The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) coordinates seven programs targeted specifically for fighting homelessness. The Veterans’ Administration (VA) also funds homelessness programs for vets.
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department funds a number of important supportive services programs not discussed here.
HUD coordinates seven programs targeted specifically for fighting homelessness. The first five below, which are known collectively as the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, will be consolidated under the HEARTH Act:
- Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
- Shelter Plus Care (S+C)
- Section 8 Moderate Rehab for Single-Room Occupancy (SRO)
- Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) (formerly Emergency Shelter Grants) fund shelters/transitional housing and homeless prevention
- Title V (Federal Surplus Property to Assist Homeless)
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
- Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to rapidly re-house homeless people and to prevent homelessness through rent subsidies for families at risk.
Seven other HUD programs (such as Public Housing) serve some homeless, but do not specifically target homelessness.
The Veteran Administration’s (VA) Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program funds development and provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services to help homeless Veterans achieve residential stability.
The Base Realignment and Closure Program through the Department of Defense specifies base closures must take into account the homeless population through consultation with HUD.
The HEARTH Act, passed in May 2009:
- Consolidated the separate McKinney-Vento programs into a single Continuum of Care Program.
- Converted existing "Emergency Shelter Grants" ESG program to “Emergency Solutions Grants” focused on prevention and re-housing similar to HPRP.
- Expanded the definition of homelessness.
- Authorized $2.2 billion in funding for FY 2010 and additional funding for FY 2011.
Federal:
- HUD is working on regulations to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) as a model for potential changes to ESG. HPRP uses are very similar to those of Minnesota Housing's Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP).
- Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 (H.R. 403, S. 1160) introduced by Rep. Green (D-TX) and Sen. Schumer (D-NY) would provide $200 million annually for supportive housing for veterans and fund 20,000 rental assistance vouchers for extremely low-income veteran families. Many communities report a shortage of both housing types. The bill has passed the Senate and is still pending in the House.
- Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009 (S. 1547) introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), would provide $50 million annually to help low-income veterans remain in or obtain housing. Includes an annual increase of 10,000 HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers until 2013 and increases VA Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) authorization to $200 million annually (H.R. 2504 also increases GPD). The bill has passed the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate.
Funding:
Regular funding for all HUD homeless assistance programs totaled $1.677 billion in FY 2009 and $1.865 billion in FY 2010; advocates are asking for $2.055 billion for FY 2011.
- ESG is formula funded annually based on CDBG formula.
- SHP, S+C, SRO are competitive
- HOPWA is 90% by formula and 10% competitive.
Under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):
- HUD Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) received $1.5 billion.
- MN received $23.5 million by formula for HPRP ($10.9 million to state, remainder to large counties & cities)
Administration:
- HUD and the VA administer their own respective programs.
- Base Realignment and Closure Program as it relates to homelessness is administered jointly by the Department of Defense and HUD.
- In Minnesota, homeless programs are administered by Minnesota Housing and locally by counties and large cities.
- There are 13 Continuum of Care regions in Minnesota which coordinate planning, prevention, and outreach programs as well as conduct bi-annual counts in Minnesota. Minnesota Housing (through the Interagency Council on Homelessness) assists planning in the 13 MN regions.
Liz Kuoppala, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, is a contributor to MHP's coverage of this issue.
Updated March 9, 2010.