The Shelter Plus Care Program was created under the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Shelter Plus Care is designed to

promote permanent housing with supportive service to persons with disabilities coming from the streets and emergency shelters. Shelter Plus Care grants require a supportive services match equal to, or greater than, the rental assistance award.
HUD selects projects for Shelter Plus Care funding in a national competition based on regional and national homeless assistance goals. The Housing Authority partners with service providers. The Housing Authority has successfully competed for Shelter Plus Care Homeless Assistance funding since 1992 with 180 units awarded.

To be eligible for the program, a person must be homeless (see definition below) and have a disabling condition which is defined as:

A physical, mental or emotional impairment which

• Is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration.

• Substantially impedes an individual’s ability to live independently.

• is of such a nature that such ability could be improved by more suitable housing conditions

 

Or have a developmental disability as defined in 24 CFR 582.5.

 

Applicants must also be referred by a community-based organization that has a contract with the Housing Authority under the Shelter Plus Care program. Applications received from these agencies are reviewed for Shelter Plus Care eligibility.
Homeless or homeless individual includes a family or individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; and has a primary nighttime residence that is:

1. In places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings.
2. In an emergency shelter.
3. In transitional or supportive housing (for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or emergency shelter).
4. In any of the above places but is spending a short time (up to 30 consecutive days) in a hospital or other institution.

 

The term “homeless” or “homeless individual” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of Congress or a State law. If a participant or family head of household came from a psychiatric facility, substance abuse treatment facility, hospital, jail or prison, and they were there less than 30 days and were living in on the street or in an emergency shelter before entering the treatment facility, they are counted as homeless.