70049316 - Residential Assistance for Families in Transition

Account Description FY2012
Spending
FY2013
GAA
7004-9316 Residential Assistance for Families in Transition
For a program to provide assistance in addressing obstacles to maintaining or securing housing for families with: (i) a household income not greater than 30 per cent of area median income that are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing or are at risk of becoming homeless; or (ii) a household income greater than 30 per cent but not more than 50 per cent of area median income that are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing, or are at risk of becoming homeless due to a significant reduction of income or increased expenses; provided, that assistance shall be administered by the department through contracts with the existing regional HomeBASE agencies; provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than January 18, 2013 on the process that could be undertaken to re-procure services under this item for fiscal year 2014; provided further, that not less than 90 per cent of the funds shall be provided to households with an income not greater than 30 per cent of area median income, subject to the department's discretion based on data reflecting program demand and usage; provided further, that in distributing 90 per cent of the funds, the department shall prioritize those families most likely to otherwise require shelter services under item 7004-0101; provided further, that the amount of financial assistance shall not exceed more than $4,000 in any 12 month period; provided further, that, excluding families receiving HomeBASE rental assistance, a family shall not receive more than a combined sum of $4,000 in a 12 month period from this item and item 7004-0108; provided further, that prior to authorizing a residential assistance payment for a family, the administering agency shall make a finding that the payment will enable the family to retain its current housing, obtain new housing or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that in making these findings the agency shall, unless the facts of the case warrant otherwise, apply a presumption that the payment will enable a family to retain its housing, obtain new housing or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that residential assistance payments may be made through direct vendor payments according to standards to be established by the department; provided further, that the agencies shall establish a system for referring families approved for residential assistance payments who the agencies determine would benefit from these services to existing community-based programs that provide additional housing stabilization supports, including assistance in obtaining housing subsidies and locating alternative housing that is safe and affordable for those families; provided further, that the program shall be administered under guidelines established by the department; provided further, the department shall submit a report to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on housing and the secretary of administration and finance detailing the extent of involvement of regional community action programs in the administration of this line item program within the past 5 years; provided further, the report shall include, but not be limited to, the appropriation allocation to each community action program, the effectiveness of their services, and the estimated number of families served per year; provided further, the report shall also examine the potential for broader inclusion of community action programs in the future administration of this program; provided further, the department shall submit this report no later than January 1, 2013; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (a) the number of families applying for assistance; (b) the number of families approved for assistance; (c) the minimum, median and average amount of financial assistance awarded; (d) the total amount of assistance awarded to date, including a breakdown by income category; and (e) the number of families falling into each income category; and provided further, that the department shall track a family's reason for assistance by the same categories used in 7004-0101
260,000 8,760,000