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 to Medicaid members experiencing 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).
Participants must meet the Needs Based Criteria and one Risk Factor.
Needs Based Criteria:
- Requires improvement stabilization or prevention of deterioration of functioning (including ability to live independently without support) resulting from the presence of 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; or
- Requires assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs), one of which may be body care, verbal queuing or hands-on assistance.
Risk Factors:
- 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;
- Currently living in supportive housing, but has previously met the definition of chronically homeless defined in risk factor #1;
- Has successfully completed a substance use disorder treatment program while incarcerated in jail or prison, including a tribal jail;
- Was admitted to (and discharged from) the Utah State Hospital due to an alleged criminal offense;
- Has been involved in a drug court or mental health court, including tribal courts;
- Receives general assistance from the Utah Department of Workforce Services; or
- Was civilly committed to (and discharged from) the Utah State Hospital.
Services
HRSS includes Supported Living Services, Tenancy Support Services and Community Transition Services in the three areas of needs-based support services.
Supported Living Services - provide a variety of coordinated services which do not include room and board costs. These services include mental health services, substance abuse services, independent living services and general supportive services such as case management, community and peer support, crisis intervention and non-medical transportation.
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.