623) (administered by HHS)
   1. Purpose
      This program was authorized by the Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children Protection Act of 1999, Public Law 106-71. Grants are available to public and nonprofit private organizations to establish and strengthen community-based centers for runaway and homeless youth and their families. Services include temporary shelter, food, clothing, counseling, and related services. Local living transitional centers for homeless youths ages 16 to 21 can be funded by these grants. Other activities include establishing a national communication system to assist runaway and homeless youth, technical assistance and training, and research, demonstration, and service projects.

   2. Eligibility
      States, localities, Indian organizations, private entities, and coordinated networks of such entities, unless they are part of the law enforcement structure or the juvenile justice system, are eligible to receive funding.

   3. Terms
      Grants are for up to 90 percent of project costs. The non-federal share may be in cash or in kind. Awards are generally made for three-year project periods. Continued funding for further years is dependent upon satisfactory performance and funds availability.

   4. Comments
      The statute contains a formula for allocation of funds by state. It is based on the population of each state under age 18 as a proportion of the national population under age 18.

   5. Contact
      The regional administrator, Administration for Children and Families, for the service area
      or
      Acting Co-Principal
      Family and Youth Services Bureau
      Administration for Children and Families
      Department of Health and Human Services
      330 C Street, S.W.
      Washington, DC 20447
      202-205-8102
      http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/fysb

6. SECTION 8 MODERATE REHABILITATION SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY COMPONENT (CFDA 14.249) (administered by HUD)
   1. Purpose
      The Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program provides rental assistance to homeless individuals. Under the program, HUD enters into annual contributions contracts with public housing agencies in connection with the moderate rehabilitation of residential properties that, when rehabilitation is completed, will contain single room occupancy (SRO) dwelling units. SRO housing is defined as residential property that includes multiple dwelling units designed for occupancy by individuals. Each unit need not, but may, contain food preparation or sanitary facilities or both. Efficiency apartments are eligible, but one-bedroom units are not.

   2. Eligibility
      1. Applicant.   Public housing authorities or private nonprofit organizations are eligible applicants.
      2. Beneficiary.  First priority is given to homeless (single) individuals. HUD will provide rental assistance to homeless individuals currently residing in units who are eligible for Section 8 assistance.

   3. Terms
      A Notice of Fund Availability announces deadlines for completed applications, which are submitted as part of the Continuum of Care system, and time frames for HUD selections. The amount of financial assistance is based on the size of the project. There is no matching requirement for this program. Rehabilitation must be completed within 12 months. Minimum rehabilitation costs are $3,000 per unit. Once the rehabilitation is completed and the PHA inspects the units to ensure compliance with HUD's Housing. Quality Standards, a ten-year Housing Assistance Payments contract is signed between the PHA and project owner.

   4. Comments
      Relatively few projects, either urban or rural, have been funded through the Section 8 SRO program. Only 13 projects were funded nationwide in 2001. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply directly to HUD for this program as of 1993. Nonprofits are, however, required to subcontract with local or state housing authorities, which administer SRO housing assistance payments.

   5. Contact
      the HUD Field Office with jurisdiction over the area where the units will be located
      or
      Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs
      Community Planning and Development
      U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
      Room 7262
      451 Seventh St., S.W.
      Washington, DC 20410
      202-708-4300
      http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/sro/index.cfm

7. SHELTER PLUS CARE (CFDA 14.238) (administered by HUD)
   1. Purpose
      This program provides rental assistance, in connection with supportive services funded from other sources, to homeless people with disabilities and their families. The program has four components: Tenant-based Rental Assistance (TRA), Sponsor-based Rental Assistance (SRA), Project-based Rental Assistance (PRA), and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Dwellings.

   2. Eligibility
      1. Applicant.  States, local governments, tribes, and public housing agencies are eligible. Nonprofits are eligible PRA and SRO subrecipients. The SRO program requires a public housing authority as co-applicant.

      2. Beneficiary.  Eligible participants are homeless individuals with disabilities and their families, except in single room occupancy dwellings, which are only for homeless persons with disabilities.

   3. Terms
      Applicants must match the rental assistance by supportive services that are equal in value to the aggregate amount of rental assistance and appropriate to the needs of the population to be served. In the case of TRA and SRA, the amount of rental assistance is based on the number and type of units proposed for assistance for a five-year period. In the SRO component, assistance for a ten-year period will be in the form of a rental payment equal to the rent, including utilities, minus the tenant's portion of the rent. If units are rehabilitated and meet the standards required, assistance under the PRA component is for a ten-year period; otherwise it is for five years.

   4. Comments
      The program requires local recipient agencies to match Shelter Plus Care funds with supportive services. Federal, state, and local resources can be used for the match. Low Income Housing Tax Credits, CDBG, CSBG, and HOME funds may be combined with Shelter Plus Care rental assistance payments.

   5. Contact
      the HUD Field Office with jurisdiction over the area where the units will be located
      or
      Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs
      U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
      Room 7262
      451 Seventh St., S.W.
      Washington, DC 20410
      202-708-4300
      http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/splusc/index.cfm

8. SURPLUS FEDERAL PROPERTY TO ASSIST THE HOMELESS (Title V)4 (administered by HUD and HHS)
   1. Purpose
      This program provides for the lease without charge or the transfer of unutilized, under-utilized, excess, and surplus federal properties. The properties can be used to provide shelter, services, storage, or other uses of benefit to homeless people.

   2. Eligibility
      States, units of local government, and nonprofit organizations are eligible for the program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) handles the application portion of the program.

   3. Terms
      HUD publishes a notice in the Federal Register every Friday listing property available through the program from all federal agencies. The landholding agency enters into a license, permit, or lease agreement for the homeless provider's use of unutilized or under-utilized property. HHS handles the lease or deed document for surplus properties.

   4. Contact
      To obtain property information and/or to be put on a mailing list, contact the HUD Field Office with jurisdiction over the area where you are looking for property. The weekly list of properties available may be accessed through the Federal Register web site at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html or at http://www.hudclips.org.
      Further information on specific properties can be obtained from the landholding agency, the name and number of which can be obtained from the HUD Field Office or from HUD's toll-free information number, 800-927-7588.
      General information can be obtained at http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/t5 or from HUD's Office of Special Needs Assistance in Washington, D.C. at 202-708-1234.
      To obtain an application packet for a particular property, contact:
      U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
      Division of Property Management
      Program Support Center
      Room 5B-41
      Parklawn Building
      5600 Fishers Lane
      Rockville, MD 20857
      301-443-2265
      

9. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM (CFDA 14.235) (administered by HUD)
   1. Purpose
      The Supportive Housing Program (SHP) is designed to promote the development of housing and supportive services for assisting homeless persons to transition from homelessness and to live as independently as possible. Funds may be used to provide:
      • transitional housing designed to enable homeless persons and families to move to permanent housing within a 24-month period, which may include up to six months of follow-up services;
      • permanent housing provided in conjunction with appropriate supportive services designed to maximize the ability of persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible within permanent housing;
      • supportive housing that is, or is part of, a particularly innovative project for, or alternative methods of, meeting the immediate and long-term needs of homeless individuals and families;
      • supportive services for homeless individuals not provided in conjunction with supportive housing; and
      • safe havens for homeless individuals with serious mental illness currently residing on the streets who may not yet be ready for supportive services.
      The seven eligible activities are acquisition of structures for supportive housing and/or services, rehabilitation of structures, new construction (under limited circumstances), leasing of structures, supportive housing operating costs for a new or expanded project, supportive services costs, and administrative costs up to 5 percent of the SHP grant.
   2. Eligibility
      States, local governments, other governmental entities, Indian tribes, private nonprofits, and community mental health associations that are public nonprofits are eligible to compete for grant funds through HUD's Continuum of Care process.

   3. Terms
      The program provides grants for leasing costs, operating costs, and the provision of supportive services for five years.

   4. Comments
      Grantees must match funds for acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction with equal or greater funding amounts from other sources. They may use up to $200,000 for acquisition and rehabilitation of structures (up to $400,000 in designated high-cost areas) and up to $400,000 for new construction. SHP funds up to 75 percent of the operating costs for a supportive housing project. HUD will include in the matching calculation the time and services contributed by volunteers.

   5. Contact
      the HUD Field Office with jurisdiction over the area where the units will be located
      or
      Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs
      Community Planning and Development
      U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
      451 Seventh St., S.W.
      Washington, DC 20410
      202-708-1234
      http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/shp/index.cfm

On to Next Section

Back to Table of Contents