Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program

(for renters only

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) received $23,513,533 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  This is designed to be a 2-year program beginning October 1, 2009 .

All 60 of Michigan ’s Continuum of Care Bodies (CoC’s) have received funding under this program to establish a Community Housing Assistance Plan (CHAP).   A CHAP is intended to transform homeless assistance in the community by shifting the focus from providing shelter to preventing homelessness and quickly re-house people who do become homeless.  Programs will provide enough assistance to quickly prevent or end an episode of homelessness.  This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our existing homeless assistance system.

The program serves individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.   HPRP is broken down into 2 service categories:  Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing.

Prevention – is designed to assist people who are currently in housing but are at risk of becoming homeless with incomes at or below 40% of Area Median Income ( AMI ).

A person eligible for the Prevention component of HPRP could receive the following services:

·         Up to 3 months rental arrearage, if it will prevent homelessness;

·         Up to 6 months rent with rental arrearage;

·         Up to 9 months rent without rental arrearage;

·         Utility payment;

·         Utility arrearage, up to $1,500 if necessary to prevent homelessness.

Rapid Re-Housing – is designed to assist people who are residing in shelters or on the street and need longer term assistance in order to obtain and sustain housing with incomes at or below 30% AMI .

A person eligible for Rapid Re-Housing could be eligible for the following services:

·         Security deposit, up to 1 month’s rent;

·         Utility deposit, up to $200;

·         Utility arrearage, up to $1,500 if necessary to obtain housing;

·         Utility payment;

·         Rental assistance up to a maximum 12 months with quarterly reviews.

All housing must pass a Housing Quality Standard inspection and Lead Based Paint inspection if the house was built before 1978 and the family has a child under the age of 6.

Because HUD does not allow the use of HPRP funds to supplant existing programs and funding, all program participants will be required to apply for State Emergency Relief before being assisted with HPRP funding.

PLEASE NOTE:  HPRP is NOT a mortgage assistance program.  This program is for renters only.

Attached is the contact information for the CHAP Lead Agencies broken down by the Campaign to End Homelessness designated Regions.  In order to assure the success of HPRP, DHS is strongly encouraged to work closely with the lead CHAP agency to develop procedures for referrals and SER applications.

If you have any questions regarding the local operation of this program, please contact the CHAP lead agency covering your county.  If you have any questions regarding the content of this email, please contact Patricia Caruso at 517 373-9889 or carusop@michigan.gov.