Frequently the Department will claim that the only shelter bed available is located halfway across the state. This is often untrue. Before a family even applies for EA it is a very good idea to make calls to all the local shelter providers to see whether beds are available. With that information you can then demand that the DTA worker contact the shelter you spoke to and verify the availability of the slot when they say no local slots are available. The Department does not provide transportation to the shelter and it is up to the family to get there.
Some shelters have transportation such as a van to come and pick up the family.
This rule states that an EA household may not get EA benefits more than once in a 12 month period. It is very important that a family think carefully about whether to use EA for rent arrears. The Department no longer waives the 12-month rule and it routinely deny help to homeless families. There are two exceptions to the 12-month rule. Another exception to the 12-month rule has been recently created.