News: New Federal Resources for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing: EveryOne Home Leads Planning Effort

From the Spring 2009 Newsletter

The Economic Stimulus Package includes new funds to prevent people from losing their housing or from spending long periods of time in shelters if they do become homeless. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) will provide Alameda County a minimum of $7.5 million over three years.

This is more than double current spending on homeless prevention. The money will come from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to five cities and the County. Four cities who did not get direct allocations will apply to the state. The challenge is to use these funds effectively to prevent and end homelessness. EveryOne Home is facilitating a planning process to ensure success.

A study of current prevention services in Alameda County commissioned by EveryOne Home in 2008 showed a maze of programs that are complicated to access for individuals and families. Those most at risk of homelessness often don’t qualify for the assistance. Those who did qualify have only a 1 in 10 chance of getting financial help. There is no ability to track whether the people helped maintain their housing in the long run. Given the results of the study, there was wide agreement to use HPRP funds to do things differently.

EveryOne Home has held two communitywide meetings, March 18th and May 11th, attended by over 165 people to help craft an expanded and improved approach to homeless prevention and rapid rehousing. That input has contributed to the plan being developed by the cities and the County with EveryOne Home facilitating. The focus has been on making the services more accessible and flexible for those individuals and families facing a housing crisis. Our goal is that people make one call, go to one place, and get the assistance they need. For more details on the emerging program design go to our website.