Housing Related Services and Supports (HRSS) Program

Overview

The Housing Related Services and Supports (HRSS) program provides housing-related services and supports in the form of tenancy support, community transition and supportive living services, and non-medical transportation to Medicaid members experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, food insecurity, transportation insecurity, interpersonal violence and/or trauma. HRSS services are provided under the authority of Utah’s 1115 Demonstration Waiver.

Please connect with the HRSS team for provider education, assistance with provider enrollment and participant requirements regarding this new program (see key contacts information below).

Eligibility Requirements

HRSS serves individuals participating in the Targeted Adult Medicaid Program (TAM) and Adult Expansion Medicaid (AEM).

HRSS services are available to Medicaid members, ages 19 through 64, who are members of the Targeted Adult Medicaid (TAM) and the Adult Expansion Medicaid (AEM) population and meet the clinical and social risk factors criteria.

The social risk factors criteria include homelessness or at risk of homelessness, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 24 CFR 91.5, except the annual income requirement in 24 CFR 91.5 (1)(i).

Clinical Risk Factors:

  1. Complex behavioral health need: Requires improvement stabilization, or prevention of deterioration of functioning (including ability to live independently without support) resulting from the presence of a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, cognitive impairment or behavioral impairment resulting from dementia, brain injury or other medically-based behavior condition/disorder.
  2. Needs assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) or eligible for long term services and supports (LTSS). One of which may be body care, verbal queuing, or hands-on assistance.
  3. Recent hospitalization for a chronic health condition (within the last 12 months), at least 1 inpatient claim for one of the following: Cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, kidney transplant failure, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, necrotizing fasciitis, renal failure. *Utah Medicaid’s Medical Director may approve additional chronic conditions on a case-by case basis. Living or residing in a place not meant for human habilitation, a safe haven or in an emergency shelter continuously for at least 12 months or on at least four separate occasions in the last three years.
  4. At-risk of or transitioning from Emergency Department/hospitalization or institutional care.

Services

HRSS includes Tenancy Support Services, Community Transition Services,  Supported Living Services and Non- Medical Transportation.

Supported Living Services - provide a variety of coordinated services, which do not include room and board costs.  This service includes medical care coordinating, health and wellness education, connection to nutritional counseling, mental health services scheduling and coordination of screenings, assessments, counseling, substance use disorder services access to providers of relapse prevention, counseling, detoxification and formal/informal AA/NA recovery support services independent living services including financial management, entitlement assistance, grocery shopping and meal preparation training, mediation training, and general supportive services including case management, community and peer support, crisis intervention and non-medical transportation.

Non- Medical Transportation – allows case managers to transport clients to non-medical locations related to acquiring housing or keeping their housing once the client is housed.

Tenancy Support Services - include (a) tenant screening and housing assessment to identify barriers to successful tenancy; (b) development of an individualized housing support plan; (c) housing application, process and selection assistance; (d) reasonable accommodation request assistance; (e) housing crisis plan; (f) education and training on tenant/landlord rights; (g) eviction reduction services; and (h) assistance with housing voucher/subsidy and recertifications.

Community Transition Services - include (a) security deposits that are required to obtain a lease on an apartment or home (the state will impose a maximum of not more than two payments per beneficiary, (b) essential household furnishings and moving expense required to occupy and use a community domicile, including furniture, window coverings, food preparation items and bed/bath linens; (c) set-up fees or deposits for utility or service access, including telephone, electricity, heating and water; (d) services necessary for the beneficiaries’ health and safety such as pet eradication and one-time cleaning prior to occupancy; (e) moving expenses; (f) necessary home accessibility adaptations; and (g) activities to assess need, arrange for and procure needed resources. These services will be furnished only when it is determined reasonable and necessary as identified through the housing support plan when the beneficiary does not have monies to pay for the expenses and when funding for the items is not available through other funding sources. Services are available to beneficiaries moving from an institution, a congregate living arrangement, a more restrictive community setting or homelessness or those who are unsafely housed or lack secure housing.

Non- Medical Transportation – allows case managers to transport clients to non-medical locations related to acquiring housing or keeping their housing once the client is housed.