Housing Assistance Program Overview - Supporting Individuals and Families in Need

Slide Note

Providing temporary housing assistance to individuals and families in need is a vital aspect of the Client Benefit Division led by Yvette Ortiz Baugh. The program prioritizes preventive housing measures, such as assisting with rent arrears and home repairs, in an effort to maintain stable housing situations. Collaborating with organizations like the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, the program aims to transition clients from temporary shelter placements to permanent housing solutions. Eligibility for assistance is determined based on available resources and compliance with program requirements, with applicants undergoing a thorough assessment process. The Temporary Housing Assistance program gathers detailed information through its assessment form to better understand the needs of applicants, including previous housing situations and employment details.

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Temporary Housing Assistance Part of the Clients Benefit Division Yvette Ortiz Baugh May 2021

The Three Ps of Housing Preventive Placements Permanency Safe Temporary Housing placement in a shelter Assist clients reach to the ultimate goal of permanent housing Try to preserve the current housing.

Preventive To preserve an individual or family s housing, the Department can: Assist with Rent arrears - the ongoing rent must be affordable Assist with Home Repairs Using these TA programs: EAF Diversion payments ESN Household income must be below 125% of FPL

Continuum of Care (COC) Long Island Coalition for the Homeless Nassau and Suffolk Counties Coordinated Entry: Prioritizing permanent and supportive housing assistance based on an individual or family s time homeless and their vulnerability. SCDSS works with the COC to: Identifying chronically homeless households and the most vulnerable households

Homeless Population 2017 Avg 2018 Avg Persons being sheltered 2019 YTD Avg Families being sheltered Singles & Couples being sheltered 2020 YTD Avg 2020 YTD Avg 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Trend Data Singles & Couples being sheltered Families being sheltered Persons being sheltered 2020 YTD Avg 446 366 1,686 2020 YTD Avg 536 427 1,972 2019 YTD Avg 576 508 2,303 2018 Avg 2017 Avg 569 529 2,409 535 535 2,477

Placements Eligibility determination for Temporary Housing Assistance Available housing resources for example friends and/or family Available liquid resources on hand cash Prior Compliance (this does not always apply, but could be a factor) Applicant completes a Request for Temporary Housing Assistance form Center TA worker interviews the client and makes a THA assessment

Temporary Housing Assistance THA Assessment and Workflow Procedure Request for Temporary Housing Assistance Form will require the THA applicant to answer the following: Last permanent address? How much did you pay in rent? How long were you there? Reason for leaving that address? Where did you stay last night? Children s school district? Who in the household is working? In what town is their job located? 2

Temporary Housing Assistance OTDA defines an Available Housing Resource as: A housing resource is defined as available when it is within the control or ability of the applicant/re-applicant to live at the residence or when the applicant has permission from the owner, tenant, landlord or other party responsible for the resident to live there. Applicants for temporary housing assistance claiming they do not have control or permission must support those claims with clear, convincing and credible evidence Page 10, 16-ADM-11

THA Housing Placements Consideration is given to many factors when making a placement Children s educational needs - McKinney-Vento Act Employment needs - Promoting Self-Sufficiency Medical needs in proximity to doctors and other medical appointments Child Care needs while parents work or look for housing

THA Housing Placements SCDSS is required to make every effort to place families in or near their children s school district Placements are made where there is availability based on the case size and household composition. SCDSS can not guarantee all placement requests that are not associated with a disability will be accommodated.

The Shelters Responsibility Have clients acknowledge and sign Shelter Rules and Regulations. Send a signed copy of the Shelter Rules and Regulations to the Housing case worker Keep Housing case workers well-informed of ALL infractions and serious incidents as they occur. Only request to discharge an individual or family after the shelter worker has prepared a THA sanction summary.

The Clients Responsibility while residing in THA Client s are responsible to: Maintain constant compliance with the TA program requirements Follow the shelter rules and behave in an orderly manner Be respectful to the shelter staff and other residents Continuously look for permanent housing and complete housing logs regularly Work with Shelter and SCDSS Housing staff to develop and adhere to an effective Independent Living Plan (ILP)

Temporary Housing Assistance Pre - THA Sanction Sanctions are imposed when clients fail to comply with regulations. Prior to discontinuing a individual or family s Temporary Housing Assistance, SCDSS must make two assessments: 1. Make sure that they individual is not in need of services; APS/CPS or Preventive 2. Determine if the non complaint individual has any mental or physical impairments that was the cause of the non compliance

Temporary Housing Assistance Temporary Assistance Sanctions All individuals and families residing in THA must comply with Temporary Assistance program rules and regulations. Single individuals (households = 1) who have a TA sanction will have their Temporary Assistance case closed and as such will be DE authorized from THA. Individuals residing in a household greater than 1, will suffer a financial penalty but they will not lose their THA benefit.

Temporary Housing Assistance Temporary Housing Sanctions Not cooperating with the THA assessment or with developing an ILP Until compliance Non compliance with the requirements of the ILP 1st occurrence is until compliance 2nd occurrence is for 30 days Non compliance with actively searching for housing other than Temporary Housing 30 days Non compliance with shelter rules and/or engaging in acts that endanger one self or others at the shelter 30 days

Permanency Ways SCDSS assist clients to move into Permanent Housing Section 8 Coordinated Entry Rapid Rehousing Shelter Supplement Program (SSP) State Charge moves out of District or State. Doing so allows people to pursue employment or be close to supportive family and friends outside of Suffolk County. Foster Care Preventive Subsidy (second slide ahead)

Permanency Preventive Housing Service Grants (95-LCM -110) Family must have an active services case or be eligible for preventive services Up to $300.00 a month for 3 years to families to secure permanent housing This grant is in addition to the TA maximum standards and SSP monthly amounts This program if offered through the Office of Children and Family Services A separate check is mailed to the landlord monthly

Permanency Emergency Shelter Allowance Family must have a household member with a documented medical diagnosis of AIDS or HIV related illness . Family must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless Emergency Shelter Allowance (ESA) is available using the Actual rent (no limit) The SSI person in the household with the medical diagnosis of AIDS is included in the household count and budget. Other household members with SSI are not included in the household count or in the household budget.

Permanency SCDSS can assist with a move to permanent housing Security Agreement Brokers Fees Criteria: Proposed Rent must be affordable on going The move must be, Out of a Shelter Out of the District for employment or to be united with family An emergency such as an eviction or health and safety

Permanency The Housing Package The necessary forms needed to assist applicants and recipients with a move Very easy to understand Color coded: Yellow highlight or the landlord Blue highlight for the Broker Pink highlight for the Client / Tenant