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The Homeless Prevention and Rapid
Re-housing Program (HPRP) is funded by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) through the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HPRP assists individuals and
families who are:
- currently housed, but are at risk of becoming homeless
and need temporary rent or utility assistance to prevent them
from becoming homeless, or need assistance to move to another
unit; or
- currently experiencing homelessness (residing in
emergency or transitional shelters, or on the street) and need
temporary assistance in order to obtain housing and retain it.
HPRP is not a mortgage or foreclosure assistance program.
Therefore HPRP can NOT assist with mortgage payments, fees or other
costs associated with mortgages or foreclosures.
Click here
for information about programs that provide mortgage and foreclosure
assistance.
The information provided below is general information about HPRP
and may be updated as additional information is available.
Final eligibility and assistance will be based on an initial
consultation with a case manager.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for any HPRP assistance, individuals and families must
meet the following minimum criteria:
1. Must have a household income that is at or below 50 percent of area median income (AMI):
Tampa/St. Petersburg-
Clearwater,
FL MSA |
FY 2009
Income Limit Category |
1
Person |
2
Person |
3
Person |
4
Person |
5
Person |
6
Person |
7
Person |
8
Person |
|
Very Low (50% of AMI) Income Limits |
$20,700 |
$23,700 |
$26,650 |
$29,600 |
$31,950 |
$34,350 |
$36,700 |
$39,050 |
2. Must have at least an initial consultation with a case
manager and agree to participate in case management for the
duration of the assistance.
3. Must be either homeless or at risk of losing their
housing AND:
(a) have no appropriate subsequent housing options
identified; AND
(b) lacks the financial resources and support networks
needed to obtain immediate housing or remain in its existing
housing.
4. All clients receiving homeless prevention assistance
will first be assessed to determine that they would become
homeless if no HPRP assistance were made available to them.
5. Homeless persons receiving rapid re-housing
assistance must meet the definition of homelessness (below) as
defined by Section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act (42 U.S. C. 11302)
- Sleeping in an emergency shelter
- Sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, such
as cars, parks, abandoned buildings, streets/sidewalks
- Staying in a hospital or other institution for up to 180
days but was sleeping in an emergency shelter or other place
not meant for human habitation (cars, parks, streets, etc)
immediately prior to entry into the hospital or institution
- Graduating from, or timing out of a transitional housing
program;
- Victims of domestic violence
Ineligible Households
Households receiving Section 8, living in
public housing or receiving other types of housing subsidy,
in most cases, can not be assisted with HPRP as they are
already receiving federal assistance with rent and utilities. If you are in need of
assistance, please contact the agency providing the Section 8,
public housing or housing subsidy assistance to discuss your
situation.
If you are receiving public housing assistance and would like
to find out if you might be able to be assisted with HPRP, you may
call our office for more information.
Good Candidates for HPRP are:
- Homeless or at imminent risk
of becoming homeless
- Have the ability to increase the household’s
income to ensure housing stability in the future
- Willing to do the work, with a case manager,
to develop a plan to increase their income
Not everyone who applies for help through
HPRP will be eligible. Whenever possible, case managers
will refer you to other programs that may be able to assist you.
Types of Assistance Available
HPRP may provide the following assistance based on the
household's needs as assessed by the case manager during the initial
consultation.
- short- or medium-term rental assistance,
- security deposits,
- utility deposits and payments,
- moving costs, and
- motel and hotel vouchers (limited)
- assistance with locating appropriate housing
- legal services for circumstances that prevent you from
obtaining housing; tenant/landlord matters
How to Apply for HPRP Assistance
If you live in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace
or Plant City, you can apply
at any neighborhood services center.
If you live within the City of Tampa city limits, please call our
office to be directed to the appropriate HPRP partner agency.
Our office number is (813) 223-6115, Monday through
Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. excluding holidays.
Client
Document Checklist
To expedite the HPRP process, we recommend you bring the
documentation items listed on the
'Required
Client Documents' check list. The items listed are the
minimally required documents; other documentation may be required on
a case by case basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
When I go to an HPRP Partner agency, what is
going to happen?
The organization staff will have you complete an intake/assessment
process to learn more about your situation, your needs and what
services – including HPRP – are available to assist you. This may be
paperwork and/or meeting with a staff member/case manager. They will
advise you as to what services you may qualify for and their
criteria. From there you will have to decide if you are willing to
fulfill applicable program requirements. After that, the case
manager will advise you of the next steps and help guide you through
them.
How long will it take for me to get help?
The length of time is a case-by-case situation, and depends on how long it takes to complete the
application and all required documentation to be submitted. In general,
it will take 2-4 weeks for a financial assistance payment to be
provided.
How will I get the money?
Any financial assistance payments will be made directly to the
landlord, utility company or equivalent. No payments will be made
directly to you (the client).
Is there a limit on how much help I can get?
The amount of help provide is determined on a case-by-case basis.
How will I know if I am eligible? Approved? Payment Made?
The case manager working with you will let you know if you are
eligible, have been approved for the assistance and/or when payment
will be made to your landlord/utility company.
Why do I have to have a case manager?
The primary purpose of this program is to help people
obtain/maintain stable housing both today and going forward. Working
with a case manager provides you access to resources/services (such
as: education or training; employment counseling; legal services)
you/your family may need to maintain stabilize housing.
Can I call your office back?
You need to work directly with your case manager. Any questions
about the program, eligibility, payments or other items need to go
through your case manager.
Where is your office located?
Our office is in Tampa; however we do not serve clients in our
office. The services are provided by service organizations in the
community.
What if I go to this agency and they tell me they can’t help me?
What if I am not eligible for HPRP?
If the agency is not able to assist you and/or you are not eligible
for HPRP, make sure you ask the organization’s staff person about
other options available to you that MIGHT be able to help.
What other documentation will I need?
The minimum documents you will need are listed on the “Required
Client Documents” checklist. Additional documentation needed is
determined on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: HPRP applications are not
accepted at the Homeless coalition of Hillsborough County's office.
Applications must be completed at one of the HPRP Partner
organizations.
If you live in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace
or Plant City, you can apply
at any neighborhood services center.
If you live within the City of Tampa city limits, please call our
office to be directed to the appropriate HPRP partner agency.
Our office number is (813) 223-6115, Monday through
Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. excluding holidays.
HPRP is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, Hillsborough County Board of County
Commissioners, City of Tampa, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough
County, and its member and partner agencies.
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