[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 14 (Friday, January 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4310-4312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1509]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem 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 applications for assistance under the Capital 
Grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. 
This Notice contains information concerning the program, funding 
priorities, application process, and amount of funding available.
    Applicants who do not require funding for acquisition, renovation 
or new construction to create new housing for homeless veterans should 
not respond to this Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA). Per Diem Only 
funding will not be given under this notice. If your agency is in need 
of funding for operations only, your agency should apply under a future 
Grant and Per Diem; Per Diem Only Funding Notice.

DATES: An original completed and collated grant application (plus three 
completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 25, 
2009. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). 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 material 
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 VA's 
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or http://www.grants.gov/. Questions should be referred 
to the Grant and Per Diem Program at (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334. For a 
document relating to the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program, see the Final Rule published in the Federal Register on 
September 26, 2003.
    Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus three copies) and a cover letter clearly stating 
under which funding priority applicants (see funding priorities) wish 
to be considered must be submitted to the following address: VA 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 N. 46th 
Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications must be received in 
the Grant and Per Diem Field office by the application deadline. This 
includes applications submitted through Grants.gov. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Watson, VA Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-
332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces the availability of 
capital funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and 
Per Diem Program for eligible entities to: (1) Expand existing 
transitional housing projects; or (2) develop new transitional housing 
programs. Supportive service centers will not be considered in this 
NOFA. Funding applied for under the capital grant component may be used 
for: (1) Remodeling or alteration of existing buildings; (2) 
acquisition of buildings, acquisition and rehabilitation of buildings; 
(3) new construction; and (4) acquisition of vans (in connection with a 
new Grant and Per Diem grant project) for outreach to and/or 
transportation for homeless veterans. Funding applied for under this 
Notice is authorized by the ``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive 
Assistance Act of 2001,'' Public Law 107-95, Sec.  5, codified as 
amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064. For eligibility 
criteria please refer to 38 CFR part 61.
    Capital grant applicants may not receive assistance to replace 
funds provided by any State or local government to assist homeless 
persons.

    Note: Applicants considering the use of Low Income Housing Tax 
Credits (LIHTC) in conjunction with the capital grants in this NOFA 
should take into account that these tax credits are often used for 
permanent housing projects. Permanent housing is not an eligible 
activity under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. 
Other issues such as site control, leases for residents, and using 
the grant funds as a loan may be problematic to applicants even if 
transitional housing is provided and upon review and discovery may 
result in the application being denied.

    A proposal for an existing project that seeks to shift its focus by 
changing the population being served or the precise mix of services 
being offered is not eligible for consideration. No more than 25 
percent of housing and services available in projects funded through 
this grant program may be provided to clients who are not receiving 
those services as veterans.
    VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for the Homeless Providers Grant 
and Per Diem Program. The Department expects to award approximately $15 
million under the capital grant component.
    Funding available under this NOFA is being offered to help offset 
the capital expenses of existing state and local governments, Indian 
Tribal Governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations that 
are capable of creating and providing supported transitional housing 
for homeless veterans. The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, are 
considered eligible entities under the definition of ``State'' in the 
Final Rule, Sec. 61.1 Definitions.
    Note, all organizations that are conditionally selected will be 
requested to submit the Second Submission portion of the application 
package. In order to be considered eligible for funding, organizations 
must demonstrate in the Second Submission firm commitments of match for 
35% of the total project cost or the difference between the total 
project cost and what is requested from VA, whichever is greater.
    Per diem for these programs is requested in the grant application 
and may be paid at the time of grant project completion. It should be 
noted that VA per diem payment is limited to the applicant's cost of 
care per eligible veteran minus other sources of payments to the 
applicant for furnishing services to homeless veterans up to the per 
day rate VA pays for State Home

[[Page 4311]]

Domiciliary care. Awardees will be required to support their request 
for per diem payment with adequate fiscal documentation as to program 
income and expenses.
    Interested organizations should know that the vast majority of 
homeless veterans in this country suffer from mental illness or 
substance abuse disorders or are dually diagnosed with both mental 
illness and substance abuse disorders. In addition, many homeless 
veterans have serious medical problems. The recent events associated 
with the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) coupled with the Nation's 
returning OEF/OIF veterans further emphasizes the need for 
collaboration with VA medical centers, VA community-based outpatient 
clinics or other health care providers as well as with VA and other 
benefit providers as an important aspect of assuring that homeless 
veterans have access to appropriate health care services. VA considers 
this program an important part of our effort to end chronic 
homelessness among all veterans.
    It is important to be aware that VA places great emphasis on 
responsibility and accountability. VA has procedures in place to verify 
the completion of the capital grant as well as monitor services 
provided to homeless veterans and outcomes associated with the services 
provided in grant and per diem-funded programs. Applicants should be 
aware of the following:
    All awardees that are conditionally selected in response to this 
NOFA must meet the requirements of the current edition of the Life 
Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association as it relates 
to their specific facility. Applicants should note that all facilities 
are to be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler 
system unless a facility is specifically exempted under the Life Safety 
Code. Applicants should make consideration of this when submitting 
their capital grant applications. VA will conduct an inspection prior 
to awardees being able to submit request for per diem payment to ensure 
this requirement is met.
    Upon capital grant completion each program seeking per diem will 
have a liaison appointed from a nearby VA medical facility to provide 
oversight and monitor services provided to homeless veterans in the per 
diem-funded program.
    Monitoring will include at a minimum an annual review of each per 
diem program's progress toward meeting internal goals and objectives in 
helping veterans attain housing stability, adequate income support, and 
Self-Sufficiency as identified in each per diem program's original 
application. Monitoring will also include a review of the agency's 
income and expenses as they relate to this project to ensure per diem 
payment is accurate.
    Each per diem-funded program will participate in VA's national 
program monitoring and evaluation system administered by VA's Northeast 
Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). NEPEC's monitoring procedures will 
be used to determine successful accomplishment of these housing 
outcomes for each per diem-funded program.
    Authority:Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized by 
the ``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,'' Public 
Law 107-95, Sec.  5, codified as amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 
2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the final rule codified at 38 
CFR Part 61.0. The regulations can be found in their entirety in 38 
CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available under this Notice 
are subject to the requirements of those regulations.
    Allocation: Approximately $15 million is available for the capital 
grant component. Capital grant awards will be limited to transitional 
housing projects (service center programs will not be considered in 
this round). Vans must be directly connected to a new Grant and Per 
Diem Grant project and will be limited to one per project number. Per 
diem payments to capital grant recipients are subject to the 
availability of funds and recipients maintaining the program for which 
the grant was awarded.
    Funding Priorities: VA establishes the following funding priorities 
in order to: (1) Implement the provisions of Public Law 107-95 
regarding geographical dispersion and non-duplication of service; and 
(2) bolster capacity in areas that are underserved by the Grant and Per 
Diem Program. These areas may have high populations of homeless 
veterans and limited services to address homeless veterans' needs. 
These areas can include both urban and rural areas but may be 
particularly prevalent outside the high population areas.
    VA is offering to eligible applicants funding priorities for 
transitional housing and services to: (1) serve women and women with 
care of dependent children; (2) Indian Tribal Governments or non-profit 
agencies that will provide transitional housing and services on Indian 
Tribal Property and finally, VA is encouraging interested state and 
local governments and faith-based and community-based organizations to 
apply for funding under this NOFA. In this round of capital grant 
funding, VA expects to award funding to create approximately 1000 
community-based supported housing beds.
    Funding priority 1. VA is offering the opportunity for providers 
who are willing to create new projects specifically for women and women 
with care of dependent children only, which are 30 beds or less. Of 
those eligible entities in the first funding priority, that are legally 
fundable, the highest scoring applicants will be funded first until 
approximately $2 million is awarded. Applicants not funded in this 
priority will be considered in the third funding priority. Should not 
enough eligible projects be funded under the first funding priority, 
funds not expended in this priority will fall to the third funding 
priority.
    Funding priority 2. VA is offering the opportunity to Indian Tribal 
Governments or non-profit agencies that will provide transitional 
housing and services on Indian Tribal Property to apply for funding 
under this NOFA to create transitional housing and services for 
homeless veterans. Eligible entities that are Indian Tribal Governments 
or non-profit agencies willing to provide transitional housing and 
services on Indian Tribal Property will be considered in the second 
funding priority as applicable. Of those eligible entities in the 
second funding priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring 
applicants will be funded first until approximately $1 million is 
awarded. Applicants not funded in this priority will be placed in the 
third funding priority. Should not enough eligible projects be funded 
under the second funding priority, funds not expended in this priority 
will fall to the third funding priority.

    Note: Non-profit agencies who apply under this priority will be 
required to provide a letter of assurance from the Indian Tribal 
Government that if funded the provision of service will occur on 
Indian Tribal Property.

    Funding priority 3. VA is encouraging interested state and local 
governments, faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as 
eligible entities located in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States, to 
apply for funding under this NOFA to create transitional housing and 
services for all homeless veterans. Eligible entities that are state 
and local governments, Indian Tribal Governments, faith-based, and 
community-based organizations, or any territory or possession of the 
United States, will be considered in the third funding priority as 
applicable. Of those

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eligible entities that are legally fundable, the highest-ranked 
applications for which funding is available, will be conditionally 
selected for eligibility to receive a capital grant in accordance with 
their ranked order until funding is expended (approximately $12 
million).
    Methodology: VA will review all capital grant applications in 
response to this notice of funding availability as follows: VA will 
group the applicants into the funding priorities categories as 
applicable. Applicants will then be ranked within their respective 
funding category based on score and any ranking criteria set forth in 
that funding category only if the applicant scores at least 600 
cumulative points and receives points under the criteria in paragraphs 
(b), (c), (d), (e) and (i) of section 61.13.
    The highest-ranked application for which funding is available, 
within the highest funding category, will be conditionally selected in 
accordance with their ranked order until VA reaches the projected 
amount of funding for each category. If funds are still available after 
selection of those applications in the highest priority group VA will 
continue to conditionally select applicants in lower priority 
categories in accordance with the selection method set forth in the 
final rule Sec. 61.14.
    Application Requirements: Applicants must include a cover letter 
clearly stating under which funding priority they wish to be 
considered. Non-profit agencies who apply under funding priority two 
are required to provide a letter of assurance from the Indian Tribal 
Government that if funded the provision of service will occur on Indian 
Tribal Property. The grant application requirements will be specified 
in the application package. Applicants should be careful to complete 
the proper application package. Submission of the incorrect or 
incomplete application package will result in the application being 
rejected at threshold. The packages include all required forms and 
certifications. Selections will be made based on criteria described in 
the application, Final Rule, and NOFA. Applicants who are conditionally 
selected will be notified of any additional information needed to 
confirm or clarify information provided in the application. Applicants 
will then be notified of the deadline to submit such information. If an 
applicant is unable to meet any conditions for grant award within the 
specified time frame, VA reserves the right to not award funds and to 
use the funds available for other grant and per diem applicants.

    Dated: January 8, 2009.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E9-1509 Filed 1-22-09; 8:45 am]
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