What financial resources are available to assist in funding transitional programs for homeless families?
TANF grants can be a source of funding for transitional homeless services. The final TANF regulations have confirmed and expanded the principle that using TANF funds for non-recurrent, short-term situations does not constitute “assistance.” One area of particular importance in transitioning homeless families is the states ability to make payments to meet short-term needs (not to exceed four months) to families without the payments counting towards the time limits. States also have more flexibility in collaborating with other community organizations under the final TANF rule. This rule eliminates the federal requirement to collect or report detailed data on individual families receiving TANF-funded “non-assistance”. It still is important to continue the collection of data needed for the design of effective programs and to justify future funding. For more information on allowable financial supports that are not considered assistance refer to the TANF Regulations, http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/
