SECTION 7.27. Eligible Costs

(a) Administrative costs include employee compensation and related costs for staff performance of management, reporting, and accounting of HHSP activities, including office space. Costs associated with the purchase or licensing of HMIS or an HMIS-comparable databases are eligible administrative costs.

(b) Case management costs include staff salaries related to assessing, arranging, coordinating and monitoring the delivery of services related to finding or maintaining housing. Costs include, but are not limited to, Household eligibility determination, counseling, coordinating services and obtaining mainstream benefits for Program Participants, monitoring Program Participant progress, providing safety planning for persons under VAWA, developing a housing and service plan, and entry into HMIS or an HMIS-comparable database.

(c) Construction rehabilitation, and conversion costs include, but are not limited to, costs for:

(1) Pre-Development, such as environmental review, site-control, survey, appraisal, architectural fees, and legal fees.

(2) Development, such as:

(A) land acquisition;

(B) site work (including infrastructure for service utilities, walkways, curbs, gutters);

(C) lot clearance and site preparation;

(D) construction to meet uniform building codes, international energy conservation code, or local rehabilitation standards;

(E) accessibility features to site and building;

(F) essential improvements and energy-related improvements;

(G) abatement of lead-based paint hazards;

(H) barrier removal/construction for accessibility features for persons with disabilities; and

(I) non-luxury general property improvements.

(d) Essential services costs are associated with finding and maintaining stable housing, and include, but are not limited to, costs for:

(1) out-patient medical services;

(2) child care;

(3) education services;

(4) legal services;

(5) mental health services;

(6) local transportation assistance;

(7) drug and alcohol rehabilitation; and

(8) job training.

(e) Homelessness prevention and homelessness assistance costs are associated with housing relocation, stabilization and assistance costs. Staff time entering information into HMIS or HMIS-comparable database related to homelessness prevention and homeless assistance is also an eligible cost. Homeless prevention and homelessness assistance costs include, but are not limited to, hotel or motel costs; transitional housing; rental and utility assistance; rental arrears; utility reconnection fees; reasonable and customary security and utility deposits; and moving costs.

(f) Operation costs include rent, utilities, supplies and equipment purchases, food pantry supplies, and other related costs necessary to operate an emergency shelter or Transitional Living Activities, serving individuals experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.

Source Note: The provisions of this §7.27 adopted to be effective February 27, 2024, 49 TexReg 1049