Homeless Assistance Program (HAP)

Background:
Pennsylvania has had a long history of providing services to persons who are homeless or near homeless. Governor Thornburg signed the Homeless Assistance Act in 1985. The Act authorized $5.5 million for shelter programs, including $2 million for Bridge housing programs. Over the next several years a variety of programs to address the needs of the homeless and near homeless have been established. In 1994, the Commonwealth consolidated the individual grants into the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP).

HAP funds are block granted to all 67 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Consolidation of the HAP funds permits counties to use the grant to fund any or all the following HAP service components.

Purpose:
The intent of the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) is to make available a Continuum of Services to persons who are at risk of becoming homeless (near homeless) or who are homeless. Participants must demonstrate that with the prevention and intervention services provided by the HAP service components, they would be able to meet their basic needs in the immediate and near future.

Continuum of Service:

Eligibility:
Per the current Homeless Assistance Program Instructions and Requirements, to be eligible for services in any one of the HAP components, consumers must be low-income and homeless or near homeless, as defined below, and meet the eligibility requirements for the specific service component(s) from which they are seeking service(s). Income eligibility may vary by program as well as county by county. Refer to the Federal Poverty Guideline for current year information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Eligibility criteria do not apply to those persons needing HAP services due to a disaster, due to domestic violence or persons needing Emergency Shelter services. In those situations eligibility is based solely on need. Persons seventeen (17) years of age and younger and not living as part of a family unit, or not emancipated, are not eligible for HAP services.

Individuals or families are homeless if they:

Are residing in a group shelter, domestic violence shelter, hotel or motel paid for with public or charitable funds; mental health, drug or alcohol facility, jail or hospital with no place to reside; living in a home, but due to domestic violence need a safe place to reside.
Have received verification that they are facing foster care placement of their children solely because of lack of adequate housing or need housing to allow reunification with children who are in foster care placement.
Are living in a “doubled-up” arrangement for six (6) months or less on a temporary basis.
Are living in a condemned building.
Are living in housing in which the physical condition presents life and/or health threatening conditions (e.g., having dangerous structural defects or lacking plumbing, heat or utilities).
Are living on the streets, in cars, doorways, etc.

Individuals and families are near homeless if they:

Are facing eviction, having received either written or verbal notification from the landlord that they will lose their housing unless some type of payment is received. Verbal notification must be followed up with written notification.

Are residing in a group shelter, domestic violence shelter, hotel or motel paid for with public or charitable funds; mental health, drug or alcohol facility, jail or hospital with no place to reside; living in a home, but due to domestic violence need a safe place to reside.
Have received verification that they are facing foster care placement of their children solely because of lack of adequate housing or need housing to allow reunification with children who are in foster care placement.
Are living in a “doubled-up” arrangement for six (6) months or less on a temporary basis.
Are living in a condemned building.
Are living in housing in which the physical condition presents life and/or health threatening conditions (e.g., having dangerous structural defects or lacking plumbing, heat or utilities).
Are living on the streets, in cars, doorways, etc.

Individuals and families are near homeless if they:

Are facing eviction, having received either written or verbal notification from the landlord that they will lose their housing unless some type of payment is received. Verbal notification must be followed up with written notification.