Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 760 CMR - HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF › Title 760 CMR 29.00 - Community Services Block Grant Program › Section 29.03 - Purpose and Designation of an Eligible Entity and Areas to Be Served

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1)
Purpose
. A CAA or
			 other eligible entity shall fulfill the purposes enumerated in § 672 of the
			 CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901, within the area which it is designated to serve, as
			 defined in 760 CMR 29.03(2), and shall assure access to its programs for all
			 eligible low income persons in its Areas to be Served.
(2)
Areas to be Served
. A
			 CAA or other eligible entity may conduct CSBG funded programs and activities only in
			 the city(ies) or town(s) included in its designated service areas which are not
			 included in another CAA or other eligible entity's designated service
			 area.
(3)
Designation of
			 Eligible Entities in Unserved Areas
.
(a) The existing CAAs in Massachusetts are
			 eligible entities which receive CSBG funding to carry out programs and activities in
			 their designated service areas. If a city or town has not been, or ceases to be
			 served by an existing CAA under the CSBG, the Department may at any time initiate a
			 process for the designation of a CAA or other eligible entity pursuant to provisions
			 of applicable federal and state law, including the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901
et seq
., and M.G.L. c. 23B § 24 and in accordance with 760 CMR
			 29.03(3).
(b) The procedure for
			 designation shall be as follows:
1. The Department
			 will notify in writing and request written applications from:
a. any private nonprofit organization that is
			 geographically located in the unserved area, that is capable of providing a broad
			 range of services designed to eliminate poverty and foster self-sufficiency, and
			 that meets the requirements of the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901
et
			 seq
.; and
b. any private
			 nonprofit eligible entity that is geographically located in an area contiguous to or
			 within reasonable proximity of the unserved area and that is already providing
			 related services in the unserved area.
2.
Requirement
. In order
			 to serve as the area's designated eligible entity, an entity described in 760 CMR
			 29.03(3)(b)1.b. shall agree to add additional members to the board of the entity to
			 ensure adequate representation:
a. in each of the
			 three required categories described in the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901
et seq
., and
			 760 CMR
			 29.06, by individuals who reside in the community
			 comprised by the unserved area; and
b.
			 in the category relating to low income individuals, by members that reside in the
			 neighborhood to be served.
3.
Special Consideration
. The designation shall be granted to
			 an organization of demonstrated effectiveness in meeting the goals and purposes of
			 the CSBG. Priority may be given to eligible entities that are providing related
			 services in the unserved area, consistent with the needs identified by a
			 community-needs assessment.
4.
No Qualified Organization in or near Area
. If no private,
			 nonprofit organization is identified or determined to be qualified under 760 CMR
			 29.03(3) to serve the unserved area as an eligible entity, an appropriate political
			 subdivision may be designated to serve as an eligible entity for the area. In order
			 to serve as the eligible entity for that area, the political subdivision shall have
			 a board or other mechanism as required in § 676B(b) of the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C.
			 § 9910, and
			 760 CMR
			 29.06.
(c) The Department will establish timeframes,
			 selection criteria and submission requirements for the applications, including but
			 not limited to descriptions and evidence of management and organizational capacity,
			 neighborhood support, local impact, and service delivery/coordination plans. If more
			 than one satisfactory application is received pursuant to a request made under 760
			 CMR 29.03(3)(b), the Department shall consider the applications and determine which
			 CAA or other eligible entity is the most capable of serving the best interests of
			 the low income population.
(d) During
			 the process the Department shall solicit comments from the chief elected official
			 and/or other local official(s) of a city or town in which it intends to designate a
			 CAA or other eligible entity, and from the Massachusetts Association for Community
			 Action, Inc.