Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) is a new program, funded by the federal Housing and Urban Development agency, aimed at preventing homelessness. HPRP is:

Housing stabilization via financial and support services
A temporary bridge to long-term stability
Designed for clients who would be or are homeless but for this assistance, and
Designed for clients who can remain stably housed after this assistance ends

HPRP is not a mortgage assistance program and is not intended to serve people who need long-term services or supports.

Assisted households have access to the services they need to:

Secure and/or retain permanent housing that they can afford;
Access and/or retain employment, and increase their skills and income;
Sustain good health;
Make connections to the larger community; and
Achieve greater self-reliance and a foundation for long-term housing stability.

Some rules of the program are:

The total period of assistance cannot exceed 18 months for rental assistance or for utilities.
Arrears of up to 6 months count towards the 18-month maximum.
Rental assistance must comply with HUD's rental reasonable standard. (Click here for more information.)

Activities eligible for financial assistance:

Security deposits
Utility deposits
Relocation costs
Hotel/motel vouchers (up to 30 days)
Storage
Cost of inspections for habitability standards

DSS Security Deposit Guarantee Program (SDGP)

The State of Connecticut's Department of Social Services requires that applicants eligible for benefits under the Security Deposit Guarantee Program apply for those benefits before using HPRP funds.

For eligible households, the SDGP guarantees up to two months' rent to landlords (instead of an actual grant)
For the Connecticut HPRP, an HPRP provider (e.g. CACD) will help the client complete "Step 1" (all necessary forms and verifications) and submit the application to a local DSS office. A household staying at an emergency or DV shelter may apply there.

Eligibility for SDGP

The applicant must either

be a current recipient of some form of public assistance (TANF, Diversion Assistance, SAGA, Refugee Assistance, Aid to Aged, Blind, Disabled (AABD), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Safety Net, or Medicaid)

have household Annual Gross Income that does not exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Income guideline

be a household living in emergency housing or be at risk of housing loss

AND not have received SDGP benefits within the past 18 months.