October 27, 2009http://detnews.com/article/20091027/METRO01/910270341
Detroit ripped over federal aid forms

Broad distribution may delay help from feds, critics say

CATHERINE JUN
The Detroit News Detroit -- Detroit spurned expert advice before it launched a mass distribution of applications for federal aid, a decision that could delay dollars from reaching those who need it, say state officials and homeless agencies.
The approach led tens of thousands to jam Cobo Center earlier this month and has flooded the city with 10 times more applications than can be accepted.
Applicants who qualify for the money won't be contacted until mid-November as city officials tackle the enormous task of screening about 50,000 applicants -- for a pot of funds that can help about 3,400 families who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness.
"If they're really on the threshold of homelessness ... then time is of the essence," said Joe Tardella, governing board president for the Homeless Action Network of Detroit, an association of about 100 agencies that has overseen the distribution of millions in federal aid Detroiters. He was among those who cautioned Detroit against broadly dispensing applications. "The challenge is: What do you do with [[50,000) applications? How do you do the first sort?"
Earlier this month, application forms were handed out at locations around the city, including the Neighborhood City Halls office downtown, creating long lines. The high interest prompted city officials to move the distribution of applications to Cobo Center, where an estimated 50,000 mobbed the facility, some pushing and shoving to nab the last available forms. Organizers were forced to print additional applications and extend the submission deadline one week to Oct. 14.
As communities across the state prepare to disburse their allocations from the federal Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, Detroit can serve as a cautionary tale, said Sally Harrison, a director at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
"Every community has to think it through," said Harrison, director of rental development and homeless initiatives. "What happened in Detroit -- it might have [[given) others ... second thoughts."
Narrow search suggested
State officials had urged Detroit to search for eligible families through local agencies that traditionally help the needy.
"They're the folks you call already when you're losing your housing or in need of food or shelter," Harrison explained. "It's not like you need to advertise to people in a broad way."
Detroit officials maintain that they were trying to cast a wide net over those who may qualify for the federal help. They say that crowds at Cobo were drawn by a rumor the city was handing out cash.
"Personnel from Planning and Development attempted to reach out to as many Detroit residents who are in need for this program. Unfortunately, rumors and a misunderstanding that funds were readily available for those in need ... fueled the large turnout at Cobo." Edward Cardenas, spokesman for Mayor Dave Bing, said in a statement. City officials involved in deciding the process declined requests for interviews.
Detroit and several other Michigan cities and counties directly petitioned the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for their share of dollars. That means these municipalities have some discretion on how to allocate the money and are not obligated to heed the state's advice.
State officials said they were not aware of any other location distributing applications en masse.
Cities like Royal Oak are taking a much different tack.
"I think we're going to avoid Detroit's type of response," said Tim Thwing, director of planning for the city, which was awarded $558,226 from the same federal program. "It's not going to be an open, come-apply type of thing."
It has distributed some of its money to the Salvation Army and South Oakland Shelter.
"The funds will get out quicker that way," said Thwing, adding that his limited staff wouldn't have been able to manage administering the money.
Advocates for the homeless say Detroit officials ignored such front-end assistance by agencies, rebuffing even referrals of known families facing eviction or utility shutoffs who would undoubtedly qualify.
"We had lots of discussions, and recommendations didn't happen, ours and others," said Ted Phillips, director of the United Community Housing Coalition, whose on-staff attorneys advocate for Detroit families fighting evictions.
Janet Irrer, homeless programs manager for the state, said offering the specter of hope can lead to disappointment, especially when there isn't enough help to go around.
"You have to be so careful about building expectations for something if you can't deliver."
With a federal award of $15.2 million, Detroit is holding the purse strings to the largest slice of the $53 million awarded to Michigan. The program is part of the federal stimulus plan.
By mid-November, the city will turn applications over to service agencies like the housing coalition and THAW that will help administer funds.
Housing officials to help
Before that happens, the city must first sort and record mountainous stacks of forms. They will weed out applicants who do not live in Detroit and those who missed the deadline.
Federal housing officials have been dispatched from Washington to help.
Once agencies get the applications, they will conduct the next phase of screening with in-person interviews and seek additional documentation of applicants' circumstances.Due to the large volume of applicants, only those who qualify will be contacted, city officials said.
LaKeisha Hooker is among those eagerly awaiting a call. Laid off from her job as a restaurant cashier a year ago, the mother of two has been unable to pay the rent on an apartment infested with bedbugs. She and her children now sleep at her mother's two-bedroom home, sharing beds and couches, eight people in all.
"I'm really trying to hold out," Hooker said.
cjun@detnews.com">cjun@detnews.com [[313) 222-2019
Additional Facts Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Who is eligible?
Individuals and families who:
Are homeless or at risk of homelessness [[i.e. recent eviction, sudden loss of income, at risk of having utilities disconnected, etc.)
Would be homeless if not for this assistance
Can document insufficient income [[requirements vary by region)
Have or are likely to gain sufficient income [[i.e. job or disability benefits, etc.) to sustain housing once assistance ends
Who is not eligible?
Homeowners seeking mortgage assistance
Those seeking long-term, intensive support and services
Need help?
Dial United Way's 211 helpline to find a local social service agency for help.


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That's the problem with using all of Kwame's old people [[Karen Dumas, Marja Winters). No one can tell them anything.