HEARTH Act: Planning for Impact

HEARTH Act: HEARTH Act: Planning for ImpactPlanning for Impact

Julie DixonThe Planning Council

Key ChangesKey Changes

Signed into law May 2009, first update since 1995

Broadens definition of homeless to include those at imminent risk and those who are unstably housed

Shifts focus and funding to more Prevention and Rapid Re-housing

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Stimulus for System ChangeStimulus for System Change

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HEARTH ObjectivesHEARTH Objectives

Reduce length of time people spend in the crisis of homelessness

Rapidly exit people from homelessness to permanent housing

Provide services in the home to achieve housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness

Focus on income and employment

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HEARTH Indicators/MeasuresHEARTH Indicators/Measures

Decrease numbers of people who are homeless

Decrease length of time people are homeless

Increase exits to Permanent HousingIncrease income (employment/benefit)Reduce returns to homelessness

◦Will apply to shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing programs

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Meeting HEARTH ObjectivesMeeting HEARTH Objectives

Areas of Focus

◦Program Evaluation and Development

◦System Evaluation and Reorganization

◦Coordination Beyond the Continuum of Care

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Achieving Performance MeasuresAchieving Performance Measures

Decrease in newly homeless◦Prevention/Diversion

Decrease length of stay◦Rapid Re-housing◦Reduce time in Shelter and Transitional Housing –

use rapid exit approach Increase income and exits to PH and

decrease returns to homelessness◦Housing Stabilization Services ◦Critical Time Intervention (CTI)◦Connections with mainstream and community-

based services◦Eviction Prevention Services

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Emergency Solutions GrantsEmergency Solutions Grants

The FY2012 budget for the ESG program is $286 million, an increase of $36 million from FY2011 ◦Assist communities to transition programs

created under the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program

◦Shelter diversion◦Funds are expected to particularly impact

homeless families with children, a HUD priority population

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System Readiness – System Readiness – New ESG RulesNew ESG Rules

Coordinated Intake◦All ESG and CoC recipients must use a

centralized/coordinated system to ‘initially assess the eligibility and needs of each person who seeks homeless assistance or prevention assistance’

At least 40% of funds must be spent on Prevention/Diversion and Rapid Rehousing

New activities:Short/medium term rental assistance Housing relocation/stabilization to homeless or at

risk – financial assistance – utilities, arrears, moving costs

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Other Funds at PlayOther Funds at Play

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development:

◦Homeless Solutions Grant (HSG)

◦Homeless Prevention Program (HPP)

*Bring new agencies to the table as part of the ongoing Program Monitoring committee

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HSG Outcomes HPP Outcomes

Percentage of households seeking shelter where the immediate crisis has been averted (preventing homelessness)

Percentage of eligible households assisted with HPP where homelessness is prevented

Percentage of households diverted from homelessness stabilized in permanent housing

Percentage of diverted households stabilized in permanent housing

Reduction in the number of households entering the homeless assistance system

Reduction in the number of households entering the homeless assistance system

Reduction of the length of shelter stays

N/A

Reduction in the number of households returning to homelessness

N/A

Program ReadinessProgram Readiness

Establish coordinated intakeDivert at the front door to shelter

wherever possibleMove people rapidly into permanent

housing from emergency shelter and transitional housing

Focus on employment, income and benefits

Provide aftercare or access to services to stabilize once in housing

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Systems Coordination Systems Coordination

ESG grantees must coordinate with CoC◦Consult on allocation of funding for ESG

activities◦Must participate in HMIS◦Coordinated Intake◦Outcomes will be reported in CoC Exhibit 1 in

2012

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Selection Criteria for FundingSelection Criteria for Funding

Performance (as described above)Community Plans focus on: reducing homelessnesseducational needs of children andneeds of all homeless sub-populations

CoC plan aligns with Ten Year Plan (TYP) Measureable targets, timelines, funding,

leadership and staff

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HUD Advice –HUD Advice –Preparing for HEARTH Preparing for HEARTH

Look at current portfolio of projects: expenditure of funds performance - to determine what, if any, changes

should be made Begin considering which projects, in whole or

in part, they may want to reallocate to free up resources for new efforts

Conduct an analysis to determine which partnerships within your community work well and which need more attention and focus

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Steps to Take NowSteps to Take Now

1. Renewal Evaluation Process2. Training/Support to Agencies 3. Review data on:

◦ Length of Stay (LOS)◦ Exits to permanent housing, to unknown and to

homelessness◦ Rates of maintaining and increasing income

4. Evaluate funding and program allocations, outcomes and returns on investments

◦ Consider program conversions/modifications to achieve outcomes

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Is there is money for HEARTH?Is there is money for HEARTH?

The CoC has been flat funded HUD has been aggressively recapturing

funds from grants that have not been fully expended

Through this process, HUD is also identifying grantees that consistently return money

HUD strongly encourage grantees and CoCs to review all renewal project budgets and spending rates to prevent these types of recaptures, thereby demonstrating strong stewardship of federal funds at both the grantee and CoC levels

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Where are the HEARTH Regs?Where are the HEARTH Regs?

HUD is in the final stages of clearing for release both the Continuum of Care (CoC)

2012 NOFA will reflect the HEARTH requirements and all grants awarded through the 2012 competition will be required to comply with the interim rules

HUD will be deciding which provisions of HEARTH to implement in 2012 to maximize the impact

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Thank youThank you