HomeMy WebLinkAbouthcsa-housing-assistance-fund-policyHousing Assistance Fund
Housing Assistance Fund Policies and Procedures
Overview – General Information
The Housing Assistance Fund (HAF), managed by Alameda County Health’s Housing and
Homelessness, was created to provide a flexible source of funding to help eligible households in
Alameda County to obtain and maintain long-term, stable housing.
All forms and documents related to the Housing Assistance Fund may be found at
https://homelessness.acgov.org/home-stretch-fund.page?. Complete applications or
questions about the process can be sent to HomeStretchFund@acgov.org.
Eligibility/ Expectations
Household Eligibility
To qualify, the household must:
▪ Be currently experiencing homelessness in Alameda County with confirmed plans to
move into a permanent housing resource.
OR
▪ Have exited homelessness within the last 60 days if still living in Alameda County or
within the last 30 days if moving outside of Alameda County.
Additional eligibility:
▪ Have a total household income at or below 40% Area Median Income (click link for more
information).
▪ Explore the use of other comparable community resources first. For example, Anyone
enrolled in Housing Community Supports (HCS) will be asked to use that resource
before applying with HAF. As much as possible, this resource should be used by
household that do not have other access to move in supports.
▪ Households that have received any move in funds from within the Alameda County
homelessness response system within the last 12 months, will not likely be approved;
the fund is designed to be single use.
o Households may still submit applications if they believe extenuating
circumstances regarding their move may make them eligible. The program team
may request additional documentation to consider such exceptions.
▪ For households moving outside of Alameda County, documentation may be requested
detailing a plan for supporting the household’s transition into housing in a new area. (ex.
current agency planning to continue serving, linkage to services in new area, etc.)
o Pay attention to application timelines, as there are some differences for
households moving outside of Alameda County.
NOTE: Any resources within the homelessness response system used toward move-in within the
last year will be deducted from the maximum eligible funds that may be approved by HAF.
Housing Assistance Fund
Household Expectations
▪ Households agree to be contacted by Alameda County Health for up to 13 months post
assistance to obtain information about their housing situation and stability.
▪ Households will work with an eligible service provider to submit all documentation and
information needed to apply for the Housing Assistance Fund. All questions about the
HAF and/or status of applications in process should be directed to the service provider
supporting the application process.
Provider Eligibility
▪ An eligible service provider is defined as any person who works for an organization that
receives funding from Alameda County, specifically to assist individuals and families
experiencing and/or exiting homelessness.
Provider Expectations
Eligible service providers must support the household throughout the application, approval and/
or denial process.
▪ Eligible service providers are required to attest they do not have any personal financial
interest in the properties or vendors associated with the application and that the
information on the application is correct based on their knowledge of the household’s
situation.
▪ The service provider will work jointly with the household to gather all pertinent
information. Confirm that household meets program eligibility before submitting
materials (ex. check timeline due dates, household income, sustainability, etc.).
▪ Be the primary point of contact with the HAF team related to the submission of
applications and any necessary corrections. Providers must communicate all relevant
updates regarding the HAF applications with the household.
Sustainability
This program is intended to be a one-time resource. Therefore, the Housing Assistance Fund
program staff will consider all information provided with the application, including vouchers,
household income/ size, available resources, identified supports, and various aspects of the
lease (including property ownership and legality).
HAF staff may ask for additional information if potential concerns about sustainability are
identified. For example, if a household intends to spend more than 50% of their household’s
income on rent, providers are asked to specifically address financial sustainability as a part of
the application. In that type of scenario, it would be helpful to share details about the
household’s current and expected income, community resources, and/or supports the
household is currently connected to or may become connected with to help sustain their
housing long-term (e.g., SNAP pending, food bank enrolled, LIHEAP, CARE, EBMUD CAP, etc.).
Housing Assistance Fund
Eligible Expenses
Overview
Within the Housing Assistance Fund, there are three categories of eligible assistance that can
be applied for independently or in various combinations: I. Rental, II. Household, and/ or III.
Safety and Accessibility Assistance (terms further defined below).
The maximum total award per household cannot exceed $5,000 for any combination of Rental
Assistance (1st month rent, security deposit) and Household Assistance (home furnishings,
household items).
The category of Household Assistance has a limit of $3,000 for a household of one, with the
potential to add $500 for each additional household member (not to exceed the overall
maximum award).
Safety and Accessibility Assistance requests are considered separately from Rental and Move-In
Assistance funds. Up to $8000 per household can be approved for this type of need.
As a reminder, furnished units and smaller SROs do not require the same amount of home
furnishings as larger unfurnished units. Please be mindful of a household’s needs and space
when selecting household items.
I. Rental Assistance
Rental assistance can cover first month’s rent and security deposit (it cannot cover ongoing or
back rent).
Deadlines: Applications requesting Rental Assistance must be completed within 30 days of
lease start. If submitted early enough, incorrect or incomplete applications will be notified of
needed corrections and given the opportunity to submit edits before the 30-day mark.
For applications requesting Rental Assistance, three business vendor forms are required
(Invoice, Business Vendor Add Update, and the W-9). Payments for Rental Assistance are sent
directly to the property owner. We are required to verify property ownership with every
application, and business vendor forms must reflect the same information associated with
verification of ownership searches.
II. Household Assistance
Household assistance can cover home furnishings, household items, utility startup costs,
moving services, and all associated taxes.
Housing Assistance Fund
Deadlines: Applications requesting Household Assistance must be completed within 60* days
of lease start. If submitted early enough, incorrect or incomplete applications will be notified of
needed corrections and given the opportunity to submit edits before the 60-day mark. Registries
of items to order should be submitted as soon as possible following application approval. No new
registries or modifications to registries will be accepted after 90 days following the lease start date.
Orders: Once an application is approved, service providers will be asked to submit either an
online registry or invoice of requested items to be purchased. All items must be able to be
delivered. Any applicable taxes or delivery fees must be included in cost calculations.
Home Furnishings and Household Items added to the registry must be essential, non-luxury
items, such as food preparation items and linens for bed/bath. Only items from the “Approved
Home Furnishing and Household Items” checklist will be approved for purchase.
For online orders, HAF staff will purchase the items and set up delivery to the applicant’s new
address or the service provider’s office. The service provider will receive an estimated timeline
indicating when their order will be processed. After the order is processed, the service provider
will receive an e-mail with the estimated arrival dates for online orders.
For “in store” orders, HAF staff will approve the invoice and send an approval e-mail confirming
that the items have been approved for purchase. The service provider may then follow up
directly with the vendor to arrange pick up or delivery.
Items can be ordered from either one or two total vendors from the approved vendor list;
specific details about vendors and ordering instructions can be found on the program website.
A maximum of one order will be made to each vendor.
Moving Servies: Non-emergency and non-medical transport only. For moving service requests,
a copy of the quote and all three (3) business vendor forms filled out by the moving service
company must be provided with the application.
Utility Start Up: For utility service requests, a copy of the utility bill to start service (listing the
applicant’s name, account number, and total due to start service) and all three (3) business
vendor forms filled out by the utility company must be provided with the application. The fund
cannot pay for any WiFi, or cable-related fees.
III. Safety and Accessibility
Overview
The program offers two types of Safety and Accessibility Assistance: medically necessary items
and unit modifications. Both requests require the provider to assist the applicant with obtaining
the required documents.
For medically necessary items, we require a written verification of need from a medical
professional stating that the items or services are medically necessary and verification of the
attempt to obtain requested medical equipment using insurance.
For unit modifications, we require the three (3) business vendor forms, written approval from the
landlord approving the specified unit modifications, a written verification of need from a medical
Housing Assistance Fund
professional stating that the items or services are medically necessary, and verification of the
attempt to obtain requested medical equipment using insurance. Work to modify units should
not begin prior to program approval, otherwise expenses may not be able to be covered. Once
an application is approved and the work is complete, the county will pay the vendor directly.
Deadlines: Applications requesting Safety and Accessibility assistance must be fully complete
and submitted within 60* days of the lease start date and modifications must be underway
within 90 days of the lease start date. If submitted early enough, incorrect or incomplete
applications will be notified of needed corrections and given the opportunity to submit edits
before the 60-day mark.
*Out of County Moves: No matter which type(s) of assistance are being requested, all required
items and requests for payment must be submitted within 30 days for households moving out of
Alameda County. Due to this short timeline, careful planning and foresight before applying are
encouraged to ensure households have the opportunity to be approved for funds.
Response Timelines
All e-mails with questions, new applications, and/or requested corrections will be reviewed and
responded to within 5 business days of receipt. Once reviewed, the service provider that
submitted the application on behalf of the applicant will be notified of the next steps.
Timelines for next steps may vary, depending on what is needed at that stage of the process (ex.
delivery timelines may vary, etc.). Relevant guidance will be e-mailed to the service provider.
Appeals/ Grievances
Household grievances related to applications submitted to the Housing Assistance Fund should
begin with the grievance process of the agency that supported with submitting the HAF
application. If the applicant remains unsatisfied after exhausting that agency’s appeal process,
they may follow up using the Coordinated Entry Grievance Policy.
If a service provider is unsatisfied with the service provided or decisions made by the Housing
Assistance Fund staff, you may request your concern be escalated to a manager for review.
How to Contact Us
Households with questions about applications in process should contact the service
provider/agency that supported with completing the application. Providers are encouraged to
submit communications by e-mail for the shortest response time; if preferred, the program
voicemails are also checked regularly.
The physical office for this program is not staffed every day, please do not visit our office.
Contact Info:
• E-mail: HomeStretchFund@acgov.org
• Phone: 1 (510) 567-8030