Shalom House serves as the Central Administrative Agency (CAA) for the State of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), providing statewide administration of both the CoC-PSHP/Shelter Plus Care program and the Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP).
Shalom House also serves as the Local Administrative Agency (LAA) for York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Knox, and Waldo Counties, providing local support and rental assistance to help eligible individuals and families live in safe and decent housing of their choice.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - Click here to learn more
What is BRAP and CoC-PSHP?
The State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), through Shalom House and other local agencies, offers 2 low barrier rental subsidy programs designed to assist individuals in finding stable independent housing. Independent housing vouchers represent a foundation of recovery and hope. To the greatest extent practicable, DHHS empowers consumers with tenant-based housing vouchers which enhance individual choice, independence, and control over where a person lives and what services (if any) such a person decides to receive. Housing programs available:
BRAP
The Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) utilizes a model similar to the Housing First Model. It is a transitional supportive housing program developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Behavioral Health (OBH).
Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSHP), formerly Shelter Plus Care (SPC)
The Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSHP), formerly known as Shelter Plus Care,is a permanent supportive housing program funded by the Department of House and Urban Development (HUD), through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Behavioral Health (OBH).
Learn more about the Programs and see available training materials
Referral and Application Process:
For BRAP: Individuals interested in applying should contact their service provider, case manager, or community support worker, who can submit an application on their behalf. Providers can obtain applications by clicking "Learn about BRAP" above, or by contacting Shalom House Housing Subsidy Department by calling 207-874-1080.
For CoC-PSHP/Shelter Plus Care: Individuals interested in applying will need to be accessed and referred for housing resources through the statewide Coordinated Entry System (CES).
We'd recommend that you reach out to the nearest access point in your area. For a list of access points in our coverage area, please click here.
Please note: some Access Points are only able to offer assessments for individuals that are already accessing their services. If you are already connected with one of the shelters or agencies below, please follow up with them to be assessed. If you are having trouble connecting with an Access Point to get assessed, please contact 211.
Once accessed, your name will go on a regional by-name prioritization list, and as resources become available, the HUB will refer eligible individuals with the highest need to our program. Once you are referred, you will be asked to fill out our program application, which we can provide guidance on completing. Until we have resources and you are referred by the Hub, please do not submit an application as we will be unable to process it and it will be returned.
Please be aware that if you submit a PSHP application and you have not been referred by the local hub, your application will be returned to you.
Who to contact: Statewide Contact List - view the LAA-CAA directory
Resources: For additional resources click here
Are you a landlord and need a Request for Tenancy for a prospective tenant?
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This notice explains your rights under VAWA and the Continuum of Care/PSH Programs
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You cannot be denied admission or denied assistance because you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
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You may not be denied assistance, terminated from participation, or be evicted from your rental housing because you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
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You, or a household member is, or has been, the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by a member of your household or any guest, you may not be denied rental assistance solely on the basis of criminal activity directly relating to that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
This includes your spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child, or any individual, tenant, or lawful occupant living in your household.
Removing the Abuser or Perpetrator from the Household
We may remove the individual or terminate the assistance of the individual who has engaged in criminal activity (the abuser or perpetrator) directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
If we choose to remove the abuser or perpetrator, we will not take away the rights of eligible tenants to the unit or otherwise punish the remaining tenants.
If the evicted abuser or perpetrator was the sole tenant to have established eligibility for assistance under the program, we will allow the tenant who is, or has been, a victim and other household members to remain in the unit for a period of time, in order to establish eligibility under the program or under another HUD housing program covered by VAWA.
In removing the abuser or perpetrator from the household, we may ask you for documentation or certification of the incidences of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
We may also direct the landlord to remove the individual from the lease.
Moving to Another Unit
Upon your request, we may permit you to move to another unit, subject to your ability to locate another unit, and still keep your assistance. In order to approve a request, we may ask you to provide documentation that you are requesting to move because of an incidence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
If the request is a request for emergency transfer, we may ask you to submit a written request where you certify that you meet the criteria for an emergency transfer under VAWA. The criteria are:
(1) You are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(2) You expressly request the emergency transfer.
(3) You reasonably believe you are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if you remain in your current unit. This means you have a reason to fear that if you do not receive a transfer you would suffer violence in the very near future.
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You are a victim of sexual assault and the assault occurred on the premises during the 90-calendar-day period before you request a transfer. If you are a victim of sexual assault, then in addition to qualifying for an emergency transfer because you reasonably believe you are threatened with imminent harm from further violence if you remain in your unit, you may qualify for an emergency transfer if the sexual assault occurred on the premises of the property from which you are seeking your transfer, and that assault happened within the 90-calendar-day period before you expressly request the transfer.
We will keep confidential requests for emergency transfers by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the location of any move by such victims and their families.
You may view a copy of HUD’s final VAWA rule at www.federalregister.gov [Document #2016-25888].
For Additional Information
Additionally, we must make a copy of HUD’s VAWA regulations available to you if you ask to see them.
For participants with questions regarding VAWA, please contact your local agency.
For help regarding an abusive relationship, you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or, for persons with hearing impairments, 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
For tenants who are or have been victims of stalking seeking help may visit the National Center for Victims of Crime’s Stalking Resource Center at https://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center.
For help regarding sexual assault, you may contact the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-871-7741 (Voice) 711 (Maine Relay)