The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) HomeBASE program provides families who are in the Emergency Assistance (EA) system resources to help them obtain permanent housing. To be eligible for HomeBASE housing assistance, a family must first be determined EA-eligible by DHCD staff.
Families receiving TAFDC, EAEDC and/or SNAP benefits may receive HomeBASE housing assistance provided they meet DHCD eligibility requirements for the program as determined by DHCD staff and agencies contracted with DHCD to administer the HomeBASE program.
Important |
DTA staff has no responsibility for determining eligibility for the EA and HomeBASE housing assistance programs. Clients requesting these services must be referred to DHCD. A link to a DHCD informational notice, in English and Spanish, for families who need to apply for EA can be viewed by accessing DTA Online, Field Operations link, TAO Liaison Listing link and clicking on the DHCD Liaison link. |
The following are the basic types of HomeBASE assistance and their impact on DTA Programs/Requirements:
Household Assistance: HomeBASE Household Assistance provides families who are in the EA system with financial support to achieve housing stability.
HomeBASE can provide funds for:
• first and last month's rent and security deposit in a new home,
• furniture,
• a monthly stipend to help pay rent for up to one year,
• utilities,
• travel costs and
• other expenses that will allow a family to access a new home.
Important |
Clients receiving HomeBASE Household Assistance may be eligible for relocation benefits if eligibility criteria is met. Please see Relocation Benefit Overview for more details |
Impact on DTA Programs/Requirements
Household Assistance payments are considered noncountable for TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP.
TAFDC assistance units receiving HomeBase program benefits are also eligible to receive the $40 per month Rent Allowance if they:
• do not live in public or state or federally subsidized housing and
• have rent, room and/or board expenses, mortgage, home owner’s insurance, property taxes, Condo Fees, a Residence Loan or State and Local Assessments.
Public housing is housing owned and operated by a housing authority in which the rent is based on a percentage of at least one of the occupants’ income.
Subsidized housing is housing occupied under a:
• Section 8 lease or occupancy agreement,
• Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program lease or occupancy agreement, or
• other state or federally funded program, in which the rent of at least one of the occupants is based in whole or in part on a percentage of his/her income
Temporary Accommodation:
Temporary Accommodation is the arrangement of short-term, non-rental placement in immediate temporary housing while a family waits to be placed in a HomeBASE household assistance program. The family pays no shelter costs because the placement is not long-term.
Impact on DTA Programs/Requirements
• Clients receiving Temporary Accommodations under the HomeBASE program are considered homeless and should be coded as homeless using the indicator on the Address page of BEACON. This entitles the household to the Homeless Shelter/Utility deduction.
• Housing Search is also considered a good cause reason for non-participation for TAFDC Work Program Required Clients. SNAP clients may also be exempt from the SNAP General Work Program Requirement, please see (Work Requirements Screening Page) for more information.
• Clients receiving Temporary Accommodations under the HomeBASE program are eligible for Relocation Benefits after 60 days once they have been discharged from their temporary EA shelter accommodation placement.
Stabilization Services:
Stabilization Services involve case management by a HomeBASE provider/agency contracted with DHCD. These services include housing search, budgeting assistance and other activities required for long-term housing stability. All families participating in the HomeBASE program must sign a HomeBASE Stabilization Service Plan agreeing to engage in specific activities outlined in their plan.
Impact on DTA Programs/Requirements
• Clients receiving stabilization services and who are in an EA shelter under the HomeBASE program are considered homeless and should be coded as homeless using the indicator on the Address page of BEACON. This entitles the household to the Homeless Shelter/Utility deduction.
• Housing Search is also considered a good cause reason for non-participation for TAFDC Work Program Required Clients. SNAP clients may also be exempt from the SNAP General Work Program Requirement, please see (Work Requirements Screening Page) for more information.
• Clients receiving stabilization services and who are in an EA shelter under the HomeBASE program are eligible for Relocation Benefits after 60 days once they have been discharged from their EA shelter placement.
DTA Families/DHCD HomeBASE Housing Assistance Policy and Procedures