| HPRP Program Guidelines |
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| Written by Kristin Rippee |
| Thursday, 07 January 2010 11:05 |
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Central Sierra HOME SAFE Program Guidelines: Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing 1. INTRODUCTION These program guidelines have been developed by the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency (A-TCAA) and partnering agencies. They are based on prior Homeless Prevention guidelines created by A-TCAA, Tuolumne County’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program and the Section 8 Housing Assistance Program operated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Participating Agencies: Central Sierra HOME SAFE Lead Agency is the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency. Partnering agencies will be: Tuolumne County Public Health, Calaveras County Social Services, Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living, Area 12 Agency on Aging, Mountain Women’s Resource Center, Sierra HOPE, and Operation CARE General Program Design: Central Sierra HOME SAFE (CSHS) is a housing assistance program designed to assist eligible tenants with the payment of monthly rent or utility costs, as well as payment of security and utility deposits for new rentals. CSHS will make up the difference between the amount the household can afford to pay for monthly rent or utilities and the actual cost of the housing. All assistance is intended to keep the household securely housed for a period of time until they can become self-sufficient. Housing assistance payments do not have to be re-paid. CSHS funds may only be used within Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties and may not be used in any other county or state. Participants who relocate from Amador, Calaveras or Tuolumne counties to another county or state will lose their eligibility for participation in this program. Assistance under CSHS will not exceed a term of 18 months. If housing assistance payments include payments for rent in arrears, the number of months paid in arrears will be subtracted from the total months of future assistance. Initial Security Deposits and Utility Deposits: For clients moving into new housing, A-TCAA and the partner agencies may approve payment of a rental security deposit and utility deposits, as well as other one-time costs related to moving. The amount of rental security deposit may not exceed the equivalent of 2 months rent for the unit. Rental security and utility deposits are considered grants to the tenant and shall therefore be returned to the tenant at the end of the agreement. Rental Amount: The rental amount is based on HUD’s Fair Market Rent and the household’s monthly income. A-TCAA uses HUD’s Fair Market Rent guide which is updated annually. Agencies may factor in monthly utility costs in determining the rent amount. If a household chooses a rental costing more than FMR, they must contribute the difference. Rental Assistance Amount: The maximum monthly rental payment for each household should not exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of a household’s income unless there are special circumstances. 2. ELIGIBILITY Applicants must meet one or more of the homelessness risk factors specified below: Rapid Rehousing (Homeless): · Sleeping in emergency shelter, car, park, abandoned building, or street · Staying in a hospital/institutions up to 180 days, but homeless prior to admission · Graduating from a transitional housing program · Victims of domestic violence Prevention: (At risk of homelessness) Eviction within 2 weeks House is condemned Loss of income Low income Mental health/substance abuse issues Overcrowding Physical disability/chronic health issues Past institutional care Homeless in the last 12 months Credit problems Pending foreclosure of rental Significant medical debt Recent traumatic life event Increased utility costs Applicants must have household incomes at or below 50% of the County’s area median income (AMI) adjusted by household size, as published by the State Department of Housing and Community Development Department each year, or below 30% for Rapid Re-Housing services. Please see attached AMI charts for Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. “Household” means one or more persons who will occupy a housing unit. All persons, including unborn children, will be considered household members for the purposes of determining income eligibility. All applicants must certify that they meet the household income eligibility requirements for the Program by providing documentation of their income. The income limits in place at the time the application for assistance is submitted will apply when determining applicant income eligibility. 3. APPLYING FOR ADMISSION How to Apply: Households may apply by calling one of the partner agencies. Households that are clients of A-TCAA programs (shelter, Early Childhood Services, Family Resources) need to contact a representative of the program in which they are enrolled. The representative should then contact Beetle Barbour directly. Representatives should obtain permission from the client household to speak openly about the household’s circumstances. Intake Process: An initial telephone intake with a HPRP staff person starts the household’s application process. After the telephone interview, clients who are eligible will be scheduled for an intake appointment. They will be directed to compile income documentation and other documentation related to housing status. Applicants are responsible for rescheduling interview appointments when the original appointment is missed. If the applicant does not reschedule or misses two consecutive appointments, the application may be rejected. At a minimum, the head of household will be required to attend the interview appointment. All adult household members must sign the Tenancy Agreement in order for the application to be complete. Information provided by the applicant will be verified, including information on family composition and income. All new rental placements will be inspected for habitability and ownership will be verified through county house numbering. Third party verifications and signatures on Rent Payment contracts by landlords or property managers are required, by mail or fax. All adults receiving housing financial assistance will attend A-TCAA $mart Money classes no less than once per month for the duration of the assistance. After all information is verified on the household, and ownership of the property is verified and following a positive inspection of the property (if it is a new rental), ATCAA will make a final determination of eligibility. 4. Denial or Termination of Assistance Tenant Fraud: If a household has knowingly committed fraud in connection with Central Sierra HOME SAFE, the agency may terminate assistance and cancel the contract. If the household intentionally, willingly and knowingly is involved with any other illegal scheme with the owner or landlord, the agency may terminate the contract. Landlord Fraud: If a landlord has committed fraud or misrepresentation in connection with Central Sierra HOME SAFE, the agency will terminate the contract, review the circumstances and the household’s involvement (if any) to determine if the household is eligible to relocate to another unit with continued assistance. Central Sierra HOME SAFE may bar a landlord or property owner from participation in the program for breach of a contract. Lease Termination: A landlord may terminate a tenant’s lease only if there have been serious or repeated violations: Landlord brings court action for serious or repeated violation of the lease; Landlord files for court action but tenant moves from the unit prior to court; Police reports, neighborhood complaints or third party information that has been verified; Other “good cause” that the landlord may present to the agency and/or A-TCAA. |
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