According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) created by the Recovery Act has helped keep at least one million people from becoming homeless during the economic downturn.
The program received $1.5 billion in Recovery funds, which HUD awarded to state, county, and city governments. Local officials continue to identify individuals and families facing imminent threat of being homeless and are providing help in a variety of forms, including:
- Short and medium-term rental assistance
- Housing relocation and stabilization services
- Credit counseling
- Utility payments
- Moving cost assistance
HPRP marks the first time that such a large amount of federal funds has been available for homelessness prevention at the national level. As required by the Recovery Act, the funds must all be spent by September 2012. But HUD notes that many communities across the country that have benefited from HPRP are planning to continue the strategies and approaches that the program has proved to be effective.
Breakdown of HPRP Funding
More on HPRP
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