Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Housing Partnership
Under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a nationwide
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) aimed at
helping Americans avoid homelessness and/or quickly obtain permanent
housing after experiencing homelessness.
About the program
The City of
Memphis and the State of Tennessee's Housing Development Agency (THDA),
through a grant agreement with the Shelby County Continuum of Care,
joined resources to create the Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Housing
Partnership. This partnership launched October 1, 2009.
The Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Housing Partnership offers the following services for households experiencing or facing homelessness:
- a 24-hour hotline (260-HOME) for families seeking emergency shelter (operated by TNCSA);
- a central assessment and intake to connect families to the most appropriate housing resource (operated by MIFA);
- financial assistance and access to housing stabilization services to prevent eviction or rapidly re-house families;
- and mediation services and access to mainstream benefits.
Emergency rental assistance
Key requirements guiding eligibility for the HPRP short-term rental assistance program include:
Maximum Household Income: Annual household income must be less than 50% of the Area Median Income (by household size, e.g. $23,100/year for a fmily of 2 and $28,900/year for a family of 4).
Minimum Household Income: Households must have monthly income at least $100 in excess of the monthly household budget (e.g. income of $1,100 a month if monthly budget is $1,000.)
The household must meet HUD's definition of "homeless" or imminently homeless, meaning the household is now or is about to be sleeping in an emergency shelter, graduating from a transitional housing program (but homeless prior to entry), sleeping on the streets, in a car, or other place unfit for human habitation. The definition also includes victims fleeing domestic violence.
The household must have no other resources to prevent becoming homeless.
Proof of Shelby County residency must be provided.
Financial Assistance and access to housing stabilization services are limited to families with children, except for single adults referred by partner agencies including the Department of Children's Services, the Board of Probation and Parole, and Second Chance.
Note: Financial Assistance amounts and duration are specific to each household's individual circumstances. All households must contribute to their rental housing obligations. No mortgage assistance is available through the program. The program provides only rental assistance for units that meet minimum habitability standards, lead-based paint requirements, and reasonable rent standards.
What applicants should know about applying for assistance
Households applying for shelter or financial assistance should first call the hotline. The hotline is operated from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, with evening and weekend coverage for families who, without immediate help, would sleep on the streets. That number is 260-HOME (4663).
If the hotline staff determine the caller is homeless or imminently homeless, a face-to-face interview will be conducted at MIFA (910 Vance Avenue). Applicants should be prepared to provide the following documents in order to complete the application process for financial assistance:
- Proof of identity (picture ID, Social Security card for all adults in the household; verification of children's ages, birth certificate, school record, shot record)
- Proof of pending eviction within Shelby County (court notice, eviction notice, late rent statement) or verification of homelessness
- Proof of income/resources: Social Security benefit statement, pay stubs, bank account statement, child support, Families First/Food Stamps award letter
Neither proof of income nor proof of pending eviction is required for families seeking overnight shelter.
For more information, contact hprpmemphis@bellsouth.net or (901) 527-0200.