Apparently some agencies have been demanding that homeless families applying for HPRP benefits need to show that they have an income. This thoughtful July 21 FAQ response from HUD says that there is no strict minimum income requirement and agencies must do more than just automatically exclude families based on income at time of application when considering future stability. The text of the FAQ is pasted below (or click the "Go To Website" link below.)

All the FAQs on HPRP are at the HUD website.  Go to "Eligible Participants" to see other relevant FAQ responses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Detail Is an applicant required to have an income to be eligible for HPRP assistance?

In the Program Notice, HUD emphasizes that HPRP assistance is temporary, and as a result, applicants should be able to maintain their housing once HPRP assistance ends. The HPRP Notice states that the intent of these Recovery Act funds is to assist those persons who are most likely to be able to sustain housing on their own after HPRP assistance ends. However, providing proof of income or the ability to sustain housing when HPRP assistance ends is not an eligibility requirement for HPRP. Because HPRP is temporary in nature, grantees and subgrantees may consider the expected ability of the program participant to achieve and maintain stable housing (unsubsidized or subsidized) once the assistance ends. However, there are many different paths to stability. Just because an applicant does not have income at the time of application does not mean he/she will not be able to achieve stability during the term of assistance (particularly if the applicant has a stable employment history and marketable job skills but was recently laid off).

HUD cautions grantees against creating barriers for persons in need of this assistance, or putting in place criteria that are so strict that they cannot find households to serve. Instead, case managers should be fully assessing each client's situation (housing history, employment history/prospects, financial situation, etc.) and establishing a service plan that will help them become stabilized during the term of assistance.

Additionally, it is important to remember that who is served under HPRP will depend on a number of local factors, including how much funding the grantee has allocated towards services, as well as other programs available in the community to help those that have significant barriers and need long term, intensive support. In other words, while the goal of HPRP is to serve households that are “most in need of temporary assistance, and yet likely to achieve stable housing,” stability is not an eligibility criteria and grantees should not reject applicants based on an arbitrary indicator they are equating with stability (e.g., income at the time of application).