The Housing Forward Fund

The Housing Forward Fund (HFF) is a flexible financial resource designed to help individuals and families in Chattanooga and Hamilton County overcome barriers to stable housing. Administered by the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition and accessible through numerous community partner agencies, the fund supports a range of needs that may otherwise delay or prevent someone from exiting homelessness rapidly and successfully. Assistance through HFF may include rental arrears, utility payments (current or past due), security deposits, moving costs, and short-term rental assistance. The fund is intentionally adaptable, aiming to provide just enough support at just the right time—filling critical gaps where other resources fall short.

Use of HFF is limited to individuals or families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (HUD Category 1) and those who are fleeing domestic violence (HUD Category 4). Funding may also be accessible to households with homeless children and youths who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence under the expanded McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness. The dashboard below displays current data on the usage of HFF. By clicking on any of the options inside the visualization, you will be able to filter the report. Data definitions are included at the bottom of this page.

Data Definitions

  • An Adult Only household is one where everyone in the household is aged 18 or older. 

  • An Adult + Child household is one where at least one household member is over the age of 18 and at least one dependent household member is under the age of 18.  

  • Youth households include all homeless persons aged 24 or younger and in which the head of household is not older than 24. It is important to know that Youth Households are a subsection of Adult Households and Adult + Child Households. 

  • An individual or family member who has served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

  • Any individual or family who: 

    • Is currently literally homeless

    • Has been homeless for at least 12 consecutive months or on at least four separate occasions in the last three years, where the combined total of homelessness is at least 12 months.  

    • Has a disabling condition (e.g., serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability) that is expected to have an indefinite duration. 

  • Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:

    1. Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation; or

    2. Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or

    3. Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.

  • Individuals or families that are sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation. This includes places not ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation, such as abandoned buildings, sidewalks, public parks, etc.

  • Individuals or families living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs).

  • Individuals or families experiencing homelessness that are sleeping in temporary housing with supportive services provided with the goal of stability and support to move to and maintain permanent housing.