If a family identifies as experiencing homelessness on the Child Care Assistance Program application, their application will be processed within five business days without required verifications. Families experiencing homelessness are exempt from child care assistance activity requirements for three months to allow the family to search for housing or meet other basic needs.
The Child Care Assistance Program defines a household as homeless if they lack a fixed, adequate nighttime residence. This includes but is not limited to families living in transitional housing, shelters, cars, outside and public spaces, motels and families doubling up due to loss of housing, hardship, or other reasons.
When filling out the Child Care Assistance Program application, families experiencing homelessness should select one of the following for their living situation:
- Place not meant for housing (anywhere outside, a vehicle, and abandoned building or bus/train/airport)
- Family/friends due to economic hardship
- Hotel or motel
- Emergency shelter
If the Living Situation is answered as “Unknown” or “Declined”, the family is not eligible for expedited child care. The living situation reported on the CCAP application by the family is used to determine whether the family is experiencing homelessness. To benefit from these revised policies, it is essential that families select this option on their application if eligible.
