The LHP provides Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) for eligible homeless households, subject to the availability of subsidy from HUD. Because funding is limited, the maximum number of vouchers for this preference is not guaranteed to be available at all times.
Referral Process
- A referring agency must submit referrals to the HASA once the household's homeless status has been properly verified.
- If HASA determines that a referred applicant does not meet the LHP criteria described below, the applicant will not receive the homeless preference.
- The applicant's HCV application will remain active on the waiting list, ordered by the original date and time of submission, and subject to standard renewal requirements.
If HASA denies a homeless preference claim, both the applicant and referring agency will be notified in writing, including the specific reason(s) for denial. Applicants have the right to appeal this decision through the informal review process established by HASA.
Eligibility Criteria
HASA follows the definition of "homeless" as described in PIH Notice 2013-15 (HA), for purposes of the HCV Program. Eligibility is based on 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.
Need Help?
If you are currently experiencing homelessness or believe you may qualify under this preference, please call: 325-481-2500 ext. 404 for more information about the Coordinated Entry Process.