On Friday, the MA Department of Housing and Community Development released its Request for Responses (RFR) for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehouse Program funds. This RFR is for $17 million, of which approximately $12 million will be used for prevention, diversion and rapid rehouse for families, and just over $5 million will be used for prevention, diversion and rapid rehouse for individuals.
The RFR summarizes the state’s goals for use of HPRP in addressing family homelessness:
- GOAL ONE: Immediate and sustained reduction in the number of families in hotels and motels. This can occur by both diverting households who otherwise would have entered shelter and re-housing families in stable housing. Implementation should occur in a way that does not provide an incentive to households to seek shelter services as long as other housing opportunities exist for that household.
- GOAL TWO: Continue the work begun through the ICHH to build out the DHCD “architecture” in all Emergency Assistance (EA) regions, but targeted towards the five Transitional Assistance offices with the largest caseload: Boston, Worcester, Brockton, Salem/North Shore, and Springfield/Holyoke.
The state’s goal regarding individual homelessness are:
- GOAL ONE: Maintain tenancies that are in jeopardy due to temporary economic crises.
- GOAL TWO: To re-house individuals capable of acquiring stable tenancies with short term rental assistance.
There will be a bidders conference regarding the RFR on August 10, 2009, and responses are due August 24, 2009.
