(a)

1. (1) Assistance with rent and utilities is not considered an allowable supportive service expense.
2. (2) Rent and utilities are basic living expenses for which the monthly cash grant is intended and are not solely associated with a work activity.
3. (3) However, on a rare occasion under an emergency situation, assistance with rent and/or utilities may be provided on a one-time basis when it is determined the assistance is necessary for the participant to participate in an assigned work activity or to accept or retain employment.

(b) Emergency assistance with rent and/or utilities may be approved one (1) time and only when the participant requesting the assistance is:

1. (1) A current mandatory transitional employment assistance (TEA) participant who is unable to begin or to continue to participate in a work activity due to a shelter crisis; or
2. (2) An employed former participant whose TEA cash assistance case was closed due to employment within the past twelve (12) months and is at risk of losing employment due to a shelter crisis.

(c) In addition, the participant requesting the assistance must:

1. (1) Provide verification of an eviction and/or shut off notice; and
2. (2) Be able, under normal circumstances, to continue to pay the rent and utilities along with other monthly expenses.

(d)

1. (1) Prior to approving a rent or utility assistance payment, the Program Eligibility Specialist and the participant will complete a TEA-1409, Household Income and Expense Worksheet, to determine if the participant will be able to continue to pay the current rent amount and utilities based on the participant’s income and other expenses.
2. (2) If it is determined that the participant will be able to continue to pay the current rent amount and or utilities once the crisis is alleviated, a one-time assistance payment may be approved.

(e)

1. (1) If it is determined that the participant cannot afford to continue to pay the current rent amount or utilities, the Program Eligibility Specialist will explore with the participant other community resources that may provide emergency shelter assistance.
2. (2) In addition, the Program Eligibility Specialist will discuss with the participant options for preventing a future shelter crisis, for example moving to less expensive housing, eliminating some optional monthly expenses, e.g., cable television, etc.

(f) Examples of emergencies include, but are not limited to:

1. (1) A utility cut-off notice when the utility is required to run a medically necessary device, e.g., an oxygen machine;
2. (2) Crisis created by buying a medically necessary prescription drug not covered by Medicaid; and
3. (3) Natural or other disasters that cause displacement from place of residence.