Shelter Plus Care (HUD):

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Note: please note that this profile of a policy option or program model should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items. See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you.

This policy option or model program profile relates to the following issue overview(s):

Chronic Homelessness

Summary one paragraph description

Shelter Plus Care (S+C) is a program designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for homeless persons with disabilities, (primarily those with serious mental illness, chronic problems with alcohol and/or drugs, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or related diseases) and their families who are living in places not intended for human habitation (e.g., streets) or in emergency shelters. The program allows for a variety of housing choices, and a range of supportive services funded by other sources, in response to the needs of the hard-to-reach homeless population with disabilities.^[1]

Goal short description of the policy or program goal

To provide rental assistance for hard-to-serve homeless persons with disabilities in connection with supportive services funded from sources outside the program.^[2]

Cost total policy or program cost; also include per person cost if available

Approximately $1.42 billion overall is available for this Continuum of Care (COC) Program competition in FY 2008. HUD will not specify amounts for each of the three CoC programs. Instead, the distribution of funds among the three programs will depend largely on locally determined priorities and overall demand.^[3]
An Example through grant requests:
- For the SRO component, applicants determine the number of SRO units to be used and multiply by the FMR in effect which is (75% of the 0-bedroom FMR x 1.2). (short cut: multiply the 0-bedroom FMR by .9). Applicants then multiply by 120 months, the length of the grant period for the SRO component. For example, the efficiency FMR for Bellingham, WA is $411. To calculate the grant request for a 20 unit SRO project, you would mulitply $411 x .75 x 1.2 which equals $370. You would then multiply $370 x 20 units x 120 months for the total grant request which equals $888,000.^[4]

Implementation describe how the policy or program is implemented (esp. who, how)

Program grants are used for the provision of rental assistance payments through four components: (The supportive services may be funded by other Federal, State, or local sources, as well as private sources.)^[5]
1. Tenant-based Rental Assistance (TRA);
2. Sponsor-based Rental Assistance (SRA);
3. Project-based Rental Assistance with (PRAW)or without rehabilitation (PRA); and
4. Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program forSingle Room Occupancy (SRO) Dwellings.^[6]

Tenant-based Rental Assistance (TRA):
- Under the TRA component, an applicant may request funds to provide rental assistance on behalf of program participants who choose their own housing units. If a participant decides to move, he or she may take their rental assistance to the new housing unit.
- Applicants may require participants to live in a particular structure for the first year of assistance and in a particular area for the remaining period of assistance, or may require participants to live in a particular area for the entire rental assistance period. Such a requirement may be implemented if it is necessary to facilitate the provision of supportive services.^[7]

Sponsor-based Rental Assistance (SRA)
- Under the SRA component, an applicant may request grant funds to provide rental assistance through a contract(s) with a nonprofit organization(s), called a sponsor. The nonprofit organization may be a private nonprofit organization or a community mental health center established as a public nonprofit organization. The units to be used must be owned or leased by the sponsor.
- After a grant is awarded, the sponsor may change sites provided the sponsor continues to own or lease the property and the grantee continues to serve the overall number of persons indicated in its approved application. A site change may occur because the sponsor has found it necessary to change the type of housing provided (for example, to lease 6 one-bedroom units rather than one unit that accommodates 6 persons), changes in the availability of units, or other similar reasons.^[8]

Project-based Rental Assistance with (PRAW)or without rehabilitation (PRA):
- Under the PRA component, an applicant may request grant funds to provide rental assistance through a contract with a building owner(s). An applicant must enter into a contract with the building owner(s) for the full five- or ten-year period of assistance. The building owner must agree to accept eligible S+C participants for this time period. Participants must live in an assisted unit in a particular property.
- Under the component, applicants may assist units that will be rehabilitated or existing units that do not need to be rehabilitated. If the units are rehabilitated, and the rehabilitation meets the requirements specified on page 9, the applicant may request 10 years of rental assistance. Otherwise, assistance will be for a period of five years. ^[9]

Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Dwellings:
- Under the SRO component, an applicant may request grant funds to provide rental assistance in an existing SRO setting. The units to be used must be in need of moderate rehabilitation. The rental assistance includes an allowance to pay for debt service to pay off the cost of the moderate rehabilitation over the ten-year grant period.
- The component is designed to bring more standard SRO units into the local housing supply and to use those units to assist homeless persons with disabilities. The SRO units might be in a rundown hotel, a vacant motel, a Y, or even in a large, abandoned home. Applicants are encouraged to be creative in searching out suitable SRO dwelling units -- large or small structures.
- A similar program, the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation SRO program, has been operating since 1987. The SRO component of the S+C program draws on that experience. Applicants interested in the SRO component should request the booklet titled, "Understanding the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program".
- While leaving many of the technical features the same, the SRO component improves on the original model in the following ways:
- To ensure the provision of supportive services, an element vital to the residential stability of homeless persons with disabilities, the S+C program requires that supportive services be available to participants.
- To ensure that the most needy segments of the homeless population are being served, the S+C program requires that participants be homeless persons with disabilities, particularly those with serious mental illness, substance abuse problems, and AIDS or related diseases.^[10]

Evaluation summarize any evaluation findings that policy or program effectiveness

Status indicate whether this policy or program has been adopted in more locations or remains a proposal

This policy, as a part of HUD's Continuum of Care program, is in place and found in many locations, including Cleveland, OH and Milwaukee, WS. Places wishing to receive grants for the program must apply.

Point of View quotations from those in support or opposition to this policy or program

Contact contact information for sponsor of this policy or program

Bibliography link to any additional readings or websites related to this policy or program