Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) 

The State of Wisconsin has been allocated $17,101,862 in one-time funding for the Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). A substantial amendment to the State Annual Action Plan will be submitted to HUD to obtain these funds. This Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

HPRP will provide financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. The funds under this program are intended to target individuals and families who would be homeless but for this assistance. The funds can provide short-term or medium-term rental assistance, housing relocation and stabilization services, mediation, counseling, security or utility deposits, utility payments, case management and related costs.

Funds will be distributed to homeless service providers through an application process utilizing a formula which includes population, unemployment and homeless data for the following key activities:

Homelessness Prevention Assistance
Individuals and families who are currently in housing but are at risk of becoming homeless and need temporary rent or utility assistance to prevent them from becoming homeless or assistance to move to another unit.

Rapid Re-Housing
Individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness (residing in emergency or transitional shelters or on the street) and need temporary assistance in order to obtain housing and retain it.

A timeline has been set up for the application process and disbursement of funds.

HPRP SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT DRAFT

The Substantial Amendment describes the process that will be used to determine the distribution and eligible uses of HPRP funds including our plan for collaboration with local organizations receiving Recovery Act funds and Continuums of Care, ensuring consistency with the Consolidated Plan, estimated budget for HPRP funds, and the expected outcomes and benefits.

PROGRAM FILES

Beginning November 1, 2009, all new participant files are required to have a signed HPRP Staff Affidavit form. This form needs to signed by the case manager that certifies participant eligibility and by the staff's supervisor. If a different staff member conducts the participant's 3 month recertification, a new form will need to be completed.

Client File Checklist

HPRP Documentation of Income and Housing Status Eligibility

HUD has released new forms for client files that document participant income legibility and housing status eligibility for HPRP. Please use these forms in addition to continuing to obtain third-party verification, such as pay stubs for income verification and eviction notices for housing status.

The links to these forms are below:

• Homeless Certification
• Self Declaration of Housing Status
• Verification of Income
• Self Declaration of Income

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

• Assistance may not exceed 18 months in duration. For clients and households receiving money for rent and utility arrears, the number of months in arrears counts toward the 18 month limit.
• Participants must be able to show that they will be able to maintain tenancy with the financial assistance.
• Rental units need to meet basic habitability and rent reasonableness standards.

Rental assistance – may be provided to allow individuals and families to remain where they are currently living or to help them secure new housing. Rental assistance may be used to pay up to 6 months of rental arrears.

Security deposits – may be provided to help participants obtain housing

Utility payments and related costs – may be used for up to 6 months of utility payments in arrears.

Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services

• Assistance may not exceed 18 months in duration.

Case management – services related to assisting individuals and families obtain and retain housing.

Outreach – publicizing HPRP in order to make eligible program participants aware of the program and services.

Housing search and placement – services may include: tenant counseling; assisting individuals and families to understand leases; securing utilities; making moving arrangements; representative payee services concerning rent and utilities; and mediation and outreach to property owners related to locating or retaining housing.

Legal services – legal advice and representation in administrative or court proceedings related to tenant/landlord matters or housing issues that prevent a household from being evicted.

Credit repair – assisting program participants with skills related to household budgeting and money management to prevent a household from being evicted and helping a household maintain tenancy.

INFORMATION FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Participant Eligibility Includes

• Client or household must have at least an initial consultation with a case manager or housing counselor to assess their needs.
• The client or household must be at or below 50% county medium income, at risk of losing housing and becoming homeless but for this assistance, or presently homeless.
• Participant eligibility must be certified at least once every 3 months.

There are HPRP service providers located throughout the state. For information about applying for HPRP please contact the service provider for your area listed below.

HPRP Agency Contacts
HPRP Balance of State Lead Agency Map

INFORMATION FOR AGENCIES

Program Guidelines

HPRP Manual

Eligibility FAQ

ServicePoint HPRP Provider Map

ServicePoint How to Guide for HPRP

HPRP ServicePoint FAQ

CMI per month by county

HUD has also issued more detailed guidelines on how what to use as third-party documentation for income and housing status.

Income: Eligibility and Determination Requirements

Housing Status: Eligibility and Determination Requirements

The following guidelines are important to remember when providing HPRP services. This is not a complete listing of all HPRP requirements.

Using HPRP Funding for Financial Assistance

• Financial assistance may not be provided to program participants in the form of a loan.
• HPRP funding cannot be combined with funds from another source when providing financial assistance to program participants.

• Habitability inspections are required any time a program participant moves into housing with HPRP funding.
  Habitability and housing quality standards checklist
• Housing must be re-inspected annually.
• Housing must meet lead based paint requirements when rental assistance and security deposits are being provided for a family with a child under the age of six.

• mortgage costs or costs associated with refinancing a mortgage
• construction or rehabilitation
• credit card bills or other consumer debt
• car repair or other transportation costs
• travel costs
• food
• medical or dental care and medicines
• clothing and grooming
• home furnishings
• pet care
• entertainment activities
• work or education related materials
• cash assistance to program participants

Definition of Imminent Risk of Homelessness
For prevention assistance, the threat of homelessness to program participants must be so immediate that in all likelihood the individual or family would be homeless but for this assistance.

Definition of Homeless
For rapid re-housing assistance, program participants must meet one of the following conditions:

• sleeping in an emergency shelter
• sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation
• staying in a hospital or institution for up to 180 days, but literally homeless immediately prior to entry
• graduating from/timing out of transitional housing
• fleeing domestic violence

• Sample Contract

Program Reporting

• Reporting Schedule 
• Expenditure Report

CONTACT INFORMATION

For information regarding the HPRP, email Maggie.Carden@wisconsin.gov.

• Federal Register
• HUD HPRP Website
• HUD HRE
• National Alliance to End Homelessness

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