Bridging Rental Assistance Program

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Bridging Rental Assistance Program
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Background

• BRAP was established in recognition that recovery
  can only begin in a safe, healthy, and decent
  environment.
• People with psychiatric disabilities are often
  unable to afford to rent housing of their choice
  in the community.

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General Information

• BRAP will provide individuals with housing
  assistance for up to 24 months or until the
  individual receives
• a Housing Choice (Section 8) Voucher
• another federal subsidy or
• alternative housing placement

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General Information

• Housing Units
• Housing First Model
• Cost
• Wait List

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Statistics
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BRAP Priority

• Eligible people who are leaving psychiatric
  institutions.
• Eligible people who are homeless.
• Eligible people who are living in Substandard
  Housing.
• Eligible people who are moving from community
  residential programs funded by DHHS, to more
  independent living arrangements.

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DHHS Requirements

• Recipients of BRAP must be Class Members of the
  AMHI Consent Decree OR
• Adults with Severe and Disabling Mental Illness

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DHHS Requirements

• Adults with Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  and/or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
• Section 8

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Choose the Situation that Applies to Your Client

• LEAVING AN INSTITUTION
• HOMELESS
• LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING
• MOVING TO MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING

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Leaving an Institution

• Definition
• Leaving a State Institution (Riverview or
  Dorothea Dix),
• Leaving a private psychiatric hospital bed, OR
• Have been discharged in the last six months from
  any of these institutions

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Documentation Needed

• If your client is leaving an institution, attach
  the following documentation to the application
• Application Tenant Certification
• Waiver Request Form

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Homeless

• Definition
• Sleeping in places not meant for human
  habitation.
• Graduating from transitional housing specifically
  for homeless persons.
• Being evicted within the week from private
  dwelling units.
• Leaving a State Institution or being discharged
  within the week from institutions in which they
  have been residents for more than 30 consecutive
  days.

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Documentation Needed

• If your client is homeless, attach the following
  documentation to the application
• Application Tenant Certification
• Waiver Request Form

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Living in Substandard Housing

• Housing is substandard if
• It is dilapidated
• Does not have indoor plumbing
• Does not have electricity
• Does not have heat
• Has been declared unfit for habitation

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Documentation Needed

• If your client is living in substandard housing,
  attach the following documentation to the
  application
• Application Tenant Certification
• Waiver Request Form

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Moving to More Independent Living

• Eligible people are those who are moving from
  community residential programs and other
  behavioral health facilities to more independent
  living arrangements.

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Documentation Needed

• If your client is leaving an institution, attach
  the following documentation to the application
• Application Tenant Certification
• Waiver Request Form

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Application Tenant Certification
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Waiver Request Form
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Additional Documentation for All Applications

• Social Security Income/Social Security Disability
  Income
• Income Verifications
• BRAP Priority Documentation
• Disability Verification
• Section 8 Waitlist Status

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All applications may be found here

• http//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mh/Housing/home.html

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Documentation

• One packet please!!!

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Completed Applications

• Completed applications go directly to the local
  Administrative Agent for review.
• Statewide Waitlist
• Signed Mental Health Team Leader Waiver