Shelter Plus Care

 Shelter Plus Care is a federally funded permanent supportive housing program that links housing with supportive services to move individuals, and adults with families, who are homeless, have a disability and a low-income, to permanent housing. Support for participants combines a rental assistance subsidy funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care Program, and supportive services administered and provided by Mecklenburg County Community Support Services and other community partners.

Three Main Goals of Shelter Plus Care in Mecklenburg County

• Increase housing stability
• Increase income and/or skills
• Obtain greater self-sufficiency
  

This program has a community mandate to prioritize individuals and families who are highly vulnerable and chronically homeless, as defined by HUD and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care (CoC). Specifically, verification is required that they have been in the streets or shelters for over 12 months (4 times in the last 3 years, or consecutively) and have a qualifying disability.

Eligibility Requirements (Applicant must meet all of the following criteria):

• Applicant meets HUD definition of homelessness (Category 1 or 4) or chronically homeless

Mecklenburg County's Continuum of Care has adopted the July 2014 HUD: Notice CPD-14-012 which prioritizes persons experiencing chronic homelessness in permanent supportive housing.​

HUD Notice-CPD-14-012 Prioritizing Persons Experiencing Chronic Homelessness in PSH and Recordkeeping Requirements

• Applicant's household must include at least one adult member who has a verifiable disability that is expected to be long-continuing or of indefinite duration, substantially impedes the ability to live independently and could be improved by more suitable housing, and includes:
• Substance use disorder
• Serious mental illness
• Developmental disability
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Cognitive impairments from brain injury
• Chronic physical illness or disability

• Applicant's household has an income of 50 percent less or Area Median Income limit 

How to Apply

1. Eligible applicants already must have completed a Coordinated Assessment.

2. A referring caseworker must complete the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Common Application.

3. A completed Common Application must include the following:

• Verification and documentation of disability by recognized clinical professional
• Verification and documentation of homelessness by referring caseworker
• Verification and documentation of income/ $0 income
• Verification and documentation of identity
• Consent forms

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