On December 5, 2011, HUD published the final rule on the Definition of Homeless in the Federal Register. The final rule on the Definition of Homeless went into effect on January 4, 2012. A previous message provided links to resources that HUD developed on the definition and answered a few basic questions on the implementation of the regulation. The purpose of this message is to provide links to new resources that HUD has developed on the definition since the release of that January message, as well to highlight some issues that seem to be of frequent interest to grantees. HUD will keep our grantees posted as new resources are developed.
Technical Assistance Resources
To help recipients and subrecipients understand the updated definition of homeless and administer their programs in compliance with the amended regulations, HUD is continuing to develop and release guidance and training materials.
The following documents are now available:
New! The Homeless Definition and Eligibility for SHP, SPC, and ESG – This two-page document provides a high-level overview of eligibility for the Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care Program, and Emergency Solutions Grants program by Category of Homelessness.
New! Frequently Asked Questions – The HRE currently contains a list questions that are frequently received and answered through the Help Desk. To access the FAQs, visit the FAQs section of the HRE and select “Homeless Definition” as the FAQ Topic.
At-a-Glance – Criteria and Recordkeeping Requirements for Definition of Homeless– This two-page document provides a high-level overview of the criteria for each category of homelessness (page 1) as well as the corresponding recordkeeping requirements for each category (page 2). This document does not contain the same level of detail that can be found in the regulation.
At-a-Glance – Criteria for Definition of At Risk of Homelessness– This one-page document, available on the HRE, provides a high-level overview of the criteria for each category of at risk of homelessness. This document applies to recipients of Emergency Solutions Grants funds only. This document does not contain the same level of detail that can be found in the regulation.
Webinars: The following presentation slides for and recordings of previously broadcasted webinars are now available for viewing on the HUD HRE.
New! Homeless Status: Recordkeeping Requirements (5/8/2012) – This webinar is the first in a two-part series on documentation. It describes recordkeeping requirements for the Final Rule of the Definition of Homelessness. In addition to a review of acceptable documentation for each category of homelessness, this webinar explores HUD’s preferred order for documentation, as well as standards for ensuring that records maintained by program staff sufficiently demonstrate compliance with the recordkeeping requirements.
New! At-Risk Status and Income: Recordkeeping Requirements (5/15/2012) – This webinar is the second in a two-part series on documentation. It describes recordkeeping requirements for the At-Risk of Homelessness Definition and Income. In addition to a review of acceptable documentation for each at-risk of homelessness category, this webinar explores HUD’s preferred order for documentation, as well as standards for ensuring that records maintained by program staff sufficiently demonstrate compliance with the recordkeeping requirements.
Determining Homeless and At-Risk Status, Income and Disability Webinar(12/13/2011) – This webinar provides a comprehensive introduction to HUD’s Homeless Definition Final Rule and the new at-risk of homelessness definition included in the ESG Program Interim Rule.
Other Important Reminders
Eligibility for Permanent Supportive Housing through the Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and Shelter Plus Care (SPC)
The new homeless definition applies to all recipients of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program funds, and all recipients of SHP and S+C funding awarded through the FY 2011 CoC Competition at the point that their renewal award takes effect. However, all permanent housing projects funded in the FY 2011 CoC Competition must continue to abide by the limitation on Permanent Supportive Housing set forth in the FY2011 Continuum of Care NOFA in Section III.E.2.d(3), which states, “The only persons who may be served by permanent housing projects are those who come from the streets, emergency shelters, Safe Havens, or transitional housing. Persons coming from transitional housing must have originally come from the streets or emergency shelter. As participants leave currently operating projects, participants who meet this eligibility standard must replace them.”
Definition of “Chronically Homeless”
24 CFR Part 91—Consolidated Submissions for Community Planning and Development Programs published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2011 amended the definition of “chronically homeless” (24 CFR Part 91.5). This amended definition of chronically homeless does not apply to projects funded in the FY 2011 CoC Competition. Projects funded in the FY 2011 CoC Competition should continue to use the definition of “chronically homeless” found in Section I.D.3 of the FY2011 Continuum of Care NOFA. HUD is currently reviewing public comments on the chronic homeless definition and will publish a final definition later this year.
Virtual Help Desk
Please remember to submit questions that you may have to the CoC Policy Virtual Help Desk on the HRE located. HUD has taken great care to anticipate questions and include as much detail in the regulations and notice as possible. Therefore, please make sure to read both documents, in their entirety, prior to submitting a question to the Help Desk, as this will reduce the duplicative questions and responses and increase the response time for questions that are not addressed in the regulation. HUD also recommends that you view the references listed in this message prior to submitting a question to the Help Desk.
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