SSVF Program Launch: Establishing Services in Compliance with Goals and Regulations

1. SSVF Program Launch:Establishing Services in Compliance with Goals and Regulations Practice Area 4: Participant Services, Financial

2. The role of financial assistance in prevention and ending homelessness • Financial assistance is a critical component of a crisis response approach. • Majority of participants who are literally homeless have incomes below $500/month • Often lose housing because they were unable to pay the rent • Lack of money to pay high costs to obtain housing prevents them from exiting homelessness. • Research has shown that financial assistance is generally more effective than supportive services in achieving housing stability.

3. A Reminder Of Key Aspects of SSVF TFA Assistance • The SSVF Program is not intended to provide long-term support for participants, nor will it be able to address all of the financial needs that affect housing stability. • Allowable expenses have ceilings and time limits. • Can use up to 50% of grant funds to provide TFA • Paid directly to a 3rd party on behalf of the participant • 60% of all budgeted TFA to be spent on participants needing rapid re-housing assistance (Permanent Housing Categories 2/3).

4. Eligible Uses of TFA • Rental Assistance • Utility Payment Assistance • Deposits – Security and Rental • Moving Costs • Childcare • Transportation • General Housing Stability Assistance • Emergency Housing Assistance

5. New for FY2014:“General Housing Stability” • Definition: provision of goods or payment of expenses not included in other sections but directly related to supporting a participant’s housing stability. • Maximum of $1,500 per participant • Only when such assistance is NOT AVAILABLE through existing mainstream and community resources • May include: • Items necessary for life safety (limited to $500) • Expenses associated with gaining/keeping employment • Expenses associated with moving into permanent housing • Expenses associated for getting housing such as application fees, background checks, etc.

6. New for FY2014:Emergency Housing Assistance • Allows SSVF programs to provide temporary housing for eligible, literally homeless participants who are awaiting permanent housing IF no other shelter is available. • Requirements: • 30 days max • Only families with children < 18 yrs old eligible; no singles • Only when no space available in community shelter AND permanent housing has been identified and secured but cannot be accessed immediately • Costs cannot exceed reasonable community standard for such housing • Limited to short-term commercial residences (private residences not eligible) that do not require lease or occupancy agreement and not already funded to provide on-demand emergency shelter

7. Limitations of Financial Assistance

8. Guiding Question How will you design and structure your SSVF Program’s Temporary Financial Assistance to… • Respond effectively to housing crises faced by each eligible Veteran; while… • Serving as many eligible Veterans as possible?

9. Guiding Principle for TFA • Provide the least amount of assistance for the shortest period of time necessary to resolve the crisis. • Efficiency • Fairness • Avoiding Dependency

10. How Much And How Long? • There are advantages and disadvantages to consider: • Depth of assistance • Length of time of assistance • Will all eligible expenses be available for every participant in need? • How will you end assistance – tapered or after a set number of months? • Set amounts allowable for all participants or flexible structures? • How much the participant will contribute vs. the program

11. Adjusting Assistance According To Participant Needs • Provide the least amount for the shortest duration AND • Be able to offer maximum amount and duration within funding constraints to assist participants with minimal to zero income AND • Structure in such a way that prevents the “cliff effect” – experiencing a sudden and unmanageable increase in housing expenses when assistance ends.

12. Program Features For Effective TFA • Clear policies and procedures to guide decisions and program practices • Defined roles about who approves financial assistance to participants • Staff training directly related to providing financial assistance • Being a good counselor is great, but so is the ability to calculate and monitor rental assistance! • Utilization Review mechanisms