Homeless Households
This show is a compilation of policy
found throughout Volume II
regarding Homeless individuals.
Definition of “Homeless”: MS 2000
A Homeless Individual is defined
as someone who either:
Lacks a fixed and regular
nighttime residence,
OR...
Their primary nighttime residence
is one of the following:
 A supervised shelter designed to provide
temporary living accommodations
 An institution providing temporary residence
for individuals intended to be institutionalized
 A temporary accommodation of less than 90
days in the residence of another individual
 A place not designed for, or ordinarily used as,
a regular sleeping accommodation for human
beings, such as a tent, box, car, etc.
Residency
 Individuals and/or families residing in
temporary shelters for the homeless,
may receive Food Benefits, if otherwise
eligible. (MS 2460)
 This is one instance when residents of
an institution can receive FB. (MS 2090)
Verification of Residency
Whether the homeless individual/family is
in a temporary shelter or not, obtain
verification of residency in conjunction
with the other information such as shelter
expenses and identity.
Acceptable Verification
 Accept any documents or collateral
contacts which reasonably establish the
applicant’s residency.
 For homeless households, an exception
can be made when verification of
residency cannot be reasonably
obtained. (MS 7000 D)
What’s the Mailing Address?
Households that do not have a fixed
residence, including homeless individuals
or migrant farm workers, must provide the
agency with a mailing address.
Mailing Address Options
If the individual has no mailing address,
allow the household to select one of the
following options:
 The address of their church, minister, neighbor
 General Delivery (at the Post Office)
 The local DCBS office address.
Local Office Delivery
 If the household chooses the local office, store
the household’s mail with their EBT card, or if
they have already picked up their card, place
mail where local office pickups are stored .
 Advise the household to check their mail
regularly for important notices to ensure their
eligibility is not adversely affected.
Purging Old Mail
After 30 days, or if the case is otherwise
inactive, mail which is delivered to the
local office, but not picked up, is purged.
 Notices are filed in the case record.
 ETP reimbursement checks are returned to the
Nutrition Assistance and Accountability Branch.
Transitional Housing Defined
 Housing to encourage the movement of
homeless individuals/families to independent
living within a reasonable amount of time, as
determined by the Secretary of HUD.
 This includes housing primarily designed to
serve formerly institutionalized homeless
individuals, homeless individuals with mental
disabilities, and homeless families with children.
Transitional Housing Assistance
 Do not exclude housing assistance paid by
Federal, State or local agencies for households
residing in transitional housing for homeless.
 Although these payments are made to a third
party, this is countable unearned income in
the Food Benefits case. (MS 5210, item B.3)
The Homeless Standard: MS 5485
 A Homeless Standard Allowance choice is
allowed for homeless households who incur a
shelter expense, instead of a shelter deduction.
 The allowance is deducted after the medical
deduction, and before the child support
deduction, rather than as a shelter deduction.
Homeless Standard Amount
 The Homeless Standard Allowance is
subject to change each year when the
shelter cap is adjusted.
 Go to the KAMES Eligibility Tables, and
locate the current Homeless Standard
Allowance amount.
Mission Possible!
Locate a FS-103 form in your local
office, and find the line used for the
Homeless Deduction on this form.
Homeless Standard Verification
 If the household states that they expect to
incur a shelter cost during the calendar month,
accept client’s statement as verification,
unless questionable. (See also MS 7010 D.3)
 If questionable, and written verification cannot
be obtained, collateral contacts may be used.
Using the Homeless Standard
 Homeless households which reasonably
expect to incur a shelter expense are
allowed to use this standard deduction.
 When the homeless standard is used,
the household is not entitled to any
additional shelter deduction.
Give Them a Choice...
 Households claiming shelter expenses
greater than the homeless standard may
choose to use their actual rent and the
SUA or BUA, if eligible and verification
of expenses is provided.
 If verification is not provided, use the
homeless standard allowance instead.
Explaining the Homeless Standard
Explain that it is the homeless household's
choice to provide verification of rent and
entitlement to the utility standard, or to
use the homeless standard allowance.
Help Them Choose
 Even though it is the client’s choice, it
is your responsibility to advise the
client what is to their benefit.
 Help the client choose the option that
is best for them.
No Shelter Expenses?
Homeless households receiving free
housing and utilities throughout the
month are not eligible for the
Homeless Standard Allowance.
Examples
On your Notes Pages, give an example
of a Homeless household that would be
eligible for the Homeless Standard
deduction, and each of the shelter
deductions.
Homeless Roommates
 For two homeless households living together
temporarily and incurring shared shelter
expenses, allow each household the homeless
standard allowance, if they choose to use it.
 Do not prorate the standard between the two
households.
Sharing Utility Expenses
For non-homeless households which are
entitled to the SUA and also share utility
expenses with a homeless household:
 Allow the non-homeless household the SUA
 Advise the homeless household that they are
entitled to choose either the Homeless
Standard Allowance, or the SUA if verification
is provided.
Food Benefits Use
In addition to regular Food Benefit use,
homeless households may purchase
meals prepared and served by a public or
private, non-profit establishment that
feeds the homeless, such as a soup
kitchen or shelter for homeless, which is
approved by FNS to accept FB.
Shelter Representatives: MS 2465
Employees of shelters that accept Food
Benefits as payment for meals may not
apply or act as a FB representative for
persons residing in the shelter.
Policy Into Practice
Please return to Blackboard, and
complete the Homeless Households
Activity to apply the information you
have gathered during this segment!