Appendix B: Inventory of Targeted and Non-Targeted Federal Programs to Prevent and End Homelessness

AGENCY: General Services Administration

KEY PROGRAM OFFICE

• Office of Real Property Utilization and Disposal

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

• Federal Real Property Assistance Program (jointly administered with HHS and HUD)

Legislation: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Non-Targeted Programs: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

Homeless Assistance (gsa.gov)

• Pursuant to Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, are eligible to apply for land and buildings that have been determined to be “suitable and available.” Properties may be used for a wide variety of programs and services for homeless people, including, but not limited to, emergency shelters, transitional programs (with occupancy limited to 24 months), food banks, job training, storage facilities, or administrative space.

AGENCY: Health and Human Services

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Administration for Children and Families
• Administration for Community Living
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

• Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals
• Health Care for the Homeless Program
• Programs for Runaway and Homeless Youth Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness: Basic Center Program; Transitional Living Program; Maternity Group Home Program; Street Outreach Program
• Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
• Treatment for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (TIEH)
• SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)
• The National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth (i.e., National Runaway Safeline) Legislation: Public Health Service Act, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, Social Security Act, Affordable Care Act

Non-Targeted Programs

• Adult Protective Services
• Child Care and Development Fund
• Child Support Enforcement Program
• Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
• Community Services Block Grant
• Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities Program
• Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking Services and Outreach Program
• Emergency Response Grants
• Family Violence and Prevention Services
• Head Start
• Health Center Program
• Independent Living Programs (including State Independent Living Councils and Centers for Independent Living)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• Low Income Household Water Assistance Program
• John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (the Chafee program), including the Education and Training Voucher Program
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance Program
• Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program
• No Wrong Door Programs (including Aging and Disability Resource Centers)
• Older Americans Act funded programs and formula grants to State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging
• Older Americans Act Title VI programs (programs that support American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians)

• State Protection and Advocacy Systems Programs
• Promoting Safe and Stable Families
• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
• Social Services Block Grant
• State Assistive Technology Act Programs
• State Developmental Disabilities Council Programs
• State Opioid Response Grants
• Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program
• Trafficking Victim Assistance Program
• Transitional Living Program for Older Homeless Youth
• Tribal Opioid Response
• University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Programs

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness:

• Head Start collects data on the number of children experiencing homelessness who are served during an enrollment year. Through the Chafee Program, data is also available on older youth who are in or have exited foster care and their experiences with homelessness.
• Office of Child Care collects data as part of the Child Care and Development Fund reporting requirements. States and territories submit monthly case-level data describing the characteristics of the populations they serve, including whether the family is experiencing homelessness.
• HRSA collects data on patients of Health Center Program grantees identified as experiencing homelessness (based on definition used by HRSA; see Appendix A: Glossary for more information) through the Health Center Uniform Data System.
• HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau collects data on housing and HIV-related health care outcomes among HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) clients.
• HRSA’s MIECHV Program works with parents/families experiencing homelessness

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

HRSA Health Center Program

• In the fiscal year 2022, HRSA will award $481 million to Health Care for the Homeless health centers to support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. On August 17, 2022, HRSA released the FY 2023 National Training and Technical Assistance Partners  (NTTAP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Through this NOFO, HRSA will award approximately $23.5 million to fund 22 organizations. The purpose of this funding is to support the development and delivery of training and technical assistance that assists health centers to deliver comprehensive care; address emergent public health issues and health needs; improving operational effectiveness and quality; and advance health equity. Up to $2.4 million will be designated to support two NTTAPs focused on the homeless population.

HHS Expands COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation for Homeless Shelters and Encampments | United States  Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• With coronavirus cases on the rise, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will invest more than $1.6 billion in testing and mitigation for high-risk congregate settings, including homeless encampments and shelters for people experiencing homelessness and for people fleeing domestic violence.

Populations Experiencing Homelessness | COVID-19 | CDC

• The CDC issued guidance to support response to COVID-19 by local and state health departments, homelessness service systems, housing authorities, emergency planners, healthcare facilities, and homeless outreach services serving people experiencing homelessness.

Housing and Services Resource Center | ACL Administration for Community Living

• HUD and HHS created the Housing and Services Resource Center to make community living a reality for all. This partnership will expand accessible, affordable housing; help people exit homelessness; improve home and community-based services; and address the institutional bias in America’s long-term care system. The Center will implement a federally coordinated approach to providing resources, program guidance, training, and technical assistance to public housing authorities and housing providers; state Medicaid, disability, aging, and mental health agencies; the aging and disability network organizations; homeless services organizations and networks; health care systems and providers; and tribal organizations.

AGENCY: Homeland Security

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

• Emergency Food and Shelter Program
• Legislation: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Non-Targeted Programs:

• FEMA Public Assistance
• FEMA Individual Assistance
• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

FEMA Extends Coverage of COVID-19 Response Costs | United States Interagency Council on Homelessness  (USICH)

• On June 28, 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided updated sheltering guidance by issuing the Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) Memorandum. Please refer to this Memorandum for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Policy and guidance on NCS at Public Assistance Disaster-Specific Guidance COVID-19 Declarations | FEMA.gov.

AGENCY: Housing and Urban Development

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Office of Community Planning and Development
• Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
• Office of Multifamily Housing
• Office of Policy, Development, and Research
• Office of Public and Indian Housing

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

• Continuum of Care Program
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program and Emergency Solutions Grant Program-CARES Act (ESG-CV)
• HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) and Tribal HUD-VASH
• Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program
• Emergency Housing Vouchers provided by the American Rescue Plan

Legislation:

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
• Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act

Non-Targeted Programs:

• HOME Investment Partnerships Program and HOME-American Rescue Plan
• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program
• Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
• Public Housing
• Family Unification Program Voucher Program
• Foster Youth to Independence Initiative
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and HOPWA-CV
• HUD-DOJ Pay for Success Permanent Supportive Housing Demonstration
• Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program
• National Housing Trust Fund
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CDBG-CV

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found that 580,466 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020.

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

FYI | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• The Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative makes Housing Choice Voucher assistance available to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies. Under FYI, PHAs provide housing assistance on behalf of: Youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older.

House America | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• House America: An All-Hands-on-Deck Effort to Address the Nation’s Homelessness Crisis is a federal initiative in which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) are inviting mayors, city and county leaders, Tribal Nation leaders, and governors into a national partnership. House America will utilize the historic investments provided through the American Rescue Plan to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First approach.

HUD Awards $20 Million For Eviction Protection and Diversion | United States Interagency Council on  Homelessness (USICH)

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $20 million in inaugural grants from the Eviction Protection Grant Program. The funding will be awarded to 10 legal service providers that offer no- cost services to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction in areas with high eviction rates, including rural areas.

HUD Reaffirms Commitment to Equal Access to Housing, Shelters, and Other Services Regardless of Gender  Identity | United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• In April 2021, HUD announced that it is reaffirming its commitment to upholding the Equal Access Rule.

Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program

• The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is an exciting new initiative designed to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness. The goal of the YHDP is to support selected communities, including rural, suburban, and urban areas across the United States, in the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness. Additionally, HUD is committed to sharing that experience of YHDP communities and mobilizing communities around the country toward the same end.

AGENCY: Interior

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Bureau of Indian Affairs

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs: N/A

Legislation: N/A

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Housing Improvement Program
• Tiwahe Initiative
• Public Law 102-477 Demonstration Project
• Tribal Transportation Program

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

Housing Improvement Program | Indian Affairs (bia.gov)

• The Housing Improvement Program is a home repair, renovation, replacement and new housing grant program administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and federally recognized Indian Tribes for American Indians and Alaska Native individuals and families who have no immediate resource for standard housing.

AGENCY: Justice

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Office on Violence Against Women Office of Justice Programs
• Civil Rights Division
• Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Office for Access to Justice

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

• Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program
• Tribal Governments Program
• Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking

Relevant Legislation:

• Violence Against Women Act
• Fair Housing Act
• Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Second Chance Act Program
• Office on Violence Against Women administers 19 grant programs designed to prevent and end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking
• The Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative
• Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative
• Community Policing Development (which includes funding for crisis intervention teams)

• Access to counsel in evictions and eviction diversion initiatives
• Office for Victims of Crime currently administers 8 grant programs (FY2022) to support victims of human trafficking

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

Justice Department Awards $34 Million to Support Community Crisis Response | OPA | Department of Justice

• The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs announced grant awards totaling $34 million to help communities address crises involving homelessness, mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders, and other public health and public safety emergencies.

Justice Department Awards Nearly $87 Million to Combat Human Trafficking and Help Victims

• The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced almost $87 million in FY2021 in funding to combat human trafficking, provide supportive services to trafficking victims throughout the United States and conduct research into the nature and causes of labor and sex trafficking. This includes the Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking program; under this program, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded approximately $15 million to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking. OVC has awarded over $50 million in the past two fiscal years (FY2020-FY2021) to support transitional housing for survivors of human trafficking.

Justice Department Announces Nearly $225 Million in Grants to Support Coordinated Community Responses to Domestic and Sexual Violence on the 28th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act | OPA | Department of Justice

• The Department of Justice announced $224.9 million in grants designed to enhance victim services and justice solutions for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. This includes 73 grants totaling $36,195,932 to provide housing and related wraparound services to survivors and their children under the Transitional Housing Program.

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

AGENCY: Labor

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
• Employment and Training Administration

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program

Legislation:

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Indian & Native American Program
• Job Corps
• Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG)
• National Dislocated Worker Grants (NDWGs)
• Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) Program
• Wagner-Peyser Employment Service
• WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker Programs
• WIOA Youth Program
• YouthBuild

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

Labor Department Awards $52M to Help Homeless Veterans | United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• The Department of Labor announced more than $52 million in grants to help veterans experiencing homelessness reenter the workforce. The money can be used to provide training, skills development, career support, and other services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of it. It’s part of the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program and administered by the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
• In addition to working with VETS, grant recipients will partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program.

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Office of Management and Budget

AGENCY OVERVIEW

• The Office of Management and Budget does not administer any programs. The agency is responsible for producing the President’s budget, coordinating the interagency review of all significant Federal regulations from executive agencies, and coordinating the clearance of legislative and other materials, including agency testimony, legislative proposals, and other communications with Congress, and coordination of other Presidential actions.

FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 | The White House

• The President’s Budget for fiscal year 2023 and Administration actions demonstrate a strong and enduring commitment to building evidence capacity across the Federal Government and engaging in high-quality evaluations to learn and improve. The Budget supports Federal Agencies in using evidence to advance their missions and operations and in building evidence where it is lacking. This budget would invest $8.732 billion  in federal funding for homelessness-related programs.






 
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AGENCY: Social Security Administration

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Social Security Administration

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs: N/A

Legislation: N/A

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Old Age and Survivors Insurance
• Supplemental Security Income
• Social Security Disability Insurance

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

People Facing Barriers:

• SSA identified several at-risk and marginalized groups who face barriers to service including people who are homeless or at greater risk of homelessness. These groups include the aged, children with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, people diagnosed with mental illness, veterans, and people recently released from incarceration. SSA uses its network of national public affairs specialists, advocate and interagency collaboration, social media and other online messaging, and additional strategies, to reach people in these communities directly and through organizations who support them. Initiatives listed in this strategic plan also support SSA’s People Facing Barriers Initiative. SSA will continue to implement and monitor progress of its Equity Action Plan in support of the President’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.






 
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Third-Party SSI Claims Taking and Outreach: 

• During the pandemic, SSA experienced a reduction in applications for SSI benefits. SSA was particularly concerned about reaching underserved Americans, especially due to pandemic-related operating procedures that reduced in-person services. SSA was able to help some people in person by appointment only in limited critical situations. SSA partnered with, and trained, third-party organizations to help complete and submit SSI claims. SSA resumed in person services, both walk-in and by appointment, on April 7, 2022. SSA is evaluating the effectiveness of the claims-taking initiative by engaging with partner groups.

SSI Administrative Simplification:

• SSA is undertaking a thorough review of the SSI filing experience, business process, policy, regulations, law, and software capability. For instance, SSA is exploring ways to make filing the SSI application easier by considering how customers experience the application process. SSA is researching how SSI applicants understand the application questions, how the user interacts with SSA and the application, and will use this data to inform how the application and process should look. SSA plans to deliver an application that is user-centered, responsive, intuitive, equitable, easy to use, and accessible online. This will make it easier to apply for benefits. For example, in April 2022, SSA launched a new online option, which takes five to ten minutes, to request an appointment to file for SSI for oneself or another adult or a child.

AGENCY: Transportation

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Federal Transit Administration 

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs: N/A

Legislation: N/A

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program
• FTA Tribal Transit Competitive Program
• FTA’s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning
• FTA Formula Grants for Rural Areas
• FTA All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP)
• FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program
• Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

“Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking” initiative (https://www.transportation.gov/stophumantrafficking)

• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) combats human trafficking by working with public and private sector stakeholders to empower transportation employees and the traveling public to recognize and report possible instances of human trafficking.

AGENCY: Treasury

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Internal Revenue Service Community Economic Development 

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs: N/A

Legislation: N/A

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Child Tax Credit

• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

November Set New ERA Record as Evictions Remained Below Pre-Pandemic Levels | United States Interagency  Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• Using Treasury Department funding, state and local governments provided a record amount of emergency rental assistance (ERA) to a record number of people in November—$2.9 billion to approximately 665,000 renters and landlords.

More Than Half of Recent Economic Impact Payments Go to Harder-to-Reach People | United States Interagency  Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service disbursed more than 2.2 million Economic Impact Payments in the last six weeks. More than half, about 1.3 million, of the recent payments went to harder-to-reach people who the IRS previously lacked enough information for, which includes people experiencing homelessness who may lack a permanent mailing address and/or bank account. Neither are required to receive Economic Impact Payments.






 
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AGENCY: US Postal Service

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• US Postal Service

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs: N/A

Legislation: N/A

Non-Targeted Programs:

• USPS Homeless Mail Service: Receive Mail Without an Address

• Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness:

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

Is there Mail Service for the Homeless? (usps.com)

• People experiencing homelessness may submit an application for PO Box™ service to a local Post Office™. The Postmaster may approve the application under certain conditions.






 
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AGENCY: Veterans Affairs

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• Homeless Programs Office

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs:

• Community Resource and Referral Centers
• Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program
• Grant and Per Diem Program
• Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program
• Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team
• Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services
• Homeless Veterans Dental Program

• HUD-VASH
• Supportive Services for Veterans Families
• Veteran Justice Outreach Initiative
• Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grant Program

Legislation:

• Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-387)

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Compensated Work Therapy
• Enhanced Use Lease Program
• National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives:

VA outlines new goals towards ending Veteran homelessness

• To support, revitalize, and streamline VA’s investment in and commitment to end veteran homelessness and ensure veterans at risk of becoming homeless are safeguarded from this crisis, VA established a nationwide goal to permanently house 38,000 homeless veterans during calendar year 2022.

VA Designates Flexible Funding for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness | United States Interagency Council on  Homelessness (USICH)

• Through a time-limited congressional authority, VA Medical Centers can use these funds for safety and survival and to support stability and health for transportation and communications equipment and services. VAMCs have used the funds for groceries, meals, apartment start-up kits, furniture, merchandise vouchers, and laundry vouchers, and to create a nationally coordinated rideshare program to help veterans who need transportation assistance to meet health, housing, legal, and employment needs.

VA Partners With Uber and Lyft to Offer Rides to Veterans Experiencing Homelessness | United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• Referrals are required, and VA providers coordinate the rides, which can bring veterans to and from their place of employment, health appointments, and home following their discharge from care.

VA Provides Relief for Veterans in High-Cost Rental Markets | United States Interagency Council on Homelessness  (USICH)

• The Department of Veterans Affairs has amended its regulations governing the Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program. Under the amended regulations, which apply in certain high-cost communities, the SSVF grant will cover up to 50%—an increase from 35%—of veterans’ “reasonable rent” for two years without recertification. The new rule also increases the allowed length of stay in veteran emergency housing from 45 to 60 days.






 
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AGENCY: White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

KEY PROGRAM OFFICES

• White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Targeted Programs: N/A

Legislation: N/A

Non-Targeted Programs:

• Training and technical assistance for faith-based groups
• Mobilizing faith leaders and community members around key issue

Data Collected on Populations Experiencing Homelessness: N/A

Agency-Specific Initiatives: