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Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) FAQ

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) FAQ

Housing Authority of the County of Merced

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Emergency Housing




Voucher (EHV) Program
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program is a tenant-based voucher program operated similar to the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
When is the waiting list going to open?
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program does not use a Waiting list to admit families into its program. EHVs participants are admitted based on a direct referral process from the Merced County Continuum of Care (CoC). If an individual believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact any Coordinated Entry Point within Merced County. If a family believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact the CoC at mercedEHV@gmail.com.
Who is eligible for the Emergency




Housing Voucher (EHV) Program?
In order to be eligible for an EHV, an individual or family must meet one of four eligibility categories:




1.    Homeless

2.    At risk of homelessness

3.    Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking

4.    Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s

homelessness or having high risk of housing instability.
What is a coordinated entry?
Coordinated Entry System (CES) is an approach to effectively connect people to housing and service interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness. A coordinated entry point is a place of access to receive services and resources.
How long after being referred will I




receive assistance?
Direct Referrals from the Merced County Continuum of Care (CoC) are based upon a first come first served basis and are prioritized based upon eligible populations listed above.
Where do I apply for the Emergency




Housing Voucher (EHV) Program?
If an individual believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact the CoC within Merced County. If a family believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact the CoC at mercedEHV@gmail.com.
Does the Authority provide any contact numbers for coordinated entry points for individuals?
Additional Information may be obtained via email at mercedEHV@gmail.com.
Can I apply online?
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program is a referral-based program. If an individual believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact any Coordinated Entry Point within Merced County. If a family believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact the CoC at mercedEHV@gmail.com.
What can I expect after being referred?
Referrals received from the Merced County Continuum of Care (CoC) will be processed for eligibility by the Authority on a first come first served basis. Families will be contacted by the Authority to complete program required documentation and final program eligibility.




Once program eligibility is confirmed participant must participate in a program orientation briefing.
Can I fill out a paper application?
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program is a referral-based program. If an individual believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact any Coordinated Entry Point within Merced County. If a family believes they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact the CoC at mercedEHV@gmail.com.
If I have a felony will that automatically make me ineligible? What about any criminal activity?
No, a felony does not automatically make you ineligible for Authority housing programs. You may still be eligible for the program depending on type of conviction.







Those who have ever been convicted of drug-related criminal activity for manufacture or production of methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing are not eligible.




Those who must register as a sex offender are not eligible.
Do you have to be a citizen (legal) to be eligible?
Yes, someone in the household must have legal residency. This will be confirmed when the




Authority receives the referral.
I am on the Authority’s Public Housing and/or Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List, if I am an EHV referral will I be removed from these waiting lists?
No, an applicant will not be removed from any Authority waiting list if they are an EHV referral. However, Authority waiting list applicants must continue to respond to waiting list correspondence timely to remain active.
What is the definition of homeless?
The meaning of “homeless” is as such term is defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a)), which is codified in HUD’s Continuum of Care Program regulations at 24 CFR 578.3 and reads as follows:




Homeless means:

(1) An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

(2) An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that: (i) The primary nighttime residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance;

(ii) No subsequent residence has been identified; and

(iii) The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks, e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks, needed to obtain other permanent housing.

(3) Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children and youth, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless.
   
What is the definition of “At Risk




Homelessness” ?
The meaning of “at-risk of homelessness” is as such term is defined in section 401(1) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360(1)), which is codified in HUD’s Continuum of Care Program regulations at 24 CFR 578.3 and reads as follows:




At risk of homelessness. (1) An individual or family who:

(i) Has an annual income below 30 percent of median family income for the area, as determined by

HUD;

(ii) Does not have sufficient resources or support networks, e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks, immediately available to prevent them from moving to an emergency shelter or another place described in paragraph (1) of the “Homeless” definition above; and

(iii) Meets one of the following conditions:

(A) Has moved because of economic reasons two or more times during the 60 days immediately preceding the application for homelessness prevention assistance;

(B) Is living in the home of another because of economic hardship;

(C) Has been notified in writing that their right to occupy their current housing or living situation will be terminated within 21 days of the date of application for assistance;

(D) Lives in a hotel or motel and the cost of the hotel or motel stay is not paid by charitable organizations or by federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals;

(E) Lives in a single-room occupancy or efficiency apartment unit in which there reside more than

two persons, or lives in a larger housing unit in which there reside more than 1.5 people per room, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau;

(F) Is exiting a publicly funded institution, or system of care (such as a health-care facility, a mental health facility, foster care or other youth facility, or correction program or institution); or

(G) Otherwise lives in housing that has characteristics associated with instability and an increased risk of homelessness, as identified in the recipient’s approved consolidated plan.

(2) A child or youth who does not qualify as “homeless” under this section, but qualifies as “homeless” under section 387(3) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a(3)), section 637(11) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832(11)), section 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e-2(6)), section 330(h)(5)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42

U.S.C. 254b(h)(5)(A)), section 3(m) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(m)), or section 17(b)(15) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)(15)); or

(3) A child or youth who does not qualify as “homeless” under this section, but qualifies as

“homeless” under section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

11434a(2)), and the parent(s) or guardian(s) of that child or youth if living with her or him
What is the definition of Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking?
This category is composed of any individual or family who is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. This includes cases where a HUD-assisted tenant reasonably believes that there is a threat of imminent harm from further violence if they remain within the same dwelling unit, or in the case of sexual assault, the HUD-assisted tenant reasonably believes there is a threat of imminent harm from further violence if they remain within the same dwelling unit that they are currently occupying, or the sexual assault occurred on the premise during the 90-day period preceding the date of the request for transfer.
What is the definition of “Recently




Homeless”?
Recently homeless is defined as individuals and families who have previously been classified by a member agency of the CoC as homeless but are not currently homeless as a result of homeless assistance (financial assistance or services), temporary rental assistance or some type of other assistance, and where the CoC or its designee determines that the loss of such assistance would result in a return to homelessness or the family having a high risk of housing instability. Examples of households that may be defined as recently homeless by the CoC include, but are not limited to, participants in rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing.