Homeless Case Management Services Grant​ (HCMS)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Program Overview

The Homeless Case Management Services (HCMS) grant program was created through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program and through Wisconsin Act 59 (statue §16.3085).  As such, all funding provided via the grant is subject to TANF rules and regulations.  The grant centers on providing families experiencing homelessness intensive case management services across four focus areas.  Each year up to 10 annual grants of $50,000 each will be awarded.

Client Eligibility​

For a client to be eligible for the HCMS program, they must meet ​both the following criteria:

1. Be staying in an emergency shelter or motel through a motel voucher program; AND
   
2. Meet an eligible TANF definition of family, categories 1-4, listed below:
1. ​Homeless individuals accompanied by minor children (under age 18 for whom the homeless individuals are legally responsible, or under 19 but a full-time student in high school, working on an equivalency degree, or enrolled in basic vocational or technical education).
2. Homeless pregnant individuals.
3. Homeless individuals, unaccompanied by children, who are non-custodial parents of children under the age of 18.
   
4. ​Homeless individuals who are younger than age 25 and accompanied by another person related by blood or marriage.
   

Please note, families headed by a person under 18 can be served.  Priority is given to servicing the first two types of families, however all families as defined above can be served.  ​

Intensive Case Management Services Focus Areas

Families entered into the HCMS program must be provided intensive case management services focusing on at least one of the following areas:

1. ​Financial management.
   

2. Employment.
   

3. Ensuring school continuation for children.
   

4. Enrolling unemployed or underemployed parents in W-2 or the Food Share employment and training program.
   

​For additional information, please see 2025 HCMS Case Management Guidelines.

Eligible Activities & Costs

Case Man​​​​agement

Case management funding can be used for social workers, case managers and associated case management services needed to directly provide intensive case management to eligible families experiencing homelessness.  Households must receive intensive case management in one or more of the four focus areas (listed above) before any other intensive case management services can be billable.

Administrative​​

Can pay for administrative costs such as, but not limited to, the cost of office space, computers, office supplies, and salaries for agency-wide functions such as accounting.  Capital expenditures cannot be charged to the HCMS program.  ​Pleas​​e note these costs will need to be prorated to reflect the percentage of the staff person's time or the percentage of the resource dedicated to the HCMS program.