Bridging the Gap Training Series, Winter 2011 Hillary Lazar, Program Director, NHSA

1. Bridging the Gap Training Series, Winter 2011 Hillary Lazar, Program Director, NHSA Home is Where the Heart Is Programs that Help to Create Safe, Thriving Homes and Families

2. Understanding the Basics: What Home and Family-related Supports Are and Why They Matter

3. Understanding the Basics – What Home and Family Benefits Are • Foreclosure Assistance • Rental Assistance • Energy/ Utility Assistance • Childcare Subsidies • Caregiver supports

4. Understanding the Basics – Why Home and Family Supports Matter Now Did you know? Childcare can be more expensive than college

5. Understanding the Basics – Why Home and Family Supports Matter Did you know? The foreclosure crisis is predicted to be only halfway over.

6. Understanding the Basics – Why Home and Family Supports Matter Did you know? Over 5 million people rely on housing supports, nearly half of whom are elderly or disabled.

7. Understanding the Basics – How Home and Family Supports Help Home and family supports are crucial for several reasons: 1. Family Success 2. Workplace Success 3. Community Success

8. Understanding the Basics – How Home and Family Supports Help Family Success: Budget Gap – Single parent, 2 children, working as a childcare provider, $8.00/hour Budget Surplus: Up to $2000+/year 2011 Poverty Line for Family of 3 $18,530/Year

9. Understanding the Basics – Why Home and Family Supports Matter Workplace Success: • Decreased absenteeism • Increased retention • Greater employee commitment • Higher-levels of productivity 

10. Understanding the Basics – How Income Supports Help Puts Money Back Into the Economy. Employee Support

11. Home and Family Supports 101

12. Home and Family Supports 101 - 4 Types to Know About • Energy Assistance • - HEAP • 2. Foreclosure Assistance • - HARP • - HAMP • 3. Rental Assistance • - Vouchers • - Public Housing • 4. Caregiver Supports

13. Home Supports 101 – Home Energy and Assistance Program What it is: Who it benefits: Helps with heating, cooling and weatherization Low-income families and individuals

14. Home Supports 101 – Home Energy and Assistance Program Eligibility:

15. Home Supports 101 – Home Energy and Assistance Program Categorical Eligibility/Other info: • Enrolled in SNAP, TANF, SSI, Veteran’s Benefits • At immediate risk. • “Qualified” immigrants (unless in multi-unit household) • Enrollment is seasonal

16. Home Supports 101 – Home Energy and Assistance Program How to Claim it: • For more information, please visit:Liheap.ncat.org;energyassistance@ncat.org • NEAR LIHEAP hotline: 1-866-674-6327

17. Home Supports 101 – Home Assistance Modification Program What it is: Who it benefits: Lowers monthly mortgage payment to 31 percent of verified monthly gross (pre-tax) income At-risk homeowners

18. Home Supports 101 – Home Assistance Modification Program Eligibility: • House is primary residence • Mortgage obtained on or before January 1, 2009 • Mortgage payment is more than 31 percent of monthly gross (pre-tax) income • Up to $729,750 is owed on the home • At-risk due to financial hardship • Sufficient, documented income to support the modified payment

19. Home Supports 101 – Home Assistance Refinance Program What it is: Who it benefits: A new loan that helps refinance into a new affordable, more stable mortgage At-risk homeowners

20. Home Supports 101 – Housing Choice Voucher Program Eligibility: • ​​​​ Mortgage must be owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae • Mortgage must have been sold to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae on or before May 31, 2009 • ​ Mortgage cannot have been refinanced under HARP previously unless it is a Fannie Mae loan that was refinanced under HARP from March-May 2009 • Must be current on your mortgage at the time of the refinance with a good payment history over the last twelve months • The current loan-to-value (LTV) ratio must be greater than 80%.

21. Home Supports 101 – Home Assistance Programs How to Claim it: • For more information, please visit:

22. Home Supports 101 – Housing Choice Voucher Program What it is: Who it benefits: Participants are able to find and pay for their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments using vouchers. Very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled.

23. Home Supports 101 – Housing Choice Voucher Program Eligibility: • ​​​​ Eligibility is determined by the PHA. • In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area. • By law, a PHA must provide 75 percent of its voucher to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income.

24. Home Supports 101 – Housing Choice Voucher Program Other Information: • ​​​​ Participants can select a unit with a rent that is below or above the payment standard and pay 30% of monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. • Moves are permissible as long as the family notifies the PHA ahead of time. • Everyone -- tenant, landlord and PHA -- has obligations and responsibilities under the voucher program.

25. Home Supports 101 – Public Housing What it is: Who it benefits: Safe, affordable housing Low-income families

26. Home Supports 101 – Housing Choice Voucher Program Eligibility: • Annual Income does not exceed the income limits established by HUD. • Good credit, no balances to prior landlords. • No habitual, current or previous housing conduct that would be likely to endanger other residents (Five incidences in the previous three years) • No recent record of violent criminal activity or criminal activity involving drugs or drug-related activity in three years or a sex offender. • Has not been evicted from any assisted housing in 3 years. • Must submit evidence of citizenship/eligible status.

27. Home Supports 101 – Rental Assistance Programs How to Claim it: • For more information, please visit:www.hud.gov • 1-800-569-4287

28. Family Supports 101 – State Childcare Subsidies What it is: Who it benefits: Helps pay for childcare so that parents/guardians can work. Low-moderate income, working parents and guardians.

29. Home Supports 101 – Home Energy and Assistance Program Eligibility:

30. Home Supports 101 – Home Energy and Assistance Program Eligibility/Other info: • Be a state resident w/a child or children who needs child care while working or in school • Work 20 or more hours a week - or- work 10 hours and go to school or train for 10 hours a week • Have a promise of a job or school • Child who needs care must be a US citizen or an Lawful Alien

31. Family Supports 101 – State Childcare Subsidies How to Claim it: • For more information, please visit:www.childcare.govwww.childcareaware.org • nccic.acf.hhs.gov • 1-800-424-2246

32. Family Supports 101 – Child and Dependent Care Credit Care Credit • Helps cover child care or caregiver expenses • Maximum expenses that can be claimed: • $3,000 for one dependent, $6,000 for two or more • Credit amount = 20 - 35% of expenses • – depending on income • In a few states the credit is refundable

33. Family Supports 101 – The Child Tax Credit? $1000 for every “qualifying child” For families with annual income under: • $110,000 for married couples • $75,000 for single or head of household • $55,000 married filing separately

34. Family Supports 101 – The Child Tax Credit? • Filers must have children • Each child claimed must count as a “qualifying child” • Immigrant applicants and children must • have a valid ITIN

35. Home and Family Supports 101 - What’s needed for enrollment • Proof of identity • Proof of address • Social Security numbers or Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) • Proof of the amount of all earned and unearned income before taxes or deductions • Household composition • Proof of housing and utility costs • Proof of immigration status for non-citizens (for some • programs) • Proof of child support and child care payments • Proof of out-of-pocket medical expenses if you are age • 60 or older or receive federal disability benefits

36. Home and Family Supports Outreach

37. Outreach: First Steps Self-Assessment: • What outreach works best for your organization? • Communication methods • Existing programs • What worked in the past • Special Considerations

38. Outreach: You Don’t Have to be an Expert Youdo NOT have to be an expert to help families claim their benefits. You have two jobs: • Raise Awareness 2.Connect them with the Experts and Enrollment Specialists

39. For Employers/HR: How to Raise Awareness • Include fliers with paychecks/stubs or when distributing W-2s • Put up posters in the break room or bathrooms • Talk about programs during staff meetings • Offer to do one-on-one conversations about supports, when talking about other benefits • Bring in a VITA volunteer counselor or • other agency representative • for an information or enrollment session

40. For Providers: How to Raise Awareness • Mail out info • Put up posters throughout the site • Talk about supports, provide enrollment assistance, refer clients to enrollment single-stop sites • Piggyback on existing programs • Bring in an enrollment counselor for an information or enrollment session • Become a single stop site or join a community outreach campaign

41. For Employers and Providers: How to raise awareness 7 is the MAGIC number.

42. For Coalition-builders: How to Raise Awareness Distribute info and direct workers/ clients to free enrollment sites Conduct outreach events and create opportunities to provide enrollment services Get in position to enrich and sustain outreach efforts in the future Expand and improve enrollment services Engage others in reaching out through their own networks

43. For Coalition-builders: How to Raise Awareness PARTNERSHIPS

44. How to Talk About Income Supports Talking points to emphasize: • It’s for working families • They earned it – they should get it! • The financial crisis • It’s a simple process • It’s money for healthy food, medical care, and more Use Language That’s Positive and Empowering.

45. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Access Information Online: • - www.govbenefits.gov • - State and city gov pages • - Bridging the Gap

46. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources • Use Referral and Info Services: - 211 - www.Insurekidsnow.gov 1-877-Kids-Now - www.ncat.org

47. Workplace Outreach: Use Existing Resources Connect with Enrollment Specialists:

48. Stay Tuned: Upcoming Webinars! Tuesday, December 13th, 1-2:30 EST – Money that Matters: Tax Credits for Working Families

49. LEARN MORE! For more information about benefit outreach or the Bridging the Gap Initiative please contact: Hillary Lazar, Program Director – NHSA 202-347-2080 x15 • Ph 202-393-4517 Fax hlazar@nassembly.org