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HEARTH Act: Planning for Impact

HEARTH Act: Planning for Impact. Julie Dixon The Planning Council. Signed into law May 2009, first update since 1995 Broadens definition of homeless to include those at imminent risk and those who are unstably housed Shifts focus and funding to more Prevention and Rapid Re-housing.

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HEARTH Act: Planning for Impact

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  1. HEARTH Act: Planning for Impact Julie Dixon The Planning Council

  2. Signed into law May 2009, first update since 1995 • Broadens definition of homeless to include those at imminent risk and those who are unstably housed • Shifts focus and funding to more Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Key Changes

  3. Stimulus for System Change

  4. Reduce length of time people spend in the crisis of homelessness • Rapidly exit people from homelessness to permanent housing • Provide services in the home to achieve housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness • Focus on income and employment HEARTH Objectives

  5. Decrease numbers of people who are homeless • Decrease length of time people are homeless • Increase exits to Permanent Housing • Increase income (employment/benefit) • Reduce returns to homelessness • Will apply to shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing programs HEARTH Indicators/Measures

  6. Areas of Focus • Program Evaluation and Development • System Evaluation and Reorganization • Coordination Beyond the Continuum of Care Meeting HEARTH Objectives

  7. Decrease in newly homeless • Prevention/Diversion • Decrease length of stay • Rapid Re-housing • Reduce time in Shelter and Transitional Housing – use rapid exit approach • Increase income and exits to PH and decrease returns to homelessness • Housing Stabilization Services • Critical Time Intervention (CTI) • Connections with mainstream and community-based services • Eviction Prevention Services Achieving Performance Measures

  8. The FY2012 budget for the ESG program is $286 million, an increase of $36 million from FY2011 • Assist communities to transition programs created under the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program • Shelter diversion • Funds are expected to particularly impact homeless families with children, a HUD priority population Emergency Solutions Grants

  9. Coordinated Intake • All ESG and CoC recipients must use a centralized/coordinated system to ‘initially assess the eligibility and needs of each person who seeks homeless assistance or prevention assistance’ • At least 40% of funds must be spent on Prevention/Diversion and Rapid Rehousing • New activities: • Short/medium term rental assistance • Housing relocation/stabilization to homeless or at risk – financial assistance – utilities, arrears, moving costs System Readiness – New ESG Rules

  10. Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development: • Homeless Solutions Grant (HSG) • Homeless Prevention Program (HPP) *Bring new agencies to the table as part of the ongoing Program Monitoring committee Other Funds at Play

  11. Establish coordinated intake • Divert at the front door to shelter wherever possible • Move people rapidly into permanent housing from emergency shelter and transitional housing • Focus on employment, income and benefits • Provide aftercare or access to services to stabilize once in housing Program Readiness

  12. ESG grantees must coordinate with CoC • Consult on allocation of funding for ESG activities • Must participate in HMIS • Coordinated Intake • Outcomes will be reported in CoC Exhibit 1 in 2012 Systems Coordination

  13. Performance (as described above) • Community Plans focus on: • reducing homelessness • educational needs of children and • needs of all homeless sub-populations • CoC plan aligns with Ten Year Plan (TYP) • Measureable targets, timelines, funding, leadership and staff Selection Criteria for Funding

  14. Look at current portfolio of projects: • expenditure of funds • performance - to determine what, if any, changes should be made • Begin considering which projects, in whole or in part, they may want to reallocate to free up resources for new efforts • Conduct an analysis to determine which partnerships within your community work well and which need more attention and focus HUD Advice –Preparing for HEARTH

  15. Renewal Evaluation Process • Training/Support to Agencies • Review data on: • Length of Stay (LOS) • Exits to permanent housing, to unknown and to homelessness • Rates of maintaining and increasing income • Evaluate funding and program allocations, outcomes and returns on investments • Consider program conversions/modifications to achieve outcomes Steps to Take Now

  16. The CoC has been flat funded • HUD has been aggressively recapturing funds from grants that have not been fully expended • Through this process, HUD is also identifying grantees that consistently return money • HUD strongly encourage grantees and CoCs to review all renewal project budgets and spending rates to prevent these types of recaptures, thereby demonstrating strong stewardship of federal funds at both the grantee and CoC levels Is there is money for HEARTH?

  17. HUD is in the final stages of clearing for release both theContinuum of Care (CoC) • 2012 NOFA will reflect the HEARTH requirements and all grants awarded through the 2012 competition will be required to comply with the interim rules • HUD will be deciding which provisions of HEARTH to implement in 2012 to maximize the impact Where are the HEARTH Regs?

  18. Thank you

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