The City of Philadelphia anticipates receiving an allocation of funding under the American Recovery Act for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) in the amount of $21,486,240 or $7.162M annually for 3 years. Funding will be used to assist persons affected by the current economic crisis that are at risk of becoming homeless or are currently homeless as defined by the McKinney Vento Act. These funds will be managed by the Office of Supportive Housing.

The Homelessness Prevention Program will provide community-based homeless prevention and retention assistance to low-income residents throughout the City of Philadelphia who have delinquencies in rent and utilities. Housing counseling, legal services, and credit repair can also be provided to assist households and achieve housing stabilization. The Homelessness Prevention Program is not intended to provide long term support for program participants, nor will it be able to address all of the financial and supportive services needs that affect housing stability. The focus of this funding will be on achieving housing stabilization and linking participants to community resources and mainstream benefits to prevent them from becoming homeless. OSH is making available up to $3.4 million to up to four providers who demonstrate the capacity to deliver the prevention and retention services described under this RFP.

The Rapid Re-Housing program will provide housing related assistance to families and individuals who are currently residents of city-funded Emergency or Transitional Housing facilities. The goal is to enable these residents to move into permanent housing, either market rate or subsidized, by identifying new housing options, working with existing subsidized housing providers, and providing the household with the financial assistance and housing stabilization services needed to prevent a return to homelessness. Approximately $2.1 million will be awarded to providers that demonstrate the capacity to deliver rapid re-housing services.