Original source: The Atlanta Progressive News
(APN) ATLANTA -- Several Atlanta non-profit agencies did not disburse rental assistance and other homelessness prevention funds in a timely manner and risked having the funds taken back by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Atlanta Progressive News has learned.
At the Community Development/Human Resources Cmte Meeting of the City Council of Atlanta, Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) introduced a resolution and an ordinance which re-programmed the funds.
In other words, the legislation, which passed Cmte and heads to Full Council, took unspent funds from low-performing agencies and redirected the funds to high-performing agencies.
Performing agencies who will receive a portion of the re-programed funds for rental assistance and other homelessness prevention programs, totaling $713,566.81, include Action Ministries, Hosea Feed the Hungry, and Traveler's Aid, for Atlanta citizens in general; and the Midtown Assistance Center for those living in Midtown zip codes.
The Gateway Center and the Atlanta Center for Self-Sufficiency will receive funds for rapid re-housing of currently homeless individuals, while the HPRP Data Collection program will receive funds for data collection, and Atlanta Legal Aid will receive funds for legal assistance involving housing problems.
Programs that had funds taken away include Clifton Living, Community Concerns Rapid Re-Housing, HPRP Administration, Rapid Re-Housing @ HOPE, Samaritan Housing Program, and St. Jude's Homeless Prevention.
"I don't really know why they weren't disbursing the money," Councilman Bond told APN. "I was just facilitating it for the Department, really. The Obama Administration wanted it returned if we didn't spend it. They considered it kind of an emergency."
"It's like, how can you not spend this money?" Bond exclaimed.
"Some of the people were upset we pulled they money back because we had the deadline, but we didn't have a choice," Bond said.
The funds were available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the federal stimulus package. The specific program is called the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program (HPRP) and provided a grant of 3,441,091 dollars to the City of Atlanta for distribution to agencies.
The program began in September 2009. The remainder of funds should be disbursed by the end of 2011, David McCord, Management Analyst for the Department of Human Services for the City of Atlanta, told APN.
"This stimulus money only came into town for a non-recurring grant, a one-time grant cycle," McCord said.
As for why some agencies were unable to distribute the funds as quickly as HUD required, "reasons might be myriad," he said.
"This is stimulus money. It was not intended necessarily for the homeless client. It was intended for a class of client who had suffered as a result of the downfall of the economy. That triggered the normal type of regulatory need to determine that type of eligibility. Many of these agencies, in an effort to do due diligence, were struggling to follow the regulations as we understand," McCord said.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Action Ministries runs the Emergency Aid and Family Empowerment Program. The Program Coordinator, Yakita Wilkinson, is available at 404-881-6744 extension 5. Their hours are 9-5 M-F. Their address is 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. They offer help with short and medium term rental assistance, security deposits, and utility payments.
Hosea Feed the Hungry runs the HELP Program. Individuals should call the main line at 404-755-3353 and speak to the receptionist for a brief initial screening before being transfered to the program. Their address is 1035 Donnelly Avenue SW Atlanta, GA 30310.
Phillip Hogan, Director of Human Services, explained the criteria for eligibility. Individuals or families must live in the City of Atlanta, they must have proof of income, and they must be in an eviction status to qualify, meaning the rent is rate and the landlord has issued a letter, or the writ has been submitted to the court.
"We sometimes get a couple hundred calls a day asking for rental assistance. We can only work with a certain number of clients," Hogan said.
The City of Atlanta has also relaxed some of the sustainability requirements, which are income requirements for families receiving assistance, Hogan added. At one point, recipients were required to earn more than twice their rental payment as income, but that requirement has been relaxed.
Hosea at times has a waiting list, Hogan said. "We don't like to keep people waiting too long. We do spend the money," Hogan said.
Hogan said Hosea provides up to three months of rental and utility assistance, and case management which can last up to 18 months.
Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta runs the HOPE Atlanta Homeless Prevention. HPRP contact person Leta Hyche is available at 404-574-1682. Their hours are 8:30-5 M-F. Their address is 75 Marietta Street, Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30303.
APN accessed a voicemail for the Traveler's Aid HOPE Program, which states: "If you're seeking rental assistance, you must be currently living in the City of Atlanta, not including North or South Fulton, you must have income at least two times your rent, and you must have been in your apartment at least three or more months to qualify."
"We are no longer taking any new applicants for the months of January or February due to the extensive waiting list," the voicemail states.
Midtown Assistance Center, again, is only available to residents of Midtown. They are available at 404-681-5777. Their hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM; Tuesday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM; and Wednesday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM , 1:00 PM –4:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Call to schedule an appointment. They offer short and medium term rental assistance and utility payments. Their address is 30 Porter Place NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.