HUD Grants for the Homeless
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, provides affordable housing options for homeless individuals and families. HUD does not provide direct housing grants to individuals, but awards grants to local governments and nonprofit agencies to administer housing programs to the community. Homeless prevention organizations can provide a referral for a homeless individual to obtain permanent housing .
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Emergency Shelter Grants
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Emergency Shelter Grants, or ESG, are provided to state governments, large cities and nonprofit agencies. The funding can be used toward remodeling an existing shelter, facility maintenance or administering supportive services to the homeless. To receive ESG funding, the state, local government or nonprofit agency must submit and obtain approval of a three- to five-year plan on how they intend on using the funds. Citizen input is required in this "Consolidated Plan" to help define community needs and goals.
Supportive Housing Program
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The Supportive Housing Program is administered through states, local governments and nonprofit agencies. This program helps the homeless obtain permanent housing and provides supportive services that helps to transition them from homelessness to stability. The grant recipient can use funds to acquire, rehabilitate or construct a piece of property. To be eligible for supportive housing, the applicant must lack an adequate night-time residence, reside in an emergency shelter or transitional housing for the homeless. HUD requires a match contribution for grant recipients to administer the program.
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Shelter Plus Care Program
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The Shelter Plus Care program provides several options for the homeless to get help with housing. A rental subsidy can be provided to landlords who provide housing for the homeless, or to non-profit agencies to administer to eligible homeless households. The Shelter Plus Care program also provides supportive services to the homeless to ensure they can maintain their housing. Those with a serious mental illness, or problems with substance abuse are typical populations served through the Shelter Plus Care program.
Single Room Occupancy Program
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The Single Room Occupancy Program, or SRO, provides a rental subsidy to landlords that rehabilitate their property to provide housing to homeless individuals. Single-room occupancies are one-room apartments that have a bathroom or food preparation area.The tenant is required to pay 30 percent of his income for rent and HUD pays the remaining portion. The landlord is required to make at least $3,000 in repairs to the SRO to meet HUD's Housing Quality Standards, as of 2011. HUD can pay for a portion of the costs to make the repairs. The rental subsidy can be received for up to 10 years.
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References
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Emergency Shelter Grant Program
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Supportive Housing Program
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Shelter Plus Care Program (S+C)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Single Room Occupancy Program (SRO)
- Photo Credit the homeless image by Yuriy Rozanov from Fotolia.com
