The latest income guidelines and program requirements for those disaster-minded. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
HUD PIH Notice 2005-05 – New Freedom Initiative, Executive Order 13217: “Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities,” and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (February 1, 2005)
Explains Bush’s New Freedom Initiative and Executive Order and guides PHAs and HUD field staff regarding initiatives that can be implemented to assist persons with disabilities and their families searching for housing under the Section 8 Voucher program. Among other things, this Notice instructs PHAs to be “generous” in establishing the permitted search time for a unit, permitting PHAs to go beyond 120 days so long as the time period is not indefinite. The Notice also encourages PHAs to provide families with lists of organizations and agencies offering supportive services, including “state protection and advocacy agencies, Centers for Independent Living, State Medicaid agencies, and disability advocacy groups that represent individuals with a variety of disabilities.” [Download]
Revisions and Update to Consolidated Plan – Proposed Rule 24 C.F.R. Part 91, Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 250 (December 30, 2004)
The Consolidated Plan on “ConPlan” is a document that jurisdictions must submit to HUD in order to obtain HOME, CDBG and other federal monies to fund programs that primarily benefit lower income persons. Among other things, the proposed regulations require more consistency between the ConPlan and PHA (Public Housing Agency) Plan, “clarify” the definition of “chronic homelessness” purportedly to bring the ConPlan regs in line with the Administration’s goal of ending homelessness by 2012, and require jurisdictions to described specifically what steps they will take to remove barriers to affordable housing. Comments due January 31, 2005. [Download]
Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally-Assisted Programs – 49 C.F.R. Part 24, Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 2 (January 4, 2005)
This is the first comprehensive update of these regulations since they were first issued in 1989. Among the objectives of the regulations is to ensure that persons displaced as the direct result of federal or federally assisted project are treated fairly and equitably – “that they will not suffer disproportionate injuries as the result of projects designed for the benefit of the public as a whole.” 49 C.F.R. 24.1(b). The regulations govern 18 federal agencies, including HUD. (Adapted in part from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) summary in the NLIHC newsletter published January 7, 2005.) [Download]
ACIN I-88-04 – Treatment of Reception and Placement Cash Provided to Refugees in the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and CalWORKs Programs (December 29, 2004)
No change in policy, just a friendly reminder to counties that funds paid to refugees for “reception” (no, not the party kind) and placement is not counted as income to the Refugee Cash Assistance and CalWORKs programs. These funds are counted as property for CalWORKs but not RCA. If a family is ineligible for CalWORKs because of this rule, counties are required to assist them through RCA. [Download]
ACL 04-59 – Drug Felony Bill, Effective January 1, 2005 (December 29, 2004)
Instructions on how to meet the exception to the drug felony bar on receipt of Food Stamps. Convictions for felony possession or personal use will not result in ineligibility, if the person verifies treatment or completion of, or being wait-listed by, a government-recognized drug treatment program (including “clean and sober” group living facilities) or other evidence that the illegal use of controlled substances has ceased. Includes self-certification when no other means exists. All new/existing food stamps households are to be given an opportunity to certify that they comply. No outreach, so tell your clients; otherwise it won’t come up for recipients until next re-cert. [Download]