[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79087-79090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31742]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for supportive services grants under the 
Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF Program). This 
Notice contains information concerning the SSVF Program, application 
process, and amount of funding available.

DATES: Applications for assistance under the SSVF Program must be 
received by the SSVF Program Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on March 11, 
2011. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this 
deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible 
for consideration any application that is received after the deadline. 
Applicants should take this practice into account and make early 
submission of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 
brought about by unanticipated delays, computer service outages (in the 
case of Grants.gov), or other delivery-related problems.
    For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from the 
SSVF Program Web page at: http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp. 
Questions should be referred to the SSVF Program Office at (877) 737-
0111 (this is a toll-free number). For detailed SSVF Program 
information and requirements, see the Final Rule published in the 
Federal Register (75 FR 68975) on November 10, 2010 (Final Rule), which 
is codified in 38 CFR Part 62.
    Submission of Applications: An original completed and collated 
supportive services grant application in a three-ring binder (plus four 
completed, collated, unbound hard copies and a compact disc (CD) 
containing an electronic version of the entire application) must be 
submitted to the following address: Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among 
Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104. This 
requirement for submission of five hard copies and a CD also applies to 
applicants who submit via Grants.gov. Applications may not be sent by 
facsimile (FAX). Applications must be received in the SSVF Program 
Office by the application deadline. Applications must arrive as a 
complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be included in 
the application package for consideration and may result in the 
application being rejected. To encourage the equitable distribution of 
supportive services grants across geographic regions, in accordance 
with Sec.  62.23(d)(2) of the Final Rule, an eligible entity may submit 
only one application per State.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kuhn, Supportive Services for 
Veteran Families Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among 
Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (877) 
737-0111 (this is a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces the availability of 
funds for supportive services grants under the SSVF Program and 
pertains to proposals for new supportive services grant programs. 
Please refer to the Final Rule, published in the Federal Register (75 
FR 68975) on November 10, 2010, which is codified in 38 CFR Part 62, 
for detailed SSVF Program information and requirements.
    A. Purpose: The SSVF Program's purpose is to provide supportive 
services grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer 
cooperatives who will coordinate or provide supportive services to very 
low-income veteran families who: (i) Are residing in permanent housing, 
(ii) are homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent 
housing within a specified time period, or (iii) after exiting 
permanent housing within a specified time period, are seeking other 
housing that is responsive to such very low-income veteran family's 
needs and preferences.
    B. Definitions: Sections 62.2 and 62.11(a) of the Final Rule 
contain definitions of terms used in the SSVF Program. Definitions of 
key terms are also provided below for reference; however, the Final 
Rule should be consulted for all definitions.
    Consumer cooperative has the meaning given such term in section 202 
of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
    Eligible entity means a: (1) Private non-profit organization, or 
(2) consumer cooperative.
    Homeless has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).
    Occupying permanent housing means meeting any of the conditions set 
forth in Sec.  62.11(a) of the Final Rule. Note: In accordance with 
Sec.  62.11(a) of the Final Rule, a very low-income veteran family will 
be considered to be occupying permanent housing if the very low-income 
veteran family: (1) Is residing in permanent housing; (2) is homeless 
and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days 
pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent 
housing;

[[Page 79088]]

or (3) has exited permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek 
other housing that is responsive to the very low-income veteran 
family's needs and preferences. For limitations on and continuations of 
the provision of supportive services to participants classified under 
categories (2) and (3), see Sec.  62.35 of the Final Rule.
    Participant means a very low-income veteran family occupying 
permanent housing who is receiving supportive services from a grantee.
    Permanent housing means community-based housing without a 
designated length of stay. Examples of permanent housing include, but 
are not limited to, a house or apartment with a month-to-month or 
annual lease term or home ownership.
    Private non-profit organization means any of the following:
    (1) An incorporated private institution or foundation that: (i) Has 
no part of the net earnings that inure to the benefit of any member, 
founder, contributor, or individual; (ii) has a governing board that is 
responsible for the operation of the supportive services provided under 
this part; and (iii) is approved by VA as to financial responsibility.
    (2) A for-profit limited partnership, the sole general partner of 
which is an organization meeting the requirements of paragraphs (1)(i), 
(ii) and (iii) of this definition.
    (3) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an organization 
meeting the requirements of paragraphs (1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this 
definition.
    (4) A Tribally designated housing entity (as defined in section 4 
of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 
1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)).
    Supportive services means any of the following provided to address 
the needs of a participant:
    (1) Outreach services as specified under Sec.  62.30 of the Final 
Rule;
    (2) Case management services as specified under Sec.  62.31 of the 
Final Rule;
    (3) Assisting participants in obtaining VA benefits as specified 
under Sec.  62.32 of the Final Rule;
    (4) Assisting participants in obtaining and coordinating other 
public benefits as specified under Sec.  62.33 of the Final Rule; and
    (5) Other services as specified under Sec.  62.34 of the Final 
Rule.
    Very low-income veteran family means a veteran family whose annual 
income, as determined in accordance with 24 CFR 5.609, does not exceed 
50 percent of the median income for an area or community. The median 
income for an area or community will be determined using the income 
limits most recently published by the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD) for programs under section 8 of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (http://www.huduser.org).
    Veteran means a person who served in the active military, naval, or 
air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under 
conditions other than dishonorable.
    Veteran family means a veteran who is a single person or a family 
in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, 
is a veteran.
    C. Approach: Grantees will be expected to leverage supportive 
services grant funds to enhance the housing stability of very low-
income veteran families who are occupying permanent housing. In doing 
so, grantees are encouraged to establish relationships with the local 
community's Continuum of Care. (HUD defines a Continuum of Care as, ``a 
community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the 
specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable 
housing and maximize self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end 
homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness.'') The aim of the 
provision of supportive services is to rapidly transition to stable 
housing (i) very low-income veteran families who are homeless and 
scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 90 days, 
including those leaving VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
projects, (ii) very low-income veteran families who have exited 
permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing 
that is responsive to their needs and preferences, and (iii) to assist 
very low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing to 
remain stably housed. Accordingly, VA encourages eligible entities 
skilled in facilitating housing stability and currently operating rapid 
re-housing programs (i.e., administering HUD's Homelessness Prevention 
and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds or other comparable Federal 
or community resources) to apply for supportive services grants. The 
SSVF Program is not intended to provide long-term support for 
participants, nor will it be able to address all of the financial and 
supportive services needs of participants that affect housing 
stability. Rather, when participants require long-term support, 
grantees should focus on connecting such participants to mainstream 
Federal and community resources (e.g., HUD-VA Supported Housing (VASH) 
program, HUD Housing Choice Voucher programs, McKinney-Vento funded 
supportive housing programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
(TANF), etc.) that can provide ongoing support as required.
    D. Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized 
by the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, 
Public Law 110-387, codified at 38 U.S.C. 2044. The SSVF Program is 
implemented by the Final Rule codified at 38 CFR part 62. The 
regulations can be found in 38 CFR 62.1 through 62.81. Funds made 
available under this Notice are subject to the requirements of the 
aforementioned regulations and other applicable laws and regulations.
    E. Allocation: Approximately $50 million is available for 
supportive services grants to be funded under this Notice for a 1-year 
period. The maximum allowable grant size is $1,000,000.00 per year per 
grantee.
    F. Supportive Services Grant Award Period: Supportive services 
grants awarded under this Notice will be for a 1-year period. In 
accordance with Sec.  62.20(b) of the Final Rule, subject to the 
availability of VA funds, VA may issue a future Notice of Fund 
Availability which would permit grantees to apply for the renewal of a 
supportive services grant in accordance with the terms and conditions 
of such Notice of Fund Availability.
    G. Requirements for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: The 
grantee's request for funding must be consistent with the limitations 
and uses of supportive services grant funds set forth in the Final Rule 
and this Notice. In accordance with the Final Rule and this Notice, the 
following requirements apply to supportive services grants awarded 
under this Notice:
    1. Grantees may use a maximum of 10 percent of supportive services 
grant funds for administrative costs identified in Sec.  62.70 of the 
Final Rule.
    2. Grantees must use between 60 and 75 percent of supportive 
services grant funds to provide supportive services to very low-income 
veteran families who either (i) are homeless and scheduled to become 
residents of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or 
development of housing suitable for permanent housing, as described in 
Sec.  62.11(a)(2) of the Final Rule, or (ii) have exited permanent 
housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing that is 
responsive to their needs and preferences, as described in Sec.  
62.11(a)(3) of the Final Rule.
    3. Grantees must use between 20 and 35 percent of supportive 
services grant funds to provide supportive services to very low-income 
veteran families who

[[Page 79089]]

are residing in permanent housing, as described in Sec.  62.11(a)(1) of 
the Final Rule. VA encourages grantees to target prevention assistance 
to those very low-income veteran families at the greatest risk of 
becoming homeless.
    4. For supportive services grants awarded under this Notice, in 
conjunction with the requirements noted above, the grantee may utilize 
a maximum of 30 percent of supportive services grant funds to provide 
the supportive service of temporary financial assistance paid directly 
to a third party on behalf of a participant for child care, 
transportation, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, 
security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, and emergency 
supplies in accordance with Sec. Sec.  62.33 and 62.34 of the Final 
Rule.
    H. Guidance for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: 
Grantees are encouraged to consider the following guidance for the use 
of supportive services grant funds:
    1. When serving participants who (i) are homeless and scheduled to 
become residents of permanent housing or (ii) have exited permanent 
housing in order to seek other housing that is responsive to their 
needs and preferences, in addition to the required supportive services, 
grantees may focus on providing the following supportive services: 
Housing counseling; assisting participants in understanding leases; 
securing utilities; making moving arrangements; representative payee 
services concerning rent and utilities; and mediation and outreach to 
property owners related to locating or retaining housing. Grantees may 
also assist participants by providing rental assistance, security or 
utility deposits, moving costs or emergency supplies, using other 
Federal resources, such as the HPRP Program, or supportive services 
grant funds subject to the limitations described in this Notice and 
Sec.  62.34 of the Final Rule.
    2. When serving participants who are residing in permanent housing, 
it is helpful to remember that the defining question to ask is: ``Would 
this individual or family be homeless but for this assistance?'' To aid 
grantees in targeting SSVF Program funds toward very low-income veteran 
families most at risk of becoming homeless, a number of potential 
``risk factors'' are listed below that could indicate a higher risk of 
becoming homeless. This list contains examples of some commonly 
identified risk factors for homelessness from scholarly research and 
practical experience drawn from existing homelessness prevention 
programs. One way a grantee could use these factors would be to require 
that a participant demonstrate some combination of the risk factors to 
qualify for assistance. Grantees should note that this list is optional 
and not exhaustive. Grantees may consider other risk factors or other 
ways to target persons at risk of homelessness based on past experience 
and available resources. A formalized screening tool should be 
developed to assess a very low-income veteran family's risk of 
homelessness and to prioritize the provision of supportive services to 
those very low-income veteran families most in need. The risk factors 
for homelessness for consideration by grantees in developing their 
programs are as follows:
    a. Eviction within two weeks from a private dwelling (including 
housing provided by family or friends);
    b. Discharge within two weeks from an institution in which the 
person has been a resident for more than 180 days (including prisons, 
mental health institutions, hospitals);
    c. Residency in housing that has been condemned by housing 
officials and is no longer meant for human habitation;
    d. Sudden and significant loss of income;
    e. Sudden and significant increase in utility costs;
    f. Mental health and substance use issues;
    g. Physical disabilities and other chronic health issues, including 
HIV/AIDS;
    h. Severe housing cost burden (greater than 50 percent of income 
for housing costs);
    i. Homeless in last 12 months;
    j. Young head of household (under 25 with children or pregnant);
    k. Current or past involvement with child welfare, including foster 
care;
    l. Pending foreclosure of rental housing;
    m. Extremely low income (less than 30 percent of area median 
income);
    n. High overcrowding (the number of persons in household exceeds 
health and/or safety standards for the housing unit size);
    o. Past institutional care (prison, treatment facility, hospital);
    p. Recent traumatic life event, such as death of a spouse or 
primary care provider, or recent health crisis that prevented the 
household from meeting its financial responsibilities;
    q. Credit problems that preclude obtaining of housing; or
    r. Significant amount of medical debt.
    In addition to the required supportive services, supportive 
services provided to this category of very low-income veteran families 
should focus on the following: housing stabilization, linking 
participants to community resources and mainstream benefits, and 
helping participants develop a plan for preventing future housing 
instability.
    3. Where HPRP funds or other funds from community resources are not 
readily available, grantees may choose to utilize supportive services 
grants, subject to the limitations described in this Notice and in 
Sec. Sec.  62.33 and 62.34 of the Final Rule, to provide temporary 
financial assistance. Such assistance may, subject to the limitations 
in this Notice and the Final Rule, be paid directly to a third party on 
behalf of a participant for child care, transportation, rental 
assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, security or utility 
deposits, moving costs and emergency supplies as necessary.
    I. Application Selection Methodology: VA will review all supportive 
services grant applications in response to this Notice according to the 
following steps:
    1. Score all applicants that meet the threshold requirements 
described in Sec.  62.21 of the Final Rule.
    2. Rank those applicants who score at least 60 cumulative points 
and receive at least one point under each of the categories identified 
in Sec.  62.22, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of the Final 
Rule. The applicants will be ranked in order from highest to lowest 
scores.
    3. Utilize the ranked scores of applicants as the primary basis for 
selection. However, in accordance with Sec.  62.23(d) of the Final 
Rule, VA will utilize the following considerations to select applicants 
for funding:
    i. Preference applicants that provide or coordinate the provision 
of supportive services for very low-income veteran families 
transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing; and
    ii. To the extent practicable, ensure that supportive services 
grants are equitably distributed across geographic regions, including 
rural communities and Tribal lands.
    4. Subject to the considerations noted in paragraph I.3. above, VA 
will fund the highest-ranked applicants for which funding is available.
    J. VA's Goals and Objectives for Funds Awarded Under this Notice: 
In accordance with Sec.  62.22(b)(6) of the Final Rule, VA will 
evaluate an applicant's ability to meet VA's goals and objectives for 
the SSVF Program. VA's goals and objectives include the provision of 
supportive services designed to enhance the housing stability and 
independent living skills of very low-income veteran families occupying 
permanent housing across geographic regions. For purposes of this

[[Page 79090]]

Notice, VA's goals and objectives also include the provision of 
supportive services designed to rapidly re-house or prevent 
homelessness among people in the following target populations who also 
meet all requirements for being part of a very low-income veteran 
family occupying permanent housing:
    1. Veteran families earning less than 30 percent of area median 
income as most recently published by HUD for programs under section 8 
of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (http://www.huduser.org).
    2. Veterans with at least one dependent family member.
    3. Chronically homeless veteran families (for the purposes of this 
Notice, the definition of a chronically homeless veteran family is an 
individual or family that (i) is homeless and lives or resides in a 
place not meant for human habitation, or safe haven, or in an emergency 
shelter; (ii) has been homeless and living or residing in a place not 
meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter 
continuously for at least one year or on at least four separate 
occasions in the last three years; and (iii) has an adult head of 
household with a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental 
illness, developmental disability (as defined in section 102 of the 
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 
(42 U.S.C. 15002)), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, cognitive 
impairments resulting from a brain injury, or chronic physical illness 
or disability, including the co-occurrence of two or more of those 
conditions).
    4. Formerly chronically homeless veteran families (for the purposes 
of this Notice, a formerly chronically homeless veteran family is 
defined as a veteran family who has been chronically homeless as 
defined in this Notice at one or more points in time within the past 3 
years).
    K. Application Requirements: Additional supportive services grant 
application requirements are specified in the application package. 
Submission of an incorrect or incomplete application package will 
result in the application being rejected during threshold review. The 
application package contains all required forms and certifications. 
Selections will be made based on criteria described in the Final Rule 
and this Notice. Applicants will be notified of any additional 
information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the 
application and the deadline by which to submit such information.
    L. Payments of Supportive Services Grant Funds: Grantees will 
receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS). Grantees will 
have the ability to request payments as frequently as they choose 
subject to the following limitations:
    1. During the first quarter of the grantee's supportive services 
grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for supportive 
services grant funds may not exceed 35 percent of the total supportive 
services grant award without written approval by VA.
    2. By the end of the second quarter of the grantee's supportive 
services grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 60 percent of the total 
supportive services grant award without written approval by VA.
    3. By the end of the third quarter of the grantee's supportive 
services grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 75 percent of the total 
supportive services grant award without written approval by VA.
    4. By the end of the fourth quarter of the grantee's supportive 
services grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 100 percent of the total 
supportive services grant award.
    M. Monitoring: VA places great emphasis on the responsibility and 
accountability of grantees. As described in Sec. Sec.  62.23 and 62.71 
of the Final Rule, VA has procedures in place to monitor supportive 
services provided to participants and outcomes associated with the 
supportive services provided under the SSVF Program. Applicants should 
be aware of the following:
    1. Upon execution of a supportive services grant agreement with VA, 
grantees will have a liaison appointed by the SSVF Program Office who 
will provide oversight and monitor supportive services provided to 
participants.
    2. Grantees will be required to enter data into a Homeless 
Management Information System (HMIS) Web-based software application. 
This data will consist of information on the participants served and 
types of supportive services provided by grantees. Grantees must treat 
the data for activities funded by the SSVF Program separate from that 
of activities funded by other programs. Grantees will be required to 
export client-level data for activities funded by the SSVF Program to 
VA on a regular basis.
    3. Monitoring will also include the submittal of quarterly and 
annual financial and performance reports by the grantee. The grantee 
will be expected to demonstrate adherence to the grantee's proposed 
program concept, as described in the grantee's application.
    4. Grantees will be required to provide each participant with a 
satisfaction survey which can be submitted by the participant directly 
to VA, within 45 to 60 days of the participant's entry into the 
grantee's program and again within 30 days of such participant's 
pending exit from the grantee's program. N. Technical Assistance: 
Information regarding how to obtain technical assistance with the 
preparation of a supportive services grant application is available on 
the SSVF Program Web page at: http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp.

    Dated: December 10, 2010.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-31742 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P