When a homeless household incurs or expects to incur a shelter cost during the month, the household is eligible for the standard homeless shelter deduction per Oklahoma Human Services Appendix C-3, Maximum Food Benefit Allotments and Standards for Income and Deductions, or the excess shelter deduction, whichever results in the most food benefits for the household. Examples of acceptable homeless shelter deductions Oklahoma Human Services can use would be: campground fees, paying shelter expense to a relative or friend when couch surfing hotel fees or monthly vehicle payment if they reside in their car (Per 7 C.F.R. §273.2(f)(4)(v) and Oklahoma Administrative Code 340:50-7-31)

When processing SNAP in FACS for homeless households, enter one of the four homeless shelter codes in the Case Information Tab “Shelter Type” field A23. Also enter “yes” or “no” in the Shelter Tab “Homeless Shelter Costs” field block C61 to indicate whether the household has shelter costs associated with homelessness.

If the household has expenses related to homeless shelter costs, enter the claimed shelter expense in the “Shelter Cost” field also code “Utility Indicator” and “Utility Cost” fields. The system will calculate the household’s income and allow the shelter deduction that result in the most benefits for the household.