U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness 

Inventory of Federal Programs That May 

Assist Homeless Families with Children 

March 2008

UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS (www.usich.gov) 

In 2002, the Administration revitalized the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), 

currently chaired by HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, to coordinate the federal response to 

homelessness across 20 federal departments and agencies, and to create a national partnership at 

every level of government and the private sector, to reduce and end homelessness in the nation. 

As of fall 2007, the full Council has met eleven times since its revitalization. The Chair of the 

Council has rotated among the Secretaries of the Departments of Housing and Urban 

Development (HUD); Health and Human Services (HHS); and Veterans Affairs (VA), reflecting 

a growing federal partnership to initiate collaborative solutions to preventing and ending 

homelessness. 

The Council’s work includes intra-agency, interagency, intergovernmental and intercommunity 

collaborations. As part of the Interagency Council’s strategy to create intergovernmental 

partnerships to end homelessness, Governors of 53 states and territories have taken steps to 

create State Interagency Councils on Homelessness, while over 300 Mayors and County 

Executives have committed to a 10-Year Plan process or have completed a Plan. The Council 

has also prioritized prevention as a central theme of homelessness policy and encouraged 

strategies based on the President’s Management Agenda: evidence-based, customer responsive, 

and results-oriented. 

Members of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

U.S. Department of Defense 

U.S. Department of Education 

U.S. Department of Energy 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Department of Justice 

U.S. Department of Labor 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

USA Freedom Corps 

United States Postal Service 

Social Security Administration 

General Services Administration 

Office of Management and Budget 

Corporation for National Community Service 

White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives 

Introduction 

This inventory of federal programs that have the capacity to serve homeless families with 

children has been developed by the member agencies of the U.S. Interagency Council on 

Homelessness (USICH). The inventory consists of both targeted homeless programs, which are 

designed specifically to serve persons experiencing homelessness, as well as mainstream 

programs, whose mission may be to serve a far broader population, but for which persons 

experiencing homelessness may be eligible by virtue of the program’s eligibility criteria. All 

programs included have the capacity to benefit families. The purpose of this inventory is to 

provide a current picture of all existing federal initiatives, help identify gaps or overlaps in 

services that may exist across programs, and offer new avenues for program collaboration. 

Each member agency of the USICH was invited to submit programs to the inventory, and the 

following data was collected for each program: 

1) Program Name 

2) Responsible Department 

3) Authorizing Legislation 

4) Funding type 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities 

6) Number of families served annually 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients 

8) Funding History 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families 

11) Program web address 

Seventy-three programs operated by eleven federal agencies are highlighted in the inventory. 

USICH Inventory of Federal Programs that May Assist 

Homeless Families with Children

Table of Contents

U.S. Department of Agriculture 1

Food Stamp Program 3

Consolidated Block Grants for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands 5

National School Lunch Program 6

School Breakfast Program 7

Special Milk Program 8

Child and Adult Care Food Program 9

Summer Food Service Program 10

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 11

Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program 12

WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program 13

Commodity Supplemental Food Program 14

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations 15

The Emergency Food Assistance Program 16

Community Facilities Program 17

Single Family Housing- Real Estate Owned Properties 18

Single Family Housing- Disaster Assistance 19

U.S. Department of Education 21

Education for Homeless Children and Youth 23

Early Reading First 25

Reading First State Grants 28

Even Start 29

School Dropout Prevention Programs 30

Striving Readers 31

21st Century Community Learning Centers 33

Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities: Governors' Grants 34

U.S. Department of Energy 35

Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons 37

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 39

Health Care for the Homeless 41

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) 43

Services in Supportive Housing Program 46

Child Support Enforcement Program 47

Community Services Block Grant 49

Community Health Centers 50

Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant Program 52

Head Start 54

Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant 56

Medicaid 58

State Children’s Health Insurance Program 60

Social Services Block Grant 62

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 64
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 67 

Emergency Shelter Grants 69 

Supportive Housing Program 71 

Shelter Plus Care 73 

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) 43 

Base Realignment and Closure 75 

Community Development Block Grant 76 

HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) 77 

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Disabled Persons 79 

Housing Choice Voucher Program 80 

Public Housing 82 

Housing Counseling Program 84 

Rural Housing and Economic Development Program 85 

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) 86 

U.S. Department of Justice 89 

Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, 

Stalking or Sexual Assault Program 91 

Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program 93 

Prisoner Reentry Initiative Demonstration (Offender Reentry) 94 

Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program 95 

U.S. Department of Labor 97 

Grassroots Grants 99 

Ready4Work 101 

Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program 103 

Veterans' Workforce Investment Program 104 

Incarcerated Veterans' Transition Program 106 

Job Corps 108 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program 109 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Workers 111 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities 113 

Wagner-Peyser Employment Service 115 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 117 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Pension 119 

Social Security Administration 121 

Social Security Disability Insurance 123 

Supplemental Security Income 125 

General Services Administration 127 

Federal Surplus Personal Property Donations 129

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) 43

U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service 131 

AmeriCorps*VISTA – Volunteers In Service To America 133 

AmeriCorps*State and National 134 

Senior Corps Program: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) 135 

Senior Corps Program: Foster Grandparent Program 137 

Senior Corps Program: Senior Companion Program 138 

Learn and Serve America 139 

Appendix A: Mainstream or Targeted Programs 141 

Appendix B: Mainstream or Targeted Programs 144 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

1
2
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Food Stamp Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Food Stamp Act of 1977 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Food Stamp Program (FSP) serves as the 

cornerstone of the Nation’s nutrition safety net. As the largest federal nutrition program 

for low-income households, it enables low-income participants to improve their diets by 

increasing food purchasing power through benefits that are redeemed at authorized retail 

grocery stores across the country. State agencies are responsible for the administration of 

the program according to national eligibility and benefit standards set by federal law and 

regulations. Benefits are 100 percent federally-financed while administrative costs are 

shared between the federal and state governments. 

The amount of food stamp benefits that a household receives is based on the cost of the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, an economical and nutritious model 

diet. The estimate is adjusted every year to account for changes in the cost of food. 

6) Number of individuals served monthly: FY 2006: 26.7 million in an average month 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Low-income residents of the 50 states, D.C., Virgin 

Islands, and Guam. Eligibility criteria include gross and net income limits of 130 and 

100 percent of poverty, and an asset limit of $2000 for most households and $3000 for 

households with an elderly or disabled member. There are a few non-financial eligibility 

criteria: most noncitizens must have five years of legal residence in the United States, 

and childless nondisabled adults between 18 and 50 must be working or involved in a 

work program. 

Under the FSP, state agencies have numerous policy options that enable them to simplify 

program administration, reduce program barriers and increase program participation, and 

improve payment accuracy. States have the option to use a standard homeless shelter 

deduction for up to $143 per month. According to the 2006 FSP State Options Report, 25 

states have adopted this option. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $30.12 billion in benefits, $33.0 billion total 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect – nor 

require states to collect – information on the number of homeless participants. According 

to the 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients, the FSP has 

the highest rate of participation among homeless clients of any means-tested benefit, with 

37 percent of all homeless clients receiving food stamps. Seventy percent of children in 

homeless families received foods stamps. 

3 
10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: The statutory definition 

of “eligible foods” does not allow food stamp recipients to purchase hot meals prepared 

for immediate consumption. This coupled with the fact that homeless persons generally 

have no place to store food items purchased with food stamp benefits makes using the 

FSP more difficult for homeless persons. The FSP does allow homeless persons to 

purchase prepared meals from some authorized restaurants. 

There may also be a false impression among some homeless persons that a permanent 

address is required to qualify for benefits. In fact, neither a permanent address nor a 

mailing address is needed. FNS addressed this misconception by providing an outreach 

document entitled “Myths and Facts about Food Stamp Benefits for the Homeless”, 

which can be accessed on-line at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/pdfs/mythshomeless.pdf. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ 

4
CONSOLIDATED BLOCK GRANTS FOR PUERTO RICO, AMERICAN 

SAMOA AND NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS 

1) Program Name: Consolidated Block Grants for Puerto Rico, American Samoa and 

Northern Marianas Islands 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 19 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 

4) Funding type: Block grant to territories 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: As a substitute for the Food Stamp Program in 

Puerto Rico, American Samoa and Northern Marianas Islands, Food and Nutrition 

Services each year provides block grants of nutrition assistance for participants rather 

than food stamps or commodities. The largest of these is the Nutrition Assistance 

Program in Puerto Rico. The grants pay for benefits to recipients, including the 

homeless, and for the administration of the programs. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: 1 million in Puerto Rico, 3,000 in 

American Samoa, 8,000 in Northern Marianas Islands in an average month 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligibility criteria for residents of Puerto Rico, American 

Samoa, and the Northern Marianas Islands are similar to the Food Stamp Program 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $1.5 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments to homeless persons or providers. 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/FactSheets/NABGP_Quick_Facts.htm 

5
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: National School Lunch Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a 

federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and 

residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free 

lunches to children each school day. The NSLP also reimburses for snacks served to 

children, through age 18, in after school educational and enrichment programs. 

Homeless children participating in schools and institutions are eligible to receive free 

meals based solely on the certification by local educational liaisons, homeless shelter 

directors or school officials that the children are homeless, without the need for actual 

income determination, or by the submission of free and reduced price meal applications 

from parents or homeless shelter directors. At the state level, the program is usually 

administered by state education agencies, which operate the program through agreements 

with local school food authorities in more than 100,000 institutions. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: 31 million children on an average 

school day 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal 

through the NSLP. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the 

poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those from families with incomes between 130 

percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals, for 

which students can be charged no more than 40 cents. Children from families over 185 

percent of poverty pay full price, though their meals are still subsidized to some extent. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $7.5 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. The Department has issued guidance to facilitate 

prompt determination of eligibility for homeless children in schools, shelters, and other 

participating institutions. This guidance is posted on 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/1998-2002/2002-04-04.pdf. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments to participation by homeless children, other than the requirement that they 

be enrolled in a school or other institution participating in the lunch program. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/ 

6
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: School Breakfast Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a 

federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and 

residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free 

breakfasts to children each school day. Homeless children participating in schools and 

institutions are eligible to receive free meals based solely on the certification by local 

educational liaisons, homeless shelter directors or school officials that the children are 

homeless, without the need for actual income determination, or by the submission of free 

and reduced price meal applications from parents or homeless shelter directors. At the 

state level, the program is usually administered by state education agencies, which 

operate the program through agreements with local school food authorities in more than 

80,000 schools and institutions. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: 9.8 million children on an average 

school day 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal 

through the School Breakfast Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 

130 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those from families 

with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for 

reduced-price meals. Children from families over 185 percent of poverty pay full price, 

though their meals are still subsidized to some extent. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $2.2 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. The Department has issued guidance to facilitate 

prompt determination of eligibility for homeless children in schools, shelters, and other 

participating institutions. This guidance is posted on 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/1998-2002/2002-04-04.pdf. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments to participation by homeless children, other than the requirement that they 

be enrolled in a school or other institution participating in the breakfast program. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/ 

7
SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Special Milk Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Special Milk Program provides milk to 

children in schools, child care institutions and eligible camps that do not participate in 

other federal child nutrition meal service programs. The program reimburses schools and 

institutions for the milk they serve. Schools in the National School Lunch Program or 

School Breakfast Programs may also participate in the Special Milk Program in order to 

provide milk to children in half-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs where 

children do not have access to the school meal programs. At the state level, the Special 

Milk Program is usually administered by state education agencies, which operate the 

program through agreements with local school food authorities. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: Nearly 100 million half-pints of 

milk were served at over 5,000 schools and institutions. No figures on average daily or 

monthly participation are available. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Children attending schools, child-care institutions, and 

eligible camps that do not participate in other federal child nutrition meal programs. 

Income eligibility rules are the same as those in NSLP. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $15 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments to participation by homeless children, other than the requirement that they 

are enrolled in a school, institution, or camp participating in the milk program. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/milk/ 

8
CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Child and Adult Care Food Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 

Act 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Child and Adult Care Food Program 

(CACFP) provides cash and commodities or cash-in-lieu of commodities for food service 

to children in non-residential child care centers, family day care homes, and homeless 

shelters; and chronically impaired adults and persons 60 years of age or older who are 

enrolled in adult day care centers. 

Public or faith based/private non-profit emergency shelters that provide residential and 

food services to homeless families are also eligible for CACFP. Shelters may receive 

reimbursement for serving up to three meals each day to homeless children, age 18 and 

younger, and to migrant children, age 18 and younger, who are residents of the shelter. 

Shelters must meet any health and safety codes that are required by state or local law. 

Meals served in shelters and in family day care homes are served free. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: 3.0 million children and adults on an 

average day 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Children in non-residential child care centers, family day 

care homes, and homeless shelters; and chronically impaired adults and people aged 60 or 

over who are enrolled in adult day care centers. Income eligibility rules for meals served 

in day care centers are the same as those in the National School Lunch Program. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $2.1 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments to homeless children receiving CACFP meals or to homeless providers 

receiving CACFP funds. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/ 

9
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Summer Food Service Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 13 of Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 

provides funds for food service to children in needy areas during their summer break 

from school or during lengthy breaks for those in year-round schools. Schools, public 

agencies, faith-based and other private non-profit organizations, residential camps, and 

other eligible institutions serve free meals to children in areas where poor economic 

conditions exist. Nutritious meals are available to children 18 years and younger, and to 

persons with disabilities over age 18, who participate in eligible educational programs. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: Average attendance was 1.9 million 

children at 30,000 sites. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Children attending schools, public agencies, faith-based 

and other private non-profit organizations, residential camps, and other eligible 

institutions serving free mails in areas where poor economic conditions exist. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $284 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments to participation by homeless feeding sites in the SFSP. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/ 

10
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN,

INFANTS, AND CHILDREN

1) Program Name: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 

4) Funding type: Discretionary Appropriation 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) addresses the supplemental needs of nutritionally 

at-risk, low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women; infants; and 

children up to five years of age. It provides participants with monthly supplemental food 

packages targeted to their dietary needs, nutrition education, and referrals to a range of 

health and social services – benefits that promote a healthy pregnancy for mothers and a 

healthy start for their children. Appropriated funds are provided to states for food 

packages and nutrition services, as well as administration of the program. 

6) Number of individuals served monthly: FY 2006: 2.0 million women, 2.1 million 

infants, and 4.0 million children under age 5, for a total of 8.1 million people in an 

average month. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Nutritionally at-risk, low-income (defined as under 185 

percent of the poverty threshold), pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women; 

infants, and children up to five years of age. The WIC Program reaches homeless 

individuals and accommodates their special needs by recognizing homelessness as an 

allowable nutrition risk condition when determining eligibility for WIC, permitting a 

homeless individual to sign a statement attesting to his/her identity and residency if the 

individual has no documentation or proof, permitting a homeless individual to selfdeclare income and sign a statement specifying why he/she cannot provide 

documentation of income, and providing a number of other accommodations to ensure 

program access by homeless individuals meeting eligibility requirements. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $5.3 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments for homeless individuals or providers. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/ 

11
SENIOR FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 4306 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 

of 2002 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Funding 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 

(SFMNP) provides coupons to low-income seniors that can be exchanged for fresh, 

nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs at farmers’ markets, 

roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: 800,000 elderly persons 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals 

who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185 

percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Some state agencies accept proof of 

participation or enrollment in another means-tested program, such as the Commodity 

Supplemental Food Program or the Food Stamp Program, for SFMNP eligibility. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $16 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments for homeless individuals or providers. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPmenu.htm 

12
WIC FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 

4) Funding type: Discretionary Appropriation 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 

(FMNP) provides coupons to women, infants, and children to purchase fresh fruits, 

vegetables, and herbs directly from local farmers’ markets and roadside stands. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: FY 2006: 2.5 million women, infants, and 

children 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Women, infants (over 4 months old) and children that 

have been certified to receive WIC program benefits or who are on a waiting list for WIC 

certification are eligible to participate in the FMNP. State agencies may serve some or all 

of these groups. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $24 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments for homeless individuals or providers. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FMNP/FMNPfaqs.htm 

13
COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Commodity Supplemental Food Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 4(a) of Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 

1973 

4) Funding type: Discretionary Appropriation 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Commodity Supplemental Food Program 

(CSFP) provides supplemental foods to low-income pregnant, postpartum and 

breastfeeding women, infants, children up to age 6, and the elderly in 32 states, the 

District of Columbia, and on two Indian Reservations. The foods provided are purchased 

by USDA, utilizing funds appropriated for the program each year as well as funds 

provided for removal of market surpluses. Food packages are designed with the specific 

nutritional needs of women, infants, children, and the elderly in mind. 

6) Number of individuals served monthly: FY 2006: 463,000 in an average month 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding 

women, infants, and children up to age 6, and the elderly in 32 states, the District of 

Columbia, and two Indian Reservations. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $112 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments for homeless individuals or providers. However, some commodities may 

not be a useable benefit for homeless persons without access to cooking or storage 

facilities. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/csfp/ 

14
FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS 

1) Program Name: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 and Section 4(a) 

of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Food Distribution Program on Indian 

Reservations (FDPIR) is an alternative to the Food Stamp Program for all households 

living on a reservation or households residing in designated service areas and including at 

least one Indian tribal member. USDA purchases and ships commodities to Indian tribes 

and state agencies based on their orders from a list of available foods. These 

administering agencies store and distribute the food, determine applicant eligibility, and 

provide nutrition education to recipients. USDA provides the administering agencies 

with funds for program administrative costs. 

6) Number of individuals served monthly: FY 2006: 90,000 persons in an average month 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: All households living on a reservation or households 

residing in designated service areas and including at least one Indian tribal member 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $79 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments for homeless individuals or providers. However, some commodities may 

not be useable a benefit for homeless persons without access to cooking or storage 

facilities. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/fdpir/ 

15
THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: The Emergency Food Assistance Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 

4) Funding type: Mandatory Entitlement for commodities, Discretionary Authority for 

administration 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Emergency Food Assistance Program 

(TEFAP) helps supplement the diet of needy Americans through USDA donations of 

healthful foods. Commodity foods are provided to states, which in turn, provide the food 

to local agencies for distribution to households for home consumption or to organizations 

that prepare meals for needy people. 

6) Number of individuals served annually: Not available 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Each state sets criteria for determining what households 

are eligible to receive food for home consumption. Income standards may, at the state’s 

discretion, be met through participation in other existing federal, state, or local food, 

health, or welfare programs for which eligibility is based on income. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $195 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: USDA does not collect information 

on the number of homeless participants. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: USDA knows of no 

impediments for homeless individuals or providers. 

11) Program web address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/ 

16
COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAMS 

1) Program Name: Community Facilities Programs 

2) Responsible Department: USDA - Rural Development - Housing and Community 

Facilities Programs 

3) Authorizing Legislation: N/A 

4) Funding Type: Grants or loans 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Funding from the Community Facilities 

Programs (CF) is used to construct, enlarge, extend, or improve essential community 

facilities located in rural areas, including cities and towns with 20,000 or less. Homeless 

families do not directly receive assistance from USDA, but the types of assistance 

available in the CF program consist of loans, guaranteed loans, loans and grants, and 

grants available to nonprofit corporations and public bodies for homeless assistance. The 

types of services that can be funded are domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, 

homes for delinquents, and youth centers in rural America 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Nonprofit and public bodies 

8) Funding History: N/A 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments that affect public bodies, nonprofit organizations and Indian Tribes’ ability 

to obtain loans, loan guarantees, or grants to establish or improve homeless shelters. The 

organization applying would have to demonstrate the ability to raise funds to operate the 

facility and repay a loan since homeless people would not have the resources to pay. 

11) Program web address: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/cf/cp.htm 

17
SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING - REAL ESTATE OWNED (REO) 

PROPERTIES 

1) Program Name: Single Family Housing - Real Estate Owned (REO) Properties 

2) Responsible Department: USDA - Rural Development - Housing and Community 

Facilities Programs 

3) Authorizing Legislation: No appropriated funds exist for this program (Refer to CFR 

3560.550 Subpart K for regulations) 

4) Funding Type: Lease 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: REO properties can be leased to nonprofit 

organizations or public bodies for transitional housing for the homeless. As of 2007, 

there are approximately 60 properties leased to entities to provide transitional housing to 

homeless people and families. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Nonprofit and public bodies 

8) Funding History: No appropriated funds exist for this program (Refer to CFR 3560.550 

Subpart K for regulations) 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: Homeless families do not 

directly receive assistance from USDA but non-profit organizations and public bodies are 

able to provide housing to homeless families through the use of REO leased properties. 

11) Program web address: N/A 

18
SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING - DISASTER ASSISTANCE 

1) Program Name: Single Family Housing - Disaster Assistance 

2) Responsible Department: USDA - Rural Development - Housing and Community 

Facilities Programs 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Supplemental funding is appropriated through Congress as a 

result of natural disasters; funds are made available in counties designated for Individual 

Assistance under a Presidential Disaster Declaration. 

4) Funding Type: Provisions include moratoriums, reamortization, insured losses and 

REOs 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Services assist families whose primary 

residences were damaged or destroyed by natural disaster. 

6) Number of families served annually: Varies based on number of disaster areas 

affected. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Families whose primary residences were damaged or 

destroyed by natural disaster. 

8) Funding History: N/A 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: Only families’ homes 

affected by a natural disaster are eligible to receive emergency funding and assistance. 

11) Program web address: N/A 

19
20
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

21
22
EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH 

1) Program Name: Education for Homeless Children and Youth 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title VII, 

Subtitle B 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the Education for Homeless 

Children and Youth program is to ensure that homeless children and youth have equal 

access to the same free, appropriate public education as other children; to provide 

activities for and services to ensure that these children enroll in, attend, and achieve 

success in school; to establish or designate an office in each state educational agency 

(SEA) for the coordination of education for homeless children and youth; to develop and 

implement programs for school personnel to heighten awareness of specific problems of 

homeless children and youth; and to provide grants to local educational agencies (LEAs). 

SEAs and LEAs may use funds for a wide variety of activities that will facilitate the 

educational success of homeless children and youth. Such activities include: tutoring 

summer enrichment programs, the provision of school supplies, and professional 

development designed to heighten educators' understanding of and sensitivity to the 

needs of homeless children and youth. When their appropriation exceeds the amount 

received in fiscal year 1990 the SEAs must make subgrants to LEAs for the purpose of 

facilitating the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in 

schools. Services provided with these funds cannot replace the regular academic 

program and must expand upon or improve services provided as part of the regular 

academic program. 

1) Number of families served annually: During the 2005-2006 school year, 

approximately 452,000 homeless students were served 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Departments of Education in the 50 states, the District of 

Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Outlying Areas, and schools serving Indian students that are 

funded by the Secretary of the Interior may apply. Only LEAs are eligible for state 

subgrants. Homeless children and youth in elementary and secondary schools (and 

homeless preschool children and the parents of homeless children) of the applicant 

agency will benefit. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $61,871,040 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Homeless families with children 

are the only eligible recipients of services under this program; therefore, all program 

participants are by definition members of a homeless family. 

23
10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: States must review and 

revise laws, rules, regulations, and policies that act as barriers to the enrollment, 

attendance, and success in school of homeless children and youth. State Coordinators 

reported in FY 2005 that the barriers faced by homeless students in accessing school 

services include lack of transportation, immunization requirements, residency 

requirements, and other records requirements. Since the passage of NCLB, many of these 

barriers have been significantly lowered as a result of states and local schools 

implementing the new, stronger McKinney-Vento Act statutory requirements included in 

NCLB. States also report increased awareness among school personnel that facilitates 

enrollment and access to services by homeless students. 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html 

24
EARLY READING FIRST

1) Program Name: Early Reading First 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as 

amended, Title I, Part B, Subpart 2; Public Law 107-110. 

4) Funding type: Discretionary grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Early Reading First is designed to improve early 

reading and language instruction in existing early childhood education programs, 

especially those that serve low-income families. Early Reading First (ERF) preschools 

use a combination of strategies to reach that goal, including professional development, 

high-quality language and literature-rich classroom environments, language and literacy 

activities based on scientifically based reading research (SBRR), and screening 

assessments of children. ERF preschools focus on the age-appropriate development of 

children’s oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness and alphabet 

knowledge, because scientifically based research shows that if children enter 

kindergarten with those skills, early reading difficulties can be averted. 

The goals of the program are: 

• To support local efforts to enhance the early language, literacy, and prereading 

development of preschool age children, particularly those from low-income 

families, through strategies and professional development that are based on 

scientifically based reading research; 

• To provide preschool age children with cognitive learning opportunities in highquality language and literature-rich environments so that the children can attain 

the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for optimal reading development 

in kindergarten and beyond; 

• To demonstrate language and literacy activities based on scientifically based 

reading research that support the age-appropriate development of 

o Oral language (vocabulary, expressive language, listening comprehension) 

o Phonological awareness (rhyming, blending, segmenting) 

o Print awareness, and 

o Alphabetic knowledge; 

• To use screening assessments to effectively identify preschool age children who 

may be at risk for reading failure; and 

• To integrate the SBRR instructional materials and literacy activities with the 

grantees’ existing preschool programs. 

25
Eligible activities under the program are: 

• Providing preschool age children with high-quality oral language and literaturerich environments in which to acquire language and prereading skills; 

• Providing professional development that is based on scientifically based reading 

research knowledge of early language and reading development for the staff of the 

eligible applicant and that will assist in developing the preschool age children's — 

o recognition, leading to automatic recognition, of letters of the alphabet, 

knowledge of letters, sounds, blending of letter sounds, and increasingly 

complex vocabulary; 

o understanding that written language is composed of phonemes and letters 

each representing one or more speech sounds that in combination make up 

syllables, words, and sentences; 

o spoken language, including vocabulary and oral comprehension abilities; 

and 

o knowledge of the purposes and conventions of print; 

• Identifying and providing activities and instructional materials that are based on 

scientifically based reading research for use in developing the skills and abilities 

described in paragraph (2); 

• Acquiring, providing training for, and implementing screening reading 

assessments or other appropriate measures that are based on scientifically based 

reading research to determine whether preschool age children are developing the 

skills described in this subsection; and 

• Integrating such instructional materials, activities, tools, and measures into the 

programs offered by the eligible applicant. 

6) Number of families served annually: Early Reading First supports 189 local projects. 

ERF grants approximately 32 awards annually and each ERF project serves 

approximately 200 children. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: The following entities are eligible to apply for an Early 

Reading First grant: (1) one or more local educational agencies that are eligible to receive 

a Reading First State subgrant; (2) one or more public or private organizations of 

agencies, acting on behalf of one or more programs that serve preschool age children 

(such as a Head Start program, a child care program, an Even Start Family literacy 

program, a lab school at a university), which is located in a community that is eligible for 

a Reading First grant; and (3) one or more local educational agencies described in 1, in 

collaboration with one or more organizations or agencies described in 2. Early childhood 

staff and children in early childhood programs benefit from this program. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $103,100,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: No information has been collected 

in this area. 

26
10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: None known. 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/index.html 

27
READING FIRST STATE GRANTS 

1) Program Name: Reading First State Grants 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as 

amended, Title I, Part B, Subpart 2; Public Law 107-110. 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Through Reading First State Grants, states and 

districts receive support to apply scientifically based reading research- and the proven 

instructional and assessment tools consistent with this research- to ensure that all children 

learn to read well by the end of third grade. To ensure that every student can read at 

grade level or above by the end of third grade. Reading First also focuses on teacher 

development and ensuring that all teachers, including special education teachers, have the 

tools they need to effectively help their students learn to read. The program provides 

assistance to states and districts in preparing teachers to identify specific reading barriers 

facing their students. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible applicants are State Education Agencies from 

the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the 

U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands. Eligible recipients are kindergarten through third-grade students, their 

teachers, and their parents are beneficiaries. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $1,029,234,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: N/A 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/readingfirst/index.html 

28
EVEN START 

1) Program Name: Even Start 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; Title I, Part 

B, Subpart 3. 20 U.S.C. 6362 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Even Start program offers grants to support 

local family literacy projects that integrate early childhood education, adult literacy (adult 

basic and secondary-education and instruction for limited English proficient individuals), 

parenting education, and interactive parent and child literacy activities for low-income 

families who are eligible for services under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act 

and their children from birth to age seven. The goal is to help break the cycle of poverty 

and illiteracy and improve the educational opportunities of low-income families, by 

integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and 

parenting education into a unified family literacy program. 

6) Number of families served annually: Approximately 30,000 families are served 

annually 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible applicants are state educational agencies 

(SEAs). The subgrantees are partnerships of a local educational agency (LEA) and a 

nonprofit community-based organization, a public agency other than an LEA, an 

institution of higher education or other public or private nonprofit organizations. Any of 

the latter, with demonstrated quality, may apply in collaboration with a LEA. Eligible 

recipients are parents eligible for participation under the Adult Education Act and their 

children aged birth through seven. Families must be in need of Even Start services, as 

indicated by a low income level and low level of adult literacy or English language 

proficiency, or other need-related indicators. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $99,000,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: No information available 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: No known impediments 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/evenstartformula/index.html 

29
SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAMS 

1) Program Name: School Dropout Prevention Programs 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 

amended; Title I, Part H; Public Law 107-110 

4) Funding type: Competitive project grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Dropout Prevention Program grantees must 

implement proven strategies for reducing the number of students who drop out before 

completing secondary school and for assisting youth to reenter school after they have 

dropped out. These strategies may include: 1) identify students at risk of dropping out; 2) 

providing at-risk students with services designed to prevent them from dropping out; 3) 

identifying and encouraging youth who already have dropped out to reenter school; and 

4) implementing other comprehensive approaches, such as breaking large schools into 

smaller learning communities. Specifically authorized activities include: professional 

development; reduction in pupil-teacher ratios; counseling and mentoring for at-risk 

students; and implementing comprehensive school reform models. 

6) Number of families served annually: Grant recipients may provide educational and 

related services to homeless youth, but direct services to families are not an authorized 

activity. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational 

agencies (LEAs) serving communities with dropout rates above the state's average annual 

dropout rate will be eligible to apply for funding. Beneficiaries of the program are school 

administrators, teachers, students, and parents are beneficiaries. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $4,851,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The number of homeless students 

served by the program is not known. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments to the participation of homeless students. 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/dropout/index.html 

30
STRIVING READERS 

1) Program Name: Striving Readers 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Title I, Part E, Section 1502 of the Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act of 1965 as amended 

4) Funding type: Competitive grants to school districts 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The objective of the Striving Readers program is 

to raise student achievement by improving the reading skills of middle and high school 

students who are reading below grade level. Striving Readers supports the 

implementation and evaluation of research-based reading interventions for struggling 

middle and high school readers in Title I eligible schools at risk of not meeting or not 

meeting annual yearly progress requirements under the ESEA and/or that have significant 

percentages or numbers of students reading below grade level. Successful applicants 

must use these funds to carry out the activities described in their approved applications. 

Striving Reader programs will include supplemental literacy intervention strategies 

targeted to students who are reading significantly below grade level; cross disciplinary 

strategies for improving student literacy, which may include professional development 

for subject matter teachers and use of research-based reading strategies in classrooms 

across subject areas; and a strong experimental evaluation component. Grant recipients, 

must, for example, use funds for reasonable costs needed to implement a supplemental 

literacy intervention, which may include additional staff time for extra periods of 

instruction, age-appropriate reading materials for struggling adolescent readers, 

assessment instruments, professional development opportunities for staff focused on 

literacy, and evaluation. Funds must be used in Title I eligible public schools serving 

grades 6-12 with significant numbers of students reading below grade level. 

6) Number of families served annually: Number of students served in fall semester of 

school year 2006-07: 36,018 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: The following are eligible to apply for a Striving Readers 

grant: 1) One or more local educational agencies that receive Title I funds and have one 

or more high schools or middle schools with significant numbers of students reading 

below grade level and are at risk of not meeting or are not meeting Title I annual yearly 

progress requirements; 2) intermediate service agencies on behalf of one or more local 

educational agencies that receive Title I funds and have one or more high schools or 

middle schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and are at 

risk of not meeting or are not meeting Title I annual yearly progress requirements; or 3) 

partnerships that may include public or private institutions of higher education, eligible 

nonprofit or for-profit organizations (or consortia of such institutions or organizations), 

and local educational agencies (LEAs) that have one or more high schools or middle 

31 
schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and are at risk of 

not meeting or are not meeting Title I annual yearly progress requirements. Beneficiaries 

of this program are adolescent students (in grades 6-12) who are reading below grade 

level and LEAs that have one or more high schools or middle schools with significant 

numbers of students reading below grade level or that are at risk of not meeting or are not 

meeting Title I annual yearly progress requirements. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $29,700,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Data on participation of homeless 

families not available. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: No known impediments 

to participation of homeless families in Striving Readers programs. Participation in 

intensive literacy interventions across all sites is determined by student literacy needs as 

identified by student scores on reading assessments. 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/strivingreaders/index.html 

32
21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS 

1) Program Name: 21st Century Community Learning Centers 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 

amended, Title IV, Part B 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the 21st Century Leaning Center 

program is to create community learning centers that provide academic enrichment 

opportunities for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and lowperforming schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in 

core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of 

enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers 

literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. 

6) Number of families served annually: 568,194 family members (we collect based on 

number of family members served per center—the average is 55.74 across all programs 

nationally). 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State Departments of Education are eligible for funds 

under this program, and Residents of all ages within the rural and inner city communities 

served by the learning centers will benefit. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $981,166,230 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: No data collected on the level of 

participation of homeless families 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: No impediments 

identified 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html 

33
SAFE AND DRUG FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES:

GOVERNORS’ GRANTS

1) Program Name: Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities: Governors’ Grants 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free 

Schools 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title IV, Part A, 

Subpart 1, as amended by No Child Left Behind (PL 107-110). 20 U.S.C. 7111-7118 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: This program provides support to governors for a 

variety of drug and violence prevention activities focused primarily on school-age youths. 

Governors give priority to programs that serve youths and children not normally served 

by state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) or that reach 

populations that need special or additional resources, such as youths in juvenile detention 

facilities, runaway or homeless youths, pregnant and parenting teenagers, and school 

dropouts. Also, Governors may use their program funds to provide support to LEAs, 

community-based organizations, and other public and private nonprofit entities for drug 

and violence prevention activities that complement the state education agency (SEA) and 

LEA portion of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State governors' offices are the designated applicants. 

Territorial governors' offices may also apply. The Governor may designate an agency 

within a state to administer the Governor’s Program. Community-based and other public 

and private nonprofit entities must apply to their respective governors' offices or 

designated Governor’s Program offices. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $67,830,072 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: N/A 

11) Program web address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpgovgrants/index.html 

34
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

35
36
WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS 

1) Program Name – Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons 

2) Responsible Department – U.S. Department of Energy 

3) Authorizing Legislation - Title IV, Part A, of the Energy Conservation and Production 

Act of 1976, Public Law 94-385, as amended, (10 USC 6851 through 6872) authorizes 

the Department of Energy to administer the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance 

Program (WAP). Implementing regulations are published at 10 CFR Part 440. 

4) Funding type – Categorical formula grant program. 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities - The mission of WAP is to reduce energy costs 

for low-income families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and 

children, while ensuring their health and safety through installation of energy efficiency 

measures. If a state elects, homes with high energy burden or high energy usage may 

also be prioritized. Eligible activities include: The cost of purchase and delivery of 

weatherization materials; labor costs in accordance with 10 CFR section 440.19; 

transportation of weatherization materials, tools and equipment and work crews to 

storage site and/or to the site of weatherization work; maintenance, operation, and 

insurance of vehicles used to transport weatherization materials; maintenance of tools and 

equipment; purchase or annual lease of tools, equipment and/or vehicles except that any 

purchase of vehicles shall be referred to DOE in every instance; employment of on-site 

supervisory personnel; storage of weatherization materials, tool and equipment; the costs 

of incidental repairs to make the installation of weatherization materials effective; the 

cost of liability insurance for weatherization projects for personal injury and property 

damage; the cost of carrying out low cost/no cost weatherization assistance; the cost of 

WAP financial audits in accordance with 10 CFR section 440.23; administrative costs; 

the cost of eliminating health hazards necessary to ensure the safe installation of 

weatherization materials; leveraging activities, as specified in leveraging section of the 

State Plan and grant agreement; and, expenditures for labor, weatherization materials, and 

related maters for a renewable energy system. 

6) Number of families served annually – Approximately 100,000 depending on funding 

appropriation 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients – A dwelling unit is eligible for weatherization assistance 

if it is occupied by a family unit: (1) Whose income is at or below 150 % of the poverty 

level; that contains a member who has received cash assistance payments under Title IC 

or XVI of the Social Security Act or applicable state or local law at any time during the 

12-month period preceding the determination of eligibility for weatherization assistance; 

or, if the state elects, is eligible for assistance under the Low-Income Home Energy 

Assistance Act of 1981, provided that such basis is at least 150 percent of the poverty 

level. 

8) Funding History – FY 2006, $242.5 million 

37 
9) Known level of participation of homeless families – While the Program does not track 

homeless families, it does track the number of shelters that are weatherized. Those 

numbers for the last six completed Program Years (PY) are: PY 2000, 561 shelters; PY 

2001, 128 shelters: PY 2002, 367 shelters; PY 2003, 231 shelters; PY 2004, 167 shelters; 

and, PY 2005, 142 shelters. 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families – The Weatherization 

Assistance Program is not aware of any statutory or regulatory impediments to serving 

homeless families. The Program regulations at 10 CFR Part 440.3 defines shelter as a 

dwelling unit or units whose principal purpose is to house on a temporary basis 

individuals who may or may not be related to one another and who are not living in 

nursing homes, prisons, or similar institutional care facilities. The only impediment 

would be the level of federal funding support and the determination of local agencies to 

serve their highest priority clients. 

11) Program web addresses: http://www.eere.energy.gov/wip/weatherization and 

http://www.waptac.org 

38
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

39
40
HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS 

1) Program Name: Health Care for the Homeless 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health 

Resources and Services Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Public Health Service Act, Section 330(e),(g),(h),(i), Public 

Law 104-299; Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996. 

4) Funding type: Project grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the Health Care for the Homeless 

(HCH) program is to provide primary health care, substance abuse, emergency care with 

referrals to hospitals for in-patient care services and/or other needed services, and 

outreach services to assist difficult-to-reach homeless persons in accessing care, and 

provide assistance in establishing eligibility for entitlement programs and housing. 

Services provided include primary health care, substance abuse, mental health, and oral 

health services; extensive outreach and engagement; extensive case management 

services; and assistance with accessing public benefits, housing, job training, etc. 

HCH works within guidelines for the Consolidated Health Center (Health Center) 

program. Health centers serve all residents in their catchment area, regardless of ability 

to pay. Health Centers serve homeless individuals as appropriate, therefore, Centers 

located in communities that do not have HCH programs may serve persons who are 

homeless. 

6) Number of families served annually: HRSA does not collect information that could be 

used to assess the number of families who are served by the program; only individual 

data are collected from users. The following are demographic data on users in certain age 

categories in CY 2006. Of the 702,000 persons served by the HCH program in CY 2006: 

54,800 (7.8%) were children aged 0-6 

21,000 (3.4%) were ages 7-12 

39,300 (5.6%) were ages 13-19 

16,300 (2.3%) were women ages 16-19 

34,700 (4.9%) were women ages 20-24 

30,000 (4.3%) were women ages 25-29 

40,000 (5.7 %) were men ages 16-19 

53,000 (7.6 %) were men ages 20-24 

29,000 (4.1%) were men ages 25-29 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible grant recipients include private nonprofit and 

public entities. Eligible recipients of services include persons who are literally homeless, 

as well as those who are living in transitional housing arrangements. 

41
8) Funding History: FY 2006: $151.4 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: 

3⁄4 Circumstances of homelessness (environmental, safety issues, etc.). Response 

includes assertive outreach, delivery of services in locations accessible to 

homeless persons, hours of service to accommodate the complexities of the lives 

of homeless persons. 

3⁄4 Lack of financial resources and health insurance. Response includes provision of 

services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay, waiver of fees for all persons 

below federal poverty levels, assistance in application for Medicaid. 

3⁄4 Lack of documentation of citizenship status. Response includes provision of 

services without regard to documentation of eligibility or citizenship. 

3⁄4 Language and cultural barriers. Response includes culturally competent care, 

with translators for non-English speakers. 

3⁄4 Attitudes of providers. Response includes provision of training for all providers 

and other staff about interpersonal and clinical accommodations necessary to meet 

the needs of homeless people. 

3⁄4 Scheduling difficulties. Response includes scheduling of services to 

accommodate the complications in the lives of homeless persons. 

3⁄4 Lack of transportation. Response includes the delivery of services in a variety of 

settings, including fixed clinic sites, shelters and other locations where homeless 

people congregate, as well as fully equipped mobile medical vans to deliver 

services on the street. 

3⁄4 Fear and distrust of institutions. Response includes small, street and shelter-based 

service delivery, outreach to build trust, case management to help patients 

navigate the delivery system. 

11) Program web address: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/hchirc 

42
FEDERAL SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY PROGRAM (TITLE V) 

1) Program Name: Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) 

2) Responsible Department: The Federal Surplus Real Property Program is jointly 

managed by the General Services Administration, Public Building Service; the U.S. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and 

Development; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support 

Center 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, 

Section 203(k), Public Law 81-152, 40 U.S.C. 484, as amended; McKinney-Vento 

Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 (McKinney Act), as amended, 104 Stat. 4673 

4) Funding type: No direct funding, rather the transfer of federal surplus property via lease 

or deed 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the Federal Surplus Real 

Property Program (Title V) is to provide suitable federal properties (land or buildings) to 

organizations which serve the needs of persons experiencing homelessness. Properties 

are made available on an “as is” basis. Eligible homeless assistance activities include 

emergency and transitional housing and related services, permanent supportive housing, 

substance abuse and mental health programs, ex-offender aftercare programs and 

miscellaneous other supportive services that meet an identified need of the homeless 

population in a given community. 

The program is operated by three federal departments, the General Services 

Administration (GSA), who holds the land; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development (HUD), who determines the suitability of the property for homeless 

assistance; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), who 

processes the applications and oversees the implementation of the program. HUD 

reviews information submitted by the original federal agency owners of the properties 

and determines whether the properties appear “suitable” for use to assist persons 

experiencing homelessness. Properties are generally considered suitable unless they are 

near flammable or explosive material, are within an airport runway area or a flood way, 

have documented deficiencies such as being seriously affected by another environmental 

hazard, are structurally damaged or extensively deteriorated, are in an area secured for 

national defense, or are inaccessible. Each week, HUD publishes a notice in the Federal 

Register with information about the properties that have been identified by federal 

landholding agencies as unutilized, underutilized, excess or surplus. The Federal 

Register publication indicates which suitable properties are available. 

Applications for acquisition of federal surplus real property are reviewed and assessed by 

HHS, and the agency may transfer federal surplus real properties that have been 

determined suitable and available for use by homeless assistance providers. HHS 

43
requires Title V transferees to us the property for the approved purpose for a period of 30 

years, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the disposal. 

6) Number of families served annually: FY 2006: A minimum of 1,800 families (this 

number represents a minimum estimate as some grantees do not report statistics, and 

other Title V programs do not serve exclusively families and may not be included in this 

figure). Grantees of the Title V program are not required to report on the number of 

families being served. Programs implemented and services provided under the Title V 

program vary, making it difficult to account for the total number of unduplicated 

homeless families being served on an annual basis. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible applicants are states and their political 

subdivisions and instrumentalities, and tax-supported and nonprofit institutions. 

8) Funding History: The Title V program has no appropriation. PSC has permanent 

authority as a component of the HHS Services and Supply Fund, under 42USC231, to be 

reimbursed for services performed. The FY 2006 estimated budget for the Real Property 

as operated by HHS is $641,048. 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: FY 2006: A minimum of 1,800 

families (this number represents a minimum estimate as some grantees do not report 

statistics, and other Title V programs do not serve exclusively families and may not be 

included in this figure). Grantees of the Title V program are not required to report on the 

number of families being served. Programs implemented and services provided under the 

Title V program vary, making it difficult to account for the total number of unduplicated 

homeless families being served on an annual basis. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no statutory or 

regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. Under 

Title V, the process for identifying properties, determining suitability, determining 

availability by landholding agencies, and leasing or deeding surplus properties involves at 

least three federal agencies and can appear quite confusing and cumbersome to homeless 

providers. For example, because of the wide latitude in the suitability standard, a clear 

majority of the properties HUD finds “suitable” are not actually practical for homeless 

assistance because they are in remote areas or have other limitations that make them 

unattractive to homeless providers. About 95 percent of the properties are military, most 

of which relocated on bases that are not convenient to the homeless. 

To assist homeless providers, HUD has established a toll-free “hotline” that is used to 

provide information on properties and answer questions about the program. HUD has 

also directed local HUD field staff to be the point of contact for homeless providers 

interested in obtaining surplus federal properties. Although they cannot reduce the 

number of steps necessary to put the properties to use, local HUD staff does provide 

information and technical assistance concerning the inventory and process. The offices 

maintain mailing lists for distributing lists of suitable properties that are published in the 

Federal Register. As the point of contact for other homeless assistance programs, local 

HUD staff is also able to suggest ways of coordinating Title V with other federal, state, 

44
local, and private homeless assistance programs. Interested parties may also obtain 

information regarding the Title V program through a toll-free telephone number (1-800-

927-7588). 

11) Program web address: 

HHS: http://www.psc.gov/aos/federalprop/titleV.html 

HUD: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/t5/index.cfm 

GSA: 

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/channelView.do?pageTypeId=8211&channelPa 

ge=%2Fep%2Fchannel%2FgsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-13016 

45
SERVICES IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Services in Supportive Housing Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Services in Supportive Housing Program grants are authorized 

under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended 

4) Funding type: Project Grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of this program is to help end 

chronic homelessness by funding services for individuals experiencing chronic 

homelessness and families experiencing homelessness in coordination with existing 

permanent supportive housing programs and resources. Supportive housing provides 

consumers with long-term, community-based housing options. This housing approach 

combines housing assistance and intensive individualized support services to people with 

serious psychiatric conditions and those with co-occurring mental and substance use 

disorders. This initiative will provide chronically homeless individuals and families the 

appropriate services and treatment needed to stay housed in a permanent setting. The 

Services in Supportive Housing Program addresses the issue of chronic homelessness by 

funding the services aspect of permanent supportive housing programs. The “services 

aspect” of supportive housing programs includes such program activities as outreach and 

engagement, case management, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and 

assistance in obtaining benefits. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A- new program beginning this year 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible applicants include: 1) previous Collaborative 

Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH) grantees; 2) HUD permanent 

supportive housing programs (Shelter Plus Care, Single Room Occupancy housing, 

Supportive Housing Program permanent housing, or Safe Haven programs); or 3) 

permanent supportive housing programs funded by non-HUD sources. 

8) Funding History: Estimated $3.004 million available in FY 2007 (first year of funding) 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A- new program beginning this 

year 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: N/A- new program 

beginning this year 

11) Program web address: N/A 

46
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Child Support Enforcement Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Children and Families 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Social Security Act, Title IV-D, as amended, Public Laws 94-

46, 94-88, 94-365, 95-30, 95-59, 95-171, 95-598, 96-178, 96-265, 96-272, 96-611, 97-35, 

97-248, 98-369, 98-378, 100-485, and 101- 508; 15 U.S.C. 1673; 26 U.S.C. 6103(i); 26 

U.S.C. 6305; 26 U.S.C. 6402(c); 29 U.S.C. 49b; 42 U.S.C. 651-667; 42 U.S.C. 1310; 42 

U.S.C. 1315. 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The mission of the child support enforcement 

program is to assure that assistance in obtaining support (both financial and medical) is 

available to children through locating parents, establishing paternity and support 

obligations, and enforcing those obligations. The program is a federal/state/tribal/local 

partnership to help families by promoting family self-sufficiency and child well-being. 

All states and territories run a child support enforcement program, usually in the human 

services department, department of revenue, or the State Attorney General’s office, often 

with the help of prosecuting attorneys, district attorneys, other law enforcement agencies 

and officials of family or domestic relations courts. Native American Tribes, too, can 

operate culturally appropriate child support programs with federal funding. Families 

seeking government child support services must apply directly through their state/local 

agency or one of the tribes running the program. Services are available to a parent with 

custody of a child whose other parent is living outside the home, and services are 

available automatically for families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance 

for Needy Families (TANF) program. 

The child support program in each state can be a helpful resource to families consisting 

of single custodial parents with children, since a reason for the homelessness may be nonpayment of child support. In addition, child support programs can help homeless 

noncustodial parents, through outreach, address any outstanding child support issues 

(perhaps helping them with the order modification process) and connecting them with 

organizations that can help them with basic skills, such as how to seek and maintain 

employment, and understand issues surrounding court and child support agency 

processes. 

6) Number of families served annually: FY 2006: more than 15.8 million families were 

served in FY 2006 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin 

Islands, and Guam. Each of these jurisdictions is required to establish or designate a 

single and separate State Child Support Enforcement Agency. Tribes are eligible and we 

currently have nine tribal child support programs. 

47 
8) Funding History: FY 2006: $4,206.5 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The child support enforcement 

program does not collect data about the number of homeless families served by the 

program. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: ACF is not aware of any 

statutory or regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to child support 

enforcement services 

11) Program web address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/ 

48
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT 

1) Program Name: Community Services Block Grant 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Children and Families 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Title VI, Subtitle B, of the Omnibus budget Reconciliation Act 

of 1981, PL 97-35, as amended [42USC 9901 et seq.]; and the Community Opportunities, 

Accountability, and Training and Educational Services (COATES) Human Services 

Reauthorization Act of 1998 (PL 105-285) 

4) Funding type: Formula block grant 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the Community Services Block 

Grant (CSBG) is to provide services and activities to reduce poverty, including services 

to address employment, education, better use of available income, housing assistance, 

nutrition, energy, emergency services, health, and substance abuse needs. Funds are used 

by states to support a network of local community action agencies, federally and state 

recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations, migrant and seasonal farm worker 

organizations, or private/public community-based organizations to provide a range of 

services and activities to assist low-income individuals, and families, including the 

homeless, to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty. 

6) Number of families served annually: ACF does not collect data on the number of 

families who are served through programs. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Funds are allocated by formula to 50 states and the 

District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the 

Northern Marianas, and state and federally-recognized Indian tribes. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $630 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: As a flexible block grant, it is not 

known how many homeless families are served on an annual basis. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments. CSBG services, as offered by participating providers, are available to all 

low-income people in virtually every county in the nation. 

11) Program web address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/csbg/ 

49
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

1) Program Name: Community Health Centers 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Health 

Resources and Services Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Public Health Service Act, Section 330 

4) Funding type: Project grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Community Health Centers provide health 

services to underserved populations. This includes people who face barriers in accessing 

services because they have difficulty paying for services, have language or cultural 

differences, or because there is an insufficient number of health professionals/resources 

available in their community. Health Centers provide health care services as described in 

statute and regulation, including basic preventive and primary health care services. 

Health Centers also provide services that help ensure access to primary care such as case 

management, outreach, transportation and interpretive services. Services are provided 

without regard for a person’s ability to pay. Fees are discounted or adjusted based upon 

the patient’s income and family size from current federal poverty guidelines. All 

grantees must demonstrate that all persons will have access to the full range of required 

primary, preventive, enabling, and supplemental health services, including oral health 

care, mental health care and substance abuse services, either directly on-site or through 

established arrangements. 

6) Number of families served annually: HRSA does not collect data on the number of 

families served at the health centers; data are collected on individuals only. 

Data for entire Health Center cohort of 15 million patients (CY 06 data): 

• 2,380,000 (15.8%) were children aged 0-6 

• 1,380,000 (9.2%) were ages 7-12 

• 1,740,000 (11.6%) were ages 13-19 

• 634,000 (4.2%) were women ages 16-19 

• 870,000 (5.8% ) were women ages 20-24 

• 800,000 (5.3%) were women ages 25-29 

• 362,000 (2.4%) were men ages 16-19 

• 360,000 (2.4% ) were men ages 20-24 

• 360,000 (2.4%) were men ages 25-29 

50
7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Funds are allocated by formula to 50 states and the 

District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the 

Northern Marianas, and state and federally-recognized Indian tribes. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $1,782 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The known level of participation of 

homeless families in serves provided by the Community Health Centers is unknown, as 

Health Center reporting does not support an estimate of the number of homelessness 

persons served outside of the Health Care for the Homeless program. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: 

1) Lack of financial resources and health insurance. Response includes provision of 

services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay, waiver of fees for all persons below 

federal poverty levels, assistance in application for Medicaid. 

2) Language and cultural barriers. Response includes culturally competent care, with 

translators for non-English speakers as appropriate. 

3) Lack of transportation. Response includes the provision of transportation services. 

11) Program web address: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/chc/ 

51
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Children and Families 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, as amended; 

Child Abuse Amendments of 1984, Title III, Public Law 98-457; Child Abuse 

Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988, Title III, Public Law 100-294, as 

amended; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Title IV, Public 

Law 103-322, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 10401; Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 

Amendments of 1996, Public Law 104-235; Victims of Trafficking and Violence 

Protection Act of 2000, Title II, Public Law 106-836; Keeping Children and Families 

Safe Act of 2003, Public Law 108-36, Violence Against Women and Department of 

Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the Family Violence Prevention 

and Services Program is to further the purposes of domestic violence intervention and 

prevention through coordination, training, and collaboration with systems that affect 

battered women; to provide services, community education and technical assistance to 

such programs to establish and maintain shelter and related services for victims of 

domestic violence and their dependents. As such, the program funds grants to state 

agencies, territories and Indian Tribes for the provision of shelter to victims of family 

violence and their dependents, and for related services, such as emergency transportation 

and child care. Grantees use additional resources to expand current service programs and 

to establish additional services in rural and underserved areas, on Native American 

reservations, and in Alaskan Native Villages. The program also supports technical 

assistance and training for local domestic violence programs and disseminates research 

and information through five resource centers. 

6) Number of families served annually: During FY 2006, the Family Violence Prevention 

and Services program served more than 118,200 women (and 1,160 men) and 120,400 

children through the shelter programs. The intake process used for shelter services 

records individuals for accuracy and alignment with the services offered by the program, 

however, the designation by families could be both inaccurate and misleading. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: To be eligible for a grant under this Section, an entity 

shall be a statewide nonprofit State Domestic Violence Coalition, or a membership 

organization consisting of the battered women's shelters in the state, or territory. This 

program will benefit victims of domestic violence, their children and other dependents, 

their families, and other persons affected by such violence including friends, relatives, 

and the general public. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $127.6 million 

52
9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Specific data on the number of 

homeless families served are unavailable. Many of the individuals serviced through the 

family violence program are not homeless but seek respite from an abusive or dangerous 

situation. It is not unusual for a person who has sought safety in a shelter to return home 

several times prior to leaving permanently. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: The available services 

within the shelter programs are focused on the assistance that a person needs, and how to 

access other needed services, such as support groups for victims of domestic violence, 

accessing protection orders and other legal practices, and safety planning. A primary 

emphasis of the services to shelter residents is helping them to know how to remain safe 

and what steps they may take to ensure their safety and that of their dependents (if any). 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/familyviolence/programs.htm 

53
HEAD START 

1) Program Name: Head Start 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Children and Families 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Community Opportunities, Accountability, Training, and 

Educational Services Act of 1998, Title I, Sections 101-119, Public Law 105-285 

4) Funding type: Project grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The objective of Head Start is to promote school 

readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children, 

including children on federally recognized reservations and children of migratory farm 

workers, through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social 

and other services; and to involve parents in their children's learning and to help parents 

make progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Head Start also 

emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local 

Head Start programs. Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child 

development programs serve children from birth to age five, pregnant women, and their 

families. It is a child-focused program with the overall goal of increasing the school 

readiness of young children in low-income families. Head Start serves homeless families 

eligible for the program in areas such as nutrition, developmental, medical and dental 

screenings, immunizations, mental health and social services referrals, and transportation. 

Section 645 of the 1998 Head Start Act establishes income eligibility for participation in 

Head Start programs by reference to the official poverty line, adjusted annually in 

accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index. Homeless families often fall 

within these guidelines. 

6) Number of families served annually: In the 2005-2006 program year, 996,148 families 

were served, including 1,091,452 children. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Any local government, federally-recognized Indian 

tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the requirements 

may apply for a grant. Grantee agencies may subcontract with other child-serving 

agencies to provide services to Head Start children. Head Start/Early Head Start 

programs are for children from birth up to the age when the child enters the school 

system; however, Head Start programs only serve pre-school age children (i.e. children 

three or four years old) while Early Head Start programs serve children from birth 

through age three. No less than 10 percent of the total enrollment opportunities in each 

Head Start program shall be available for children with disabilities. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $6,786 million 

54
9) Known level of participation of homeless families: In FY 2006, Head Start served 

approximately 27,000 homeless children and their families throughout the country. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Grantees may need to 

make extraordinary efforts to recruit, enroll and retain homeless children and families 

while they are in shelters or transitional living arrangements. Transportation may be a 

major problem, especially when families move frequently between shelters. Homeless 

families often need extra assistance in completing Head Start applications (due to missing 

or temporarily unobtainable paperwork) and acquiring medical exams and follow up care. 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/familyviolence/programs.htm 

55
TITLE V MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT 

1) Program Name: Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Health 

Resources and Services Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Social Security Act, Title V, Section 502(a)(1), as amended; 

42 U.S.C. 702 

4) Funding type: Formula block grants and project grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Maternal and Child Health Services Block 

Grant (MCHBG) has three components: formula block grants to 59 states and Territories, 

grants for Special Projects of Regional and National Significance, and Community 

Integrated Service Systems grants. It operates through a partnership with State Maternal 

and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs programs. The Program 

supports direct care; core public health functions such as resource development, capacity 

and systems building; population-based functions such as public information and 

education, knowledge development, outreach and program linkage; technical assistance 

to communities; and provider training. Most services supported by MCH block grant 

funds fall within four areas: 1) Direct Health Care - Basic health care services are 

provided to individual clients generally on a one-on-one basis between health care 

professionals and patients in a clinic, office, or emergency room; 2) Enabling Services -

These services help targeted populations in need to gain access to the care that is 

available to them. Types of services include transportation to care, translation services, 

respite care for family caregivers, and health education programs; 3) Population-based 

Services - Most of these services are preventive services that are available to everyone. 

Examples include immunizations, child injury prevention programs, lead poisoning 

prevention activities, and newborn screening programs; and 4) Infrastructure Building -

These activities form the foundation of all MCH-funded services. Activities include: 

evaluation, monitoring, planning, policy development, quality assurance, training and 

research. Neither HRSA nor states collect financial data on how many of its program 

dollars support homeless mothers and children, nor does it collect program data that 

indicates how many homeless mothers and children are served by Title V. 

6) Number of families served annually: Data on families are not collected by the 

program; instead, data are reported on the four MCH target population groups: pregnant 

women, infants less than 1 year, children 1 to 22 years, children with special health care 

needs (CSHCN), other. 2006 aggregated national data for these target populations are: 

Pregnant Women: 2,468,776 

Infants less than 1 year: 3,875,149 

Children 1 to 22 years: 22,543,966 

CHSCN: 1,370,947 

56
 Other: 2,855,171 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Title V MCH Block Grants are granted to states and 

insular areas. Mothers, infants, children, including CSHCN, and their families, 

particularly those of low-income are the beneficiaries of the Title V MCH Block Grant 

Program. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $693 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Title V does not collect program 

data on how many homeless mothers and children are served by Title V. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Homeless women and 

children may have difficulty obtaining health care services for a variety of reasons. State 

and local MCH agencies engage in numerous outreach efforts to bring high-risk women 

and children into care. For example, MCH supports outreach workers at WIC centers and 

health centers under the 330 Consolidated Health Centers program in many jurisdictions. 

11) Program web address: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/ 

57
MEDICAID 

1) Program Name: Medicaid 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Title XIX of the Social Security Act - Medicaid 

4) Funding type: State-federal funding partnership 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Medicaid, operated by the Centers for Medicare 

and Medicaid Services (CMS), is a jointly funded, federal-state health insurance program 

for certain low-income and needy people. Medicaid is available only to certain lowincome individuals and families who fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by 

federal and state law. As a state administered program, each state sets its own guidelines 

regarding eligibility and services. The program operates by sending payments directly to 

a health care provider. 

6) Number of families served annually: CMS does not collect data on the number of 

families that are served annually through the Medicaid program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Many groups of people are covered by Medicaid. Even 

within these groups, though, certain requirements must be met. These may include age, 

whether an individual is pregnant, disabled, blind, or aged; income and resources (bank 

accounts, real property, or other items that can be sold for cash); and whether an 

individual is a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant. The rules for counting 

income and resources vary from state to state and from group to group. Additionally, 

there are special rules for those who live in nursing homes and for disabled children 

living at home. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $180,625 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: State Medicaid programs are not 

required to report to CMS on the homelessness or housing status of persons who receive 

health care supported with Medicaid funding. Therefore, Medicaid data systems are not 

designed to produce estimates of the number of homeless persons served. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Stakeholders have 

identified three impediments to accessing Medicaid by homeless persons. First, some 

uninsured persons who are homeless may be eligible for Medicaid but are not enrolled. 

Second, some states may terminate Medicaid eligibility while a person is in a public 

institution or Institute of Mental Disease based solely on their status as inmates or 

residents, thus interrupting Medicaid eligibility and possibly access to essential services 

at discharge. Finally, providers who primarily serve persons who are homeless 

frequently have difficulty accessing Medicaid reimbursement. Problems include: a) State 

58
Medicaid Programs either do not or cannot cover the necessary services needed by 

persons who are homeless; b) homeless providers are not eligible to receive Medicaid 

reimbursement; c) Medicaid provider requirements are too burdensome for some 

homeless providers; or d) low Medicaid reimbursement rates act as a disincentive to 

become a Medicaid provider. 

11) Program web address: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp 

59
STATE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: State Children’s Health Insurance Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Title XXI, Subtitle J, Section 

4901, Public Law 105-33; Public Law 105-100 and Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP 

Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 Public Law 106-113, Section 702; Medicare, 

Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement Act of 2000, Title VIII, Section 801, 802, 

and 803, Public Law 106-554, Public Law 108-74, Public Law 108-127 and Public Law 

109-171. 

4) Funding type: Formula grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The State Children’s Health Insurance Program, 

operated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is a partnership 

between the federal and state governments that provides health coverage to uninsured 

children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford 

private coverage. The federal government establishes general guidelines for the 

administration of SCHIP benefits. However, specific eligibility requirements to receive 

SCHIP benefits, as well as the type and scope of services provided, are determined by 

each state. Assistance is provided primarily by two methods (1) obtain health insurance 

coverage that meets the requirements in Section 2103 relating to the amount, duration, 

and scope of benefits; or (2) expand eligibility for children under the state's Medicaid 

program. 

6) Number of families served annually: CMS does not collect data on the number of 

families that are served annually through the SCHIP program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: All states and territories may apply for SCHIP, and 

targeted low-income children will benefit. These children are defined (for the purposes of 

Title XXI) as children who have been determined eligible by the state for child health 

assistance under their state plan; are low-income children; or are children whose family 

income exceeds the Medicaid applicable income level but does not exceed 50 percentage 

points above the Medicaid applicable income level; and are not found to be eligible for 

medical assistance under Title XIX or covered under a group health plan or under health 

insurance coverage. This term does not include a child that is a member of a family that is 

eligible for health benefits coverage under a state health benefits plan on the basis of a 

family member's employment with a public agency in the state. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $5,451 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: State Medicaid programs are not 

required to report to CMS on the homelessness or housing status of persons who receive 

60
health care supported with SCHIP funding. Therefore, SCHIP data systems are not 

designed to produce estimates of the number of homeless persons served. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments to accessing SCHIP by homeless persons or homeless service providers. 

CMS requires states to ensure that covered services are available to all individuals who 

are eligible for the program, including those that are homeless, without discrimination. 

States may implement outreach or health services initiatives specifically designed to 

reach different targeted subpopulations, such as homeless children. 

SCHIP is a jointly administered federal/state program, with each state developing its own 

rules for participant eligibility and service coverage that meet the needs of its population. 

These determinations occur within broad federal guidelines. However, enrollment 

procedures, eligibility, and coverage vary by state and, even within a state; there may be 

multiple service delivery systems (e.g. fee-for-service, managed care). These variations 

within and across states allow for unique tailoring of SCHIP to each state population, but 

make it difficult to identify overarching impediments. 

11) Program web address: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/schip.asp 

61
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT 

1) Program Name: Social Services Block Grant 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Children and Families 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Social Security Act, Title XX, as amended; Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, Public Law 97-35; Jobs Training Bill, Public 

Law 98-8; Public Law 98-473; Medicaid and Medicare Patient and Program Act of 1987; 

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Public Law 100-203; Family Support Act 

of 1988, Public Law 100- 485; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Public Law 

103-66; 42 U.S.C. 1397 et seq. 

4) Funding type: Formula block grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) assists 

states in delivering social services directed toward the needs of children and adults. 

SSBG funds support outcomes across the human service spectrum, and these outcomes 

are associated with strategic goals and objectives such as employment, child care, child 

welfare, adoptions, and youth services. The SSBG allows states flexibility in their use of 

funds for a range of services, depending on state and local priorities. The SSBG is based 

on two fundamental principles: (1) state and local governments and communities are best 

able to determine the needs of individuals to help them achieve self-sufficiency; and (2) 

social and economic needs are interrelated and must be met simultaneously. States have 

the flexibility to spend SSBG funds on a variety of services. Of these, services to 

promote self-sufficiency are the most relevant to homelessness, which may include 

education/training, employment services, family planning services, 

independent/transitional living for adults, pregnancy and parenting, and substance abuse 

services. 

6) Number of families served annually: ACF does not collect data on the number of 

families that are served annually through the Social Services Block Grant. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: SSBG block grant funds are distributed to the 50 states, 

the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Funds are allocated to the states on 

the basis of population. Under Title XX, each eligible jurisdiction determines the 

services that will be provided and the individuals that will be eligible to receive services. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $1,700 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: As a flexible block grant awarded 

to states and U.S. Territories, SSBG does not collect specific data on the number of 

homeless families served. 

62
10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: SSBG is a highly flexible 

funding stream. There are 29 potential services that may be supported under the SSBG, 

each with uniform definitions. From this list, states have considerable flexibility to 

determine which services to provide and to establish eligibility criteria. However, 

because of this flexibility, the availability of the services and expenditures on them varies 

among states, and from year to year for each state. In some states, the SSBG is used to 

fund one or two services in their entirety; in others, the SSBG supplements other funds. 

11) Program web address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg/ 

63
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES 

3) Program Name: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Children and Families 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Title IV, Part A of the Social Security Act 

4) Funding type: Block grant to states 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Title IV-A, section 404 of the Social Security 

Act (Act) allows states, territories and federally recognized Indian Tribes to use federal 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in any manner that is 

reasonably calculated to accomplish a purpose of the TANF program. Section 401 of the 

Act sets forth the following four TANF purposes: (1) Provide assistance to needy 

families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of 

relatives; (2) End the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting 

job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-ofwedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing 

the incidence of these pregnancies; and (4) Encourage the formation and maintenance of 

two-parent families. Each state, territory, and participating Tribe decides the benefits it 

will provide and establishes the specific financial and non-financial eligibility criteria that 

must be met to receive financial assistance payments and/or other types of TANF-funded 

benefits and services. TANF agencies provide a range of benefits to eligible families 

who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. Typical benefits and services 

provided to homeless families include: cash assistance for temporary shelter 

arrangements; assistance to obtain permanent housing; case management services; onetime cash payments for immediate household needs; and vouchers for clothing, 

household expenses, and food. For at-risk families, typical benefits include counseling, 

housing referrals, assistance for past due utility bills, and assistance for arrearages in rent 

or mortgage payments. 

6) Number of families served annually: FY 2006: 1.8 million 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and U.S. Territories 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $17,059 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The federal government does not 

collect data on the number of homeless families who access TANF, nor does the federal 

government require that states collect this data. However, HHS is currently conducting a 

survey to determine if states are collecting data about the housing status of TANF 

applicants and recipients in an effort to estimate how many homeless families are 

accessing TANF. 

64
10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: ACF is not aware of any 

statutory or regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to TANF assistance 

and services. The TANF program is one that is designed by each state and territory. 

These entities have maximum flexibility in program design, including the criteria 

necessary for a family to establish eligibility. The eligibility process is one that requires 

families to verify their circumstances in order to receive benefits. Being homeless is not 

a reason to deny benefits to needy families. The flexibility afforded states in the design 

of their TANF programs also extends to the provision of services. States can enter into 

contracts with a myriad of for profit, non-profit, and faith-based providers for the 

delivery of services to the TANF population. Such contracts are subject to state 

procurement requirements and resource parameters. A number of states have established 

contracts with service providers who have experience in working with homeless families. 

11) Program web address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/ 

65
66
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN 

DEVELOPMENT

67
68
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS 

1) Program Name: Emergency Shelter Grants 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office 

of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Subtitle B of Title IV of The McKinney-Vento Act, 42 U.S.C. 

11371-78 

4) Funding Type: Block grants to states, larger metropolitan cities, urban counties, local 

governments, and U.S. territories 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds are used 

for one or more of the following eligible activities relating to emergency shelter and 

transitional housing for the homeless: (1) renovation, major rehabilitation, or conversion 

of buildings to shelter homeless persons; (2) provision of essential services to the 

homeless (not more than 30 percent of the grant, unless waived by HUD); (3) payment of 

operations (not more than 10 percent of the grant for staff management costs), 

maintenance, rent, repair, security, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, and furnishings; 

and (4) homeless prevention activities (not more than 30 percent of the grant). Grantees 

can use up to five percent of the allocation for administering the grant. In the case of 

state grantees, the allocation for administration must be shared with funded recipients. 

To be eligible, each grantee must have a HUD-approved Consolidated Plan, which 

contains a description of the community's homeless assistance needs, details available 

resources, and provides a five-year plan and a yearly action plan. The yearly action plan, 

which serves as the application, identifies the new projects and activities being proposed 

for ESG funding. Each participating grantee signs a grant agreement and must submit 

certifications required by HUD. Local governments receiving formula allocations may 

distribute all, or part of their grants to nonprofit recipients to be used for ESG activities. 

State governments must distribute ESG funds to local governments, or directly to 

nonprofit organizations with the approval of the local government. Only local 

governments and nonprofit organizations may apply for ESG funds directly to states. 

ESG allocations are based on the prior year’s Community Development Block Grants 

(CDBG). These grants are awarded based on use of objective measures such as 

community need, population growth lag, per capita personal income, housing 

overcrowding, and age of housing. Generally, the minimum ESG grant is .05 percent of 

the total national allocations. Smaller grant amounts are added to that of the state 

government. The territories receive their allocations based on their population size. 

Grantee governments must match ESG funds with an equal amount of funds from other 

sources, including donations of a building or material goods, the value of a lease, and 

additional staff salaries or volunteer time. State governments may exempt the first 

$100,000 of its ESG grant from the match requirement, if it provides the benefit of the 

exemption to its most needy recipients. 

69
6) Number of Families Served Annually: Family demographic data is not collected in this 

program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible applicants are states, larger metropolitan cities, 

urban counties, and U.S. territories. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $158,400,000 awarded 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by the ESG program. 

10) Known impediments for homeless families: There are no statutory or regulatory 

impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. The ESG 

Program is one that is designed by each state and territory. These entities have flexibility 

in program design, including the criteria necessary for a family to establish eligibility. 

The flexibility afforded states in the design of their programs also extends to the 

provision of services. States can enter into contracts with profit, non-profit and faithbased providers for the delivery of services to homeless families. Such contracts are 

subject to state procurement requirements and resource parameters. Some states have 

established contracts with service providers who have experience in working with 

homeless families. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/esg/ 

70
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Supportive Housing Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office 

of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Subtitle C of Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Act, 42 U.S.C. 

11381-11389 

4) Funding Type: Competitive grants to state, local governments and non-profit 

organizations 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Supportive Housing Program (SHP) is 

designed to promote the development of housing and supportive services to assist 

homeless individuals and families in making a successful transition to permanent housing 

and greater self-determination. SHP provides grants to public entities and nonprofit 

organizations. 

SHP has six program components (or approaches) for which funding may be requested: 

1. Permanent housing for homeless persons with disabilities. Long-term, 

community-based housing designed for homeless people (including those with 

families) with disabilities. Supportive services may be provided by the applicant 

or by contract with other public or private service providers. Projects generally 

serve fewer than 16 people. 

2. Transitional housing. Supportive housing that facilitates the movement of 

homeless individuals and/or families to permanent housing within 24 months. 

Supportive services may be provided by the applicant or by contract with other 

public or private service providers. 

3. Supportive services only. Supportive services that are provided separate from 

transitional or permanent housing projects (including case management, housing 

counseling, employment assistance, etc.). Families with children are eligible to 

participate in these programs. 

4. Safe Havens. A residence for hard-to-reach homeless people with severe mental 

illness. Structures funded by this component have the following characteristics: 

(1) limited to 25 residents; (2) provide 24-hour access for an unspecified duration; 

(3) offer private or semi-private sleeping accommodations; (4) may provide 

common kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms; and (5) may provide drop-in 

services to eligible people who are not residents. Because of the transient nature 

of the population served by this program and the level of disabilities present in the 

population, this program is generally not appropriate for families. 

5. Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). An HMIS is a datacollections software system designed to capture information over time on the 

characteristics of persons, including children in families, experiencing 

71 
homelessness. 

6. Innovative Supportive Housing. This component enables the applicant to design a 

program outside the scope of the other components. The program must 

demonstrate that it represents a distinctly different approach when viewed within 

its geographic area, be a sensible model for others, and be replicated elsewhere. 

SHP will fund acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction, leasing, supportive services, 

operating costs, homeless management information systems (HMIS), and project 

administrative costs. Funds may be used to establish new housing or service facilities, 

expand existing facilities, add services, or bring existing facilities up to code and 

implement computerized data collection systems. 

6) Number of families served annually: Based on applications submitted for 2006: 59,335 

homeless families were served 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State, local government and non-profit organizations 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $880,996,350 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Based on applications submitted 

for 2006: 59,335 homeless families were served 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: There are no statutory or 

regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/shp/ 

72
SHELTER PLUS CARE

1) Program Name: Shelter Plus Care 

2) Responsible Department: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

Office of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Subtitle F of Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Act, 42 U.S.C. 

11403-11407 

4) Funding Type: Competitive Grant 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Shelter Plus Care Program (S+C) is 

designed to link rental assistance to supportive services for hard to reach homeless 

persons with disabilities--primarily those who are seriously mentally ill, have chronic 

problems with alcohol, drugs, or both, or who have acquired immunodeficiency 

syndrome (AIDS) and related diseases. The program provides grants to be used for 

permanent housing, which must be matched in the aggregate by supportive services that 

are equal in value to the amount of rental assistance and appropriate to the needs of the 

population to be served. The program is very flexible, providing rental assistance in a 

variety of housing settings from group homes to independent living arrangements. In 

2006, almost $333 million was awarded for S+C. Individuals who meet the criteria and 

have children are eligible participants of these programs. 

Eligible applicants (states, local governments, and public housing agencies) may request 

assistance under one or more of the four components of the S+C program, as follows: 

1. Tenant based rental assistance (TRA) provides rental assistance on behalf of 

homeless persons who may select their own housing unit anywhere within the 

locality, although the persons may be required to reside within a specific 

geographic area for the first year to facilitate service provision. 

2. Sponsor based rental assistance (SRA) provides rental assistance on behalf of 

homeless persons to private nonprofit sponsors that own or lease the housing in 

which the homeless persons reside. 

3. Project based rental assistance (PRA) provides rental assistance on behalf of 

homeless persons pursuant to a contract between the grant recipient and the owner 

of an existing structure, which may or may not be rehabilitated. 

4. Single room occupancy (SRO) provides rental assistance on behalf of homeless 

persons to property owners in connection with rehabilitation of single room 

occupancy housing. This is the one subcomponent in which families are not 

eligible based on the housing type. 

In all four components of the program, the amount of the grant is calculated using HUD’s 

Fair Market Rent (FMR) calculations. The grant is used to pay the difference between 

the total rent for the unit and the tenant household’s payment (generally 30 percent of 

adjusted household income). The rent charged must be reasonable compared to rents 

73 
charged for comparable unassisted units. Although many of the homeless will not have 

an income when they enter the S+C program, it is not unreasonable to expect that through 

supportive services many will, at some point, become gainfully employed or receive 

income support payments from mainstream social service programs. 

6) Number of Families Served: FY 2006: 7,348 Homeless Families 

7) Eligible Applicants/Recipients: States, local governments, public housing agencies 

(PHAs) 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $322,780,742 awarded for new and renewal projects 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: In FY 2006: 7,348 homeless 

families were provided housing and /or services through this program. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no statutory or 

regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/splusc/ 

74
BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE (BRAC) 

1) Program Name: Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

Office of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: McKinney-Vento Act of 1987 as amended (Public Law 100-

77) 24 CFR 586 

4) Funding Type: Community-based process allowing former military buildings to house 

homeless individuals and families 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Local Redevelopment Authorities (LRAs) are 

established by state and local governments to represent key stakeholders affected by a 

base closure. The LRA is responsible for developing and implementing reuse plans. 

Homeless assistance providers may use buildings and other resources on former military 

bases for a wide range of activities, from emergency shelter to permanent housing to 

support services. HUD reviews base redevelopment plans and offers technical assistance 

to the communities in the vicinity of military installation. If HUD approves an 

application, the U.S. Department of Defense must conduct an official public benefit 

transfer screening and an environmental review of the installation. 

6) Number of Families Served Annually: Family demographic data not collected in this 

program 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and local government agencies, private, nonprofit 

organizations and other entities. 

8) Funding History: Not applicable 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by the BRAC program. 

10) Known impediments for homeless families: There are no statutory or regulatory 

impediments to assess by homeless families to assistance and services. 

11) Program web address: http://www.acq.osd.mil/installation/reinvest/guide2.html 

75
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) 

1) Program Name: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 

2) Responsible Department: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

Office of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Title I 

4) Funding Type: Block Grant 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Community Development Block Grant 

(CDBG) program provides grants to states and cities and counties for community 

development activities, such as housing rehabilitation, public facilities improvements, 

public services, and economic development. Grantees may carry out activities 

themselves or distribute funds by using nonprofit organizations or contractors. Activities 

funded with CDBG funds must meet at least one of three national objectives: benefiting 

low- and moderate-income persons, eliminating slums or blight, or meeting urgent 

community development needs. 

The CDBG Program can be used to provide decent and affordable housing opportunities 

for low-income households, individuals, and families who are homeless or are threatened 

with becoming homeless. CDBG funds may also be used to pay for supportive services 

to help persons stay in permanent housing. In addition, local communities often use 

CDBG funds to assist low-income homeowners who live in substandard or even 

dangerous housing conditions to improve their homes, thus avoiding losing their homes 

and falling into homelessness. However, the general rule is that CDBG funds may not be 

used for income payments. For the purposes of the CDBG program, “income payments” 

means a series of subsistence-type grant payments made to a family or individual for 

items such as food, clothing, housing (rent or mortgage), or utilities. 

6) Number of Families Served Annually: Family demographic data not collected in this 

program 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: States, local governments, urban counties 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $3.71 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by this program. 

10) Known impediments for homeless families: There are no statutory or regulatory 

impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/lawsregs/notices 

76
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS (HOME) 

1) Program Name: HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

Office of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, Title II 

4) Funding Type: Formula-based allocation program 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: HOME is a formula-based allocation program to 

states (40 percent) and participating local jurisdictions (60 percent) to expand the supply 

of affordable housing and increase the number of individuals and families that can be 

served with affordable housing. Housing developed with HOME funds must serve 

households with low- or very low-incomes. State and local governments have flexibility 

to use the money to meet local needs as defined in their Consolidated Plan. HOME funds 

can be used for acquisition, new construction, and rehabilitation. Tenant-based rental 

assistance programs are also eligible. 

The HOME Program, as noted, can be used to provide tenant-based rental assistance to 

eligible low-income households who are homeless or who pay such a high percentage of 

their income toward rent that they are threatened with becoming homeless. In addition, 

eligible low-income homeowners who live in substandard or even dangerous housing 

conditions may use HOME funds to repair their homes, thus avoiding displacement onto 

the streets or into shelters. Finally, the ability to provide large development subsidies in 

the form of HOME grants or deferred payment loans to rental projects makes units 

available at low rents that may even be below Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for the area. 

This makes units accessible to extremely low-income households (below 30 percent of 

the area median income). Currently, extremely low-income households occupy more 

than 40 percent of HOME-funded rental units. 

6) Number of Families Served Annually: Family demographic data is not collected in this 

program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: In FY 2006, HOME funds were allocated by formula to 

634 state and local participating jurisdictions (PJs) who locally decide on the use of these 

block grant funds based upon need as determined through the Consolidated Plan 

development process. While HOME funds cannot be used to provide supportive services 

or to fund shelters, they can be used as described above to provide transitional or 

permanent housing to homeless persons. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 Appropriation: $1.76 billion 

77
9) Known level of participation of homeless families: This information is not collected 

through the Department’s Integrated Data and Disbursement System (IDIS) that HOME 

uses to collect performance data. There is no basis, therefore, to make any meaningful 

estimate of the level of assistance that the HOME Program provides to homeless 

individuals and families. 

10) Known Impediments for Homeless Families: There are no known statutory or 

regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/ 

78
SECTION 811 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR DISABLED PERSONS 

1) Program Name: Section 811 Supportive Housing for Disabled Persons 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: National Affordable Housing Act, Section 811 

4) Funding Type: Vouchers to public housing agencies 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Section 811 program provides capital 

advances to private, nonprofit organizations for the development of independent living 

projects and group homes with the availability of supportive services for very lowincome adults with disabilities. Project rental assistance contract funds are also provided 

to cover the difference between the HUD-approved operating costs of the project and the 

tenants’ contributions for rent. The program also provides mainstream vouchers to 

enable disabled individuals and their families to rent units in existing housing. The 

mainstream vouchers are administered by public housing agencies under the same criteria 

applicable to vouchers, except that the recipients of assistance must be disabled. 

6) Number of Homeless Families Served Annually: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of families served by this program. 

7) Eligible Applicants/Recipients: Through the provision of affordable housing with the 

availability of supportive services, persons with disabilities are given the opportunity to 

live as independently as possible and be integrated into the neighborhood and 

community. Many residents come to Section 811 housing directly from institutions or 

from living with aged parents, so without the Section 811program they would become 

homeless. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 appropriation: $239 million for Section 811 programs; 

homeless assistance: not applicable. There are no estimates available for the amount of 

Section 811 assistance that is provided to homeless persons. 

9) Known level of Participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by this program. 

10) Known impediments to participation of homeless families: There are no known 

statutory or regulatory impediments to participation of homeless families. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/progdesc/disab811.cfm 

79
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Housing Choice Voucher Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, Office of 

Public and Indian Housing 

3) Authorizing Legislation: The Housing Choice Voucher Program statutory requirements 

are contained in Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Regulations for 

this program are found at 24 CFR Part 982 

4) Funding Type: Vouchers through Public Housing 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, 

which currently serves about 1.9 million families nationwide, is the federal government’s 

major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and persons with 

disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private rental market. 

Program participants are free to choose any housing that meets program requirements. 

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by approximately 2,600 public housing 

agencies (PHAs) nationwide. These PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the program. If a 

PHA determines that a family is eligible for a voucher, the PHA will place the name of 

the family on a waiting list, unless it is able to assist the family immediately. After a 

family is selected for the program and has located a housing unit that meets program 

requirements, a PHA pays a housing subsidy directly to the landlord on behalf of the 

participating family. The housing assistance payment provided on behalf of the family is 

equal to the difference between the family rent contribution (generally, 30 percent of 

adjusted family income) and the lesser of the PHA-determined payment standard or the 

gross rent for the unit. 

Vouchers may also be used to subsidize mortgages of first-time low-income homebuyers 

where a PHA has chosen to administer a homeownership program. Further, local PHAs 

may “project base” up to 20 percent of their voucher funding to specific housing units 

under certain conditions. 

6) Number of Families served annually: Family demographic data is not collected in this 

program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Public Housing Agencies 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 appropriation: $15,340 billion for renewal of current 

expiring housing choice voucher contracts, $83.3 million for renewal, amendments and 

new unit funding of Section 811(mainstream) vouchers for persons with disabilities, $180 

million for tenant protection rental assistance and family reunification program. 

80
9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by the Housing Voucher Program. 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments. A homeless person or family can use the voucher subsidy to reduce the cost 

of housing. Typically, a PHA provides a homeless family with a voucher and a list of 

private landlords who have accepted vouchers in the past. The family may then search 

for a suitable housing unit of its choice where the landlord agrees to lease a unit under the 

program. 

Additionally, a PHA has the discretion to establish local preferences for selecting 

applicants from its waiting list to participate in the voucher program. Homelessness is 

one of the preferences that a PHA may choose to adopt. Families who qualify for a local 

preference move ahead of other families on the waiting list who do not qualify for any 

preference. 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/about/fact_sheet.cfm 

81
PUBLIC HOUSING 

1) Program Name: Public Housing 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

 Office of Public and Indian Housing 

3) Authorizing Legislation: United States Housing Act of 1937 

4) Funding Type: Non-competitive annual grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: This program supports public housing by: (1) 

providing operating subsidies to help public housing agencies (PHAs) maintain and 

operate public housing projects, establish operating reserves, and offset operating 

deficits; and (2) providing annual contributions for assistance to finance capital 

improvements, development, and related expenditures. Only low-income households are 

eligible for public housing, with income targeting requirements determining the 

categories of low-income households receiving priorities. As of September 2005, there 

were approximately 1,980,377 residents (903,636 households) living in public housing. 

6) Number of Families served annually: Family demographic data are not collected for 

this program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Public Housing Agencies, which are usually quasigovernmental bodies that cities support as the recipients of HUD Public and Indian 

Housing funds. 

8) Funding History:

 PH Capital Fund 

2004 $2,696,253 

2005 $2,579,200 

PH Operating Fund 

2004 $3,578,760 

2005 $2,438,336 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by PHA programs. PHAs can, and sometimes do, 

give local preference to homeless persons for admission into public housing. HUD has 

PHA plans that describe local preferences. Approximately 10 percent of units turn over 

each year, enabling about 110,000 previously unassisted families to receive assistance. 

According to information available from the Public Housing Information Center (PIC) 

for FY 2005, approximately 4.13 percent of newly admitted families into public housing 

were “homeless at admission.” This represented 6,638 out of 160,546 new admissions. 

82
10) Known Impediments for homeless families: N/A 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/index.cfm 

83
HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Housing Counseling Program 

2) Responsible Department: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

Office of Housing 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 

1968 

4) Funding Type: Competitive project grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Housing Counseling Program delivers a 

wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to 

moderate-income renters, and the homeless. Counselors provide guidance and advice to 

help families and individuals improve their housing conditions and meet the 

responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership. 

6) Number of families served annually: Family demographic data are not collected in this 

program 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Housing counseling agencies, community development 

organizations, and emergency services providers 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $39.7 million awarded 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by the PHA programs. 

10) Known impediments to homeless families: There are no statutory or regulatory 

impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. The Housing 

Counseling Program helps prevent homelessness by helping those at risk of homelessness 

find permanent, transitional or emergency housing. 

Homeless persons and individuals at risk of homelessness can visit HUD-approved and 

HUD-funded housing counseling agencies and receive guidance, including referrals to 

emergency and transitional housing providers. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/counslng.cfm 

84
RURAL HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Rural Housing and Economic Development Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

 Office of Community Planning and Development 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Public Law No.108-7, 17 Stat. 11 

4) Funding Type: Competitive Grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: HUD’s Rural Housing and Economic 

Development (RHED) Program was established in 1999 under the Office of Rural 

Housing and Economic Development. Its purpose is to build capacity at the state and 

local levels for rural housing and economic development and to support innovative 

housing and economic development activities in rural areas. The funds made available 

under this program are awarded competitively, through a selection process conducted by 

HUD in accordance with the HUD Reform Act. 

6) Number of families served annually: Family demographic data are not collected in this 

program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and local governments, non-profit organizations 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 appropriation $17 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served Rural Housing and Economic Development 

Program. 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: There are no statutory or 

regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to assistance and services. 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rhed/index.cfm 

85
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS 

1) Program Name: Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

 Office of Community Planning and Development 

3) Statutory Authority: AIDS Housing Opportunity Act, 42 U.S.C. 12901-12912 

4) Funding Type: Formula allocations, competitive and technical assistance awards 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The objective of the Housing Opportunities for 

Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program is to provide states and localities with the 

resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the 

housing needs of low-income persons and their families living with Human 

Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). HOPWA 

remains the only federal program solely dedicated to providing rental housing assistance 

to this special needs population. HOPWA grant recipients will measure client outcomes 

to assess how housing assistance results in creating or maintaining stable housing, 

reducing risks of homelessness, and improving access to healthcare and other need 

support. 

Grantees provide housing assistance and other support to foster stable housing for clients 

largely through the use of rental units and in community residences. These stable 

housing arrangements are critical to increasing the ability of clients to focus on 

maintaining good health and adhering to medication regiments. Research reports that 

persons with HIV are four times more likely to participate in HIV care and treatment if 

stably housed than others in unstable situations. In addition, such persons are two times 

more likely to follow the health care regimes established for that HIV treatment and care. 

In order to maintain stable housing situations, providers use funds for related supportive 

services in assessing their needs and providing responsive support. Some examples of 

supportive services are: 

• Outreach efforts to persons in homeless situations to engage them in care 

• Mental health assessment and counseling 

• Permanent housing placement and assistance in locating suitable housing 

In addition to the supportive services provided, there are several types of housing 

arrangements and forms of assistance provided in HOPWA projects that prevent 

homelessness of HOPWA clients. HOPWA projects may serve eligible persons with 

transitional housing support. 

The range of housing supported with HOPWA includes the use of rental assistance 

payments; support for maintaining current residences through the use of short-term 

mortgage and utility assistance payments; and the operating costs for supportive housing 

86
facilities, such as community residences, supporting beneficiaries with on-site activities 

and needed services. 

In FY 2006, the Department revised the application procedures for the renewal of 

expiring permanent supportive housing grants that have successfully undertaken 

permanent supportive projects by removing these grants from the SuperNOFA grants 

competition through issuance of separate procedures. It is projected that approximately 

$18.6 million will be made available for renewal grant awards. Any remaining funding, 

which is projected to be approximately $10 million, will be made available for two types 

of new HOPWA projects: (1) Long-Term Projects in Non-Formula Areas; and (2) 

Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS). 

6) Number of families served annually: Through annual grantee performance reporting, 

approximately 15 percent of the program beneficiaries were homeless in FY 2005. 

Approximately $42 million was expended per every $280 million reported as expended to 

provide housing support to almost 10,729 homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and local governments 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 HOPWA appropriation: $286 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: HUD does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families served by HOPWA. 

10) Known impediments to participating for homeless families: HUD does not collect 

data on the number of homeless families served by HOPWA. 

11) Program web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/programs/ 

87
88
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

89
90
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING OR SEXUAL 

ASSAULT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic 

Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking or Sexual Assault Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against 

Women 

3) Authorizing Legislation: 42 U.S.C.A., Section 13975 of the Protect Act of 2003 

4) Funding type: Discretionary grants to states, units of local government, Indian tribes 

and other organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service 

providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, 

nongovernmental organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and culturally 

specific organizations 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Under 42 U.S.C.A., Section 13975 of the Protect 

Act of 2003, grants under this program are awarded to states, units of local government, 

Indian tribes and other organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault 

victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, 

nongovernmental organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and culturally 

specific organizations to support programs to provide assistance to individuals who are 

homeless or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance as a result of 

fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and 

for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable 

or insufficient. Transitional Housing Assistance Program funds may be used for the 

following purposes: 1) programs that provide transitional housing, including funding for 

the operating expenses of newly developed or existing transitional housing; 2) programs 

that provide short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payments 

assistance and assistance with related expenses such as payment of security deposits and 

other costs incidental to relocation to transitional housing; and 3) programs that provide 

support services designed to enable individuals who are fleeing domestic violence, dating 

violence, sexual assault, or stalking to locate and secure permanent housing and integrate 

into a community by providing those individuals with services such as transportation, 

counseling, child care services, case management, employment counseling, and other 

assistance. 

6) Number of families served annually: The number of families served annually varies 

by grantee. There are currently 204 grantees under the Transitional Housing Assistance 

Program and each serves approximately 5-8 families per year. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: States, units of local government, Indian tribes and other 

organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers, 

91
domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental 

organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and culturally specific 

organizations 

8) Funding History: FY 2004-$14,843,161; FY 2005 - $12,333,000; FY 2006 - $14,277,011; 

FY 2007 - $14,847,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: To assist in fulfilling the 

Department’s responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act 

(GPRA), P.L. 103-62, applicants who receive funding under this Program must provide 

data that measures the results of their work. Performance measures for this Program are 

as follows: (1) Number of persons served; (2) Number of housing units funded; and (3) 

Number of support services provided. These measures are reported in a semi-annual 

progress report form. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: The Transitional 

Housing Assistance Program provides housing assistance and support services to women 

and their children who are homeless as a result of a domestic violence, dating violence, 

stalking or sexual assault incident. Homeless women and their children who are not 

victims of any of these crimes are not eligible participants in transitional housing 

programs funded under this Program. 

11) Program web address: www.ovw.usdoj.gov 

92
DRUG COURT DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Bureau of Justice Assistance 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Title I, Part EE, of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 

Streets Act of 1968, Public Law 90-351d, Title I, 82 Stat. 197, as amended by the 21st 

Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Public Law 107-273, 

Division B, Title II, Subtitle C, 116 Stat. 1758 (2002) 

4) Funding type: Project Grants (Discretionary) 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Drug Court Discretionary Grant provides 

financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local 

government, and Indian tribal governments to develop and implement treatment drug 

courts that effectively integrate substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, 

sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a judicially supervised court setting 

with jurisdiction over nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Applicants are limited to states, state and local courts, 

counties, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments, acting directly or 

through other public or private entities. 

8) Funding History: FY06 - $10,000,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no 

impediments to participation for homeless families. 

11) Program Web Address: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/ 

93
PRISONER REENTRY INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATION 

1) Program Name: Prisoner Reentry Initiative Demonstration (Offender Reentry) 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Bureau of Justice Assistance 

3) Authorizing Legislation: H.R. 5548, as approved under H.R. 4577, the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2001, 42 U.S.C. 3793w, Public Law No. 90-351, Title I, Part FF 

4) Funding type: Project Grants (Discretionary) 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Offender Reentry Initiative (Reentry Grant 

Program) is a combined federal effort to assist jurisdictions in facing the challenges 

presented by the return of offenders from prison to the community. The goal is to support 

the effective delivery of pre-release assessments and services, and to develop transition 

plans in collaboration with other justice and community-based agencies and providers, 

for supervised and non-supervised non-violent offenders. The current initiative addresses 

the continuing problem of offenders entering the community after incarceration with little 

or no surveillance, accountability, or resource investment. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Applicants are limited to state government agencies, 

including State Departments of Corrections and State Criminal Justice Administering 

Agencies, and federally recognized Indian tribes. 

8) Funding History: FY06 - $5,000,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no 

impediments to participation for homeless families. 

11) Program Web Address: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/ 

94
CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH 

COLLABORATION PROGRAM

1) Program Name: Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration 

Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Bureau of Justice Assistance 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Public Law 108-414, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and 

Crime Reduction Act 

4) Funding type: Discretionary grant program. 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: To increase public safety by facilitating 

collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health treatment, and 

substance abuse systems to increase access to treatment. 

6) Number of families served annually: N/A 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Applicants are limited to states, units of local 

government, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations. BJA will only accept joint 

applications; each application must include a mental health agency as well as a unit of 

government with responsibility for criminal justice activities. 

8) Funding History: FY06 - $5,000,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: N/A 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no 

impediments to participation for homeless families. 

11) Program Web Address: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/ 

95
96
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

97
98
GRASSROOTS GRANTS

1) Program Name: ETA Grants for Grassroots Organizations Connecting with the OneStop Delivery System 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Workforce Investment Act 

4) Funding type: Discretionary 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reformed 

numerous federal job training programs with amendments impacting service delivery 

under other laws including 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq. the Wagner-Peyser Act, Adult Education 

and Family Literacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 9201 et seq., and the Rehabilitation Act., 29 U.S.C. 

701 et seq. WIA created a system of One-Stop Career Centers across the country. The 

intention of the One-Stop Career Center system is to establish a network of programs and 

providers in co-located and integrated settings that are accessible for individuals and 

businesses alike. There are currently over 1,800 comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers 

and over 1,400 affiliated One-Stop Career Centers across the United States. A number of 

other federal programs are also identified as required partners in the One-Stop Career 

Center system to provide a comprehensive set of services for all Americans to access the 

information and resources available to help achieve their career goals. The grant program 

was designed to allow grantee non-profit organizations to complement the services 

offered by the One-Stop system and in addition, link grantee organizations and the clients 

they serve to the programs offered at the One-Stop Career Centers. The program 

participants must serve populations including but not limited to such groups as: exoffenders, immigrants, limited English-speakers, veterans, victims of violent crime, 

single working mothers, homeless persons, individuals living in specific low-income area 

and individuals with disabilities. 

The selected grantees are expected to achieve the following objectives: 

• Help unemployed or underemployed individuals with barriers to employment through 

(1) providing services that complement and support those offered by the identified 

One Stop Career Center, such as pre- and post-job placement mentoring, intensive 

case management, job retention support, life skills training and employability skills 

training; (2) connecting individuals with the existing training, apprenticeship and job 

opportunities of the One-Stop Career Center or other local affiliates of DOL’s 

national business partners; and (3) providing post-job placement services to increase 

job retention. 

• Expand the access of faith-based and community-based organizations’ clients and 

customers to the training, job and career services offered by the local One-Stop 

Career Centers; 

• Leverage volunteer hours and in-kind donations to maximize DOL’s investment in 

99
grants to “grassroots” FBCOs; 

• Thoroughly document the impact and outcomes of these grant investments through 

quarterly and final reporting; and 

• Establish methods and mechanisms to ensure sustainability of these partnerships and 

participation levels beyond the life of the grant. 

6) Number of families served annually: FY 2006: 14,446 (as of June 30, 2007) 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible grassroots organizations include non-profit 

organizations which: have social services as a major part of their mission; are 

headquartered in the local community to which they provide these services; and have a 

social services budget of $500,000 or less, or have 10 or fewer full-time equivalent 

employees; 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $4.6 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Since 2002, DOL has awarded 

grants to grassroots Faith-Based and Community Organizations (FBCOs) in more than 

170 towns and cities across 44 states. These small nonprofits are linking the individuals 

they serve to One-Stop Center resources and providing the services needed to ensure 

stable, long-term employment. Many FBCOs that received these grants help homeless 

individuals and underserved individuals who are at-risk of becoming homeless transition 

into employment or better jobs. For example, the grassroots FBCOs that received grants 

in 2005 reported that 15% of their clients were homeless, 10% were receiving public 

assistance, 21% were ex-prisoners, 15% had disabilities, and an estimated 64% were 

unemployed at the time of program entry. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: DOL ETA (CFBCI) is 

not aware of any statutory or regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to 

Grassroots grantees’ assistance and services. Under WIA, organizations that receive 

DOL funding are unable to deny any person access to core services. 

11) Program web address: None 

100
READY4WORK 

1) Program Name: Ready4Work Reentry Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration and Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives 

3) Authorizing Legislation: None 

4) Funding type: Discretionary 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: In 2003, the President’s Faith-Based and 

Community Initiative launched Ready4Work, a three-year pilot program to address the 

needs of ex-prisoners utilizing FBCOs. This $25 million program was jointly funded by 

the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the U.S. Department of Justice, Public/Private 

Ventures—a Philadelphia-based research and demonstration non-profit—and a 

consortium of private foundations. 

Ready4Work placed faith-based and community organizations at the center of social 

service delivery to ex-offenders. It placed an emphasis on employment-focused programs 

that incorporate mentoring, job training, job placement, case management and other 

comprehensive transitional services. The following select organizations were chosen to 

provide services to adult ex-offenders in eleven cities: 

• City of Memphis Second Chance Ex-Felon Program – Memphis, Tennessee 

• Allen Temple Housing and Economic Development Corp – Oakland, California 

• East of the River Clergy Police and Community Partnership – Washington, DC 

• Exodus Transitional Community – East Harlem, New York 

• Holy Cathedral/Word of Hope Ministries – Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

• Operation New Hope – Jacksonville, Florida 

• SAFER Foundation – Chicago, Illinois 

• Search for Common Ground – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

• Union Rescue Mission – Los Angeles, California 

• Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and InnerChange Freedom Initiative – Houston, 

Texas 

• America Works Detroit – Detroit, MI 

6) Number of families served annually: The Ready4Work pilot program formally ended 

August 31, 2006. The results of the program, which were verified by an independent 

third party, are promising. A total of 4,482 formerly incarcerated individuals enrolled in 

Ready4Work. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Eligible grant recipients include faith-based and 

community organizations which already provide reentry services to ex-offenders and are 

in urban areas with high numbers of returning offenders. 

101
Participant eligibility for Ready4Work was determined based on three factors: (1) age of 

the ex-offender; (2) presenting offense; and (3) length of time pre or post-release. Exprisoners between the ages of 18 and 34 who had most recently been incarcerated for a 

nonviolent felony offense and were no more than 90 days pre or post-release were 

eligible to enroll in the program. 

8) Funding History: The entire three-year program was funded at $25 million. 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Unknown. This was not a data 

element captured through this program. There have been studies performed that broadly 

study homelessness among ex-offenders, but that is not specific to this program. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no statutory or 

regulatory impediments to access by homeless families to Ready4Work services. 

11) Program web address: None 

102
HOMELESS VETERANS’ REINTEGRATION PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and 

Training Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Initially authorized under Section 738 of the Stewart B. 

McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in July 1987. It is currently authorized under Title 

38 U.S.C. Section 2021, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless 

Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 

4) Funding type: Competitive grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Section 2021 specifically requires the Secretary 

of Labor to conduct such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to expedite 

the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. The purpose of the Homeless 

Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) is to assist homeless veterans reintegrate into 

meaningful employment by addressing the complex problems facing homeless veterans. 

The HVRP program focuses services toward re-establishing the eventual “selfsufficiency” of homeless veterans by first preparing them for the workforce, then 

assisting them in attaining meaningful employment, and finally providing follow-up 

services to ensure retention in employment. 

6) Number of families served annually: The program does not track the number of 

families served in the program, but in FY 2006, approximately 13,865 individuals were 

served. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and local Workforce Investment Boards, State 

Agencies, local public agencies, for-profit/commercial entities, and non-profit 

organizations, including and community and faith-based organizations. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $21.78 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The federal government does not 

collect data on the number of homeless families who access HVRP, nor does the federal 

government require that states collect this data. However, many HVRP grantees have 

instituted family and custody restoration programs as a part of the participant reintegration process. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: HVRP’s statutory and 

regulatory focus is on serving individuals who are veterans and homeless. Consequently, 

the emphasis is on stabilizing the individual participant while integrating family access 

and participation whenever possible. Grantees have maximum flexibility in program 

design to include family involvement with eligible participants. 

11) Program web address: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/hvrp/main.htm 

103 
VETERANS’ WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and 

Training Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Public Law 105-220, Workforce Investment Act, Section 168. 

These programs complement services generally provided by states through mainstream 

WIA program operators under Title 1, and the Wagner-Peyser Act 

4) Funding type: Competitive grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The statutory intent of P.L. 105-220, Workforce 

Investment Act, Section 168, Veterans’ Workforce Investment Programs (VWIP), is to 

support employment and training programs, through grants or contracts, program to meet 

the needs for workforce investment activities of veterans with service-connected 

disabilities, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who served 

on active duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which 

a campaign badge has been authorized, and recently separated veterans. 

VWIP programs can provide for, but are not limited to training (formal classroom or onthe-job training), retraining, job placement assistance, and support services, including 

testing, counseling. Grantees may choose to supplement the core training by offering 

other services that also enhance the employability of participants. Veterans may also be 

eligible for services under other WIA titles, which assist economically disadvantaged or 

dislocated workers with employment, training, and other workforce development 

services. 

The annual funding for Veterans’ Workforce Investment Programs (VWIP) is authorized 

by legislation and derived as a percentage of the total annual Workforce Investment 

authorization. Most of the appropriated funds are used to support three-year grants 

awarded to eligible entities through a competitive process conducted in even-numbered 

years. 

6) Number of families served annually: The program does not track the number of 

families served in the program, but in FY 2006, approximately 4,289 individuals were 

served. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and local Workforce Investment Boards, State 

Agencies, local public agencies, for-profit/commercial entities, and non-profit 

organizations, including and community and faith-based organizations. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $7.425 million 

104
9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The federal government does not 

collect data on the number of homeless families who access VWIP, nor does the federal 

government require that states collect this data. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: VWIP’s statutory and 

regulatory focus is on serving individuals who are veterans. Consequently, the emphasis 

is on stabilizing the individual participant while integrating family access and 

participation whenever possible. Grantees have maximum flexibility in program design to 

include family involvement with eligible participants. 

11) Program web address: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/vwip/main.htm 

105
INCARCERATED VETERANS’ TRANSITION PROGRAM (IVTP) 

1) Program Name: Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP) 

2) Responsible Department: U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and 

Training Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: “Pilot” program authorized under 38 United States Code, 

Section 2022, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Comprehensive 

Assistance Act of 2001. IVTP is funded under the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration 

Program (HVRP) and has no separate funding authorization. An additional approval of 

six (6) Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP) grants for an extension of three 

(3) months were a direct result of a legislative revision contained in Section 5705. 

Subsection (d) of section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, which amended the end 

date of the program to September 30, 2007 

4) Funding type: IVTP grant funds were awarded to one national pilot grantee and seven 

additional grantees which included state and local governments, private, not-for-profit 

organizations including community based and faith based organizations. 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The statutory intent of the IVTP was to provide 

direct services through a case management approach while networking with federal, state, 

and local resources and veteran support programs to reintegrate previously incarcerated 

veterans back into the workforce. Assistance may be provided within 18 months of an 

individual participant’s separation from incarceration. 

6) Number of families served annually: The program does not track the number of 

families served in the program, but in FY 2006, approximately 766 individuals were 

served. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State and local Workforce Investment Boards, State 

Agencies, local public agencies, for-profit/commercial entities, and non-profit 

organizations, including and community and faith-based organizations. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $1.6 million. 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The federal government does not 

collect data on the number of homeless families who access IVTP, nor does the federal 

government require that states collect this data. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: IVTP’s statutory and 

regulatory focus is on serving individuals who are incarcerated veterans. Consequently, 

the emphasis is on stabilizing the individual participant while integrating family access 

and participation whenever possible. Grantees have maximum flexibility in program 

design to include family involvement with eligible participants. 

106
 11) Program web address: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/hvrp/main.htm 

107
JOB CORPS 

1) Program Name: Job Corps 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220, Title 1, 

Subtitle C, Sec. 141); Job Corps regulations (20 CFR section 670.110): 

4) Funding type: Not applicable 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The program's purpose is to assist eligible 

disadvantaged youth (ages 16-24) who need and can benefit from intensive education and 

training services to become more employable, responsible, and productive citizens. 

Services are provided in group settings in residential and, to a lesser extent, nonresidential centers. 

6) Number of families served annually: Number of youth served in FY 2005: 61,000 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Economically disadvantaged youth, aged 16-24, who 

also have one or more of the following characteristics: basic skills deficient; a school 

dropout; homeless, a runaway, or a foster child; a parent; or an individual who requires 

additional education, vocational training, or intensive counseling and related assistance in 

order to participate successfully in regular schoolwork or to secure and hold employment. 

8) Funding History: $1,501,600 in FY 07 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Foster care, homeless and runaway 

youth are specifically targeted as eligible to receive services under the program. Through 

improved tracking methods and outreach, Job Corps has significantly increased the 

numbers of youth served who are identified as foster care, homeless or runaway (from 

approximately 240 in 2001 to over 1,000 in 2006). The services provided by Job Corps 

help prevent foster care and runaway youth from becoming homeless. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Not applicable. 

11) Program web address: http://jobcorps.dol.gov/ 

108
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT -- WIA ADULT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Workforce Investment Act 1998, Title I, Subtitle B, Chapter 

5, Public Law 105-220, 20 

4) Funding type: Formula grants to states 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of this program is to improve the 

quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and 

competitiveness of the nation’s economy by providing workforce investment activities 

that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of participants, and increase 

occupational skill attainment by the participants. This program is designed to increase 

employment, as measured by entry into unsubsidized employment, retention in 

unsubsidized employment after entry into employment, and earnings. 

WIA specifies that most services for adults will be provided through One-Stop Career 

Centers. The Act authorizes three levels of service which are available to all jobseekers. 

“Core” services include outreach, job search, placement assistance, and labor market 

information. “Intensive” services include more comprehensive assessments, 

development of individual employment plans and counseling, and career planning. 

Those customers who cannot find employment through intensive services may receive 

“training” services linked to job opportunities in their communities, including both 

occupational training and training in basic skills. To promote customer choice and 

involvement in career decisions, participants use as “individual training account” to select 

an appropriate training program form a qualified training provider. The Act also 

authorizes the provision of supportive services (e.g., transportation and child care 

assistance) to enable an individual to participate in the program. 

6) Number of families served annually: Under WIA, the Employment and Training 

Administration does not collect information on number of families served. For PY 2005, 

the WIA Adult program served about 1,029,000 individuals (including those accessing 

self-services in One-Stop Career Centers). 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: 50 states and U.S. Territories, in turn the states allocate 

funds to local workforce investment boards by formula 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 – $864.2 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Under WIA, the Employment and 

Training Administration does not collect information on the level of participation of 

109
homeless families. However, under the WIA, the number of homeless adults served by 

the system from April 2005 to March 2006 was 3,538, which is 2.1 percent of all WIA 

exiters. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments. 

11) Program web address: 

http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_n 

ames=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=17.258 

110
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT – WIA DISLOCATED WORKERS 

1) Program Name: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Workers 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Workforce Investment Act 1998, Title I, Subtitle B, Chapter 

5, Public Law 105-220, 20, U.S.C. 9201 

4) Funding type: Formula grants to states 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the program is to reemploy 

dislocated workers, improve the quality of the workforce and enhance the productivity 

and competitiveness of the nation’s economy by providing workforce investment 

activities that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of participants, and 

increase occupational skill attainment by the participants. This program is designed to 

increase employment, as measured by entry into unsubsidized employment, retention in 

unsubsidized employment after entry into employment, and extent of recovery of prior 

earnings. 

WIA specifies that most services for dislocated workers will be provided through OneStop Career Centers. The Act authorizes three levels of service which are available to all 

jobseekers. “Core” services include outreach, job search, placement assistance, and labor 

market information. “Intensive” services include more comprehensive assessments, 

development of individual employment plans and counseling, and career planning. 

Those customers who cannot find employment through intensive services may receive 

“training” services linked to job opportunities in their communities, including both 

occupational training and training in basic skills. To promote customer choice and 

involvement in career decisions, participants use as “individual training account” to select 

an appropriate training program form a qualified training provider. The Act also 

authorizes the provision of supportive services (e.g., transportation and child care 

assistance) to enable an individual to participate in the program. 

Funds reserved by the Secretary are used for National Emergency Grants (NEGs), which 

provide targeted services to workers affected by mass layoffs, natural disasters, federal 

government actions or other specific circumstances. Funds reserved by the Secretary are 

also used for technical assistance and training and demonstration programs. 

6) Number of families served annually: Under WIA, the Employment and Training 

Administration does not collect information on number of families served. In PY 2005, 

approximately 269,000 participants were served under the WIA Dislocated Worker 

program. 

111
7) Eligible applicants/recipients: 50 states and U.S. Territories, in turn the states allocate 

funds to local workforce investment boards by formula. Applicants for NEGs may be 

states, outlying areas, local workforce investment boards, and non-profit and private 

organizations whose purpose is to provide targeted services to eligible beneficiaries. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 – $1.472 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Under the WIA Dislocated Worker 

program, the Employment and Training Administration does not collect information on 

the level of participation of homeless families or individuals. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments. 

11) Program web address: 

http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_n 

ames=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=17.260 

112
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT – WIA YOUTH ACTIVITIES 

1) Program Name: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration. 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Workforce Investment Act 1998, Title I, Subtitle B, Chapter 

4, Public Law 105-220, 20 

4) Funding type: Formula grants to states 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of the WIA Youth program is to 

help low-income youth between the ages of 14 and 21 acquire the educational and 

occupational skills, training and support needed to achieve academic and employment 

success and successfully transition to careers and productive adulthood. WIA authorizes 

the use of funds for youth employment and training activities that will provide eligible 

youth assistance in achieving careers and academic and employment success; ensures 

ongoing mentoring opportunities; provides opportunities for training; provides continued 

supportive services; provides incentives for recognition and achievement; and provides 

opportunities for leadership, development, decision-making, citizenship, and community 

service. 

6) Number of families served annually: Under WIA, the Employment and Training 

Administration does not collect information on number of families served. In PY 2005, 

about 273,000 participants were served through the WIA Youth program. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Youth activities funds are allotted to states under the 

formula described in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 based on the distribution of 

unemployed individuals and disadvantaged youth by state. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 – $940.5 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Under WIA, the Employment and 

Training Administration does not collect information on the level of participation of 

homeless families. However, under the WIA Youth program, the number of older 

homeless or runaway youth is collected and from April 2005 to March 2006, the number 

of this cohort served is 1,347, which is 4.3 percent of all WIA Youth exiters. The 

number of younger homeless or runaway youth is also collected and 2,041 were served 

from April 2005 to March 2006, which is 1.8 percent of all WIA Youth exiters. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments. 

113
11) Program web address: 

http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_n 

ames=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=17.259 

114
WAGNER-PEYSER EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 

1) Program Name: Wagner-Peyser Employment Service 

2) Responsible Department: U.S Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, as amended by the Workforce 

Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220) 

4) Funding type: Formula grants to states 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The public Employment Service has evolved 

from a nationwide system of state-administered local employment offices to a 

participating partner program in the integrated One-Stop delivery system for educating 

and employing a prepared workforce. Through the Employment Service, states provide 

individuals with core employment and workforce information services, which are 

accessible in One-Stop Career Centers as well as on-line. Individuals have access to job 

search assistance, workforce and economic information, assessment and career guidance, 

and job matching and referrals. Employers are also a primary customer and are provided 

access to workforce and economic information, job listing services, referral of qualified 

applicants, support in applicant screening, support for job fairs and mass recruitments, tax 

credits for hiring targeted populations, and other customized services. These funds also 

support the One-Stop system’s capacity to offer universal access to all customers. 

6) Number of families served annually: The Employment and Training Administration 

does not collect information on the number of families served annually. For FY 2006, 

13,998,148 individuals received Wagner-Peyser-funded employment services. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: States and U.S. Territories 

8) Funding History: FY 2006 – $715.9 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The Employment and Training 

Administration does not collect information on the level of participation of homeless 

families or individuals in the Employment Service. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: There are no known 

impediments. 

11) Program web address: 

http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_n 

ames=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=17.207 

115
116
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

117
118
DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC) AND DEATH 

PENSION 

1) Program Name: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Pension 

2) Responsible Department: U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits 

Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Title 38 of the United States Code (Title 38, USC) 

4) Funding Type: Direct payments to eligible beneficiaries 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Title 38, USC authorizes two disability benefits 

programs (Disability Compensation and Disability Pension) for veterans (including 

homeless veterans) who are honorably discharged from active military service. Disability 

Compensation is payable if the veteran is at least 10 percent disabled as a result of his/her 

military service. Additional compensation is payable to the veteran for his spouse and 

child if the veteran’s disability is evaluated 30 percent of more. Disability pension is 

payable if the veteran served during wartime, and is based on financial need. 

Payment of VA benefits to families is contingent on the veteran’s military service and 

their entitlement to VA benefits. 

Chapter 13 of Title 38, USC allows VA to pay Dependency and Indemnity Compensation 

(DIC) to the surviving spouse, children and dependent parents of deceased veterans, and 

service members who: 

• died on active duty 

• veterans who died from service-related disabilities 

• certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at time 

of death. 

Typical benefits and services provided to dependents include: monthly payments; 

Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35); Home Loan Guaranty; Vocational 

Rehabilitation and Employment Services, and VA medical care. 

Chapter 15 of Title 38, USC allows VA to pay Death Pension benefits to low-income 

surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service. 

This benefit is based on financial need. Typical benefits include monthly payments. 

6) Number of families served annually: FY 2005: 535,403 (DIC/Death Pension) 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Veterans’ families (including children) in states and U.S. 

Territories 

119
8) Funding history: FY 2005: $5 billion 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: VA does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families who access VA benefits. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: VA benefits are targeted 

to veterans and are based on the veteran’s military service. Each benefit program (DIC 

and death pension) has eligibility requirements that are unique and distinct to each other. 

Some of the impediments to participation for homeless families includes: 

• A veteran must have honorable military service. 

• Entitlement to death pension – A veteran must have had 90 days or more of active 

military, at least one day of which was during a period of war, or a serviceconnected disability justifying discharge. Spouses must not have remarried and 

children must be under age 18, or under age 23 if attending a VA approved 

school, or have become permanently incapable of self-support because of 

disability before age 18. Entitlement to death pension is based on financial need, 

and the family’s income can not exceed an amount specified by VA. 

• Entitlement to DIC – the veteran’s death must have resulted from a disease or 

injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while on active duty for training; 

an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while on inactive duty 

training; or a service-connected disability or a condition directly related to a 

service-connected disability. 

11) Program web address: http://www.vba.va.gov/survivors/VAbenefits.htm 

120
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

121
122
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE 

1) Program Name: Social Security Disability Insurance 

2) Responsible Department: Social Security Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Social Security Act of 1935, Title II, as amended; Public 

Laws 96-265; 97-123, and 97-35. 42 U.S.C. 401; 42 U.S.C. 402; 42 U.S.C. 416; 42 

U.S.C. 420-425 

4) Funding Type: Entitlements to eligible recipients 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: In 1935, the Social Security Disability Insurance 

(SSDI) program was established to replace part of the earnings lost because of a physical 

or mental impairment, or a combination of impairments, severe enough to prevent a 

person from working. Monthly cash benefits are paid to entitled disabled persons and to 

entitled auxiliary beneficiaries throughout the period of disability generally after a 5-

month waiting period. Costs of vocational rehabilitation also are paid for certain 

beneficiaries. There are no restrictions on the use of benefits received by beneficiaries, 

although the right to future benefits is not transferable or assignable. In general, state 

agencies make initial disability determinations for the federal government. 

6) Number of families served annually: The number of families receiving support from 

SSDI is not known, but for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, 7.8 million 

Americans were receiving SSDI benefits totaling $75.2 billion. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: A disabled worker is entitled to Social Security 

disability benefits if he or she has worked for a sufficient period of time under Social 

Security to be insured, has not attained "full-benefit retirement age" (66 years old for 

workers age 62 in 2005), has filed an application, and is under a disability as defined in 

the Social Security law. The law defines disability as the inability to do any substantial 

gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment 

which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for 

a continuous period of not less than 12 months. To qualify for DI benefits, an individual 

must meet a test of recent covered work before becoming disabled. 

8) Funding History: For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, SSDI paid out $75.2 

billion in benefits. 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: It is not known how many 

homeless families receive SSDI. 

10) 

123 

Known impediments to participation: SSA is uniquely positioned through its network 

of over 1300 field offices to provide assistance to the homeless. SSA field offices have 
established a variety of activities and special procedures to reduce the problems faced by 

homeless individuals in obtaining SSDI or SSI benefits for which they may be eligible. 

The primary impediment identified by field office and disability determination services 

staff is the difficulty of maintaining contact with the homeless individual. It is also 

difficult for homeless individuals to keep appointments and to maintain records of 

medical treatment. SSA addresses these impediments by: 

• Allowing homeless individuals to receive their monthly checks at the local field 

office; 

• Assisting individuals in establishing bank accounts for Direct Deposit of benefits 

and using Automatic Teller Machines; and 

• Allowing individuals to use the field office as a message center, so that disability 

determination services’ appointments or requests for information are not missed. 

In recognition of these impediments, in 2004 SSA funded the targeted Homelessness 

Outreach and Projects Evaluation (HOPE) to assist eligible homeless persons access SSI 

and SSDI benefits. From September 2004 through October 2007, HOPE projects 

enrolled 8,440 homeless individuals into the HOPE project and received 2,659 favorable 

disability determinations. 

11) Program web address: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html 

124
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME 

1) Program Name: Supplemental Security Income 

2) Responsible Department: Social Security Administration 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Social Security Act of 1935, Title XVI, as amended; 42 

U.S.C. 1381-1383f 

4) Funding Type: Entitlements to eligible recipients 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: In 1972, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

program was established to ensure a minimum level of income to persons who have 

attained age 65 or are blind or disabled, and whose income and resources are below 

specified levels. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are made to persons who 

have attained age 65 or who are blind or disabled and meet the means-tested and other 

requirements of the program. Generally, there are no restrictions on the use of benefits 

received by beneficiaries, although the right to future benefits is not transferable or 

assignable. 

6) Number of families served annually: The number of families receiving support from 

SSI is not known, but for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, 7.1 million 

individuals were receiving SSI benefits totaling $35.2 billion (this number includes SSI 

expenditures for the 2.5 million beneficiaries receiving both SSDI and SSI benefits). 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: To be found disabled for SSI purposes: an individual 

aged 18 or older must be unable to do any substantial gainful activity by reason of any 

medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in 

death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 

months. An individual under age 18 must have a medically determinable physical or 

mental impairment or combination of impairments that causes marked and severe 

functional limitations, and that can be expected to cause death or that has lasted or can be 

expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. Individuals of any age 

engaging in substantial gainful activity at the time they apply for benefits will not be 

considered disabled. To be found blind for SSI purposes, an individual of any age must 

be "statutorily blind." This means central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye 

with use of a correcting lens. The eligibility of an individual who has attained age 65 or 

who is blind or disabled is determined on the basis of an assessment of the individual's 

monthly income and resources, citizenship or alien status, U.S. residency, and certain 

other eligibility requirements. 

8) Funding History: For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, SSI paid out $35.2 

billion in benefits. 

125
9) Known level of participation of homeless families: It is not known how many 

homeless families receive SSI. 

10) Known impediments to participation: SSA is uniquely positioned through its network 

of over 1300 field offices to provide assistance to the homeless. SSA field offices have 

established a variety of activities and special procedures to reduce the problems faced by 

homeless individuals in obtaining SSDI or SSI benefits for which they may be eligible. 

The primary impediment identified by field office and disability determination services 

staff is the difficulty of maintaining contact with the homeless individual. It is also 

difficult for homeless individuals to keep appointments and to maintain records of 

medical treatment. SSA addresses these impediments by: 

• Allowing homeless individuals to receive their monthly checks at the local field 

office; 

• Assisting individuals in establishing bank accounts for Direct Deposit of benefits 

and using Automatic Teller Machines; and 

• Allowing individuals to use the field office as a message center, so that disability 

determination services’ appointments or requests for information are not missed. 

In recognition of these impediments, in 2004 SSA funded the targeted Homelessness 

Outreach and Projects Evaluation (HOPE) to assist eligible homeless persons access SSI 

and SSDI benefits. From September 2004 through October 2007, HOPE projects 

enrolled 8,440 homeless individuals into the HOPE project and received 2,659 favorable 

disability determinations. 

11) Program web address: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11011.html 

126
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

127
128
FEDERAL SURPLUS PERSONAL PROPERTY DONATIONS 

1) Program Name: Federal Surplus Personal Property Donations 

2) Responsible Department: The General Services Administration, Office of 

Governmentwide Policy, Office of Travel, Transportation and Asset Management 

(GSA/MT) 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as 

amended (40 U.S.C. 471 et. seq.); McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title IV 

(42 USC 11301) 

4) Funding Type: Appropriated Fund (142) 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: GSA’s Office of Travel, Transportation and 

Asset Management - Personal Property Policy Management Division, writes the policy 

covering the donation of surplus personal property to providers of homeless assistance 

through the network of State Agencies for Surplus Property (SASP). In 1987, the 

McKinney Act amended the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, 

as amended making nonprofit, tax-exempt providers of assistance to the homeless eligible 

to obtain federal surplus property directly from the SASPs at a nominal cost for the care 

and handling of the property. 

In addition, the Federal Acquisition Service’s Office of Personal Property Management 

administers the Federal Surplus Property Program. Under the Donation Program, GSA 

approves the transfer of surplus property to SASPs at no charge. In turn, the SASPs 

distribute the property to non-profit, tax-exempt providers of assistance to the homeless 

and other donee organizations. The SASPs are funded through revenues received from 

donees to cover their costs of transportation in getting the property from the federal 

holding agency as well as costs incurred in the care and handling of that property. In 

turn, the providers of assistance to the homeless distribute the surplus property they 

receive from the SASPs directly to homeless individuals. 

The range of property includes food, clothing, beds, blankets, medical supplies, furniture 

and a host of other items used to provide shelter, food and other support services to 

homeless individuals. GSA MT and QSCA associates, along with SASP representatives, 

continue to promote assistance to the homeless through frequent collaborative and 

information sharing meetings and workshops. In these meetings and workshops GSA 

MT and QSCA encourage the SASPs to focus and emphasize their donation efforts to 

providers of assistance to the homeless. 

6) Number of Families Served Annually: The SASPs advise us that the providers of 

assistance to the homeless do not report data to the SASPs on numbers of families served. 

Some providers collect data on numbers of individuals served, but this is not required, so 

the data available is not indicative of levels of participation. The SASPs report to the 

129
Office of Personal Property Management the value of property transferred to providers of 

assistance to the homeless, but not data on the numbers of families or individuals served. 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Non-profit, tax-exempt providers of assistance to the 

homeless and other donee organizations are eligible to receive donations through their 

State Agencies for Surplus Property (SASP). We estimate that approximately 70,000 

organizations receive support from the SASPs. 

8) Funding History: FY 06 – Value of Property $6.5 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The SASPs advise us that the 

providers of assistance to the homeless do not report data to the SASPs on numbers of 

families served. Some providers collect data on numbers of individuals served, but this is 

not required, so the data available is not indicative of levels of participation. The SASPs 

report to the Office of Personal Property Management the value of property transferred to 

providers of assistance to the homeless, but not data on the numbers of families or 

individuals served. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: SASPs are self funded 

state organizations, and they must charge a minimal service and handling fee to cover the 

cost of running their programs. 

11) Program web address: 

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/channelView.do?pageTypeId=8211&channelPage=%2 

Fep%2Fchannel%2FgsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-13016 

130
U.S. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

131
132
AMERICORPS*VISTA – VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA 

1) Program Name: AmeriCorps*VISTA – Volunteers In Service to America 

2) Responsible Department: Corporation for National and Community Services 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 

4) Funding type: Discretionary; non-cash projects providing full-time national service 

members 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: AmeriCorps*VISTA provides fulltime, full-year 

members to local public and private non-profit organizations which have goals in accord 

with VISTA’s legislative mission, and have projects determined and defined by those to 

be served. Each VISTA project must focus on the mobilization of community resources, 

the transference of skills to community residents, and the expansion of the capacity of 

community-based and grassroots organizations to solve local problems. Programming 

should encourage permanent, long-term solutions to problems confronting low-income 

communities rather than short-term approaches for handling emergency needs. The 

VISTA project sponsors must actively elicit the support and/or participation of local 

public and private sector elements in order to enhance the chances of a project’s success, 

as well as to make the activities undertaken by VISTA self sustaining when CNCS no 

longer provides those resources. 

6) Number of families served annually: Data not collected 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: A public entity or a private non-profit organization is 

eligible to sponsor a VISTA project. An individual age 18 or over is eligible to serve as a 

VISTA. 

8) Funding History: FY 2007: $95,466 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: CNCS does not collect data on the 

number of homeless families who are project beneficiaries of VISTA projects nor does 

CNCS require sponsors to collect these data. However, in 2006 approximately 30 

VISTA Volunteers served in organizations that provide services to homeless populations. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Not applicable 

11) Program web address: http://www.vista.gov 

133
AMERICORPS*STATE AND NATIONAL 

1) Program Name: AmeriCorps*State and National 

2) Responsible Department: Corporation for National and Community Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 

4) Funding type: Block/formula and competitive grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The purpose of AmeriCorps*State and National 

is to engage AmeriCorps members in direct service and capacity-building to address 

unmet community needs. Local programs design service activities for members serving 

full- or part-time for one year or during the summer. Sample activities include tutoring 

and mentoring youth, building low income housing, providing pro bono legal assistance, 

and disaster relief services. AmeriCorps members also mobilize community volunteers 

and strengthen the capacity of the organizations where they serve. 

6) Number of families served annually: Data not collected 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: States and U.S. Territories 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: $264,825 million 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Unknown 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: AmeriCorps State and 

National is not aware of any statutory or regulatory impediments to access by homeless 

families. 

11) Program web address: http://www.americorps.gov 

134
SENIOR CORPS PROGRAM: RSVP (RETIRED AND SENIOR 

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM) 

About Senior Corps: 

Senior Corps is a network of programs that tap the experience, skills, and talents of older 

citizens to meet community challenges. Through its three programs – RSVP, the Foster 

Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program – more than half a million 

Americans age 55 and over assist local nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based 

organizations in carrying out their missions. 

Because Senior Corps comprises three separate programs, each is presented in its own 

profile. The table below summaries, by program, the FY 2006 appropriation, the FY 2006 

funds directed to homelessness and the overall Senior Corps totals. 

Senior Corps Program Total FY 2006 

Appropriation 

Total FY 2006 Funds Directed to 

Serving Homeless Families 

RSVP $59,685,000 $300,000 

Foster Grandparent Program $110,937,000 $3,000,000 

Senior Companion Program $46,964,000 $53,000 

Total Dollars (all program) $217,586,000 $3,353,000 

1) Program Name: Senior Corps Program: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) 

2) Responsible Department: Corporation for National and Community Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C §4950 et 

seq. 

4) Funding type: Discretionary Grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: RSVP is one of the largest volunteer efforts in 

the nation, and engages people 55 and over in a diverse range of volunteer activities. 

Volunteers organize mentor and tutor children, mobilize volunteers for community 

organizations, assist victims of natural disasters, provide independent living support to 

frail seniors, and serve their communities in a myriad of other ways. In FY 2006, the 

Corporation for National and Community Service awarded 745 RSVP project grants that 

engage approximately 440,000 RSVP volunteers. The RSVP volunteers served an 

average of four hours a week at an estimated 65,000 local organizations that were 

placement sites for the volunteers. Volunteers may receive reimbursement for meals and 

transportation. In 2006, approximately 2,300 RSVP volunteers nationwide provided 

direct and indirect services to homeless individuals and families. 

6) Number of families served annually: Unknown 

135
7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Public agencies, including Indian tribes and non-profit 

private organizations, both secular and faith-based, in the United States and its territories. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: 

a. Total FY 2006 appropriation: $59,685,000 

b. Amount of FY 2006 appropriation supporting homeless families: $300,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The Corporation does not collect 

data on the number of homeless families who are served by RSVP volunteers. However, 

the Corporation does collect and aggregate numbers of volunteer hours by “service 

category” – one of which is “homelessness” – via an OMB approved annual survey. The 

Corporation also collects specific examples of service to homeless populations from 

individual grantees through the grantee Progress Report. These reports are the foundation 

of estimates included in this report. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Unknown 

11) Program web address: www.seniorcorps.gov 

136
SENIOR CORPS PROGRAM: FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Senior Corps Program: Foster Grandparent Program 

2) Responsible Department: Corporation for National and Community Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C §4950 et 

seq. 

4) Funding type: Discretionary Grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Foster Grandparent Program engages 

individuals ages 60 and over to provide direct service to children and youth with special 

or exceptional needs. Foster Grandparents who meet income guidelines of 125% of 

poverty receive an hourly stipend of $2.65 to help offset the cost of volunteering. Foster 

Grandparents serve between 15 and 40 hours per week, with most serving 20 hours per 

week. Foster Grandparents serve as mentors and tutors Through a variety of community 

organizations, including schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, correctional 

institutions, Head Start Centers and homeless shelters. In FY 2006, nearly 31,000 Foster 

Grandparents served a total of 263,000 children and youth, including nearly 4,000 

homeless children living in homeless shelters. 

7) Number of families served annually: 4,000 children 

8) Eligible applicants/recipients: Public agencies, including Indian tribes and non-profit 

private organizations, both secular and faith-based, in the United States and its territories. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: 

a. Total FY 2006 appropriation: $110,937,000 

b. Amount of FY 2006 appropriation supporting homeless families: $3,000,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: The Corporation collects data on 

the number of homeless children and youth served by Foster Grandparents using an OMB 

approved annual survey. The Corporation also collects specific examples of service to 

homeless populations from individual grantees through the grantee Progress Report. 

These reports are the foundation of data included in this report. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Unknown 

11) Program web address: www.seniorcorps.gov 

137
SENIOR CORPS PROGRAM: SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM 

1) Program Name: Senior Corps Program: Senior Companion Program 

2) Responsible Department: Corporation for National and Community Service 

3) Authorizing Legislation: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C §4950 et 

seq. 

4) Funding type: Discretionary Grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: The Senior Companion Program engages 

individuals ages 60 and over to provide service to adults, primarily frail seniors, who 

need additional assistance and support to remain living independently in their own homes 

or in the community. Senior Companions who meet income guidelines of 125% of 

poverty receive an hourly stipend of $2.65 to help offset the cost of volunteering. Senior 

Companions serve between 15 and 40 hours per week, with most serving 20 hours per 

week. They help frail elderly and other homebound persons who have difficulty 

completing everyday tasks. They assist with grocery shopping, bill paying, and 

transportation to medical appointments, and they alert doctors and family members to 

potential problems. Senior Companions also provide short periods of respite to family 

caregivers. Because of the program, thousands of older adults are able to live with dignity 

in their own homes. In fiscal year 2006, 16,000 Senior Companions served a total of 

$62,000 adult clients, including 70 homeless adults. 

6) Number of families served annually: 70 adult clients 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: Public agencies, including Indian tribes and non-profit 

private organizations, both secular and faith-based, in the United States and its territories. 

8) Funding History: FY 2006: 

a. Total FY 2006 appropriation: $46,964,000 

b. Amount of FY 2006 appropriation supporting homeless families: $53,000 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: Senior Companions serve very few 

homeless clients, and the ones served are primarily in transitional housing or in homeless 

shelters. This is because in the Senior Companion Program model, community agencies 

place the volunteers with predominantly homebound frail seniors. The Corporation 

collects data on the number of homeless clients served by Senior Companions using an 

OMB approved annual survey. Aggregated data from this survey is the foundation of data 

included in this report. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Unknown 

11) Program web address: www.seniorcorps.gov 

138 
LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA 

1) Program Name: Learn and Serve America 

2) Responsible Department: Corporation for National and Community Services 

3) Authorizing Legislation: National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 

4) Funding type: Block/formula and competitive grants 

5) Program Purpose/Eligible Activities: Learn and Serve America helps over one million 

students annually make meaningful contributions to their community while building their 

academic and civic skills. By engaging our nation’s young people in service-learning, 

service linked with academic or civic learning - Learn and Serve America projects instill 

the ethic of lifelong community service. 

Learn and Serve America provides direct and indirect support to K-12 schools, 

community groups and higher education institutions to facilitate service-learning projects 

by: 

• Providing grant support for school-community partnerships and higher education 

institutions 

• Providing training and technical assistance resources to teachers, administrators, 

parents, schools and community groups 

• Collecting and disseminating research, effective practices, curricula, and program 

models through the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse 

(www.servicelearning.org) 

6) Number of families served annually: Data not collected 

7) Eligible applicants/recipients: State Education Agencies; Public or Private Nonprofits; 

State Commissions on National and Community Service; Indian Tribes; Institutions of 

Higher Education. 

8) Funding History: FY 2007: $37.125M 

9) Known level of participation of homeless families: CNCS does not collect data on the 

number of homeless youth who serve in or homeless families who are beneficiaries of 

Learn and Serve America programs, nor does CNCS require local programs to collect this 

data. 

10) Known impediments to participation for homeless families: Not applicable 

11) Program web address: http://www.learnandserve.gov 

139
140
X 

Appendix A 

Mainstream or Targeted Programs 

Mainstream Targeted 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Food Stamp Program 

Consolidated Block Grants for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands X

National School Lunch Program X

School Breakfast Program X

Special Milk Program X

Child and Adult Care Food Program X

Summer Food Service Program X

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) X

Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program X

WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program X

Commodity Supplemental Food Program X

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations X

The Emergency Food Assistance Program X

Community Facilities Program X

Single Family Housing- Real Estate Owned Properties X

Single Family Housing- Disaster Assistance X

U.S. Department of Education

Education for Homeless Children and Youth

Early Reading First X

Reading First State Grants X

Even Start X

School Dropout Prevention Programs X

Striving Readers X

21st Century Community Learning Centers X

Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities: Governors' Grants X

U.S. Department of Energy 

Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons X

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Health Care for the Homeless X

Title V Surplus Property Program X

Services in Supportive Housing Program X

Child Support Enforcement Program X

Community Services Block Grant X

Community Health Centers X

Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant Program X

Head Start X

Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant X

Targeted homeless programs are designed specifically to serve persons experiencing homelessness; mainstream programs are designed to serve a far 

broader population, but persons experiencing homelessness may be eligible by virtue of the program’s eligibility criteria (e.g. income level or employment 

status) 

141 

X 
Mainstream Targeted 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (continued)

Medicaid X

State Children’s Health Insurance Program X

Social Services Block Grant X

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families X

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Emergency Shelter Grants X

Supportive Housing Program X

Shelter Plus Care X

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) X

Base Realignment and Closure X

Community Development Block Grant X

HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) X

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Disabled Persons X

Housing Choice Voucher Program X

Public Housing X

Housing Counseling Program X

Rural Housing and Economic Development Program X

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) X

U.S. Department of Justice 

Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, 

Stalking or Sexual Assault Program X

Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program X

Prisoner Reentry Initiative Demonstration (Offender Reentry) X

Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program X

U.S. Department of Labor 

Grassroots Grants X

Ready4Work X

Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program X

Veteran's Workforce Investment Program X

Incarcerated Veterans' Transition Program X

Job Corps X

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program X

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Workers X

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities X

Wagner-Peyser Employment Service X

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Pension X

Social Security Administration 

Social Security Disability Insurance X

Supplemental Security Income X

General Services Administration 

Surplus Federal Personal Property Donations X

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) X

Targeted homeless programs are designed specifically to serve persons experiencing homelessness; mainstream programs are designed to serve a far 

broader population, but persons experiencing homelessness may be eligible by virtue of the program’s eligibility criteria (e.g. income level or employment 

status) 

142
Mainstream Targeted 

U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps*VISTA – Volunteers In Service To America X

AmeriCorps*State and National X

Senior Corps Program: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) X

Senior Corps Program: Foster Grandparent Program X

Senior Corps Program: Senior Companion Program X

Learn and Serve America X

Targeted homeless programs are designed specifically to serve persons experiencing homelessness; mainstream programs are designed to serve a far 

broader population, but persons experiencing homelessness may be eligible by virtue of the program’s eligibility criteria (e.g. income level or employment 

status) 

143 
Appendix B 

Programs that Track the Number of Homeless Families Served 

Track # Homeless 

Families? 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Food Stamp Program No 

Consolidated Block Grants for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands No 

National School Lunch Program No 

School Breakfast Program No 

Special Milk Program No 

Child and Adult Care Food Program No 

Summer Food Service Program No 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) No 

Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program No 

WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program No 

Commodity Supplemental Food Program No 

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations No 

The Emergency Food Assistance Program No 

Community Facilities Program No 

Single Family Housing- Real Estate Owned Properties No 

Single Family Housing- Disaster Assistance No 

U.S. Department of Education 

Education for Homeless Children and Youth Yes 

Early Reading First No 

Reading First State Grants No 

Even Start No 

School Dropout Prevention Programs No 

Striving Readers No 

21st Century Community Learning Centers No 

Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities: Governors' Grants No 

U.S. Department of Energy 

Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons No 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Health Care for the Homeless No 

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) Yes 

Services in Supportive Housing Program Yes 

Child Support Enforcement Program No 

Community Services Block Grant No 

Community Health Centers No 

Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant Program No 

Head Start Yes 

Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant No 

Medicaid No 

State Children’s Health Insurance Program No 

Social Services Block Grant No 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families No 

144 
Track # Homeless 

Families?

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Emergency Shelter Grants No 

Supportive Housing Program Yes 

Shelter Plus Care Yes 

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) Yes 

Base Realignment and Closure No 

Community Development Block Grant No 

HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) No 

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Disabled Persons No 

Housing Choice Voucher Program No 

Public Housing No 

Housing Counseling Program No 

Rural Housing and Economic Development Program No 

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) No 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program No 

Prisoner Reentry Initiative Demonstration (Offender Reentry) No 

Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program No 

U.S. Department of Labor 

Grassroots Grants No 

Ready4Work No 

Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program No 

Veteran's Workforce Investment Program No 

Incarcerated Veterans' Transition Program No 

Job Corps No 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program No 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Workers No 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities No 

Wagner-Peyser Employment Service No 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Pension No 

Social Security Administration 

Social Security Disability Insurance No 

Supplemental Security Income No 

General Services Administration 

Surplus Federal Personal Property Donations No

Federal Surplus Real Property Program (Title V) Yes

U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service 

AmeriCorps*VISTA – Volunteers In Service To America No 

AmeriCorps*State and National No 

Senior Corps Program: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) No 

Senior Corps Program: Foster Grandparent Program Yes 

Senior Corps Program: Senior Companion Program No 

Learn and Serve America No 

145