The document summarizes the program design of a homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing program in Memphis, TN following the implementation of the HEARTH Act. Key aspects include centralizing resources through a coordinated entry system, prioritizing families refusing shelter and vulnerable groups, providing temporary and tailored financial assistance to quickly rehouse 74% of participants, and achieving a less than 0.2% return to homelessness rate for assisted families. The program screened over 6,000 people and helped stabilize over 1,000 families.

1. Implementing the HEARTH Act:
Memphis, TN Program Design
Katie Kitchin, Community Alliance for the Homeless
February 2012

2. Program Design
 HPRP introduced a “front door” for families – connecting
all prevention, shelter, TH, and rapid rehousing resources.
 17 community partners; governed by management team
that meets monthly
 Context: 65% of capacity is in Transitional Housing –
prevention was disconnected; rapid rehousing was not
understood

3. Targeting
 Targeting:
 Strategy One: Diversion focus – program serves shelter
applicants – if family refuses to consider shelter, they are
disqualified – collateral contacts must confirm lack of
housing options
 Other priority populations: disabled caretakers, foster youth
and ex-offenders though take up rate has been low

4. Subsidy Models: How Much is “Just
Enough”?
 Expectation is once is enough
 Result: 74% needed one period of assistance (less than 3
months) in 24 months
 Need to spend down encouraged some to “double dip”
 Human nature – wait until the last minute/take what is free
Number of Assistance Periods
One Time
Twice
Three or More
0 200 400 600 800 1000

5. Subsidy Design
 Specific amount is individually tailored; all must
contribute something/match
 Double dips must be advocated by FHA
 Double dips trigger supportive services
 Management team regularly adjusted program based
on spending patterns and any issues presented by
partners

6. Scale
 Front door begins with Hotline:
 43,752 calls received
 Step 2: face-to-face
 6,256 people screened in
 Step 3: Diversion/Placement
 1,105 families sheltered; 1,192 received FA/mostly prevention
 Step 5: Wraparound
 35% receive housing-focused case management

7. Housing Stability in Memphis
Housing Stability With and Without FHA Support
100% 99%
94%
95%
90% 91%
89%
90%
86%
85%
80%
75% FHAs
Non FHAs
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
3 months 6 months 12 months

8. Rate of Return
 Of the 1,192 families who received assistance
between October 2009 and September 2011
2 families or less than 0.2%
returned to shelter or transitional housing.

9. Impact on Homelessness
Trend in Entered Homelessness 2010-2011
10%
+9%
8%
6%
4%
2%
-2%
0%
% change in single adult homelessness % change in family homelessness
-2%
-4%