Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re- Housing Program (HPRP)

Is a formula grant from HUD made available to state and local governments participating in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Program.

Program budget is $6735, 809 in HPRP funding allocated to the city of Cincinnati and to Hamilton County. 

Program Services:

• 70% of funds used for homeless prevention program that is designed to provide short term (up to 3 months) of financial assistance to eligible households.
• Assistance provided through case management at one of 6 different agencies: The Free Store, the Salvation Army, Mercy Franciscan, St Vincent de Paul, the Cincinnati       Hamilton County Community Action Agency and Santa Maria Community Services.
• All participants screened to assess:
  • That homelessness is imminent without assistance
  • To ensure that they are cases that with the limited direct assistance will prevent homeless; and
  • That the households the 50% AMI criteria.
• The participating agency will be required to provide on going case management and support to the participating household for the 3 month period
• Assistance may be provided no more than twice during the three year grant period.
• The average level of assistance is estimated at $2,000.00 not to exceed $2,500 per case.

 Rapid Re-Housing activities

• Are restricted to single person household
• This component of the program will provide medium-term rental assistance for no more than twelve months.
• Eligible participants are single individuals from emergency shelters.
• The free store will provide the coordination among the shelters involved.
• Participants will receive intensive case management to assist in stabilizing housing, maintaining housing, increasing skills and income as well as providing attention to any other special needs.

 Financial assistance may be provided to cover:

• Security deposits
• Rent
• Utility Assistance

 And as needed:

• Past due utility or rental payments to the extent that such prohibits a participant from being re-housed within 6 months of the current date.
• Rapid Re Housing program will also include employment of a Benefits Specialist to assist participants in accessing benefits from Social Security and Medicaid that facilitate movement from shelters to permanent housing more rapid.
• The Rapid Re-Housing program will also include a Housing Specialist to assist participants in accessing affordable housing and to arrange for inspections of such units to ensure habitability.
• A final part of the Rapid Re-Housing Program is funding for limited assistance for participants by Legal Aid as appropriate.
• Over the three year grant period of the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) is anticipated that 2240 clients will receive homeless prevention services and that the Repaid Re-Housing Program will assist 522 individuals.

Click here for more information.

The Tenant Based Assistance Program:

The Tenant Based Assistance Program (TBA) is a rental assistance program funded through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Hamilton County Community Development Department.

• The TBA program is exclusively targeted to persons or families who have physical or mental disabilities.
• The TBA waiting list is established through referrals from agencies which assist persons/families with disabilities.
• Persons/Families are selected from the waiting list and offered Tenant Based Assistance Grants.
• Persons receiving Tenant Based Assistance Grants must follow procedures and regulations similar to the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
• The areas in which persons can look for units are limited to Hamilton County excluding the City of Cincinnati, Amberly Village, Evendale, Indian Hill, Maderia, Mariemont, Milford, Newtown, Symmes Township, and Terrace Park.
• Grant holders must select a unit that is the same number of bedrooms or 1 bedroom smaller than their grant size.
• Grant holders must pay 30% of the person/family’s monthly adjusted income. The grant holder pays the difference between the rental subsidy of the contract rent. The subsidy pays the remaining 70% of the contracted rent.
• Grant holders must pay a minimum of 10% of their monthly unadjusted income toward rent and utilities.
• Grant holders must pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward a security deposit with the balance of the security deposit (equal to 1 month’s contract rent ) to be paid by the Tenant Based Assistance Program.
• The Landlord and the grant holder will be required to sign a lease and contract for a minimum of 1 year. The lease and contract or very similar to those used for the Section 8 program.
• The obligations of the tenant, family and landlord are spelled out in the Tenant Based Assistance Grant and in the Lease and contract. The regulations of the program are much the same as the Section 8 Program.

 For more information about the Hamilton County Tenant Based Assistance Program call (513) 946-8230 or click here.

HIP Property Improvement Program

HIP enables property owner in Hamilton County to obtain bank loans at an interest rate 3% below normal .Loans can be used for most types of upgrades including additions, siding, windows or room remodeling. Click here for more information.

Sewer and Water Grants

Grants of up to $6500 based on a sliding scale depending on family income, are available to low to moderate income homeowners. Grants are limited to on site disposal systems or sewer or water taps. Homeowners must be at or below 80% of median income.

For more information Phone: (513) 946-8232

People Working Cooperatively:

People Working Cooperatively (PWC) offers home repair and emergency repair services to low income homeowners, for more information contact PWC at 513 351-7921 or www.pwchomerepairs.org

Working with communities and businesses, the Department of Development promotes economic opportunities to improve the profits and prosperity of Ohio`s citizens. The Department oversees programs that affect business, Ohio citizens, and the community. The Community Development Division (CDD) of the Ohio Department of Development administers programs through their three program offices:

1. Office of Housing and Community Partnerships (OHCP), which provides financial and technical assistance to units of local government, nonprofit corporations, and for-profit housing developers for activities that benefit low and moderate-income Ohioans.
2. Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) offers technical assistance to many different customers through a variety of programs. The most widely known is the Home Weatherization Assistance Program.
3. Office of Community Services works to eliminate poverty in Ohio by providing funds statewide to local nonprofit organizations designated as community action agencies for support services such as employment, education, housing, emergency assistance, and nutrition. The Office of Community Services is the grant administrator for federal antipoverty programs including the Community Services Block Grant and the Home Energy Assistance Program.

The Home Ownership Center is a private, non-profit partnership of businesses, residents and government.

The Home Ownership Center helps new, current, and future home buyers through the processes of owning a home through:

• Home Ownership Promotion
• Home Ownership Preservation
• Neighborhood Projects

HUDs mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.