§11360 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used in this part so people and programs know who is covered and what the rules mean. Below are the main terms with a one-line plain meaning for each. “At risk of homelessness” — income under 30 percent of the area median, no money available for stable housing, and living situations showing instability (like moving a lot for money reasons, staying with others, eviction notices, living in motels, severe overcrowding, leaving an institution, or other unstable housing). “Chronically homeless” — homeless in places not meant for living, safe havens, or emergency shelters, and either continuously homeless for at least 1 year or homeless on 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years, plus the household head has a diagnosable serious problem (substance use, serious mental illness, developmental disability, PTSD, brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability); someone in an institutional facility for fewer than 90 days counts as chronically homeless if they met these rules before entering. “Collaborative applicant” — the group that files a joint grant application and performs the duties required under the program and, if a legal entity, gets the grant from the Secretary. “Collaborative application” — a grant application that meets program rules and is filed by a collaborative applicant. “Consolidated Plan” — the housing and community development plan HUD requires under 24 CFR part 91. “Eligible entity” — a public body, private group, or mix of both that can get grant money under a given part. “Families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes” — children or youth treated as homeless by other federal laws but not by section 11302, and includes their parent(s) or guardian under part B. “Formula area” — the area meaning given in 24 CFR 1000.302 or its successor rule. “Geographic area” — a State, metro city, urban county, town, village, nonentitlement area, formula area, or combination described in section 5306. “Homeless individual with a disability” — a person who is homeless and has a long-lasting or indefinite physical, mental, or emotional impairment (including substance abuse, PTSD, or brain injury) that greatly limits independent living and could improve with better housing, or has a developmental disability, or has AIDS or conditions from its cause; the AIDS listing does not limit the other parts. “Indian Tribe” — has the meaning given in 25 U.S.C. 4103. “Legal entity” — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit exempt from tax, a state or local government instrumentality, or a consortium of such instrumentalities set up as an entity. “Metropolitan city,” “urban county,” and “nonentitlement area” — have the meanings in section 5302(a). “New” (housing) — no prior assistance has been provided under this subchapter. “Operating costs” — expenses for running transitional or permanent housing, including administration/maintenance/security, utilities/furnishings/equipment, and coordinating services for long-term stability. “Outpatient health services” — outpatient medical care, mental health care, and outpatient substance abuse care. “Permanent housing” — community-based housing with no fixed limit on length of stay, including permanent supportive housing and permanent housing without supports. “Personally identifying information” — information that identifies a person, including name, home or physical address, contact info (postal, email, IP address, phone, or fax), Social Security number, and other data (like birth date, race, or religion) that could identify someone when combined with other facts, including info that would reveal the location of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. “Private nonprofit organization” — an organization whose profits do not go to individuals, has a voluntary board, has accounting or a fiscal agent per HUD rules, and practices nondiscrimination. “Project” — eligible activities under part C done for a specific effort, such as serving a population or providing a resource. “Project-based” (rental assistance) — assistance paid under a contract to an owner of an existing building, tying specific units to eligible people for at least the contract term. “Project sponsor” — the organization directly responsible for carrying out proposed activities. “Recipient” (except in part B) — an eligible entity whose grant application is approved, that gets the grant from the Secretary, and that either runs projects itself or awards funds to project sponsors. “Secretary” — the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. “Serious mental illness” — a severe, long-lasting mental or emotional condition that seriously limits independent living. “Solo applicant” — an eligible entity that applies alone for a part C grant and, if awarded, gets the grant directly. “Sponsor-based” (rental assistance) — assistance paid under a contract to an independent private organization that owns or leases units, and eligible people occupy those units. “State” (except in part B) — each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other U.S. territory or possession. “Supportive services” — services that meet special needs of people served, such as child care, job help and training, health care, food, case management, help finding permanent housing, counseling, outreach, mental health and trauma services, help getting other benefits, legal help for benefits or warrants, transportation to work and health care, and other services needed to get and keep housing. “Tenant-based” (rental assistance) — assistance that lets an eligible person choose a unit to live in, with some limited rules for initial placement or geographic limits to make support services workable, and that allows moves to other units or areas if program rules are met or the person must flee violence to protect safety. “Transitional housing” — housing meant to help people move to permanent housing within 24 months, or a longer time if the Secretary allows. “Unified funding agency” — a collaborative applicant that does the specific duties in section 11360a(g). “Underserved populations” — groups underserved by location, race or ethnicity, special needs (like language barriers, disabilities, immigration status, or age), or other groups the Secretary finds appropriate. “Victim service provider” — a private nonprofit whose main job is helping victims of domestic or sexual violence and stalking, such as rape crisis centers and shelters. “Victim services” — services that help victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, provided by organizations with a proven history of effective work in these areas.