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]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
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]
ACL 04-56 – Voluntary Reports of Income Exceeding 130% Percent of the Federal Poverty Level for Quarterly Reporting Non-assistance Food Stamp Households (December 23, 2004)
Now don’t shoot the messenger, but the feds have told the state that, oops, “it was not their intent to allow benefits to continue mid-quarter when a NAFS household, not previously receiving CalWORKs, voluntarily reports income above the gross income level.” So, kind FNS, just in time for Christmas, granted a waiver, and CWDs are now required to discontinue a NAFS household mid-quarter when the household voluntarily income above the gross income limit. (This is not a mandatory mid-quarter report for NAFS households.) [Download]
Errata to ACL 04-41 – SB 1104 CalWORKs New WTW Requirements (December 9, 2004)
Clarifies the implementation timelines and universal engagement requirements (when the 90 days to have a complaint-with-the-new rules WTW plan signed). The third clarification is about converting non-core hours to core hours. NOTE: There is disagreement about the conversion example, and CDSS is reviewing this matter for developing the regulations to implement SB 1104. [Download]