The LHP vouchers are designated for homeless households and are subject to the availability of subsidy from HUD. There is no guarantee that the maximum number of vouchers for this preference will always be available. The referring agency must refer the LHP eligible family to the HASA once the homeless status has been properly vetted.
If the HASA determines that an applicant referred by the referring agency does not meet the criteria described below, the applicant will not receive the preference. However, the HCV application will remain on the waiting list according to the date and time it was submitted, and is subject to the renewal requirements. If the HASA denies an applicant’s homeless preference claim, the HASA will notify the applicant and the referring agency in writing, including the reason(s) for the preference denial. Applicants have the right to appeal the denial of eligibility for the homeless preference using the established process for informal reviews.
To qualify, the HASA uses the definition of homelessness from PIH Notice 2013-15 (HA), as it applies to the HCV Program, using the following two categories:
Category 1: An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
- An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground; or
- An individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements, including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by Federal, State, or local government programs for low- income individuals; or
- An individual who is exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less, and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.
Category 4: Any individual or family who:
- Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member, including a child, that has either taken place within the individual’s or family’s primary nighttime residence or has made the individual or family afraid to return to their primary nighttime residence; and
- Has no other residence; and
- Lacks the resources or support networks, (e.g., family, friends, and faith-based or other social networks), to obtain other permanent housing.
If you are experiencing homelessness, call 325-481-2500 ext. 404 for more information about the Coordinated Entry Process.
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