Assisting Special Needs Populations. HOME TBRA may be used to assist special needs populations regardless of whether the Federal preference suspension is in effect. This can be done in one of two ways: o General TBRA Program. A PJ administering a community-wide TBRA program may establish a local preference for persons with special needs (e.g., persons with disabilities) or for a specific category of individuals with special needs (e.g., chronically mentally ill individuals). A preference may be provided for persons with a particular type of special need, if the specific category of need is identified in the PJ's consolidated plan as having unmet need and the preference is needed to narrow the gap in benefits and services received by such persons. In conjunction with the TBRA, the PJ may offer non-mandatory services appropriate for persons with a particular disability. The nature of these services should be identified in consultation with persons with special needs residing in the community. Generally, TBRA and related services should be made available to all persons with disabilities who can benefit from such services. o TBRA Program for Persons with Special Needs. A PJ may establish a TBRA category of special needs or disabilities. The PJ may accomplish this simply by limiting eligibility for assistance to special needs groups it wishes to target. If the Federal preference rules are in effect, then 50% of the individuals assisted must qualify or would qualify in the near future for a Federal preference. As with a general TBRA program, the PJ may provide appropriate, non-mandatory social services in conjunction with the TBRA. TBRA may be provided exclusively to persons with a particular type of special need, if the specific category of need is identified in the PJ's consolidated plan as having unmet need and the preference is needed to narrow the gap in benefits and services received by such persons.
