Definition of Chronic Homelessness Proposed Rule: Comments Due May 28

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act), enacted into law on May 20, 2009, consolidates three of the separate homeless assistance programs administered by HUD under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into a single Continuum of Care program; revises the Emergency Shelter Grants program and renames this program the Emergency Solutions Grants program; and creates the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program (RHSP) to replace the Rural Homelessness Grant program. The HEARTH Act also directs HUD to promulgate regulations for these new programs and processes. This proposed rule would provide for the establishment of regulations to implement the new RHSP. In addition to proposing the regulatory framework for the new RHSP, this rule also proposes to establish a definition for “chronically homeless” that includes a definition of homeless occasion that better targets persons with the longest histories of homelessness and the highest level of need.

The proposed regulation was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2013. Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding the RHSP rule, including the chronically homeless definition. HUD published a Notice extending the public comment period only for the proposed regulations for the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program to July 1, 2013. HUD is not extending the public comment deadline of May 28, 2013 for HUD’s proposed revisions to the definition of “chronically homeless”. Comments may be submitted to HUD either by mail or electronic submission at www.regulations.gov.