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Pathway Home Program – Fact sheet for clients
What is the Pathway Home program?
Pathway Home is a program that enables families and individuals to move out of a shelter by moving in with friends or family members (“host families”). Pathway Home can help you move from shelter back to the community as quickly as possible by providing monthly payments to your host family for up to 12 months. The program is open to all eligible families or individuals who have resided in shelter for at least 90 days.
The program provides monthly payments to host families of up to $1200, $1500 or $1800, depending on your household size. The homeless person and host family will also each receive a $500 gift card.
How do I apply?
You must complete an application, including identifying a qualified residence and host family to participate in the program. The host family you identify must also complete paperwork to include with your application. Your case manager, housing specialist, or social worker will help you complete an application and gather the documentation needed. After you submit your application, HRA and DHS will notify you if any additional information is needed.
HRA and DHS will determine eligibility based on the following factors:
- You are currently living in a DHS shelter for 90 or more days or have a referral for CITYFEPS or SEPS.
- Your total household income is not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
- You have an Active or Single Issue Cash Assistance case.
- You have identified a qualifying residence and host family. If you have reapplied for shelter within 10 days of your last stay in shelter of 90 or more days, HRA and DHS may waive the requirement that you currently reside in shelter.
If you are currently eligible for LINC, CITYFEPS, or SEPS you will still be able to use city rental assistance to move to your own apartment even if you leave a shelter now to join family or friends if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
What are the requirements for the residence I want to move to?
The program is only available to households in shelters who are moving in with a host family. The residence you are moving to and the host family must meet certain requirements, including the following:
- The host family must include the primary tenant or owner of the residence (your friend or family member).
- The residence must be inspected by shelter staff to confi rm there are no health or safety issues and that the residence would not be overcrowded if you moved in.
What payments will my host family and I receive?
The city will make monthly payments directly to your host family. The amount will be based on your household size. However, if the primary tenant (your friend or family member) receives cash assistance, the amount paid by the city may not be more than the primary tenant’s total payment obligation for the residence minus the primary tenant’s or owner’s cash assistance shelter allowance.
