The City of New York has substantially amended its 2008 Consolidated Plan.  The document now includes an addendum: Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funded activities.

The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) was created by Congress under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA” or the “Recovery Act”) to provide grants to States and localities to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.

The City of New York is expected to receive approximately $73,929,700 in HPRP funds which must be used to undertake several or all of the following eligible activities:

• provide financial assistance in the form of tenant based rental assistance, security deposits, utility deposits/payments, moving costs assistance, and motel and hotel vouchers to allow individuals and families remain in their existing rental units or to assist them obtain and remain in rental units they select; and
  
• provide housing relocation and stabilization services via case management, outreach and engagement, and housing search and placement activities or services designed to assist individuals and families in locating, obtaining and retaining suitable housing.
  The NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will administer HPRP for the City.

According to the Recovery Act, the HPRP funding amounts are based on the formula used for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) entitlement program, and therefore bound by HUD’s Consolidated Plan regulations.  Under existing Consolidated Plan citizen participation regulations, substantial amendments to an approved Plan are required to undergo a 30-day comment period.  However, in order to expedite the localities receiving the funds, Congress waived this regulation and required the Program to undergo only a 12-day public review period instead.

The Public Comment period began Thursday, April 30 and ended Monday, May 11, 2009.

Comments received at the end of the comment period (close of business) were summarized and the City’s responses incorporated into the 2008 Consolidated Plan amendment addendum for submission to HUD.

The City of New York was required to submit its amendment to HUD no later than May 18, 2009 in order to be eligible to receive its allocation. The City of New York submitted its HPRP amendment and additional federally-required materials on May 18, 2009.

Hud Amendment Form 40119 (pdf)
Standard Form-424 (SF-424) Application for Federal Assistance (pdf)
Certifications   

Written comments and any questions regarding the amended 2008 Consolidated Plan: Addendum - Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) may be directed to:

Jennifer Yeaw
Director of Government Relations
NYC Department of Homeless Services
33 Beaver Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-361-7978
Email: jyeaw@dhs.nyc.gov