Information Bulletin #247 from Steve Gold, May 02, 2008
The HOME program is one of the largest federally funded housing programs that affect low-income people with disabilities. HOME funds can be used both for single family or multifamily units and for homebuyer assistance, new construction, rehabilitation and tenant-based rental assistance.
State agencies receive about 40% of the total HOME funds and the remaining 60% is divided among local "participating jurisdictions," based on the size of their populations.
As with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (which is 100% administered by a State Housing Finance Agency), HOME funds must be targeted to specific incomes.[See #245]. As with the LIHTC program, there are incredible differences among the States.
Because so many people with disabilities' sole source of income is their monthly SSI grants, their incomes are approximately 18-20% of the Area Median Income. Therefore, knowing at what income level a state "targets"
its HOME funds is critical. For example, in those States with Money Follows the Person grants, each person transitioned from an institution could receive a HOME "Tenant-Based Rental Assistance," a fancy term for a housing voucher - if the State really wanted to assist these folks to leave the institutions.
Below by State is the percent of HOME assisted units targeted in 2006 at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. These targets are discretionary!
Just as with LIHTC, States could target 100% or zero percent of their HOME funds at the SSI level or at 30% or below AMI level.
Where a State targets its HOME funds is, in very large part, how effective the disability advocates are in the State. If your State does not target the lowest income people with disabilities, disability advocates should be examining ways to force your State to increase the percentage of units that are targeted at or below the 30% of the AMI. The National Council of State Housing Agencies, which collects and publishes this information, did not have it available for every State. If your State is not listed, go to your State housing agency and find out what percentage of the HOME units were targeted at or below 30% of the AMI. Remember, also, that HOME funds are subject to the Consolidated Plan process! This information must be made available.
% of HOME Units in 2006 Targeted Below 30% of AMI
Alabama ........................ 0%
Alaska ........................ 30%
Arkansas....................... 10%
Delaware........................ 10%
Florida........................ 0%
Georgia....................... 17%
Hawaii........................ 0
Idaho.......................... 4
Illinois...................... 12
Iowa.......................... 45
Kansas....................... 60
Kentucky..................... 6
Louisiana.................... 30
Maine........................ 65
Maryland.................... 25
Massachus................... 18
Michigan..................... 60
Minnesota................... 45
Missouri..................... 15
Montana...................... 10
Nevada....................... 10
New Hampshire............... 15
New Mexico.................. 70
New York ................... 10
North Carolina................. 5
North Dakota................. 0
Ohio......................... 0
Oklahoma.................... 21
Oregon..................... 65
Pennsylvania................. 8
Rhode Island................... 20
South Carolina............... 25
South Dakota.................. 26
Tennessee...................... 40
Texas........................ 53
West Virginia.................... 0
Wisconsin ..................... 0
Wyoming ........................ 22
National ..................... 24%
Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues
Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects. To contact Steve Gold directly, write to stevegoldada@cs.com or call 215-627-7100.