City of North Las Vegas Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

In February, 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Among other stimulus activities, the ARRA authorized a new, one-time appropriation of funds to help prevent homelessness in these trying times.

The new funds are called Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program funds, or HPRP.  They are a one-time appropriation, to be spent within three (3) years.
 
The funds can be used to help households that have fallen into homelessness, but are otherwise stable and could succeed in private market housing with a little assistance. The City of North Las Vegas will use 80% of its total HPRP funding to support the consortia to provide flexible financial assistance to North Las Vegas residents.  It is estimated that 80% of these funds will be used to prevent unnecessary homelessness of households experiencing a temporary financial crisis and 20% will be used to rapidly re-house homeless households. 

The City of North Las Vegas will use 15% of its HPRP funds to support the Housing Location and Placement services of case management, landlord outreach, and housing inspections.  The final 5% will be shared by the City of North Las Vegas and the fiscal agents of the homeless prevention consortia to support the administrative costs of accounting for and reporting on the use of the HPRP funds.

Existing regional homeless funding sources provide more dollars for individuals rather than families; therefore the City wants 80% of its funding to be directed to families.

Eligibility Criteria:
       All assisted households must have incomes at or below 50% AMI

1. Financial Assistance to households at or below 50% AM

     a.  Rental Assistance for up to 18 months
      b. Up to 6 months of rent arrears, if it makes sense
      c. Security and Utility deposits
      d. Utility Payments for up to 18 months
      e. Moving Cost aassistance
      f.  Motel / Hotel Vouchers for up to 30 days no
appropriate shelter beds are available and appropriate rental housing  isn't immediately available.

2. Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services, including:
     a.  Outreach and Engagement for clients
     b.  Case Management / Service Coordination
     c.  Housing Search and Placement
                  I. Tenant couseling
                 II. Understanding Leases
                III. Getting utilities turned on
                IV. Making moving arrangements
                 V. Housing Inspections
                VI. Representative Payee Services for rent/utilities
               VII. Mediation, AND
              VIII. Outreach to property owners
     d.  Legal Services - mediation, etc
     e.  Credit Repair
                 I. Household budgeting
                II. Money Management
               III. Accessing and understanding (free) credit reports
               IV. Resolving personal credit issues

3. Data Collection and Evaluation
     a. HMIS operations and anlysis ( cannot displace current  
         funding)
     b. HMIS training on HPRP requirements
     c. Any costs associated with participating in HUD-sponsored
        research and evaluation

4. Administrative Costs – limited to 5%
      a. Accounting for use of grant funds
      b. Preparing reports for submission t HUD
      c. Program audits
Training of staff on HPRP case management protocols

City of North Las Vegas
City of North Las Vegas households experiencing hardship in this economic downturn can be assisted with $677,704 in these Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program funds (or, HPRP funds).

These funds will be distributed through a “No Wrong Door” system.  By utilizing this system agencies that specialize in prevention and intervention case management will have access to HPRP funding; thus forming a consortia of agencies who will work together to assist those in need. The consortia will only function through the collaboration of multiple agencies – providing 10-20 “front doors” for clients to access help when they need it.  All “front doors” are required to assist any eligible clients that come through their doors, as there is funding available. Historically regional non-profits have operated within silos-with each having an expertise or area of service. Agencies often had to refer clients to other agencies across the valley to obtain services that were not offered at their agency. With this new system in place it is anticipated that families and individuals can obtain services in their community, which will alleviate the frustration of traveling from location to location to obtain help.

CNLV HPRP Estimated Budget Summary
	Homelessness Prevention	Rapid Re-Housing	Total Amount Budgeted
Financial Assistance	$433,731	$108,432	$542,163
Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services	$81,324	$20,331	$101,655
Subtotal	$515,055	$128,763	$643,818

Data Collection and Evaluation	$0
Administration	$33,885
Total HPRP Amount Budgeted	$677,704