Preparing For The HEARTH Act: Preventing And Ending Homelessness At The Local Level

Abstract

The HEARTH Act of 2009 expands care to people experiencing homelessness by giving communities more freedom in allocation of their resources based on their ability to produce measurable results. Although regulations have not been released on this legislation, communities, called Continuums of Care, can prepare for program changes by monitoring current data for areas in need of growth within the system. One of the goals included in the statute is to move a homeless family from an emergency shelter to permanent supportive housing within 30 days. This paper uses data from the Annual Progress Reports from grantees in the Continuum of Care in Fort Worth, Texas to analyze current length of stay compared to the national average. To meet this goal under HEARTH, it is recommended that the Continuum improve data quality, maximize programs on domestic violence, increase use of mainstream services, and continue progress toward a central intake facility.