(a) There are certain circumstances where individualized determination of income eligibility may not be required:

1. (1) Services provided on a group basis.

   1. (A)

(i) Services are provided on a group, rather than individual, basis and circumstances indicate that those benefiting are likely to meet the Community Services Block Grant income eligibility requirements.

1. (ii) For example, a financial literacy class provided to parents of children in the eligible entity’s Head Start program or a job skills class provided to residents of a homeless shelter.

   1. (B)

      1. (i) Services are provided on an individual basis, but circumstances make it impossible or impracticable to obtain documentation and indicate that those benefiting are likely to meet the Community Services Block Grant income eligibility requirements or that the services facilitate linkages and coordination of services to low-income people in the community.
      2. (ii) For example:

(b) (b) General information and referrals regarding benefits and services available to low-income people in the community; and

1. (c) (c) Disaster response and relief, such as emergency shelters or provision of food and clothing during or immediately following a disaster.

   1. (C)

      1. (i) Services are intended to increase community awareness of or involvement in poverty issues.
      2. (ii) For example, an eligible entity:

(b) (b) Convenes a meeting of organizations in the community serving homeless clients to discuss coordinating service delivery; or

1. (c) (c) Holds an open house to publicize the availability of its programs to members of the low-income community;

2. (2) Using Community Services Block Grant funds to support another program.

   1. (A) When Community Services Block Grant funds are used to support another program that does not have eligibility requirements, that has higher income eligibility requirements than the Community Services Block Grant program, or that does not limit services to the eligible entity’s Community Services Block Grant service area, clients should be screened for Community Services Block Grant eligibility and identified as Community Services Block Grant-eligible or not Community Services Block Grant-eligible.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) The eligible entity should have a reasonable, documented basis for allocating the program costs between the Community Services Block Grant and the other funding source or sources based on the relative benefit each funding source receives.
      2. (ii) This can be done, for example, by demonstrating that either:

(a)

1. (1) (a)(1) The proportion of program clients who are Community Services Block Grant-eligible is equal to or greater than the proportion of program costs paid with Community Services Block Grant funds.
2. (2) (2) For example, if seventy percent (70%) of program costs are paid from Community Services Block Grant funds and thirty percent (30%) are paid from another source, at least seventy percent (70%) of the clients served must meet Community Services Block Grant eligibility requirements; or

(b)

1. (1) (b)(1) The proportion of the program staff’s time that is devoted to serving Community Services Block Grant-eligible clients is equal to or greater than the proportion of program costs paid with Community Services Block Grant funds.
2. (2) (2) For example, if seventy percent (70%) of program costs are paid from Community Services Block Grant funds and thirty percent (30%) are paid from another source, at least seventy percent (70%) of the staff’s time must be allocated to serving Community Services Block Grant-eligible clients;

3. (3) Residency requirement.

   1. (A) If residency in the Community Services Block Grant service area is an eligibility requirement of the eligible entity or state Community Services Block Grant statutes or rules, an eligible entity may require documentation indicating that the applicants for Community Services Block Grant services or benefits live in the eligible entity’s Community Services Block Grant service area.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) Applicants provide documentation of their current residential address.
      2. (ii) Examples of acceptable documentation include:

(b) (b) The lease or rental agreement;

1. (c) (c) A receipt from the landlord showing that rent was received;

   1. (d) (d) A copy of the mortgage statement;

(f) (f) A letter from a homeless shelter.

1. (C) Applicants who live with someone else and do not receive mail at that address may provide a signed, notarized letter from that person and documentation of that person’s current residential address.

   1. (D) Self-certification is permitted in the case of applicants who are homeless and have no current residential address;

2. (4) Staff, board members, and members of their families.

   1. (A) There is no prohibition against an eligible entity providing Community Services Block Grant-funded services or benefits to members of its tripartite board and its staff or members of their families who apply for those services or benefits, provided that the:

      1. (i) Applicant meets all applicable eligibility criteria for the services or benefits;
      2. (ii) Applicant does not receive preferential treatment in receiving the services or benefits due to their connection with the eligible entity; and
      3. (iii) Services or benefits are provided on terms similar to those provided to individuals who are not so connected to the entity.
   2. (B) Neither the applicant nor a member of their family should make the determination of whether the applicant is eligible for the Community Services Block Grant-funded services or benefits;
3. (5) Noncitizens. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services, Information Memorandum 30 (September 30, 1998) states that noncitizens should not be banned from Community Services Block Grant programs based solely on their alien status unless the exclusion is authorized by another statute;

4. (6) Substance abusers.

   1. (A) There is no prohibition on the use of Community Services Block Grant funds to provide services or benefits to substance abusers.
   2. (B) Eligible entities use Community Services Block Grant funds to provide substance abuse treatment or to provide additional services to clients in their substance abuse treatment programs;
5. (7) Convicted felons. Convicted felons are eligible for Community Services Block Grant services;
6. (8) Ineligible clients. Other than people who do not meet the Community Services Block Grant income eligibility requirements, no one is categorically ineligible for Community Services Block Grant services;

7. (9) Referrals.

   1. (A) The Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901 et seq., requires states to include in their Community Services Block Grant state plans, “information provided by eligible entities in the State, containing … a description of how linkages will be developed to fill identified gaps in services, through the provision of information, referrals” (see 42 U.S.C. § 9908(b)(3)(B).
   2. (B) Thus, it is clear that Community Services Block Grant funds may be used to provide information and referrals, assuming that the services are targeted to those who are Community Services Block Grant-eligible; and

8. (10) Intake and eligibility screening.

   1. (A) An eligible entity may use Community Services Block Grant funds for initial intake and eligibility screening for general eligible entity services.
   2. (B) If an applicant is determined not to meet the Community Services Block Grant eligibility requirements, but is eligible for other services or benefits provided by the eligible entity or by other organizations or entities that have less restrictive eligibility requirements, such as higher income, Community Services Block Grant funds may be spent on staff time and related expenses for the intake staff to inform the applicant about the availability of those services or benefits and to refer the applicant to a staff person whose time is paid out of the funding sources for those services and benefits for more information about and intake for those services and benefits.

(b)

1. (1) As noted in the Appendix, eligible entities must conduct Community Services Block Grant eligibility determinations in a manner that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of:

   1. (A) Race;
   2. (B) Color;
   3. (C) National origin;
   4. (D) Age; or
   5. (E) Disability.
2. (2) In addition, eligible entities that are religious organizations are prohibited from discriminating against applicants on the basis of religion.