R986-200-219. Emergency Assistance (EA) for Needy Families With Dependent Children

(1) EA is provided in an effort to prevent homelessness. It is a payment which is limited to use for utilities and rent or mortgage.

(2) To be eligible for EA the family must meet all other FEP requirements except:

(a) the client need only meet the "gross income" test. Gross income which is available to the client must be equal to or less than 185% of the standard needs budget for the client's filing unit; and

(b) the client is not required to enter into an employment plan or cooperate with ORS in obtaining support.

(3) The client must be homeless, in danger of becoming homeless or having the utilities at the home cut off due to a crisis situation beyond the client's control. The client must show that:

(a) The family is facing eviction or foreclosure because of past due rent or mortgage payments or unpaid utility bills which result from the crisis;

(b) A one-time EA payment will enable the family to obtain or maintain housing or prevent the utility shut off while they overcome the temporary crisis;

(c) Assistance with one month's rent or mortgage payment is enough to prevent the eviction, foreclosure or termination of utilities;

(d) The client has the ability to resolve past due payments and pay future months' rent or mortgage payments and utility bills after resolution of the crisis; and

(e) The client has exhausted all other resources.

(4) Emergency assistance is available for only 30 consecutive days during a year to any client or that client's household. If, for example, a client receives an EA payment of $450 for rent on April 1 and requests an additional EA payment of $300 for utilities on or before April 30 of that same year, the request for an EA payment for utilities will be considered. If the request for an additional payment for utilities is made after April 30, it cannot be considered for payment. The client will not be eligible for another EA payment until April 1 of the following year. A year is defined as 365 days following the initial date of payment of EA.

(5) Payments will not exceed $450 per family for one month's rent payment or $700 per family for one month's mortgage payment, and $300 for one month's utilities payment.