Beginning this week, Arlington residents at risk of eviction and homelessness can apply for financial assistance through the Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP). The Arlington HHSP is a state funded initiative that will be used to further the Arlington 10-year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness by 2019. The Arlington Housing Authority administers this grant on behalf of the City. The $289,345 HHSP grant will be utilized to provide short term rental housing assistance, homeless prevention, and case management services. The City anticipates that it will serve approximately 370 homeless persons (140 homeless households) from December 16, 2013 - September 30, 2014.

The HHSP program targets renters who are in imminent danger of homelessness that meet program income limits and who, without assistance, would be evicted from their rental unit and become homeless. This resource is for persons that meet the eligibility criteria and have the ability to remain stably housed after the receipt of this assistance. In 2013, the AHA assisted 139 households with similar funding received. The HHSP program has operated annually since 2010.

"The HHSP program has proven to be a valuable resource to help address homelessness in Arlington and in eight other cities in Texas. This resource compliments the outstanding work performed by Mission Arlington, Arlington Life Shelter, SafeHaven, the Salvation Army and numerous churches and faith based agencies serving Arlington," said AHA Executive Director, David Zappasodi. "HHSP is also a limited resource that we apply strategically. We help households that can sustain their rental housing on a going forward basis as a condition for paying their past due rent."

For more information on HHSP, please contact David Zappasodi at (817) 276-6790 or[email protected]. The application and additional information on HHSP can be found athttp://webapps.arlingtontx.gov/tmp/housing/evictionprevention.html.