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Assistance from the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.

Almost two billion dollars in federal government stimulus funds were used to create the The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. The money will be used for several assistance programs, including: to provide families help with rent payments, assistance paying security deposits and utility bills, eviction prevention services, free hotel and motel vouchers, credit counseling, and more.

The money is being provided to your local state. State governments are then distributing the money to charities and non-profits at the city and county level so that the funds can be provided to those who need it most. The goal of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) is to provide financial assistance, counseling, and other services to prevent families and individuals from being evicted, losing their homes, and becoming homeless. Money will also be used to help those who are experiencing homelessness find both short term and permanent long term housing, and stay in the new housing units.

What type of renal and housing assistance is offered?

• The financial assistance is limited to the following:
• payments for security deposits
• rental assistance that can be short-term (up to 3 months) or long term (up to 18 months)
• utility deposits and help for paying utility bills
• moving cost assistance
• vouchers for motels or hotels
• Housing stabilization and relocation services offered include:
• free legal services, including legal advice and representation in court proceedings, administrative assistance, and other issues related to tenant and landlord matters or rental and housing issues, excluding mortgage legal advice
• counseling and case management
• housing search services and placement
• outreach and engagement
• credit repair and advice

The aid from the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) is meant to be immediate. For example, at least 60 percent of the stimulus funds need to be spent within the first two years and all the grant money must be spent within three years.

As indicated above, the funds are being provided to state and local governments, charities, and other organizations. Organizations across the spectrum will provide the rental funds, counseling, case management and outreach to people facing eviction and also homeless people. The goal is to provide a variety of programs and flexible financial assistance to enable households to stay in their homes and apartments, or help them find a home. The grant money can be distributed in multiple ways, and it could be provided in the form of rental assistance, which will include back rent for months in which the household has been unable to pay, security deposits, utility deposits, and money for moving costs. The government and organizations managing the program have flexibility in how they distribute the grants.

Who can get rental assistance?

The funds are targeted towards two main populations and groups. They include:

• Families and individuals that currently have housing or live in an apartment, but who are facing eviction or who may be at risk of becoming homeless. The program will provide them with temporary rent or utility bill assistance to prevent the person or family from becoming homeless. Or the aid can help them move to a new location that they can better afford to pay over the long term.
• In addition, the money can help those individuals and families who are currently homeless. For example, people who are living in emergency or temporary shelters or maybe even on the street. The grants will provide them temporary assistance so they can find housing, move into it, and also pay the rent over the short and long term.