(NMHC) — The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved the Temporary Policy Supplement under the Emergency Housing Voucher or EHV program at its regular board meeting held on Dec. 28, 2021.
The program is part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which authorizes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to allocate 70,000 EHVs to eligible Public Housing Authorities or PHA throughout the U.S. and its territories.
As an eligible PHA, NMHC was allocated a total 132 EHVs. The Temporary Policy Supplement or TPS will be used as a guide on how to administer the rental assistance program.
One of the program’s requirements is that NMHC must partner with a Continuum of Care organization; therefore, the NMHC is also pleased to announce that it has entered into an MOU with the CNMI Homeless Prevention Coalition or CHPC which is comprised of the Division of Youth Affairs, Micronesian Legal Services Corp., Karidat, and the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence.
The primary responsibility of the CHPC is to make direct referrals of qualifying individuals and families to NMHC.
The CHPC will determine whether or not the individual or family qualifies under one of the four eligibility categories for EHVs.
In order to be eligible for an EHV, an individual or family must meet one of four eligibility criteria:
• Homeless as defined in 24 CFR 578.3;
• At risk of homelessness as defined in 24 CFR 578.3;
• Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking (as defined in Notice PIH 2021-15), or human trafficking (as defined in the 22 U.S.C. Section 7102); or
• Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability as determined by the CoC or its designee in accordance with the definition in Notice PIH 2021-15.
The EHV program will be officially launched on January 10, 2022.
For more information, you may contact any of the partnering agencies below:
• Division of Youth Services
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday to Friday, except holidays
Saipan: 237-1017/1018
or 664-2599 or (670) 285-1921
Tinian: 433-9272
Rota: 532-9393
Applications for appointment may be downloaded at:
dcca.gov.mp or dys.gov.mp
and dropped-off at:
Kagman Community Center, Tanapag Youth Center, Tinian DYS office, or Sinapalo Youth Center
• Micronesian Legal Services Corp.
Office hours: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Saipan: 234-7729 or 234-6243
Tinian: 433-2664
Rota: 284-0681 or 532-0003/0004
• Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Office hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday to Friday, except holidays
Saipan: 234-3878
