The Safe Havens initiative was developed to provide temporary housing assistance to households who are currently seeking to leave a shelter or who are otherwise in need of housing.
Safe Havens is made up of two programs, Safe Start and Safe Place. These programs provide temporary assistance until the household’s income can be formally verified and assistance is transferred to another supportive program. With both programs, Kentucky Housing Corporation provides a housing voucher within two days of eligibility certification to acquire a home. This will bring the household more stability and help them gain control of their lives. The Safe Havens initiative is funded using a combintation of federal funds and Kentucky Housing Corporation’s Housing Assistance Fund (HAF). Once participants are stablized in housing, Kentucky Housing Corporation’s transitional housing assistance is replaced by permanent housing assistance with preferences for Safe Havens.
In addition to housing, Kentucky Housing is working with the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association and the Center for Women and Families to create Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for eligible individuals and families participating in both programs in the Safe Havens initiative. Participants can contribute any earned income they make to an escrow account, which Kentucky Housing will match two-to-one. Therefore, if a participant contributes the maximum amount, set at $2,000, Kentucky Housing will contribute $4,000, leaving a total $6,000 in the account. IDA participants may spend the money in ways that will improve their current situations, such as a down payment on a house or an education.
Safe Start
A shortage of affordable housing in Kentucky has caused domestic violence victims to stay in shelters longer than in the past, forcing Kentucky shelters to turn away victims. These victims often must choose between homelessness and returning to their abuser.
Domestic violence victims typically do not fit the definition of chronically homeless because they are not single unaccompanied adults. That means Kentucky’s homeless families with children cannot be served through current federal programs that exclusively target the chronically homeless.
However, Safe Start offers hope and a safe environment for domestic violence victims fleeing their abusers. The program eases the burden on shelters by offering housing vouchers to domestic violence victims and homeless families with children. Services are provided by existing agencies throughout the state.
Safe Place
Safe Place provides housing vouchers to persons with serious and persistent mental illnesses who are leaving both shelters and marginal housing situations. Clients receive services that prepare them for their new living arrangements and expedite their progress into permanent housing. These services assist clients in gaining access to resources, such as psychiatric support, food stamps, clothing banks, household furnishings and Social Security benefits.
Local Comprehensive Care agencies will be responsible for ongoing case management, access to psychiatric care, housing support and services. Community Action Agencies and Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services also provide support services. Together, these partners offer hope and bring positive change to this special population.
If you think you are eligible for the Safe Start or Safe Place programs, you MUST contact a case manager. Click on the link below to find a list of case managers in your area.
Case Manager Resources
Referral Packet
Interim Change Packet
Transfer Packet
Recertification Packet
Briefing Books