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Public Act 91-0388
HB2198 Enrolled LRB9105224MWpc
AN ACT to amend the Homelessness Prevention Act by
changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 13 and by adding
Sections 4.5 and 9.5.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Homelessness Prevention Act is amended by
changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 13 and by adding
Sections 4.5 and 9.5 as follows:
(310 ILCS 70/2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1302)
Sec. 2. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
finds that homelessness frequently results from a temporary
economic crisis such as a temporary loss of employment,
medical emergency, or loss or interruption of public
benefits. It is also found that the prevention of
homelessness, as opposed to providing temporary shelter or
offering other short-term solutions to persons who become
homeless, is cost-effective, preserves family self-respect
and helps to keep families intact.
The General Assembly also finds that short-term
interventions for the prevention of homelessness serve to
prevent the need for long-term assistance programs that are
more costly to taxpayers.
(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)
(310 ILCS 70/3) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1303)
Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:
(a) "Department" means the Department of Human Services
(acting as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid
under the Department of Human Services Act).
"Grantee" means a county, a township, a municipality, or
an Illinois not-for-profit corporation receiving grants
authorized by this Act.
(b) "Household" means 2 or more persons residing
together, or a person living alone.
"Service area" means the county, township, municipality,
or other geographical area served by a grantee under this
Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)
(310 ILCS 70/4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1304)
Sec. 4. Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program.
(a) The Department shall establish a family homelessness
prevention and assistance program to stabilize families in
their existing homes, to shorten the amount of time that
families stay in emergency shelters, and to assist families
with securing affordable transitional or permanent housing.
The Department shall make grants, from funds appropriated to
it from the Homelessness Prevention Fund, to develop and
implement homelessness prevention and assistance projects
under this Act. The Department is authorized to establish a
Homeless Prevention Demonstration Program, but only if the
State receives federal matching funds for expenditures made
by the State under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program
authorized by Section 12-4.5 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
No funds from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program
authorized by Section 12-4.5 of the Illinois Public Aid Code
may be used for this demonstration program.
(b) To fund this demonstration program, there is created
in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the Homelessness
Prevention Fund. As permitted by Section 12-5 of the
Illinois Public Aid Code, the Department, with the consent of
the Governor, may deposit into the Homelessness Prevention
Fund any or all federal funds received as reimbursement for
food and shelter assistance under the Emergency Food and
Shelter Program authorized by Section 12-4.5 of the Illinois
Public Aid Code. Moneys in the Fund, subject to
appropriation, may be expended for the purposes of this Act.
Under this demonstration program, grants shall be made on
behalf of households, in times of crisis, which might
otherwise become homeless. Grants may be made from funds
appropriated for the purposes of this Act the program and
from any federal funds or funds from other sources which are
made available for the purposes of this Act this program.
Grants shall be made under this Act the program only to the
extent that such funds are available. The Department may
limit the design and operation of the program to certain
areas of the State. The Department may administer the
program or may contract with a private nonprofit social
service agency to administer the program.
(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)
(310 ILCS 70/4.5 new)
Sec. 4.5. Grant eligibility. The Department shall award
grants to grantees that agree to focus their emergency
response systems on homeless prevention and securing
permanent or transitional housing for homeless households.
The Department shall consider the extent to which the
proposed project activities demonstrate ways in which
existing resources in a service area may be more effectively
coordinated. Priority in awarding grants will be given to
applicants participating in an established continuum of care.
(310 ILCS 70/5) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1305)
Sec. 5. Eligibility for assistance. Grantees may offer
assistance to households in their service area when: No
household shall be eligible for assistance unless:
(a) (Blank); the household meets categorical eligibility
for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program and
has an income equal to or less than the standard of need for
this program. The Department may establish, by rule, higher
income levels;
(b) the household is in imminent danger of eviction,
foreclosure or homelessness, or is currently homeless;
(c) the household documents a temporary economic crisis
beyond the household's control, evidenced by at least one of
the following conditions:
(1) loss of employment;
(2) medical disability or emergency;
(3) loss or delay of some form of public benefits;
(4) natural disaster;
(5) substantial change in household composition;
(6) victimization by criminal activity;
(7) illegal action by a landlord;
(8) displacement by government or private action;
or
(9) some other condition which constitutes a
hardship comparable to the other conditions enumerated
above;
(d) all other federal, State or local housing subsidies
are unavailable have been exhausted; and
(e) the applicant demonstrates an ability to meet the
prospective rental obligation after the assistance has been
granted based on current or anticipated income.
(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)
(310 ILCS 70/6) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1306)
Sec. 6. Forms of assistance. Assistance offered to
households by grantees under the demonstration program shall
include but not be limited to the following:
(a) payment of a rent arrearage in an amount established
as necessary to defeat the eviction, but shall in no event be
greater than 3 months of rental arrears; or
(b) payment of a rent deposit or security deposit and
payment of not more than 2 months rent;.
(c) payment of utility bills and arrearages; or
(d) support services, where appropriate, to prevent
homelessness or repeated episodes of homelessness.
(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)
(310 ILCS 70/8) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1308)
Sec. 8. Payment of assistance. Assistance provided
under this Act may be paid to a landlord, utility company, or
other vendor who provides housing or other services to an
applicant for assistance.
(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)
(310 ILCS 70/9) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1309)
Sec. 9. Staff accepting applications; training and
experience. A grantee's staff accepting applications from
households for assistance under the program shall be trained
or experienced in the following: the operation of the
program and any regulations adopted in relation to the
program by the Department; identification of federal, State
and local agencies and services which are relevant to the
program and the program's clients; dissemination of
information relating to the program; intake, screening and
referral procedures; and other areas to be determined by the
Department. If the Department contracts with a private
entity for the operation of the program, the Department shall
ensure that the staff of the entity have experience and
training as specified in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)
(310 ILCS 70/9.5 new)
Sec. 9.5. Consultation. Grantees shall consult on a
regular basis with the local established continuum of care in
preparing the project proposal and in the design,
implementation, and evaluation of the project.
(310 ILCS 70/13) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1313)
Sec. 13. Report. The Department shall report on program
activities that provide assistance or services to homeless
persons under this Act as part of its annual report to the
General Assembly. The Department shall conduct an evaluation
of the program and present the findings from the evaluation
in a report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later
than 5 months after the first fiscal year of operation.
(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)
(310 ILCS 70/7 rep.)
Section 10. The Homelessness Prevention Act is amended
by repealing Section 7.
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