The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued Information Memorandum (IM) TANF-ACF-IM-2013-01 on February 20, which urges jurisdictions administering Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) funds to use this resource to help families avoid or exit homelessness.Federal TANF and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds may be used to address the housing-related needs of families who are homeless or precariously housed. Families do not have to be receiving TANF cash assistance in order to qualify for housing services, although those receiving a cash grant may use TANF assistance to pay for housing. Along with providing ongoing basic assistance, a TANF program may provide an array of non-recurrent, short-term benefits and services. These must last no longer than four months and must address a specific crisis situation rather than meet ongoing needs. For example, a jurisdiction can use federal TANF and MOE funds to provide: short-term rental or mortgage assistance to prevent eviction or help a homeless family secure housing; security and utility payments; moving assistance; motel and hotel vouchers; case management services; financial and credit counseling; legal services; housing search and placement services; and administrative costs associated with any of these activities. TANF funds can also be used in coordination with HUD’s targeted homeless assistance grant programs, such as the Continuum of Care (CoC) program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, to maximize the impact of both resources. For example, TANF could be used to pay for rental assistance while ESG is used to pay for supportive services to help a family remain housed.The IM includes several examples of how states have used TANF to serve homeless families.Click here for the Information Memorandum TANF-ACF-IM-2013-01.