Item 31 - Emergency Housing Vouchers

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Administrative Plan 5/1/21 Page TSP-10 PHA Policy The CoC or partnering agency must establish and implement a system to identify EHV- eligible individuals and families within the agency’s caseload and make referrals to the PHA. The CoC or other partnering agency must certify that the EHV applicants they refer to the PHA meet at least one of the four EHV eligibility criteria. The PHA will maintain a copy of the referral or certification from the CoC or other partnering agency in the participant’s file along with other eligibility paperwork. Homeless service providers may, but are not required to, use the certification form found in Exhibit TPS-2 of this chapter. Victim services providers may, but are not required to, use the certification form found in Exhibit TPS-3 of this chapter when identifying eligible families who qualify as victims of human trafficking. As part of the MOU, the PHA and CoC or other partnering agency will identify staff positions to serve as lead EHV liaisons. These positions will be responsible for transmission and acceptance of referrals. The CoC or partnering agency must commit sufficient staff and resources to ensure eligible individuals and families are identified and determined eligible in a timely manner. The PHA liaison responsible for acceptance of referrals will contact the CoC or partnering agency liaison via email indicating the number of vouchers available and requesting an appropriate number of referrals. No more than five business days from the date the CoC or partnering agency receives this notification, the CoC or partnering agency liaison will provide the PHA with a list of eligible referrals including the name, address, and contact phone number for each adult individual who is being referred; a completed release form for each adult family member; and a written certification for each referral indicating they are EHV-eligible. Offers of Assistance with CoC Referral The PHA may make an EHV available without a referral from the CoC or other partnering organization in order to facilitate an emergency transfer under VAWA in accordance with the PHA’s Emergency Transfer Plan (ETP) in Chapter 16. The PHA must also take direct referrals from outside the CoC if:  The CoC does not have a sufficient number of eligible families to refer to the PHA; or  The CoC does not identify families that may be eligible for EHV assistance because they are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking. If at any time the PHA is not receiving enough referrals or is not receiving referrals in a timely manner from the CoC or other partner referral agencies (or the PHA and CoC cannot identify any such alternative referral partner agencies), HUD may permit the PHA on a temporary or permanent basis to take EHV applications directly from applicants and admit eligible families to the EHV program in lieu of or in addition to direct referrals in those circumstances. EXHIBIT 3