The need arose and you responded—with heartfelt thanks to you for your ongoing efforts to ensure that amid a national health crisis our state’s most vulnerable citizens were in safe, decent, and affordable housing to help prevent the spread of COVID. We still have much work to do as we continue our efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases among persons or families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance. With your partnership, the dark days of this pandemic will become a little brighter.

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (HPRP)

On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed, which included $1.5 billion for a Homelessness Prevention Fund. Funding for this program, called the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), was distributed based on the formula used for the Emergency Shelter Grants Program.

NOTE: The program ended on September 30, 2012. HPRP funds are no longer available.

With funding of 2.5 Million dollars from HUD’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP), the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless provided financial assistance in rental and utility payments as well as arrearages and case management services to more than 3,150 households.

Households accessed homelessness prevention services through 18 community agencies across 42 counties. Program staff at each agency administered HPRP screening through a coordinated system network. To determine eligibility for homelessness prevention services, program staff examined an applicant’s income, current living location, history of homelessness, and current rent or eviction notice.