Legislators concerned about interpretation of housing assistance rule

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) raised concerns on Wednesday about a federal policy that could make people who stay briefly at homeless shelters ineligible for federal housing assistance.

In a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Portman, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) said misinterpretation of an interim rule could prevent struggling individuals from receiving vital housing assistance.

The legislators said some interpretations of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act could force struggling families to forgo seeking emergency housing to avoid becoming ineligible for future federal housing assistance.

“Faith-based organizations across Ohio like Cleveland’s City Mission play a crucial role in helping struggling families get back on their feet,” Portman said. “I’m concerned by any regulations or interpretation of regulations that push Ohioans back onto the streets, instead of giving them the help they need from organizations like the City Mission.”

The HEARTH Act requires Continuum of Care (CoC) facilities to administer needs assessments to establish the best form of assistance for each visitor. In some cases, however, CoC administrators deem those who sought temporary emergency shelter before visiting the CoC ineligible for federal assistance.

“We support the intent behind the coordinated assessment requirement established by the HEARTH Act and believe that it can result in more effective assistance for homeless families,” the legislators said. “However, we are concerned that some interpretations of the interim rule may force homeless shelters and struggling families to choose between immediate shelter and future housing independence. We urge HUD to clarify its interim final rule to ensure that coordinated assessments are not used to exclude the neediest families from participation in HUD programs.”