105178 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

for the proper performance of VHA’s 

functions, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) the accuracy of VHA’s estimate of 

the burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (3) ways to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (4) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on 

respondents, including through the use 

of automated collection techniques or 

the use of other forms of information 

technology. 

Title: Application for Extended Care 

Services (VA Form 10–10EC). 

OMB Control Number: 2900–0629. 

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRASearch (Once at this link, you can 

enter the OMB Control Number to find 

the historical versions of this 

Information Collection). 

Type of Review: Revision of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: Title 38 U.S.C. chapter 17 

authorizes VA to provide hospital care, 

medical services, domiciliary care, and 

nursing home care to eligible Veterans. 

Title 38 U.S.C. 1705 requires VA to 

design, establish, and operate a system 

of annual patient enrollment in 

accordance with a series of stipulated 

priorities. A consequence of this is that 

many groups of Veterans who are in a 

lower priority group (WWI Veterans, 

Veterans with disabilities rated as 0% 

service-connected seeking treatment for 

other than their service-connected 

conditions, Veterans exposed to a toxic 

substance, radiation, or environmental 

hazard and nonservice-connected 

Veterans) may request that they be 

allowed to be income tested in order to 

gain a higher priority. Title 38 U.S.C. 

1722 establishes eligibility assessment 

procedures for cost-free VA medical 

care, based on income levels, which will 

determine whether nonserviceconnected and 0% service-connected 

non-compensable Veterans are able to 

defray the necessary expenses of care for 

nonservice-connected conditions. Title 

38 U.S.C. 1722A establishes the 

eligibility assessment procedures, based 

on income levels, for determining 

Veterans’ eligibility for cost-free 

medications. Title 38 U.S.C. 1710B 

defines the procedures for establishing 

eligibility for cost-free Extended Care 

benefits. Title 38 U.S.C. 1729 authorizes 

VA to recover from Veterans’ health 

insurance carriers the cost of care 

furnished for their nonserviceconnected conditions. 

VA Form 10–10EC, Application for 

Extended Care Services, is used to 

collect financial information necessary 

to determine a Veteran’s copayment 

obligation for extended care services, 

also known as long term care (LTC). The 

10–10EC design has been revised to 

clarify the instructions and make it 

easier to understand and complete the 

form. However, there are no changes to 

the anticipated annual number of 

responses or burden hours for this 

information collection. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

Households. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 3,000 

hours. 

Estimated Average Burden per 

Respondent: 90 minutes. 

Frequency of Response: Once 

annually. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

2,000. 

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) 

Maribel Aponte, 

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of 

Enterprise and Integration/Data Governance 

Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30639 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Funding Opportunity Under Supportive 

Services for Veteran Families 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice of funding availability. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is announcing the 

availability of funds for grants under the 

SSVF Program. This NOFO contains 

information concerning the SSVF 

Program, the renewal and new applicant 

grant application processes, and the 

amount of funding available. Awards 

made for grants will fund operations 

beginning October 1, 2025. 

DATES: Applications for grants must be 

received by 4 p.m. eastern standard time 

on March 3, 2025. In the interest of 

fairness to all competing applicants, this 

deadline is firm as to date and hour. VA 

will treat as ineligible for consideration 

any application that is received after the 

deadline. Applicants should take this 

practice into account and submit their 

materials early to avoid risk of loss of 

eligibility, unanticipated delays, 

computer service outages, or other 

submission-related problems. 

ADDRESSES: Information about the 

application can be downloaded from the 

SSVF website at https://www.va.gov/ 

homeless/ssvf/index.html. Questions 

may be referred to the SSVF Program 

Office via email at ssvf@va.gov. For 

detailed SSVF Program information and 

requirements, see 38 CFR part 62. 

Application Submission: Applicants 

must submit applications electronically 

following instructions found at https:// 

www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.html. 

Applications may not be hand-carried, 

emailed, mailed, or sent by facsimile 

(fax). Applications must be received by 

the SSVF Program Office no later than 

4 p.m. eastern standard time on the 

application deadline date March 3, 

2025. 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 or not funded. See Section II.B. 

and II.C. of this NOFO for the maximum 

allowable grant amounts. Applicants are 

advised to refer to this NOFO when 

completing the online application. 

Technical Assistance: Information on 

obtaining technical assistance for 

preparing a grant application is 

available on the program website at 

https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/ 

index.html. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Funding Opportunity Title: 

Supportive Services for Veteran 

Families. Announcement Type: New 

and Renewal. Funding Opportunity 

Number: VA–SSVF–2026. Assistance 

Instrument: Grant. 

Assistance Listing: 64.033, VA 

Supportive Services for Veteran 

Families Program—System for Award 

Management (SAM.gov). 

Funding Details: SSVF expects to 

award approximately $799 million via 

this NOFO with over 200 awards, with 

a range of $118,000 to $22,942,240 in 

awards. 

System for Award Management: 

Before submitting an application, 

organizations must provide a valid 

unique entity identifier in their 

application and continue to maintain an 

active registration in SAM.gov with 

current information at all times during 

which they have an active Federal 

award or an application or plan under 

consideration by a Federal agency. 

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 lowincome Veteran families who (i) are 

residing in permanent housing and at 

risk of becoming homeless, (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 lowincome Veteran family’s needs and 


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preferences. SSVF delivers services 

using a housing-first approach that 

emphasizes permanent housing 

placement and supportive services as 

the primary objectives. Housing First is 

an evidence-based, cost-effective 

approach to ending homelessness for 

the most vulnerable and chronically 

homeless individuals. (https://

www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/housingfirst-checklist). 

SSVF prioritizes the delivery of rapid 

re-housing services to homeless Veteran 

households. Rapid re-housing is an 

intervention designed to help 

individuals and families quickly exit 

homelessness, return to housing in the 

community, and avoid homelessness 

again in the near term. The core 

components of a rapid re-housing 

program are housing identification, 

move-in and rent financial assistance, 

and rapid rehousing case management 

and services. These core components 

represent the minimum that a program 

must provide to households to be 

considered a rapid rehousing program. 

Applicants should familiarize 

themselves with the Homelessness 

Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Best 

Practice Standards found at https://

www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.html. 

B. Funding Priorities: The principal 

goal of this NOFO is to seek entities that 

have the greatest capacity to end 

homelessness among Veterans or sustain 

gains made in ending homelessness 

among Veterans. Priority will be given 

to grantees who can demonstrate the 

adoption of evidence-based practices in 

their application. Please note that the 

priorities for SSVF for fiscal year (FY) 

2026 are different than in previous 

years. 

Under Priority 1, SSVF is introducing 

a new priority for FY 2026 to expand 

services to Tribal and rural communities 

and the U.S. territories. VA has the 

ability to award up to a 3-year project 

period to Tribal and rural communities 

and the U.S. territories under this 

NOFO. Indian Tribe means a Tribe that 

is a federally recognized Tribe or a State 

recognized tribe. See 25 U.S.C. 4103(13). 

With this priority, SSVF is seeking 

Native-led organizations, organizations 

who are deeply invested in providing 

services on Tribal lands and 

reservations, and organizations who 

have extensive experience working with 

Native Veterans and Veteran families. 

There is an emphasis on organizations 

that would serve the 29 Tribal 

communities that have Tribal 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development—VA Supportive Housing 

(HUD–VASH) (https://www.hud.gov/ 

press/press_releases_media_advisories/ 

hud_no_24_220). 

Rural communities are defined using 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) definition of a rural area. Rural 

means: 1. Open countryside; 2. Rural 

towns (places with fewer than 5,000 

people and 2,000 housing units); and 3. 

Urban areas with populations ranging 

up to 50,000 people that are not part of 

larger labor market areas (metropolitan 

areas) (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/ 

rural-economy-population/ruralclassifications/). 

The U.S. territories are a priority 

including American Samoa, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 

Virgin Islands. Priority 1 for FY 2026 is 

open to new and existing applicants; 

however, priority will be given to 

organizations that have a demonstrated 

track record of serving the Tribal or 

rural community or the U.S. territory 

that they are proposing to serve. 

Additionally, applicants should have 

demonstrated cultural awareness and 

language access for the areas they are 

proposing to serve. 

Under Priority 2, VA will provide 

funding to existing grantees who have at 

least one of the following accreditations: 

3-year accreditation from the 

Commission on Accreditation of 

Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in 

Employment and Community Services: 

Rapid Rehousing and Homeless 

Prevention standards, a 4-year 

accreditation in Housing Stabilization 

and Community Living Services from 

the Council on Accreditation (COA), or 

a 3-year accreditation in The Joint 

Commission’s (JC) Behavioral Health 

Care: Housing Support Services 

Standards. Priority 2 applicants must 

demonstrate that accreditation is active 

at the date of submission, and 

accreditation must be maintained 

throughout the project period and/or 

funding cycle. 

Under Priority 3, existing SSVF 

grantees not included in Priority 2 but 

who have annual awards and are 

seeking to renew their grants, may 

apply. Existing grantees are SSVF 

grantees that have a Memorandum of 

Agreement (MOA) for operations 

through September 30, 2025. 

C. Definitions: Part 62 of title 38 CFR, 

contains definitions of terms used in the 

SSVF Program. In addition to the 

definitions and requirements described 

in 38 CFR part 62, this NOFO provides 

additional resources to secure 

permanent housing. These resources 

may be provided by the SSVF grantee 

under 38 CFR 62.34 to assist Veterans in 

remaining in or obtaining permanent 

housing. Grantees will be allowed to 

provide up to the equivalent of 2 

months’ rent in addition to the security 

deposit to landlords under 38 CFR 

62.34(g) as a resource for any lease of 

not less than 1 year when necessary to 

assist a Veteran in remaining in or 

obtaining permanent housing. 

The additional funds may be used to 

facilitate the leasing of rental units to 

tenants with significant housing 

barriers. Landlords are less likely to 

lease to certain groups due to the risk of 

non-payment of rent or concerns about 

damage or disruption to their buildings. 

Tenants with significant housing 

barriers might include Veterans with 

poor credit histories and criminal 

justice involvement that might 

otherwise disqualify them from 

obtaining a lease. Veterans with 

histories of sex offenses are generally 

considered high-risk tenants by 

landlords. Veterans are sometimes 

reluctant to move into apartments that 

do not offer any of the comforts 

typically associated with living 

independently. 

The General Housing Stability 

Assistance (GHSA), provided under 38 

CFR 62.34(e), while offering some funds 

for bedding and kitchen supplies, leaves 

significant needs unaddressed. 

Therefore, grantees also will be allowed 

to provide up to $1,000 to Veteran 

families for miscellaneous move-in 

expenses under 38 CFR 62.34(g), to 

encourage them to obtain permanent 

housing with a lease of not less than 1 

year. These funds are to be provided to 

assist Veterans through accounts 

established at local merchants, such as 

grocery stores and retailers, in the 

enrolled Veteran’s name. These items 

could include, but are not limited to, 

food, furniture, household items, 

electronics (including televisions), or 

other items typically associated with 

independent living in permanent 

housing. 

Furthermore, internet can now be 

considered as utilities as the definition 

for financial assistance as utility 

payments under 38 CFR 62.34(b) is 

expected with this NOFO to include 

these changes. Access to the internet is 

an essential component of the modern 

economy, comparable to utilities. 

Veterans without such access are put at 

a disadvantage in finding and applying 

for work opportunities, purchasing 

needed consumer goods at the lowest 

possible cost, and communicating 

through email and other forms of social 

media. 

In addition to the definitions and 

requirements described in 38 CFR part 

62, this NOFO provides further 

clarification in this paragraph on the use 

of Emergency Housing Assistance 

(EHA). EHA may be provided by the 

SSVF grantee under 38 CFR 62.34(f) to 


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offer transition in place when a 

permanent housing voucher is pending 

completion of the housing inspection 

and administrative processes necessary 

for leasing. In such circumstances, the 

EHA payment cannot exceed what 

would otherwise be paid when the 

voucher is issued. EHA may also be 

used as part of Rapid Resolution, also 

known as diversion or housing problemsolving, that helps Veteran households 

avoid entry into homelessness through 

placements with family or friends. EHA 

may also be used as an outreach tool to 

engage and offer housing to unsheltered 

homeless Veterans with significant 

housing needs who refuse to access 

traditional emergency shelter services in 

the community. 

D. Approach: Respondents to this 

NOFO should base their proposals and 

applications on the current 

requirements of part 62. 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 required to establish 

relationships with local community 

resources. Therefore, agencies must 

work through coordinated partnerships 

built either through formal agreements 

or the informal working relationships 

commonly found among successful 

social service providers. 

Through this NOFO, grantees can pay 

fees related to securing a lease of at least 

1 year. In addition, as noted previously 

herein, Veterans are sometimes 

reluctant to move into apartments that 

do not offer any of the comforts 

typically associated with living 

independently. Pursuant to this NOFO, 

grantees would be able to use funds for 

miscellaneous expenses associated with 

moving into a new home. Moreover, 

nationally, the median average rental 

unit has increased in price by 28% since 

September 2023. 

Furthermore, service-connected 

Veterans with high levels of disability 

may have incomes that exceed the 

current SSVF income threshold of 50% 

of the Area Median Income (AMI). 

These Veterans, some of the most 

vulnerable served by the VA, can be left 

ineligible for critically needed SSVF 

services. As a result, VA is invoking the 

provision in 38 U.S.C. 2044(f)(6)(C) and 

38 CFR 62.2, allowing VA to establish 

an income ceiling higher or lower than 

50% of the AMI if VA determines that 

such variations are necessary because 

the area has unusually high or low 

construction costs, fair market rents (as 

determined under section 8 of the U.S. 

Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) 

or family incomes. AMI is one factor 

SSVF uses to establish eligibility. A 

higher income ceiling, as reflected by 

the AMI, will allow grantees to serve 

Veterans who have endured significant 

increases in their housing cost burden, 

placing them at greater risk for 

homelessness. For the purposes of this 

NOFO, grantees will be able to serve 

Veterans in their communities who have 

up to 80% of AMI. Aligning SSVF and 

HUD–VASH eligibility will allow SSVF 

grantees’ housing navigators to assist 

Veterans eligible for HUD–VASH as 

necessary with identifying and 

obtaining permanent housing. Aligning 

SSVF and HUD–VASH eligibility will 

also improve the coordination of care 

and simplify and standardize eligibility 

determinations. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to 

provide letters of support from the 

Continuums of Care (CoC) in the 

location where they plan to deliver 

services, reflecting the applicant’s 

engagement in the CoC’s efforts to 

coordinate services. A CoC is a 

community planning entity that 

organizes and delivers housing and 

services to meet the needs of people 

who are homeless as they move to stable 

housing and maximize housing stability. 

The CoC develops and implements 

plans to end homelessness and prevent 

a return to homelessness. CoC locations 

and contact information can be found at 

https://www.hudexchange.info/ 

grantees/contacts/. 

The CoC’s letter of support should 

note if the applicant is providing 

assistance to the CoC in building local 

capacity to build Coordinated Entry 

Systems (CES) and the value and form 

of that assistance, whether support is 

direct funding or staffing. CES requires 

that providers operating within the 

CoC’s geographic area must also work 

together to ensure the CoC’s coordinated 

entry process allows for coordinated 

screening, assessment, and referrals 

(HUD Notice: CPD–17–01). The CoC’s 

letter of support also must describe the 

applicant’s participation in the CoC’s 

community planning efforts. Failure for 

a Priority 2 or Priority 3 applicant to 

provide a letter of support from the CoC 

as described may limit the maximum 

award to 90% of the award made in the 

previous fiscal year as described herein 

at II.C.6. In addition, any applicant 

proposing to serve a Native American 

Tribal area is strongly encouraged to 

provide a letter of support from the 

relevant Tribal Government. Priority 1 

applicants are strongly encouraged to 

provide a CoC letter of support, a letter 

from the relevant Indian Tribal 

Government, or other relevant letter of 

support. 

The aim of the provision of 

supportive services is to assist very lowincome Veteran families residing in 

permanent housing to remain stably 

housed and to rapidly transition those 

not currently in permanent housing to 

stable housing. Assistance in obtaining 

or retaining permanent housing is a 

fundamental goal of the SSVF Program. 

SSVF emphasizes the placement of 

homeless Veteran families who are 

described in 38 CFR 62.11(b)–(c) as 

follows: 

(b)(1) Is lacking a fixed, regular and 

adequate nighttime residence, meaning: 

(i) That the Veteran family’s primary 

nighttime residence is a public or private 

place not designed for or ordinarily used as 

a regular sleeping accommodation for human 

beings, including a car, park, abandoned bus 

or train station, airport, or camping ground, 

(ii) That the Veteran family is living in a 

supervised 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, or local government 

programs for low-income individuals), or 

(iii) That the Veteran family is exiting an 

institution where the Veteran family 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, 

(b)(2) Are at risk to remain in the situation 

described herein at paragraph, 

(b)(1) of this section but for the grantee’s 

assistance, and 

(b)(3) Scheduled to become a resident of 

permanent housing within 90 days pending 

the location or development of housing 

suitable for permanent housing or; (c) Has 

met any of the conditions described herein at 

paragraph (b)(1) of this section after exiting 

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. 

E. Authority: Funding available under 

this NOFO is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 

2044. VA implements the SSVF Program 

through regulations in 38 CFR part 62. 

Funds made available under this NOFO 

are subject to the requirements of these 

regulations. 

F. Requirements for the Use of 

Supportive Services Grant Funds: The 

applicant’s request for funding must be 

consistent with the limitations and uses 

of supportive services grant funds set 

forth in 38 CFR part 62 and this NOFO. 

In accordance with 38 CFR part 62 and 

this NOFO, the following requirements 

apply to supportive services grants 

awarded under this NOFO: 

1. Grantees may use a maximum of 

10% of supportive services grant funds 

for administrative costs identified in 38 

CFR 62.70(e). 

2. Grantees must enroll a minimum of 

60% of Veteran households who are 


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literally homeless and qualify under 38 

CFR 62.11(b). (Note: Grantees may 

request a waiver to decrease this 

minimum number of literally homeless 

households, as discussed herein at 

section V.B.4.a.). 

3. Grantees are required to have 

available temporary financial assistance 

resources that can be paid directly to a 

third party on behalf of a participant 

and may be used for childcare, 

emergency housing assistance, 

transportation, rental assistance, utilityfee payment assistance, security 

deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, 

and general housing stability assistance 

(which includes emergency supplies) 

and as otherwise stated in 38 CFR 62.33 

and 38 CFR 62.34. 

4. Grantees are able to provide up to 

$1,000 supplemental assistance to every 

Veteran household who obtains a lease 

of not less than 1 year to cover 

miscellaneous move-in expenses. 

5. Grantees are able to pay landlords 

up to an amount equal to 2 months’ rent 

for fees related to securing a lease of at 

least 1 year. This incentive may be 

provided at lease-up or split up into 

multiple payments to be paid within the 

first 90 days of the Veteran being 

housed. 

G. Guidance for Use of Supportive 

Services Grant Funds: Grantees are 

expected to demonstrate the adoption of 

evidence-based practices most likely to 

prevent and lead to reductions in 

homelessness. As part of their 

application, the applying organization’s 

Executive Director must certify on 

behalf of the agency that they will 

actively participate in community 

planning efforts and operate the 

program in a manner consistent with 

core concepts found at https://

www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/ssvfcoreconcepts/. Housing is not 

contingent on compliance with 

mandated therapies or services; instead, 

participants must comply with a 

standard lease agreement and be 

provided with the services and supports 

that are necessary to help them do so 

successfully. Case management 

supporting permanent housing should 

include tenant counseling, mediation 

with landlords and outreach to 

landlords. 

Grantees must develop plans that will 

ensure that Veteran participants have 

the level of income and economic 

stability needed to remain in permanent 

housing after the conclusion of the 

SSVF intervention. Both employment 

and benefits assistance from VA and 

non-VA sources represent a significantly 

underutilized source of income stability 

for homeless Veterans. Income is not a 

pre-condition for housing. Case 

management should include income 

maximization strategies to ensure 

households have access to benefits, 

employment, and financial counseling. 

The complexity of program rules and 

the stigma some associate with 

entitlement programs contribute to their 

lack of use. For this reason, grantees are 

encouraged to consider strategies that 

can lead to prompt and successful 

access to employment and benefits that 

are essential to retaining housing. 

Consistent with 38 CFR 62.30–62.34, 

grantees are expected to offer the 

following supportive services: 

counseling participants about housing; 

assisting participants in understanding 

leases; securing utilities; making moving 

arrangements; providing representative 

payee services concerning rent and 

utilities when needed; using health care 

navigation services to help participants 

access health and mental health care; 

providing legal services; and providing 

mediation and outreach to property 

owners related to locating or retaining 

housing. Grantees also may assist 

participants by providing rental 

assistance; security or utility deposits; 

moving costs; emergency housing; or 

general housing stability assistance; or 

using other Federal resources, such as 

the HUD Emergency Solutions Grants 

Program (ESG) or supportive services 

grant funds subject to the limitations 

described in this NOFO and 38 CFR 

62.34. 

1. As SSVF is a short to medium-term 

crisis intervention, grantees must 

develop plans with Veterans and 

Veteran families that will maximize 

income and supports to help Veterans 

sustain permanent housing at the 

conclusion of SSVF. Grantees must 

ensure the availability of employment 

and vocational services either through 

providing the services directly or 

through formal or informal service 

agreements with other agencies. 

Agreements with the Homeless Veteran 

Reintegration Programs funded by the 

U.S. Department of Labor are strongly 

encouraged. For participants unable to 

work due to disability, income must be 

established through available benefits 

programs. 

2. Per 38 CFR 62.33, grantees must 

assist participants in obtaining public 

benefits. Grantees must screen all 

participants for eligibility for a broad 

range of entitlements such as the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human 

Services’ (HHS) Temporary Assistance 

for Needy Families, Social Security, the 

USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program, the HHS LowIncome Home Energy Assistance 

Program, the Earned Income Tax Credit, 

and local General Assistance programs. 

Grantees are expected to access the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration’s Supplemental 

Security Income/Social Security 

Disability Insurance Outreach, Access, 

and Recovery (SOAR) program directly 

by training staff and providing the 

service or subcontracting services to an 

organization to provide SOAR services. 

In addition, where available, grantees 

should access information technology 

tools to support case managers in their 

efforts to link participants to benefits. 

3. In accordance with 38 CFR 

62.33(g), grantees must assist 

participants in obtaining and 

coordinating the provision of legal 

services relevant to issues that interfere 

with the participants’ ability to obtain or 

retain permanent housing or supportive 

services. Grantees may provide legal 

services directly, through a formal 

referral agreement as contract services, 

or through referrals to another entity. 

(NOTE: Information regarding legal 

services provided may be protected 

from being released to the grantee or VA 

under attorney-client privilege, although 

the grantee must provide sufficient 

information to demonstrate the 

frequency and type of service 

delivered.) Support for legal services 

can include paying for court filing fees 

to assist a participant with issues that 

interfere with the participant’s ability to 

obtain or retain permanent housing or 

supportive services, including issues 

that affect the participant’s 

employability and financial security. 

Grantees (in addition to employees and 

members of grantees) may represent 

participants before VA with respect to a 

claim for VA benefits, but only if they 

are recognized for that purpose pursuant 

to 38 U.S.C. chapter 59. Further, the 

individual providing such 

representation must be accredited 

pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 59. 

4. Access to mental health and 

addiction services is required by SSVF; 

however, grantees cannot fund these 

services directly through the SSVF 

grant. Applicants must demonstrate 

their ability to promote rapid access to 

and engagement with mental health and 

addiction services for Veterans and 

Veteran families. In the past, grantees 

were able to add health care navigator 

responsibilities to existing positions as 

an alternative to hiring a Health Care 

Navigator. Beginning in FY 2026, the 

Health Care Navigator position is 

required. Grantees are required to hire at 

least one Health Care Navigator that will 

assist participants with accessing health 

and mental health services. 

5. When serving participants who are 

residing in permanent housing, the 

defining question to ask is ‘‘Would this 


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individual or family be homeless but for 

this assistance?’’ The grantee must use 

a VA-approved screening tool with 

criteria that target those most at risk of 

homelessness (https://www.va.gov/ 

HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_HP_

Screener_10_2023.pdf). 

6. SSVF grantees are required to 

participate in local planning efforts 

designed to end Veteran homelessness. 

Grantees may use grant funds to support 

SSVF involvement in such community 

planning by sub-contracting with CoCs, 

when such funding is essential, to create 

or sustain the development of these data 

driven plans. 

7. When other funds from community 

resources are not readily available to 

assist program participants, grantees 

may choose to use supportive services 

grants, to the extent described in this 

NOFO and in 38 CFR 62.33 and 62.34, 

to provide temporary financial 

assistance. Such assistance may, subject 

to the limitations in this NOFO and 38 

CFR part 62, be paid directly to a third 

party on behalf of a participant for 

childcare; transportation; family 

emergency housing assistance; rental 

assistance; utility-fee payment 

assistance; security or utility deposits; 

moving costs; and general housing 

stability assistance as necessary. 

8. SSVF requires grantees to offer 

Rapid Resolution (also known as 

diversion or problem-solving) services. 

These services engage Veterans 

immediately before or after they become 

homeless and assist them to avoid 

continued homelessness. These efforts 

can reduce the trauma and expense 

associated with extended periods of 

homelessness, and the strain on the 

crisis response and affordable housing 

resources in the community. Through 

Rapid Resolution, the grantee and the 

Veteran explore safe, alternative 

housing options immediately before or 

quickly after they become homeless. 

Rapid Resolution can identify an 

immediate safe place to stay within the 

Veteran’s network of family, friends, or 

other social networks. All Veterans 

requesting SSVF services should have a 

Rapid Resolution screening and if not 

appropriate for Rapid Resolution 

grantees should then assess the Veteran 

for other SSVF services. More 

information about Rapid Resolution can 

be found at https://www.va.gov/ 

homeless/ssvf/index.html. 

II. Award Information 

A. Overview: This NOFO announces 

the availability of funds for supportive 

services grants under the SSVF Program 

and pertains to proposals for the 

renewal of existing supportive services 

grant programs. 

B. Funding: The funding priorities for 

this NOFO are as follows: Under 

Priority 1, SSVF is introducing a new 

priority for FY 2026 to expand services 

to Tribal and rural communities and 

U.S. territories. VA has the ability to 

award up to a 3-year project period to 

Tribal and rural communities and U.S. 

territories under this NOFO. Indian 

Tribe means a Tribe that is a federally 

recognized Tribe or a State-recognized 

tribe. See 25 U.S.C. 4103(13). With this 

priority, SSVF is seeking Native-led 

organizations, organizations who are 

deeply invested in providing services on 

Tribal lands and reservations, and 

organizations who have extensive 

experience working with Native 

Veterans and Veteran families. There is 

an emphasis on organizations that 

would serve the 29 Tribal communities 

that have Tribal HUD–VASH (https://

www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_

media_advisories/hud_no_24_220). 

Rural communities are defined using 

USDA’s definition of a rural area. Rural 

means: 1. Open countryside; 2. Rural 

towns (places with fewer than 5,000 

people and 2,000 housing units); and 3. 

urban areas with populations ranging up 

to 50,000 people that are not part of 

larger labor market areas (metropolitan 

areas) (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/ 

rural-economy-population/ruralclassifications/). There is a priority for 

the U.S. territories including American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto 

Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Priority 1 for FY 2026 is open to new 

and existing applicants; however, 

priority will be given to organizations 

that have a demonstrated track record of 

serving the Tribal or rural community, 

or U.S. territory that they are proposing 

to serve. Additionally, applicants 

should have demonstrated cultural 

awareness and language access for the 

areas they are proposing to serve. 

Under Priority 2, VA will provide 

funding to existing grantees who have at 

least one of the following accreditations: 

3-year accreditation from CARF in 

Employment and Community Services: 

Rapid Rehousing and Homeless 

Prevention standards, a 4-year 

accreditation in Housing Stabilization 

and Community Living Services from 

the COA or a 3-year accreditation in the 

JC’s Behavioral Health Care: Housing 

Support Services Standards. Priority 2 

applicants must demonstrate that 

accreditation is active at the date of 

submission, and accreditation must be 

maintained throughout the project 

period and/or funding cycle. Existing 

grantees previously awarded under this 

priority with grants scheduled to end by 

September 30, 2025, must apply using 

the renewal application. To be eligible 

for renewal of a supportive services 

grant, applicants’ program must be 

substantially the same as the program of 

the grantee’s current award. Renewal 

applications can request funding that is 

equal to or less than their current 

annualized amount. If sufficient funding 

is available, VA may provide an 

increase of the previous year’s award. 

Any funding increase, if provided, will 

be based on previous grant funding 

utilization and enrollment. VA may 

award a 3-year project period to those 

submitting successful applications who 

remain in good standing and show proof 

of accreditation as defined above. VA 

may also elect to decrease the grant 

award to an amount that is less than the 

previous fiscal year award. This will be 

done based on available funds as well 

as previous grant utilization and 

enrollment. 

Grantees previously awarded a 3-year 

project period that is not scheduled to 

end by September 30, 2025, cannot 

submit a renewal application under this 

NOFO but instead are required to 

submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) 

application package by the NOFO 

deadline indicating their intention of 

continuing SSVF services in FY 2026. 

All grantees submitting a LOI must 

include a letter of support from the CoC 

(see section II.C.6.) and a proposed 

budget for FY 2026. Priority 2 grantees 

submitting a LOI must also submit proof 

of continued accreditation. Based on the 

results of audit findings or performance 

concerns, VA may change grantees’ 

previously awarded funds from Priority 

2 to Priority 3 at renewal. The 

reprioritized grantees would then be 

required to submit a renewal 

application for the FY 2027 grant year. 

Under Priority 3, existing SSVF 

grantees not included in Priority 2 but 

who have annual awards and are 

seeking to renew their grants, may 

apply. Existing grantees are SSVF 

grantees that have a MOA for operations 

through September 30, 2025. Priority 3 

includes all other existing grantees 

seeking to renew their annual grant 

awards. Priority 3 applicants must apply 

using the renewal application. To be 

eligible for renewal of a supportive 

services grant, Priority 3 applicants’ 

program must be substantially the same 

as the program of the grantees’ current 

grant award. Renewal applications can 

request funding that is equal to or less 

than their current annualized award. If 

sufficient funding is available, VA may 

provide an increase of the previous 

year’s award. Any funding increase, if 

provided, will be based on previous 

grant funding utilization and 


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enrollment. VA may also elect to 

decrease the grant award to an amount 

that is less than the previous fiscal year 

award. This will be done based on 

available funds as well as previous grant 

utilization and enrollment. 

C. Allocation of Funds: Funding for 

grantees for a 1-year project period 

(Priority 3) or a 3-year project period 

(Priority 1 and 2) will be awarded under 

this NOFO beginning October 1, 2025. 

The followings requirements apply to 

supportive services grants awarded 

under this NOFO: 

1. New and existing organizations can 

apply under Priority 1. For existing 

grantees, a new application is required 

if they are pursuing Priority 1. 

2. Only existing grantees can apply 

under Priority 2 and Priority 3. 

3. If a Priority 2 or 3 applicant is not 

renewed, all existing SSVF grants made 

to the non-renewed grantee, including 

awards made to support 62.34(a), will 

be discontinued on September 30, 2025. 

4. If a grantee failed to use any 

previously awarded funds or had 

unspent funds returned to VA, VA may 

elect to limit the renewal award to the 

amount of funds used in the previous 

fiscal year or in the current fiscal year 

less the money swept. 

5. If, during the course of the grant 

year, VA determines that grantee 

spending is not meeting the following 

minimum percentage milestones, VA 

may elect to recoup projected unused 

funds and reprogram such funds to 

provide supportive services in areas 

with higher need. Should VA elect to 

recoup unspent funds, reductions in 

available grant funds would take place 

the first business day following the end 

of the quarter. VA may elect to recoup 

funds under the following 

circumstances: 

a. By the end of the first quarter 

(December 31, 2025) of the grantee’s 

supportive services annualized grant 

award period, the grantee’s cumulative 

requests for supportive services grant 

funds are less than an amount equal to 

15% of the total supportive services 

grant award. (During this same period, 

the grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 35% of the total supportive 

services grant award.) 

b. By the end of the second quarter 

(March 31, 2026) of the grantee’s 

supportive services annualized grant 

award period, the grantee’s cumulative 

request for supportive services grant 

funds is less than an amount equal to 

40% of the total supportive services 

grant award. (During this same period, 

the grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 60% of the total supportive 

services grant award.) 

c. By the end of the third quarter (June 

30, 2026) of the grantee’s supportive 

services annualized grant award period, 

the grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds are less 

than an amount equal to 65% of the 

total supportive services grant award. 

(During this same period, the grantee’s 

cumulative requests for supportive 

services grant funds may not exceed 

80% of the total supportive services 

grant award.) 

6. Priority 2 and Priority 3 applicants 

who fail to provide a letter of support 

from at least one of the CoCs that they 

plan to serve will be eligible for renewal 

funding at a level no greater than 90% 

of their previous award. Applicants are 

responsible for determining who in each 

serviced CoC is authorized to provide 

such letters of support. Existing Priority 

2 grantees operating under a 3-year 

project period that are only required to 

submit a LOI application package in 

response to this NOFO must also submit 

a letter of support from at least one of 

the CoC’s that they plan to serve. The 

letter of support should include the 

following information described herein 

at 6a and 6b of this section. Applicants 

may seek an exception to this 

requirement if they submit a letter from 

the CoC stating that by policy they 

cannot provide a letter of support. To 

meet this requirement and allow the 

applicant to be eligible for full funding, 

letters must include the following: 

a. A detailed description of the 

applicant’s participation in the CoC’s 

Coordinated Entry process or planning 

activities and overall community 

planning efforts (for example, 

confirmation of the applicant’s active 

participation in coordinated entry; 

commitment to participate in 

coordinated entry; hours spent on a 

CoC-sponsored committee or work 

group; and the names of said 

committees or work groups). 

b. The applicant’s contribution to the 

CoC’s coordinated entry process 

capacity building efforts, detailing the 

specific nature of this contribution (for 

example, the hours of staff time and/or 

the amount of funding provided), if 

such SSVF capacity has been requested 

by the CoC or otherwise has shown to 

be of value to the CoC. 

7. Should additional funding become 

available over the course of the grant 

term from funds recouped under the 

Award Information section of this 

Notice, from funds that are voluntarily 

returned by grantees, from funds that 

become available due to a grant 

termination, or from other funds still 

available for grant awards, VA may elect 

to offer these funds to grantees in areas 

where demand has exceeded available 

SSVF resources. Additional funds will 

be provided to the highest scoring 

grantee in the selected area who is in 

compliance with their grant agreement 

and has the capacity to use the 

additional funds. 

D. Supportive Services Grant Award 

Period: Priority 1 and 2 grants are made 

for a 3-year project period. Priority 3 

grants are made for a 1-year period. 

Some grantees who obtain accreditation 

may be eligible to apply as Priority 2 

and could be selected for an award with 

the option to continue funding each 

year for up to 3 years, if they meet the 

criteria described herein at section 

VI.C.6. Grant renewals are eligible to be 

renewed subject to the availability of 

funding. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants: Only eligible 

entities, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 2044(f), 

can apply in response to this NOFO. 

Eligible entities are private nonprofit 

organizations or consumer cooperatives. 

B. Cost Sharing or Matching: None. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Obtaining an Application Package: 

Applications are located at https://

www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.html. 

Any questions regarding this process 

may be referred to the SSVF Program 

Office via email at SSVF@va.gov. For 

detailed SSVF Program information and 

requirements, see 38 CFR part 62 at: 

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/ 

chapter-I/part-62. 

B. Content and Form of Application: 

Applicants must submit applications 

electronically following instructions 

found at: https://www.va.gov/homeless/ 

ssvf/index.html. 

C. Submission Dates and Times: 

Applications for supportive services 

grants under the SSVF Program must be 

received by the SSVF Program Office by 

4 p.m. eastern time on March 3, 2025. 

Awards made for supportive services 

grants will fund operations beginning 

October 1, 2025. 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. This 

includes letters of support which must 

be received within the application 

package, not separately. In addition, 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 


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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, or other 

delivery-related problems. 

D. Funding Restrictions: Funding will 

be awarded for new and existing 

supportive services grants under this 

NOFO depending on funding 

availability. Priority 1, Priority 2, and 

Priority 3 applicants should fill out 

separate applications for each 

supportive services funding request. 

Priority 2 and Priority 3 applicants must 

use applications designated for renewal 

applicants. Funding will be awarded 

under this NOFO to all grantees 

beginning October 1, 2025. 

1. Funding used for staff education 

and training cannot exceed 5% of the 

overall program grant award. This 

limitation does not include the cost to 

attend VA-mandated training. All 

training costs must be directly related to 

the provision of services to homeless 

Veterans and their families. 

2. Expenses related to maintaining 

accreditation are allowable. Grantees are 

allowed to include expenses for seeking 

initial accreditation only once in a 5- 

year period. The expenses to renew full 

accreditation are allowed and are based 

on the schedule of the accrediting 

agency: for example, every 3 years for 

CARF and every 4 years for COA. 

Expenses related to the renewal of less 

than full accreditation are not allowed. 

E. Other Submission Requirements: 

1. Existing applicants applying for 

Priority 2 or Priority 3 grants may apply 

only as renewal applicants using the 

application designed for renewal grants. 

2. At the discretion of VA, multiple 

grant proposals submitted by the same 

Lead agency may be combined into a 

single grant award if the proposals 

provide services to contiguous areas. 

3. 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 packages must contain all 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in 38 CFR part 62 and 

this NOFO. Applicants and grantees 

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. Applicants must 

submit applications electronically. 

Applications may not be mailed, hand 

carried, or faxed. 

F. Intergovernmental Review 

This NOFO is not subject to Executive 

Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review 

of Federal Programs. To learn more 

about your State’s process, see the State 

Single Point of Contact List. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria 

1. VA will screen all applications to 

identify those that meet the threshold 

requirements described in 38 CFR 62.21. 

2. VA will use the criteria described 

in 38 CFR 62.24 to score grantees 

applying for renewal of a supportive 

services grant. 

3. VA will use the criteria described 

in 38 CFR 62.22 and 62.23 to score new 

applications for supportive services 

grants. 

B. Review and Selection Process: VA 

will review all supportive services grant 

applications in response to this NOFO. 

This section pertains to renewal 

applications only. A review will be 

conducted according to the following 

steps: 

1. LOI applications that meet 

threshold requirements described in 38 

CFR 62.21 will be offered funding. 

2. Score all renewal applications that 

meet the threshold requirements 

described in 38 CFR 62.21. 

3. Rank those renewal applications 

that score at least 75 cumulative points 

and receive at least 1 point under each 

of the categories identified for renewal 

applicants in 38 CFR 62.24. The 

applications will be ranked in order 

from highest to lowest scores in 

accordance with 38 CFR 62.25 for 

renewal applicants. 

4. VA will use the ranked scores of 

renewal applications as the primary 

basis for selection. However, VA also 

will use the following considerations in 

38 CFR 62.23(d) to select applicants for 

funding: 

(a) Give preference to applications that 

provide or coordinate the provision of 

supportive services for very low-income 

Veteran families transitioning from 

homelessness to permanent housing. 

Consistent with this preference, applicants 

are required to enroll no less than 60% of 

participants who are homeless as defined in 

38 CFR 62.11(b) and (c). Rural communities 

are defined using USDA’s definition of a 

rural area. Rural means: 1. Open countryside; 

2. Rural towns (places with fewer than 5,000 

people and 2,000 housing units); and 3. 

urban areas with populations ranging up to 

50,000 people that are not part of larger labor 

market areas (metropolitan areas) (https://

www.ers.usda.gov/topics/rural-economypopulation/rural-classifications/). 

Other areas may seek waivers to this 60% 

requirement when grantees can demonstrate 

significant local progress toward eliminating 

homelessness in the target service area. 

Waiver requests must include data from 

authoritative sources such as point-in-time 

counts and by-name-lists indicating that a 

community has made enough progress on 

reducing homelessness that it can shift 

additional resources to prevention. Waiver 

requests must include an endorsement by the 

impacted CoC explicitly stating that a shift in 

resources from rapid rehousing to prevention 

will not result in an increase in 

homelessness. Grantees who are exempt or 

receive waivers to this 60% requirement 

must still enroll no less than 40% of all 

participants who are homeless as defined in 

38 CFR 62.11 (b) and (c). 

(b) To the extent practicable, ensure that 

supportive services grants are equitably 

distributed across geographic regions, 

including rural communities, U.S. territories, 

and Tribal lands. This equitable distribution 

criteria will be used to ensure that SSVF 

resources are provided to those communities 

with the highest need as identified by VA’s 

assessment of expected demand and 

available resources to meet that demand. 

5. Subject to the considerations noted 

previously herein at paragraph B.4. VA 

will fund the highest-ranked applicants 

for which funding is available. 

C. Risk Review 

Prior to making a Federal grant award, 

the SSVF Program Office will review 

eligibility information for applicants 

and financial integrity information for 

applicants available in the Office of 

Management and Budget-designated 

databases per the Payment Integrity 

Information Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116– 

117), the ‘‘Do Not Pay Initiative’’ (31 

U.S.C. 3354), and 41 U.S.C. 2313. 

The SSVF program Office will review 

the responsibility and qualification 

records available in the non-public 

segment of SAM.gov prior to making a 

Federal award. The SSVF Program 

Office will conduct a risk assessment to 

evaluate the risks posed by applicants 

before issuing a Federal award. Items 

that will be considered include: 

financial stability, management systems 

and standards, history of performance 

(if applicable), audit reports and 

findings (if applicable), and the ability 

to effectively implement the grant 

requirements. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notices: Although subject to 

change, the SSVF Program Office 

expects to announce grant recipients for 

all applicants in the fourth quarter of FY 

2025 with grants beginning October 1, 

2025. Prior to executing a funding 

agreement, VA will contact the 

applicants, make known the amount of 

proposed funding, and verify that the 

applicant is still seeking funding. Once 

VA verifies that the applicant is still 

seeking funding, VA will execute an 

agreement and make payments to the 

grant recipient in accordance with 2 

CFR part 200, 38 CFR part 62 and this 

NOFO. 


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B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements: As cited in 38 CFR 62.38 

SSVF grants cannot be used to fund 

ineligible activities. 

C. Reporting: VA places great 

emphasis on the responsibility and 

accountability of grantees. As described 

in 38 CFR 62.63 and 62.71, 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 VA Regional 

Coordinator assigned 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 work 

with their HMIS Administrators to 

export client-level data for activities 

funded by the SSVF Program to VA on 

at least a monthly basis. The 

completeness, timeliness and quality of 

grantee uploads into HMIS will be 

factored into the evaluation of their 

grant performance. 

3. VA will complete annual 

monitoring evaluations of each grantee. 

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 as 

described in the grantee’s application. 

All grantees are subject to audits 

conducted by VA or its representative. 

Pursuant to § 62.80, when a grantee fails 

to comply with the terms, conditions, or 

standards of the supportive services 

grant, VA may, on 7-days notice to the 

grantee, withhold further payment, 

suspend the supportive services grant, 

or prohibit the grantee from incurring 

additional obligations of supportive 

services grant funds, pending corrective 

action by the grantee or a decision to 

terminate. Additionally, grantees who 

are identified as not meeting 

performance standards pursuant to 

§ 62.80 are subject to withholding, 

suspension, de-obligation, termination, 

and recovery of funds by VA. 

4. Grantees will be assessed based on 

their ability to meet critical performance 

measures. In addition to meeting 

program requirements defined by the 

regulations and applicable NOFO(s), 

grantees will be assessed on their ability 

to place participants into housing and 

the housing retention rates of 

participants served. Higher placement 

for homeless participants and higher 

housing retention rates for participants 

at risk of homelessness are expected for 

low-income Veteran families when 

compared to extremely low-income 

Veteran families with incomes below 

30% of the area median income. 

5. Grantees’ performance will be 

assessed based on their consumer 

satisfaction scores. These scores include 

the participation rates and satisfaction 

results of the standardized survey 

offered to all participant households. 

6. Organizations receiving priority 1 

or renewal awards that have had 

ongoing SSVF program operation for at 

least 1 year (as measured from the start 

of initial SSVF services until March 3, 

2025 may be eligible for a 3-year project 

period. 

Grantees meeting outcome goals 

defined by VA and in substantial 

compliance with their grant agreements 

(defined by meeting targets and having 

no outstanding corrective action plans) 

and who, in addition, are providing 

supportive services to Veterans in Tribal 

or rural communities or the U.S. 

territories or who have a 3-year 

accreditation from either CARF in 

Employment and Community Services: 

Rapid Rehousing and Homeless 

Prevention standards, a 4-year 

accreditation from COA in Supported 

Community Living Services, or a 3-year 

accreditation in The Joint Commission’s 

Behavioral Health Care: Housing 

Support Services Standards are eligible 

for a 3-year project period. (NOTE: 

Multi-year project periods are 

contingent on funding availability.) If 

awarded a multiple year renewal, 

grantees may be eligible for funding 

increases as defined in NOFOs that 

correspond to years two and three of 

their renewal funding. At its discretion, 

VA may reduce 3-year project periods to 

a 1-year project period based on 

previous fiscal year performance 

concerns or most recent audit results. 

D. Post-Award Requirements and 

Administration 

The terms and conditions for this 

award will be outlined in the MOA. 

Applicants may review the general 

terms and conditions of award at 

https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/ 

grants-management/. In accepting a VA 

award, the grantee assumes legal, 

financial, administrative, and 

programmatic responsibility for 

administering the award. Grantees must 

comply with all applicable 

appropriations, laws, statutes, rules, 

regulations (e.g., 38 CFR part 50, 38 CFR 

part 62, 2 CFR part 200), NOFO 

requirements, Executive Orders 

governing assistance awards, statutory 

and national policy requirements (e.g., 2 

CFR 200.300 and 41 U.S.C. 4712), and 

these terms and conditions which will 

be incorporated into this award. While 

VA may provide grantees with reminder 

notices regarding award requirements, 

the absence of receiving such notice will 

not relieve grantees of their 

responsibility to meet all applicable 

award requirements. Under the MOA, 

grantees must agree to provide what is 

outlined in the grant award and 

application along with any 

modifications that occur as a result of 

official changes approved by the VA 

SSVF Program Office. 

VII. Other Information 

A. VA Goals and Objectives for Funds 

Awarded Under this NOFO: In 

accordance with 38 CFR 62.24(c), VA 

will evaluate an applicant’s compliance 

with VA goals and requirements for the 

SSVF Program. VA goals and 

requirements 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 and program 

administration in accordance with all 

applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, 

and the SSVF grant agreement. For 

purposes of this NOFO, VA goals and 

requirements 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% of area median income as most 

recently published by HUD for programs 

under section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act 

of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (https://

www.huduser.org). 

2. Veterans with at least one 

dependent family member. 

3. Veterans returning from Operation 

Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi 

Freedom or Operation New Dawn). 

4. Veteran families located in a 

community, as defined by HUD’s CoC, 

or a county not currently served by a 

SSVF grantee. 

5. Veteran families located in a 

community, as defined by HUD’s CoC, 

where the current level of SSVF services 

is not sufficient to meet demand of 


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literally homeless Veterans and 

currently homeless Veteran families. 

CoC and ESG Homeless Eligibility— 

Category 1: Literally Homeless—HUD 

Exchange. 

6. Veteran families located in a rural 

area. 

7. Veteran families located on Tribal 

areas. 

8. Veteran families located in a U.S. 

territory. 

B. Payments of Supportive Services 

Grant Funds: Grantees will receive 

payments electronically through the 

HHS Payment Management System. 

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 annualized 

grant award period, the grantee’s 

cumulative requests for supportive 

services grant funds may not exceed 

35% 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 

annualized grant award period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 60% 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 

annualized grant award period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 80% 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 

annualized grant award period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 100% of the total supportive 

services grant award. 

Signing Authority: 

Denis McDonough, Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs, approved and signed 

this document on December 16, 2024, 

and authorized the undersigned to sign 

and submit the document to the Office 

of the Federal Register for publication 

electronically as an official document of 

the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Luvenia Potts, 

Regulation Development Coordinator, Office 

of Regulation Policy & Management, Office 

of General Counsel, Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30662 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 


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