Page 22

Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Chapter 4. Application, Eligibility Determination & Documentation

REVISED 04/27/2026

21 Applicants/recipients experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness must be prioritized in accordance with the General Provisions for subsidized child care. The length of the child care authorization shall be 12- months and recertification will be completed at the end of the 12- months. The local DSS/LPA has the option to add to their 4% set aside for Applicants/recipients experiencing homelessness and children with special needs. Refer to Chapter 2: Funding for Subsidized Child Care Services for more information.

If no appropriate openings are available, the applicant/recipient may be placed on a separate waiting list. If the DSS/LPA contacts DCDEE and requests transfer of funds from the 4% set aside to non-smart start, then these vulnerable populations cannot be added to the waiting list. Funds for these populations must be fully expended before adding them to the waiting list.

The local DSS/LPA must provide child care assistance to applicants/recipients if they are considered homeless and have a valid need for child care. Every recipient must have a need to be evaluated for SCCA. This includes employment, job search, education and/or training, developmental needs, CPS, and CWS. Note, job search is not considered an acceptable need for new applications unless the client is an active Work First recipient with a referral.

Applicants/recipients experiencing homelessness and seeking Subsidized Child Care Assistance through this program must comply with the financial and service need requirements of the income eligibility requirement of the SCCA Program. If a recipient meets the criteria of homelessness at the time of initial application or recertification, this information must be entered into NC FAST per the SCCA – Homeless Living Arrangements job aid.

E. Living Arrangements

When determining whether applicants/recipients are experiencing homelessness when they apply for child care assistance, the child care