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Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV)

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV)

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV)

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness is pleased to announce that on May 5, 2021, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a PIH Notice 2021-15 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV)-Operating Requirements. 70,000 Vouchers were awarded to approximately 700 Public Housing Authorities (PHA) nationwide. In San Diego County, four PHAs were awarded vouchers totaling a minimum of 819 vouchers (updated by HUD 6/22/2021). All four PHA’s have responded to HUD and have accepted the vouchers.

Public Housing AuthorityMinimum Number of Emergency Housing Vouchers
San Diego Housing Commission480
County of San Diego264
City of Oceanside43
City of National City32

Eligibility and Requirements

HUD has established specific eligibility and operating requirements for the EHVs.  Eligibility for these EHVs is limited to individuals and families who are:

  1. Homeless;
  2. At risk of homelessness;
  3. Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; or
  4. Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability.

HUD requires that PHAs partner with the Continuum of Care (CoC) or other homeless or victim services providers to assist qualifying households through a direct referral process. CoCs are responsible for determining whether a household qualifies under one of the four eligibility categories for EHVs and PHAs must only accept referrals for EHVs directly from the CoCs Coordinated Entry System (CES) or from Victim Service Provider (VSP).

The RTFH as the Lead Agency for San Diego region’s CoC has partnered with all four PHAs to plan for and implement a successful and sustainable EHV program in the San Diego region. RTFH and the four PHAs are committed to a successful EHV program and recognize the importance of a joint communication strategy to keep San Diegan’s informed of EHV program requirements and how to access EHVs.

Resources

RTFH and the PHAs hosted a webinar to further explain the program and if you should refer participants you are working with, as provided in the links below.

Resources: