Text: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, "Policy Academy for State and Local Policymakers Improving Access to Mainstream Services for Persons Who are Homeless: Focus on Homeless Families with Children." La Posada de Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 26-28, 2001


Slide 1:

Nancy King

Exploring Opportunities for Family Self-Sufficiency-Examining
the Role of TANF and the Impact of Welfare Reform

Slide 2:

CURRENT PROGRAM

Eligibility:

  • Categorical
    • Child under 21 with relatives
    • Pregnant woman w/unborn child's relatives
    • Eligible for shelter if no “feasible alternative housing.”

Slide 3:

CURRENT PROGRAM (cont’d)

  • Financial
    • TAFDC standard (automatically eligible)
    • Under 130% of poverty level (family of 3 @ $1585)
      -- no disregards

Slide 4:

CURRENT PROGRAM (cont’d)

Benefits:

  • Disaster benefits
  • Housing search
  • Rental arrearage (from 3-4 months)
  • Emergency shelter (no time limits)

Slide 5:

CURRENT PROGRAM (cont’d)

Emergency Shelter models:

  • Congregate
  • Scattered site
  • Hotel/motel

Slide 6:

CURRENT PROGRAM (cont’d)

  • Transitional housing
  • Substance abuse
  • Teen Living Programs (non-EA)

Slide 7:

LESSONS LEARNED

  • Don't institutionalize services separately within the shelter program
  • Tie any services and benefits to family self sufficiency
  • Social Services geared to whole family

Slide 8:

LESSONS LEARNED (cont’d)

  • Avoid scattered sites
  • Beware wide-open eligibility
  • Identify issue specifically and match with available resources.