On March 10, 2021, due to the nationwide impact of COVID-19, Congress, through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) appropriated $5 billion to communities across the U.S. to provide housing, services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. These funds were then allocated by formula to jurisdictions that qualified for funding through the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME Program) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This special round of funding is called the “HOME-ARP” program. HUD published detailed guidance in the CPD Notice 21-10: Requirements for the Use of Funds in the HOME-ARP Program (September 13, 2021). This Notice establishes all HOME-ARP requirements, as well as the applicable suspensions, waivers, and alternative requirements.
Non-Profit Operating & Non-profit Capacity Building, Administration & Planning
Acquisition & Development, Cost of Conversion, Includes Private Units
Acquisition & Development
Assistance to QP: Pay Rent, Security Deposits, Utility Payments, Utility Deposits
Housing, Counseling, Homelessness Prevention, childcare, job Training, Legal Services, Case Management, Moving Costs, Rental Applications, & Rental Assistance
The overall goal is to cooperate regionally across the state with all grantees to ensure the needs of the vulnerable populations are met in a coordinated way.
The appropriation requires that the HOME-ARP funds must be used to primarily benefit individuals and families that meet the requirements for one or more qualifying populations (QPs). The QPs are defined as:
| People experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness | People currently housed and at the risk of homelessness | Those fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking | Other families requiring services, housing assistance, to prevent homelessness. |
Those at greatest risk of housing instability or in unstable housing situations which includes households with: 1) Annual income ≤ 30% of area median income and is experiencing severe cost burden (i.e., is paying more than 50% of monthly household income toward housing costs); or 2) Annual income ≤ 50% of AMI and meets one of the conditions outlined in HUD’s at risk of homelessness definition.
