EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS

1. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS Department of Housing and Community Development

2. Emergency Shelter Assistance Provide emergency shelter services for eligible families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

3. Basic Eligibility Criteria • Identification and Mass Residency Requirement • Household must consist of needy children under the age of 21 or a pregnant woman • Household must meet the gross income standards based on 115% of the Federal Poverty Level • Assets

4. EA Income Guidelines effective Jan. 23, 2018115 % of Federal Poverty Level Family Size Income Standard 1 $ 1,1632 $ 1,577 3 $ 1,991 4 $ 2,405 5 $ 2,819 6 $ 3,233 7 $ 3,647 8 $ 4,061 Add Person $ 414

5. Qualifying Reasons • Domestic Violence • Victims of fire, flood and natural disaster • Facing eviction, condemnation or foreclosure through no fault of your own • Excused fault eviction (loss of income) • Currently in a housing situation that exposes children to substantial health and safety risk

6. Domestic Violence • Fleeing Domestic Violence • Lost permanent housing due to Domestic Violence • Provide proof of the Domestic Violence • Applicant meets w/ DV Specialist within the DTA office. • Family is given 30 days to provide documentation.

7. Victim of Fire, Flood or Natural Disaster Applicant must not have been the cause

8. No Fault Evictions • Foreclosure on the property where you are renting • Non- Renewal of Tenancy (LL wants unit back) • Condemnation

9. Excused Evictions • Non payment of rent caused by a significant reduction in HH income • Non-payment of rent caused by high medical expenses

10. Health & Safety Health and Safety risks that endanger the well-being of the child(ren)

11. Health & Safety • There is criminal activity in the household • Exposure to mental health issues exhibited by the primary tenant • Exposure to ongoing substance abuse by the primary tenant

12. Health & Safety • Lack of heat/ hot water • Lack of electricity • Irregular Sleeping pattern for the child • The host family is facing eviction due to unauthorized stay of applicant family

13. Home Base Household Assistance • Is a flexible financial resource that is available to families who are eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA) Program • Up to $8,000 of Household Assistance can be used

14. Home Base • Find your own apartment • Co-house by living with someone else and sharing the household expenses • Pay for moving expenses to another state or location in state.

15. Home Base • Family receives 12 months of case management support • Help in securing services and ways to pursue employment • Assistance in addressing long term housing needs

16. Reasons for Ineligibility • Over income (household income exceeds 115% of FPL) • Have feasible alternative housing • Used EA in the prior 12 months • Making self eligible for EA • To obtain housing subsidy • Abandoned Public or Subsidized housing

17. Reasons for Ineligibility • Evicted for non payment of rent from subsidized or public housing • Evicted for fraud from subsidized or public housing • Evicted for criminal activity (private, public or subsidized housing) • Evicted for destruction of property from private, public or subsidized housing) • Asked to leave 3 Teen Living Programs

18. Remote Access Line (866) 584-0653 Staffed Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

19. Placement Process Application Screened for Qualifying Reason Screened for Eligibility Verification of statements Referral to HomeBASE Placement Request Central Placement Unit Staffed - Mon-Fri - 8am-4pm ADA – Americans with Disabilities Accommodation Request EARS – Extra Adult Relative PAAHM - Proposed Additional Adult Household Member to Household

20. Question/Answers “Shelter is not stable, permanent housing.”

21. Contact Info Alvina Brevard Director of Field Operations Cell: 857 272-4484 alvina.brevard@mass.gov Bonnie Caldwell Assistant Director of Field Operations Cell: 413.276.5562 bonnie.caldwell@mass.gov Twjana Williams Region Supervisor Cell: 617.945.6396 twjana.williams@mass.gov