Ending Homelessness in Mississippi

Nearly one-third of people who are homeless have mental illnesses. With the appropriate treatment, care and support, they could live successful, productive lives in the community. Unfortunately, most people who are homeless lack access to the services they need.

But by organizing public education and advocacy campaigns, communities across the country can implement state-of-the-art programs that will help people move off the streets and into homes and apartments.

Use the fact sheets on this site to educate your community and legislators about the need for improved and expanded services

Federal Funding for Programs for People Who Are Experiencing Homelessness or At Risk of Becoming Homeless
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Shelter Plus Care provides rental assistance combined with social service supports for people who are homeless and have a disability, particularly those people with serious mental illness, chronic alcohol and/or drug problems, and AIDS or related diseases, and their families.  S+C funds a variety of housing options such as apartments, group homes and individual units for those who do not have families.  S+C grants require that support services be offered in conjunction with the housing; however, the community must secure funding from sources other than S+C to fund the support services.  In addition, these support services must be of at least equal value to the rental assistance provided by HUD through the S+C grant.   Funds provided by S+C are allocated for the following four types of housing assistance: Tenant-Based Rental Assistance that contracts directly with the tenants who qualify as low-income. Project-Based Rental Assistance that contracts directly with the building owner. Sponsor-Based Rental Assistance that contracts with a nonprofit organization. Single Room Occupancy (SRO)-Based Rental Assistance that contracts with a public housing authority. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/splusc/index.		Homelessness homepage Homelessness: Reviewing the Facts Fact Sheet on Children and Homelessness Ending Homelessness for People With Mental Illnesses and Co-Occurring Disorders Homelessness Programs Operated by Affiliates Links to Information on Homelessness
The Supportive Housing Program (SHP) SHP provides supportive housing and support services to people who are homeless.  SHP funds can be used to create transitional housing, implement permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities, and provide support services that are not offered in conjunction with SHP-funded housing.  Some activities that can be funded through SHP include: acquisition, rehabilitation, construction or leasing of structures that can be used for supportive housing, operating costs of supportive housing and support services. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/shp/index. Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Section 811 is designed to increase rental opportunities with support services to enable persons with disabilities who are very low-income to live independently in the community.  The program provides interest-free capital advances to nonprofit organizations to construct or rehabilitate rental housing with support services for very low-income persons with disabilities who are at least 18 years old.  The advance remains interest-free and need not be repaid as long as the housing remains available for very low-income persons with disabilities for a minimum of 40 years.  In addition, the program provides rental assistance for residents in the housing.  Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income in rent and Section 811 pays the difference between the monthly approved operating cost and the rent received from the tenant.  For more information, visit www.hud.gov/nofa/supernofa/sprprt41. The Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Dwellings for People Who Are Homeless The Section 8 SRO program provides rental assistance for the development of Single Room Occupancies for people who are homeless.  Through periodic competitions, Section 8 funding is awarded to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and nonprofits for up to 10 years, which allows the project sponsor to find a long-term financial commitment for project development.  Private, non-profits are encouraged to contract with local PHAs to administer the subsidy. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/sro/index. Section 8 - Housing Choice Vouchers The Housing Choice Vouchers program is the federal government’s major program that provides assistance to very low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities who seek to obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market.  The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the program’s requirements and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) receive federal funds from HUD to administer the Housing Choice Vouchers.  Once a family has found suitable housing, the owner agrees to rent under the program, and the PHA approves the housing according to its health and safety standards, the PHA pays the housing subsidy directly to the landlord.  The family is responsible for covering the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the subsidy.  Housing Choice Voucher eligibility is determined by individual PHAs based on family income, assets and family composition.    For more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/index. Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) HOME provides grants to states and localities to fund activities such as building, buying and rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or ownership, and provides direct rental assistance for low-income individuals and families.  HOME is the largest federal bock grant, allocating $1 billion per year, to state and local governments.  It is designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.     HOME allows communities to design and implement housing options tailored to community needs; emphasizes partnerships among all levels of government and private sectors; and offers technical assistance activities.  The HOME program requires grant recipients to match 25 cents of every dollar in program funds to mobilize community resources in support of affordable housing. Eligibility for the HOME program varies with the nature of the funded activity.  Assistance is based on the HUD-adjusted median family income for the specific localities.  HUD develops the income limits.  The lower income limit is set at 80 percent and the very low-income limit is set at 50 percent of the median income.      For more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/index. HUD’s Public Housing Program Public housing was established to provide decent, safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities.  HUD administers federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents that they can afford.  HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments. HAs determine public housing eligibility based on: Annual gross income Qualification as a family, an older adult or a person with a disability U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status For more information: visit www.hud.gov/renting/phprog.cfm. HUD-VA Supported Housing Program (HUD-VASH)| HUD-VASH is a supported housing program jointly sponsored by HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The goal is to provide permanent housing and ongoing treatment services to people who are homeless, who are veterans, and who have mental illnesses, substance use disorders or both.   HUD's Section 8 Voucher Program has designated 1,780 vouchers worth $44.5 million for this harder-to-serve population.  VA staff at 35 sites provide outreach, clinical care and ongoing case management services.  Rigorous evaluation of this program indicates that this approach significantly reduces days of homelessness for veterans with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Programs Homeless Programs Branch The Homeless Programs Branch serves the treatment, support services and housing needs of people who are homeless and have mental illnesses.  The branch administers programs to assist states and localities in making services available such as mental health treatment, medical treatment, substance abuse treatment and legal assistance as part of transition efforts from homelessness. For more information, visit www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/KEN95-0015/default.asp. PATH – Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness PATH is a formula grant program administered by CMHS within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  PATH provides funding to states and territories that offer community-based services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.  PATH funds can be used by providers to offer essential services such as outreach, screening and diagnostic treatment, community mental health services, case management, alcohol or drug treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation, supportive and supervisory services in residential settings, and referrals to other needed services.  In addition, the funding may be used to fund limited housing assistance such as minor renovations and repairs to existing housing or one-time rental payments to prevent eviction.  For more information, visit www.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/Homelessness/about.asp For more information, contact: National Mental Health Association 2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor Alexandria, VA  22311 Phone 800-969-NMHA (6642) TTY 800-433-5959 Fax 703-684-5968