Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/10/10/2014-24281/funding-availability-under-supportive-services-for-veteran-families-program
Timestamp: 2017-08-23 21:41:22
Document Index: 245494459

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 62', '§\u200962', 'art 62', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', '§\u200962', '§\u200962']

Applications for supportive services grants under the SSVF Program must be received by the SSVF Program Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 5, 2014. 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, or other delivery-related problems.
79 FR 61376
61376-61382 (7 pages)
2014-24281
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:Start Printed Page 61377
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-24281 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-24281
Funding Opportunity Number: VA-SSVF-101014.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funds for supportive services grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) contains information concerning the SSVF Program, initial supportive services grant application processes, and the amount of funding available. Awards made for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning approximately March 1, 2015, through February 28, 2018.
For a Copy of the Application Package: Copies of the application can be downloaded directly from the SSVF Program Web site at: www.va.gov/​homeless/​ssvf.asp. Questions should be referred to the SSVF Program Office via phone at (877) 767-0111 (toll-free number) or via email at SSVF@va.gov. For detailed SSVF Program information and requirements, see 38 CFR Part 62.
Submission of Application Package: Two completed, collated, hard copies of the application and two compact discs (CD) containing electronic versions of the entire application are required. Each application copy must (i) be fastened with a binder clip, and (ii) contain tabs listing the major sections of and exhibits to the application. Each CD must be labeled with the applicant's name and must contain an electronic copy of the entire application. A budget template must be attached in Excel format on the CD, but all other application materials may be attached in a PDF or other format. The application copies and CDs 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. Applicants must submit two hard copies and two CDs. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). Applications must be received in the SSVF Program Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date. 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. See Section II.C. of this NOFA for maximum allowable grant amounts.
Mr. John Kuhn, Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (877) 767-0111 (this is a toll-free number).
B. Funding Priorities: The overriding goal for this NOFA is to ensure that appropriate levels of resources are provided to communities with the greatest need to end Veteran homelessness. VA will provide approximately $93 million over a 3-year period for non-renewable grants to eligible entities proposing services for one of the 28 priority Continuums of Care (CoC) listed in II.B. VA has designed this 3-year effort to provide a surge of resources in communities with the highest need. These 28 locations have been selected based on factors that include levels of Veteran homelessness and current unmet service needs.
C. Definitions: Sections 62.2 and 62.11(a) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, contain definitions of terms used in the SSVF Program. In addition to the definitions included in those sections, this NOFA includes two program areas: Emergency Housing Assistance and General Housing Stability Assistance.
Emergency Housing Assistance means the provision of up to 30 days of temporary housing that does not require the participant to sign a lease or occupancy agreement. The cost cannot exceed the reasonable community standard for such housing. Emergency housing is limited to short-term commercial residences (private residences are not eligible for such funding) not already funded to provide on-demand emergency shelter (such as emergency congregate shelters). By authorizing the limited provision of SSVF-funded emergency housing, grantees will be able to ensure that participants do not become homeless while they transition to permanent housing or otherwise be put at risk, pending placement in permanent housing. Appropriate provision of emergency housing is limited to those cases in which no space is available at a community shelter that would be appropriate for placement of a family unit and where permanent housing has been identified and secured but the participant cannot immediately be placed in that housing. Only families with children under the age of 18 may receive such assistance; individuals are not eligible for SSVF funded emergency housing placement. In the event that longer term transitional housing or emergency housing is needed without such restrictions, VA offers community-based alternatives including the Grant and Per Diem Program and the Health Care for Homeless Veterans contract residential care program, as well as a variety of VA-based residential care programs.
General Housing Stability Assistance means the provision of goods or payment of expenses not included in other sections, but directly related to supporting a participant's housing stability. This is a category that may offer a maximum of $1,500 in assistance per participant. Such assistance, when not available through existing mainstream and community resources, may include: (i) items necessary for a participant's life or safety that are provided to the participant by a grantee on a temporary basis in order to address the participant's emergency situation (limited to $500 per participant under 38 CFR 62.34); (ii) expenses associated with gaining or keeping employment, such as obtaining uniforms, tools, certifications, and licenses; (iii) expenses associated with moving into permanent housing, such as obtaining basic kitchen utensils, bedding, and other supplies; and (iv) expenses necessary for securing appropriate permanent housing, such as fees for applications, brokerage fees, or background checks.
D. 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 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 amongst strong social service providers. As part of the application, under § 62.22(e), all applicants are strongly encouraged to provide letters of support from the VA's Network Homeless Coordinator (or their designee). In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide letters of support from the CoC where they plan to deliver services that reflect the applicant's engagement in the CoC's efforts to coordinate services. CoCs may elect to provide VA with a rank order of their support in lieu of providing individual letters of support. A CoC is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the 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 (CoC locations and contact information can be found at the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Web site, http://www.hudhre.info/​index.cfm?​do=​viewCocMaps). This coordination should describe the applicant's participation in the CoC's coordinated assessment efforts (coordinated assessment refers to a common process for accessing homeless assistance services including: prevention, diversion, emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, supportive services and even permanent supportive housing). In addition, any applicant proposing to serve an Indian Tribal area is strongly encouraged to provide a letter of support from the relevant Indian Tribal Government. The aim of the provision of supportive services is to assist very low-income Veteran families residing in permanent housing to remain stably housed and to rapidly transition those not currently in permanent housing to stable housing. SSVF emphasizes the placement of homeless Veteran families who are described in regulation as (i) very low-income Veteran families who are homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 90 days, and (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. Accordingly, VA encourages eligible entities skilled in facilitating housing stability and experienced in operating rapid re-housing programs (i.e., administering HUD's Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, HUD's Emergency Solution Grant (ESG), or other comparable Federal or community resources) to apply for supportive services grants. As a crisis intervention program, 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 income supports, such as employment and mainstream Federal and community Start Printed Page 61378resources (e.g., HUD-VA Supportive Housing program, HUD Housing Choice Voucher programs, McKinney-Vento funded supportive housing programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) etc.) that can provide ongoing support as required.
Assistance in obtaining or retaining permanent housing is a fundamental goal of the SSVF Program. Grantees are expected to provide case management services in accordance with 38 CFR 62.31. Such case management should include tenant counseling, mediation with landlords and outreach to landlords.
E. Authority: Funding applied for under this NOFA is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2044. VA implements the SSVF Program by regulation in 38 CFR Part 62. Funds made available under this NOFA are subject to the requirements of the aforementioned regulations and other applicable laws and regulations.
1. Grantees may use a maximum of 10 percent of supportive services grant funds for administrative costs identified in § 62.70.
2. Grantees must use a minimum of 60 percent of the temporary financial assistance portion of their supportive services grant funds to serve 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 § 62.11(a)(2), 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 § 62.11(a)(3). (NOTE: Grantees may request a waiver to decrease this minimum, as discussed in section V.B.3.a.)
3. Grantees must use a minimum of 40 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, emergency housing assistance, transportation, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, and general housing stability assistance (which includes emergency supplies) in accordance with §§ 62.33 and 62.34. Grantees may use a maximum of 50 percent of their supportive services grant funds to provide this temporary financial assistance.
G. Guidance for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: It is VA policy to support a “Housing First” model in addressing and ending homelessness. Housing First establishes housing stability as the primary intervention in working with homeless persons. The Housing First approach is based on research that shows that a homeless individual or household's first and primary need is to obtain stable housing, and that other issues that may affect the household can and should be addressed as housing is obtained. Research supports this approach as an effective means to end homelessness. Housing is not contingent on compliance with services; instead, participants must comply with a standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully.
1. Consistent with the Housing First model supported by VA, grantees are expected to offer the following supportive services: housing counseling; assisting participants in understanding leases; securing utilities; making moving arrangements; provide representative payee services concerning rent and utilities when needed; 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; or using other Federal resources, such as the HUD's ESG, or supportive services grant funds subject to the limitations described in this NOFA and 38 CFR 62.34.
3. As per 38 CFR 62.33, grantees must assist participants obtain public benefits. Grantees must screen all participants for eligibility for a broad range of entitlements such as TANF, Social Security, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and local General Assistance programs. Grantees are expected to access the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) program either though community linkages or by training staff to deliver SOAR services. In addition, where available grantees should access information technology tools to support case managers in their efforts to link participants to benefits.
4. Grantees are encouraged to provide, or assist participants in obtaining, legal services relevant to issues that interfere with the participants' ability to obtain or retain permanent housing. (NOTE: Legal services provided may be protected from release or review by the grantee or VA under attorney-client privilege.) 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.
5. Access to mental health and addiction services are required by SSVF; however, grantees cannot fund these services directly through the SSVF grant. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate, through either formal or informal agreements, their ability to Start Printed Page 61379promote rapid access and engagement to mental health and addiction services for the Veteran and family members.
6. VA recognizes that extremely low-income Veterans, with incomes below 30 percent of the area median income, face greater barriers to permanent housing placement. In order to support grantees' efforts to serve this population, VA has proposed new program regulations that will expand temporary financial assistance that may be offered to these participants. Grantees must consider the proposed rule when developing their response to this NOFA. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2014.
8. When serving participants who are residing in permanent housing, it is required that the defining question to ask is: “Would this individual or family be homeless but for this assistance?” The grantee must use a VA approved screening tool with criteria that targets those most at-risk of homelessness. To qualify for SSVF services, a Veteran who is served under Category 1 (homeless prevention), the participants must not have sufficient resources or support networks (e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks), immediately available to prevent them from becoming homeless. To further qualify for services under Category 1, the grantee must document that the participant meets at least one of the following conditions:
10. Where other funds from community resources are not readily available, grantees may choose to utilize supportive services grants, subject to the limitations described in this NOFA and in 38 CFR 62.33 and 62.34, to provide temporary financial assistance. Such assistance may, subject to the limitations in this NOFA and 38 CFR Part 62, be paid directly to a third party on behalf of a participant for child care, transportation, family emergency housing assistance, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, security or utility deposits, moving costs and general housing stability assistance as necessary.
A. Overview: This NOFA announces the availability of funds for supportive services grants under the SSVF Program and pertains to proposals for initial supportive services grant programs. Up to $93 million will be available through this NOFA.
B. Funding: Up to $93 million will be available through this NOFA, as VA will provide funds over a 3-year period for non-renewable grants to eligible entities proposing services for one of the 28 priority CoCs listed below. Currently funded SSVF programs cannot apply for renewal funding through this NOFA. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include letters of support from the VA's Network Homeless Coordinator or local VA Medical Center Director assigned to the priority city. In addition, applicants should seek letters of support from CoCs where priority communities are located. CoCs may elect to provide VA with a rank order of their support in lieu of providing individual letters of support. Available funding for each CoC is as follows:
AZ-500 Arizona Balance of State.
CA-500 San Jose/Santa Clara City and County.
CA-501 San Francisco.
CA-502 Oakland/Alameda County.
CA-504 Santa Rosa/Petaluma/Sonoma County.
CA-508 Watsonville/Santa Cruz City and County.
CA-600 Los Angeles City and County.
CA-601 San Diego City and County.
CA-602 Santa Ana/Anaheim/Orange County.
DC-500 District of Columbia.
FL-508 Gainesville/Alachua, Putnam Counties.
FL-519 Pasco County.
GA-500 Atlanta.
GA-501 Georgia Balance of State.
IL-510 Chicago.
LA-503 New Orleans/Jefferson Parish.
MD-501 Baltimore City.
MT-500 Montana Statewide.
NC-501 Asheville/Buncombe County.
NV-500 Las Vegas/Clark County.
OR-502 Medford/Ashland/Jackson County CoC.
OR-505 Oregon Balance of State.
SC-502 Columbia/Midlands.
TX-500 San Antonio/Bexar County.
TX-600 Dallas City & County/Irving.
TX-607 Texas Balance of State.
TX-700 City of Houston/Harris County.
WA-501 Washington Balance of State.
Start Printed Page 61380
C. Allocation of Funds: Funding will be awarded under this NOFA to grantees for a non-renewable 3-year period beginning approximately March 1, 2015. The following requirements apply to supportive services grants awarded under this NOFA:
1. Each grant cannot exceed $2 million per year ($6 million total).
2. In response to this NOFA, applicants cannot submit more than one grant for each identified service area.
3. Applicants should fill out separate applications for each supportive services funding request.
D. Supportive Services Grant Award Period: All supportive services grants will be for a 3-year, non-renewable period.
A. Eligible Applicants: In order to be eligible, an applicant must qualify as a private non-profit organization (Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status is required) or a consumer cooperative as has the meaning given such term in Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q). In addition, tribally designated housing entities (as defined in Section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4104)) are eligible.
A. Address To Request Application Package: Download directly from the SSVF Program Web site at www.va.gov/​homeless/​ssvf.asp or send a written request for an application to SSVF Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Any questions regarding this process should be referred to the SSVF Program Office via phone at (877) 767-0111 (toll-free number) or via email at SSVF@va.gov. For detailed SSVF Program information and requirements, see 38 CFR Part 62.
B. Content and Form of Application: Two completed collated, hard copies of the application and two compact discs (CD) containing electronic versions of the entire application are required. Each application copy must (i) be fastened with a binder clip, and (ii) contain tabs listing the major sections of and exhibits to the application. Each CD must be labeled with the applicant's name and must contain an electronic copy of the entire application. A budget template must be attached in Excel format on the CD, but all other application materials may be attached in a PDF or other format.
C. Submission Dates and Times: Applications for supportive services grants under the SSVF Program must be received by the SSVF Program Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 5, 2014. Awards made for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning approximately March 1, 2015, thorough February 28, 2018. 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. Additionally, 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, or other delivery-related problems.
E. Funding Restrictions: Approximately $93 million may be awarded depending on funding availability and subject to available appropriations for initial supportive services grants to be funded under this NOFA. Applicants should fill out separate applications for each supportive services funding request. Funding will be awarded under this NOFA to grantees for a non-renewable 3-year period beginning approximately March 1, 2015.
1. Applicants may apply only as new applicants using the application designed for new grants.
2. Additional supportive services grant application requirements are specified in the initial 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 NOFA. 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. The application copies and CDs must be submitted to the following address: SSVF Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Applicants must submit two hard copies and two CDs. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX).
(a) The application is filed within the time period established in the NOFA, and any additional information or documentation requested by VA under § 62.20(c) is provided within the time frame established by VA;
2. VA will use the following criteria to score applicants who are applying for a new supportive services grant:
(a) VA will award up to 35 points based on the background, qualifications, experience, and past performance (with particular focus on housing placement and retention rates for those applicants serving homeless persons) of the applicant, and any subcontractors identified by the applicant in the supportive services grant application. VA will consider previous work under other SSVF grant awards when scoring this section.
3. VA will use the following process to select applicants to receive supportive services grants: VA will score all applicants that meet the threshold requirements set forth in § 62.21 using the scoring criteria set forth in § 62.22.Start Printed Page 61381
B. Review and Selection Process: VA will review all initial supportive services grant applications in response to this NOFA according to the following steps:
2. Rank those applications who score at least 70 cumulative points and receive at least one point under each of the categories identified for new applicants in § 62.22, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). The applications will be ranked in order from highest to lowest scores.
3. Utilize the ranked scores of applications as the primary basis for selection. However, in accordance with § 62.23(d), VA will utilize the following considerations to select applicants for funding:
(a) Preference 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 spend no less than 60 percent of all budgeted temporary financial assistance on homeless participants defined in § 62.11(a)(2) and (a)(3). Waivers to this 60 percent requirement may be requested when grantees can demonstrate significant local progress towards eliminating homelessness in the target service area. Waiver requests must include data from authoritative sources such as HUD's Annual Homeless Assessment Report, annual Point-In-Time Counts and evidence of decreased demand for emergency shelter and transitional housing. Waivers for the 60 percent requirement may also be requested for services provided to rural Indian tribal areas and other rural areas where shelter capacity is insufficient to meet local need.
A. Award Notices: Although subject to change, the SSVF Program Office expects to announce grant recipients for all applicants in the second quarter of fiscal year 2015 with grants beginning March 1, 2015. Prior to executing a funding agreement, VA will contact the applicants and make known the amount of proposed funding and verify that the applicant would still like the 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 38 CFR 62 and other applicable provisions of this NOFA.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: It is VA's policy to support a “Housing First” model in addressing and ending homelessness. Housing First establishes housing stability as the primary intervention in working with homeless persons. The Housing First approach is based on research that shows that a homeless individual or household's first and primary need is to obtain stable housing, and that other issues that may affect the household can and should be addressed as housing is obtained. Housing is not contingent on compliance with services; instead, participants must comply with a standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully. Research supports this approach as an effective means to end homelessness.
3. VA shall 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 concept, as described in the grantee's application. All grantees are subject to audits conducted by VA's Financial Services Center.
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. In all cases there should be a minimum of 30 days between administration of the two surveys. In cases when a brief SSVF intervention results in the first survey being administered 30 days after exit, only one survey shall be provided.
5. Grantees will be assessed based on their ability to meet critical performance measures. In addition to meeting program requirements defined by the regulations and NOFA, grantees will be assessed on their ability to place participants into housing and the housing retention rates of participants served. Higher placement for homeless Start Printed Page 61382participants and higher housing retention rates for at-risk participants are expected for very-low income Veteran families when compared to extremely low-income Veteran families with incomes below 30 percent of the area median income.
John Kuhn, Supportive SSVF Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (877) 767-0111 (this is a toll-free number); SSVF@va.gov.
4. Veteran families located in a community, as defined by HUD's CoC, not currently served by a SSVF grantee.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document 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. Jose D. Riojas, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on October 3, 2014, for publication.
[FR Doc. 2014-24281 Filed 10-9-14; 8:45 am]