What is a Rehousing Plan?

A Rehousing Plan (formerly called a Self-Sufficiency Plan) is a plan that the adults in your family must follow when you are in shelter. The plan is made by the DHCD worker, the shelter provider and the adults in the family. A child age 18 to 21 may be part of the plan. Failure to cooperate in creating the plan or following it can lead to a finding of noncompliance and any two such findings of noncompliance can lead to termination of shelter benefits. See When can DHCD terminate your emergency shelter benefits?

A Rehousing Plan may require your family, among other things, to:

• search for safe, permanent housing,
• attend all scheduled meetings with a housing search worker,
• set goals to keep permanent housing,
• provide proof of applications for public, subsidized and private housing and providing documentation needed to get public or subsidized housing,
• save 30% of your household's net income (after taxes and other withholdings). This requirement should not be applied to families in motels and should be lifted or reduced if a change would lead to more rapid rehousing, if the requirement is not reasonable for an individual family, or if the family needs to use the money instead to reduce debts, such as past rent or utilities, in order to be able to get permanent housing, and
• take part in work, education, training, community service or substance abuse activities for 30 hours per week, but this requirement must be reduced or lifted to accommodate a disability, lack of transportation or child care, the need to address medical, mental health and/or domestic violence issues, the lack of a site identified by the department to do the activity, and the need to care for a child under the age of 3 months old.

106 C.M.R. § 309.050(D)(2).

Advocacy Tips

• If you are asked to sign a Rehousing Plan that you do not understand or is not reasonable for you or your family, ask DHCD or the shelter to explain it or change it. If you still have questions or concerns, consult an advocate.
• If you have signed a Plan that you now think is unworkable or not reasonable, ask DHCD or the shelter for a reassessment of your plan and make a record of that request. If your workers refuse to change the Plan, consult an advocate.
• If you are sent a notice saying you failed to comply with your Rehousing Plan and you disagree or think you had good reasons for not fulfilling the Plan, file an appeal and contact an advocate for help. See What are your emergency assistance notice and appeal rights? It is important to appeal a finding that you did not follow your Plan because two such findings can cause you to be terminated from shelter, see When can DHCD terminate your emergency shelter benefits?, and you may not be able to challenge the first finding if you do not appeal it when that finding is made.