(1) Does the State's TANF program define homelessness? If so, what is the definition?
No.(2) Does the State keep track of the number of homeless families who receive TANF? If so, what are the most recent data available?
There are approximately 4,700 homeless families in New York City. Most of these families receive some type of TANF funded assistance. For the rest of New York State we do not have numbers of homeless families in receipt of TANF.(3) Does the State's TANF program provide for targeted cash benefits or services to cover the needs of homeless families? If so, describe these cash benefits or services.
New York provides a Rent Supplement Program for Homeless families. The goal of this program is to provide private landlords with an incentive supplement for the placement of homeless families into their apartments.In addition, New York provides education transportation for homeless children. The goal of this initiative is to provide school age children, who are homeless and living in temporary housing, with an option as to which school district they choose to attend. This allows for continuity in education for these children.
(4) Does the State's TANF program provide benefits or services targeted to families who are at-risk of becoming homeless (e.g., payment of a rent arrearage)? Please describe these benefits or services.
Yes, New York does pay rent arrears for an undefined period of time provided that the client will be able to afford to pay for the continuing shelter costs, and provided that it would not be more cost effective to move the client into an alternative shelter arrangement.
(5) Describe services furnished to families in temporary shelter arrangements, including services to transition families to permanent housing. Are these services provided by the TANF agency or by other agencies? If other agencies are involved in the delivery of transitional services to families, how are services coordinated?
In addition to those services mentioned in Question 3 above, New York authorizes the use of TANF funds to pay for transportation and child care services to permit families to search for permanent housing. Case management and other supportive and rehabilitative services are also provided to residents of temporary housing which include securing and arranging for necessary medical and mental health evaluations and placements into more appropriate levels of care.
