This document outlines the eligibility criteria and rating tool for a family homelessness prevention program in Hennepin County. It includes: 1) Eligibility requirements including income below 30% of area median income, an imminent housing crisis, no other resources to resolve the crisis, and a reasonable expectation of sustainable housing after assistance. 2) A scoring tool that assigns points based on income level, tenant barriers like eviction history, and risk factors like number of children. 3) A family must score at least 20 points to qualify, or 15-19 points if an agency representative approves an override. 4) Attachments provide the income limits, list of eligible housing crises, and further

1. Eligibility Criteria and Rating Tool for
Hennepin County Family Homelessness Prevention
3-26-10
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
All families will be screened for the following:
• INCOME:
Only families with incomes at or below 30% of Area Median Income
will receive Prevention (see Attachment A for income limits)
AND
• TRIGGER CRISIS:
An event has occurred which is expected to result in housing loss
within 30 days or less (See Attachment B for a list of trigger crises)
AND
• NO RESOURCES OR VIABLE PLAN TO RESOLVE CRISIS:
No other options are possible for resolving the crisis. “But for this
assistance” this family would become literally homeless—staying in
a shelter, car, or place not meant for human habitation.
AND
• REASONABLE EXPECTATION FOR SUSTAINABLE
RESOLUTION: At the initial assessment for assistance, there is a
reasonable expectation that the crisis can be resolved and existing
housing (or relocation to alternative housing) can be sustained by
the family after services and assistance are ended.
AND
• SCORE OF AT LEAST 20 POINTS--or 15-19 points with
over-ride SIGN-OFF.
(See Attachment C for scoring)

2. Attachment A: 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME:
1-person household………$17,600 ($1467/month)
2-person household………$20,100 ($1675/month)
3-person household………$22,650 ($1888/month)
4-person household………$25,150 ($2096/month)
5-person household………$27,150 ($2263/month)
6-person household………$29,150 ($2429/month)
7-person household………$31,200 ($2600/month)
8-person household………$33,200 ($2767/month)
Attachment B: TRIGGER CRISIS
• Eviction from a private dwelling (including public/subsidized housing
and/or housing provided by family or friends).
• Foreclosure of the rental property, which will result in loss of housing
for tenant.
• Doubled–up and must leave such as violation of host’s lease and
landlord has threatened eviction; host-guest conflict.
• Discharge from an institution in which the person has been a
resident for more than 30 days (including prison, mental health institutions,
hospitals, or foster care placements).
• Residency in housing that has been condemned by housing officials
and is no longer meant for human habitation.
• Sudden and significant loss of income to the extent that the rent
cannot be paid. Note: Rent reasonableness standards apply.
• Sudden and significant increase in utility costs or rent that
cannot be paid and eviction would occur.
• Rental and/or utilities arrears (excluding telecommunications—
phone, cable, internet) of at least 3 months and inability to repay due to
factors beyond the participant’s control (job loss, medical debt, etc.).
• High overcrowding (the number of persons exceeds health and/or
safety standards for the housing unit size) and the landlord has given a
warning to reduce occupancy or be evicted.
• Violence or abuse in the household: Family may be living in
temporary housing but cannot remain there or return to previous situation.

3. Attachment C: Scoring.
Points can be assigned in one or both of the following two categories
(Income and Tenant Barriers/Risk Factors). The total points is the family’s
eligibility score. A score of 20, along with threshold criteria, is sufficient
for homelessness prevention assistance.
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1. INCOME
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INCOME SCORING:
• Rent burden at 66-80% of income…………….. 5 points
• Income at or below 15% AMI…...……………...20 points OR
Income 16%-29% AMI…………………………..10 points
15% Area Median Income:
1-person household………$8,800 ($733/month)
2-person household………$10,050 ($838/month)
3-person household………$11,325 ($944/month)
4-person household………$12,575 ($1,048/month)
5-person household………$13,575 ($1,131/month)
6-person household………$14,575 ($1,215/month)
7-person household………$15,600 ($1,300/month)
8-person household………$16,600 ($1,383/month)
2. TENANT BARRIERS/ RISK FACTORS
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TENANT BARRIERS/ RISK SCORING:
• Tenant Screening Barriers……..……………………..1 point per barrier
__Eviction history
__No credit references: has no credit history
__Lack of rental history: has not rented housing in past
__Unpaid rent in past (separate from current unpaid rent)
__Poor credit history: late/unpaid bills, excessive debt, etc.
__Past Misdemeanors
__Other felony
• Critical felony……………………………………………….….3 points
(drugs, sex crime, arson, crimes against persons)

4. • Pregnant or has at least one child age 0-6………………….5 points
• Head of household under 30 years old...……………………5 points
• Family experienced homelessness in past three years…....5 points
(HUD definition of homeless) Household does NOT meet
definition of long-term homeless.
• Only 1 adult in household……………………………………..3 points
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OVER-RIDE
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If a family has 15 to 19 points but the agency believes there is a compelling
reason to provide prevention, the program can document reasons for over-riding
the score. The over-ride must be signed by an agency representative at a higher
level of authority than direct service staff.

5. HENNEPIN COUNTY FAMILY HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION WORKSHEET
3-26-10
CLIENT NAME
IDENTIFIER (DOB, SS# or other agency identification)
I. THRESHOLD SCREENING CRITERIA (required)
A. Income 30% or less of Area Median Income……………………..___YES
Household Size: __________ members
Total Household Income: ______________/month
B. Trigger Crisis – Current or within next 30 days..…….…………..___YES
__Eviction from a private dwelling (including public/subsidized housing and/or
housing provided by family or friends)
__ Foreclosure of rental property, which will result in loss of housing for tenant
__Doubled –up and must leave (violation of host’s lease and landlord has
threatened eviction; conflict that threatens to result in homelessness)
__Discharge from an institution in which the person has been a resident for
more than 30 days (including prison, mental health institutions, hospitals, or
foster care placements)
__Residency in housing that has been condemned by housing officials and is no
longer meant for human habitation
__Sudden and significant loss of income to the extent that the rent cannot be
paid. Note: Rent reasonableness standards apply
__Sudden and significant increase in utility costs or rent that cannot be paid
and eviction would occur. Note: Rent reasonableness standards apply
__Rental and/or utilities arrears (excluding telecommunications) of at least 3
months and inability to repay due to factors beyond the participant’s control (job
loss, medical debt, etc.)
__High overcrowding (the number of persons exceeds health and/or safety
standards for the housing unit size) and the landlord has given a warning to
reduce occupancy or be evicted
__ Violence or abuse in the household: Family may be living in temporary
housing but cannot remain there or return to previous situation.
C. No Other Resources or Plans……………………………..………___YES
This family would become homeless “but for this assistance”
(If this assistance is not provided, this family will become literally homeless because they
have no other resources or options available to them.)

6. D. Reasonable Expectation of a Sustainable Resolution……….___YES
There is a reasonable expectation that the crisis can be resolved and
existing housing (or relocation to alternative housing) can be sustained by the
family after services and assistance are ended.
II. ELIGIBILITY SCORING
(points must total 20 or more OR 15-19 with over-ride sign-off)
A. Income
__Income at or below 15% AMI***.……………...20 points SCORE:
__Income 16-29% AMI……………..……………..10 points
__Rent burden at 66-80% of income..………….. 5 points
Total possible score: 25 points
B. Risk Factors
Tenant Screening Barriers……..………….1 point per barrier SCORE:
__Eviction history
__No credit references: has no credit history
__Lack of rental history: has not rented housing in past
__Unpaid rent in past (separate from current unpaid rent)
__Poor credit history: unpaid bills, excessive debt, etc.
__Past Misdemeanors
__Other felony
__Critical felony
(drugs, sex crime, arson, crimes vs persons)…....3 points
__Pregnant or has at least one child age 0-6…...........5 points
__Head of household under 30 years old...…………...5 points
__Experienced homelessness in past three years..….5 points
__Only 1 adult in household…………………………….3 points
A score of 20 points or higher is required (UNLESS TOTAL SCORE:
agency sign-off is provided)
If score is 15 to 19, over-ride documentation and sign-off is required for eligibility
for prevention assistance
___I approve over-ride for this household (justification attached)
Agency Representative (Print Name/Title):
Signature:
Date: