About
HEAP is a $500 million block grant program designed to provide direct assistance to cities, counties and Continuums of Care (CoCs) to address the homelessness crisis throughout California. HEAP is authorized by SB 850, which was signed into law by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. on June 27, 2018. HEAP funds are distributed and monitored by the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council.
Eligible Uses
HEAP funds are intended to provide funding to Continuums of Care (CoCs) and large cities so they may provide immediate emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness or those at imminent risk of homelessness. The parameters of the program are intentionally broad, and the examples provided are not exhaustive. CoCs and the 11 large cities are encouraged to be creative and craft programs that meet specific needs that have been identified in their communities.
Eligible uses include, but are not limited to the following:
- Services: Street outreach, health and safety education, criminal justice diversion programs, prevention services, navigation services, and operating support for short term or comprehensive homeless services.
- Rental assistance or subsidies: Housing vouchers, rapid re-housing programs, and eviction prevention strategies.
- Capital improvements: Emergency shelter, transitional housing, drop-in centers, permanent supportive housing, small/tiny houses, and improvements to current structures that serve homeless individuals and families.
For more information on the Homeless Emergency Aid Program, please visit the California Interagency Council on Homelessness website.
HEAP Funded Projects
On May 29, 2019, the Leadership Council approved almost $12 million dollars of HEAP support to fund 12 homeless projects throughout Monterey and San Benito Counties. The approved projects are listed below:
San Benito County
| Agency | Project | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| San Benito County | Housing Navigation and Rapid Rehousing Assistance | $75,000.00 |
| San Benito Youth Alliance | Combination of emergency shelter vouchers, outreach/engagement and counseling | $280,663 |
| San Benito County | Street Outreach Program throughout San Benito County | $415,435 |
| San Benito County | Increase inventory through 5 new transitional tiny homes | $1,100,000 |
Monterey County
| Agency | Project | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Community Human Services | Youth Street Outreach Program, substance abuse counseling, family reunification/emergency shelter/transitional housing. | $ 857,331 |
| Community Human Services in partnership with the Gathering for Women | Capital improvements for new emergency shelter for women and families located in Seaside. | $1,587,658 |
| Community Homeless Solutions | Capital improvements for 14 family transitional housing units to be converted to permanent supportive housing | $260,728 |
| Salinas/Monterey County | To build (construction) new homeless emergency shelter in for single women and men and families. Will have space to store minimal belongings and accommodations for pets. | $6,018,100 |
| CCCIL | Combination of rental assistance (six month maximum), move in costs, application fees, utility arrears payments, landlord mitigation. | $579,250 |
| Housing Resource Center | Combination of rental assistance (6 month max), move in costs, case management and landlord mitigation. | $310,000 |
| Salinas/Monterey County | Operating and supportive services for current Salinas Warming Shelter. | $395,822 |
More Information
CHSP conducted focus groups within the community to gather input for HEAP. The following are documents related to the community engagement efforts: