SSVF Program Launch:Establishing Services in Compliance with Goals

and Regulations

Practice Area 4:Participant Services,

Financial

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. 2

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). 3

Eligible Uses of TFA

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• Rental Assistance

• Utility Payment Assistance

• Deposits – Security and Rental

• Moving Costs

• Childcare

• Transportation

• General Housing Stability Assistance

• Emergency Housing Assistance

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.5

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 6

Limitations of Financial Assistance

Rental Assistance Maximum 5 months within 12 month timeframe

Maximum 8 months within 3 years

Rents aligned with “rent reasonableness’ standards

Utility Payment Assistance Maximum 2 months within 12 month timeframe

Maximum 4 months within 3 years

Deposits Security Deposit – 1x within 3 years

Utility Deposit – 1x within 3 years

General Housing Stability Assistance

Maximum $1500 per participant

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Guiding Question

How will you design and structure your

SSVF Program’s Temporary Financial Assistance to…

1) Respond effectively to housing crises faced by each eligible Veteran; while…

2) Serving as many eligible Veterans as possible?

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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

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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 10

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. 11

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

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