The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) is a time-limited intervention designed to quickly re-house individuals experiencing homelessness.  HPRP provides short-term financial assistance and services to those experiencing homelessness in order for them to be quickly re-housed and stabilized in rental communities. Unfortunately, individuals often return to homelessness after their inability to afford the costs of rental living once the subsidy ends. With HPRP's heavy focus on moving individuals into housing quickly, without adequate case management, or the addressing of root causes of homelessness, many residents fail to maintain their lease beyond the lifetime of the subsidy. 

Although HPRP programs provide a temporary fix for the crisis of chronic homelessness, the program fails to be a long-term solution. Because many HPRP participants find themselves back in shelters after the subsidy ends, they are forced to begin the daunting process of finding stable housing all over again. This is a often referred to as a "revolving door."

Without lengthens to subsidy time requirements, adequate case management, employment services, and help addressing behavioral health needs, this "revolving door" will continue. 

The current duration of financial assistance provided by HPRP is not sufficient for the stabilization of households. 1. We are asking that the Department of Health and Human Services extend the time period for the subsidy to two years in order to allow adequate time for individuals to gain stable income sufficient for paying market rent and utility costs on their own. 

Participants of HPRP need streamlined access to employment, training, and supportive vocational systems to help them succeed. Additionally, participants need case management that seeks to identify and capitalize on individual strengths and assets while also helping to identify the factors that contributed to the occurrence of homelessness. HPRP clients deserve a comprehensive and supportive system that provides referrals and transportation to behavioral health services (mental health resources and substance use programs) as a way of supporting self-sufficiency and helping clients reach their goals. The high turn-around of case management and inconsistency of meetings with clients reveals that the HPRP program is lacking in it's ability to adequately support residents. 2. We therefore request that the Department of Health and Human Services make it mandated that all HPRP residents are assigned a consistent and supportive case manager UPON MOVE-IN that meets often with residents to set and achieve goals. 

With returns to homelessness by individuals participating in HPRP, it is time to evolve the response system and strengthen its ability to help individuals find long-term success. The Department of Health and Human Services has the power to make the changes necessary that ensure that homelessness is never more than a brief, one-time event. 

Please sign our petition and help bring an end to the revolving door.