Notice2021-25463
Funding Opportunity Under Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 22, 2021
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
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 Opportunity (NOFO) contains information concerning the SSVF Program, the renewal and new applicant supportive services grant application processes, and the amount of funding available. Awards made for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning October 1, 2022.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66389-66396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25463]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Funding Opportunity Under Supportive Services for Veteran
Families Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the
availability of funds for supportive services grants under the
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. This Notice of
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains information concerning the SSVF
Program, the renewal and new applicant supportive services grant
application processes, and the amount of funding available. Awards made
for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning October
1, 2022.
DATES: 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 February 7, 2022. 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 submission-related problems.
ADDRESSES:
For a Copy of the Application Package: Copies of the application
can be downloaded from the SSVF website at <a href="http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf">www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf</a>.
Questions should be referred to the SSVF Program Office by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#db88888d9d9badbaf5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="772424213137011659101801">[email protected]</span></a>. For detailed SSVF Program information and requirements,
see part 62 of Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (38 CFR part 62).
Submission of Application Package: Applicants must submit
applications electronically following instructions found at <a href="http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf">www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf</a>. Applications may not be mailed, hand carried or 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.B. and II.C. of this NOFO for maximum allowable grant
amounts.
Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain technical
assistance with the preparation of a renewal supportive services grant
application is available on the SSVF Program website at: www.va.gov/
HOMELESS/SSVF.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Kuhn, National Director,
Supportive Services for Veteran Families, (727) 273-5619, or by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d68585809096a0b7f8b1b9a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cd9e9e9b8b8dbbace3aaa2bb">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Funding Opportunity Title: Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Program.
Announcement Type: Initial.
Funding Opportunity Number: VA-SSVF-103121.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 64.033, VA
Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose: The SSVF Program's purpose is to provide supportive
services grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer
cooperatives, who will coordinate or provide supportive services to
very low-income veteran families who:
(i) Are residing in permanent housing 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 very low-income veteran
family's needs and preferences. 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 re-housing case
management and services. These core components represent the minimum
that a program must be providing to households to be considered a rapid
re-housing program, but do not provide guidance for what constitutes an
effective rapid re-housing program. Applicants should familiarize
themselves with the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Best
Practice Standards found at the following link: <a href="https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/fidelity_tool_ssvf_standards">https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/fidelity_tool_ssvf_standards</a>.
B. Funding Priorities: The principal goal for this NOFO is to
provide support to those applicants who demonstrate the greatest
capacity to end homelessness among veterans or, in communities that
have already met U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
Federal Criteria and Benchmarks, sustain the gains made in ending
homelessness among veterans. Priority will be given to grantees who can
demonstrate adoption of evidence-based practices in their application.
Under Priority 1, VA will provide funding to those existing grantees
with 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 includes existing grantees not included
in Priority 1 with annual awards, seeking to renew their grants.
Priority 3 applications will be accepted from new applicants in the
communities described in Section II.B.
[[Page 66390]]
C. Definitions: Part 62 of title 38, 38 CFR part 62, 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 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 offer transition in place when a
permanent housing voucher, such as is offered through the Department of
Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Section 8 program, is available
from any source, but access to the 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 utilized. EHA
may also be used as part of a Rapid Resolution or diversion response
that helps veteran households avoid entry into homelessness through
placements with family or friends.
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.
As part of the application, all 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 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. The CoC includes action steps to
end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness. CoC locations
and contact information can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/contacts/?params=%7B%22limit%22%3A20%2C%22sort%22%3A%22%22%2C%22order%22%3A%22%22%2C%22years%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22searchTerm%22%3A%22%22%2C%22grantees%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22state%22%3A%22%22%2C%22programs%22%3A%5B3%5D%2C%22coc%22%3Atrue%7D##granteeSearch">https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/contacts/?params=%7B%22limit%22%3A20%2C%22sort%22%3A%22%22%2C%22order%22%3A%22%22%2C%22years%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22searchTerm%22%3A%22%22%2C%22grantees%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22state%22%3A%22%22%2C%22programs%22%3A%5B3%5D%2C%22coc%22%3Atrue%7D##granteeSearch</a>.
The CoC's letter of support should note if the applicant is
providing assistance to the CoC in creating 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 should also describe the applicant's
participation in the CoC's community planning efforts. Failure for a
Priority 1 or 2 applicant to provide a letter of support from the CoC
as described, will limit the maximum award to 90% of the award made in
the previous fiscal year (as described in II.C.9). Failure for a
Priority 3 applicant to provide a letter of support from the CoC as
described will disqualify the applicant from funding consideration
unless the applicant can demonstrate that the CoC is unable to provide
such a letter for this application. 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 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;
(2) Are at risk to remain in the situation described in paragraph
(b)(1) of this section but for the grantee's assistance; and
(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 in 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.
Assistance in obtaining or retaining permanent housing is a
fundamental goal of the SSVF Program. Case management supporting
permanent housing should include tenant counseling, mediation with
landlords, and outreach to landlords.
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 the regulations 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 use a minimum of 60% of the temporary financial
assistance portion of their supportive services grant funds to serve
very low-income veteran families who qualify under 38 CFR 62.11(b).
(NOTE: Grantees may request a waiver to decrease this minimum, as
discussed in section V.B.3.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 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), and as
[[Page 66391]]
otherwise stated in 38 CFR 62.33 and 38 CFR 62.34.
G. Guidance for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds:
Grantees are expected to demonstrate adoption of evidence-based
practices most likely to lead to reductions in homelessness or, in
communities that have successfully ended homelessness among veterans as
defined by the USICH's Federal Criteria and Benchmarks, maintain gains
that have been made in ending homelessness among Veterans. 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 rapid re-housing component
of their SSVF grant in a manner consistent with the Homelessness
Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Best Practice Standards found at the
following link: <a href="https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/fidelity_tool_ssvf_standards">https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/fidelity_tool_ssvf_standards</a>.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.
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 significant 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 may also 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-term crisis intervention, grantees must
develop plans that will produce sufficient income or supports to
sustain veteran participants in permanent housing after the conclusion
of the initial SSVF intervention. Grantees must ensure the availability
of employment and vocational services either through the direct
provision of these services or their availability through formal or
informal service agreements. Agreements with 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 Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF), Social Security, the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, the Low-Income 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 (SSI/SSDI) 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 provide, or
assist participants in obtaining, legal services relevant to issues
that interfere with the participants' ability to obtain or retain
permanent housing or supportive services. (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
the veteran and family members. Grantees are required to provide health
care navigation services that aid participants in accessing these
health and mental health care services.
5. When serving participants who are residing in permanent housing,
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 target those most at-risk of
homelessness. To qualify for SSVF services, a participant who is served
under 38 CFR 62.11(a) (homeless prevention) 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 38 CFR
62.11(a), the grantee must document that the participant meets at least
one of the following conditions:
(a) Has moved because of economic reasons two or more times during
the 60 days immediately preceding the application for homelessness
prevention assistance;
(b) Is living in the home of another because of economic hardship;
(c) Has been notified in writing that their right to occupy their
current housing or living situation will be terminated within 21 days
after the date of application for assistance;
(d) Lives in a hotel or motel, and the cost of the hotel or motel
stay is not paid by charitable organizations or by Federal, State, or
local government programs for low-income individuals;
(e) Is exiting a publicly funded institution or system of care
(such as a health care facility, a mental health
[[Page 66392]]
facility, or correctional institution) without a stable housing plan;
or
(f) Otherwise lives in housing that has characteristics associated
with instability and an increased risk of homelessness, as identified
in the recipient's approved screening tool.
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
utilize 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 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.
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
<a href="http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf">www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf</a>.
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 renewal of existing supportive services grant programs.
B. Funding: The funding priorities for this NOFO are as follows.
1. Priority 1: Under Priority 1, VA will provide funding to those
grantees with 3-year CARF accreditations, 4-year COA accreditations, or
3-year JC accreditations. Proof of accreditation must be submitted with
the application no later than the application due date. Grantees
previously awarded a 3-year grant that is not scheduled to end by
September 30, 2022, cannot apply under this NOFO but are required to
submit a letter of intent (LOI) by the NOFO deadline indicating their
intention of continuing SSVF services in fiscal year (FY) 2023. All
grantees submitting a LOI must include a letter of support from the CoC
(see Section II.C.9.) and a proposed budget for FY 2023. Priority 1
grantees submitting a LOI must also submit proof of continued
accreditation.
2. Priority 2. Priority 2 includes other existing grantees seeking
to renew their annual grant awards.
Both Priority 1 and 2 applicants must apply using the renewal
application. To be eligible for renewal of a supportive services grant,
the Priority 1 and 2 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 up to 2% from the previous year's award. Any
percentage increase, if provided, will be awarded uniformly to all
grant recipients regardless of their grant award.
3. Priority 3. Under Priority 3, VA will accept applications for
new funding. Priority 3 applicants must apply using the application
materials designated for new applicants. The availability and maximum
awards are limited to those amounts specified for communities listed in
Table 1. Eligible entities can submit only 1 application nationally
under Priority 3. Funding for any Priority 3 applicant is limited to
the maximum funding available for a single CoC, though applicants can
propose to serve adjacent CoCs and include the combined maximum award
totals into a single grant. For example, an eligible entity may elect
to target CoCs CA-510 and CA-511 for its only allowable Priority 3
application as these CoCs are adjacent. As the maximum available
funding for CA-510 and CA-511 is each $1 million, the applicant can
submit a single application to serve both of these areas for up to $2
million. Priority 3 applications cannot exceed a total of $2 million
even if adjacent CoCs are combined.
Table 1--Priority 3 Areas Eligible for Funding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum award
State CoC (dollars)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA................. (CA-600) Los Angeles City & 2,000,000
County CoC.
WA................. (WA-500) Seattle/King County CoC 2,000,000
CA................. (CA-502) Oakland, Berkeley/ 2,000,000
Alameda County CoC.
CA................. (CA-501) San Francisco CoC...... 2,000,000
CA................. (CA-503) Sacramento City & 2,000,000
County CoC.
CO................. (CO-503) Metropolitan Denver CoC 2,000,000
AZ................. (AZ-502) Phoenix, Mesa/Maricopa 2,000,000
County CoC.
IL................. (IL-510) Chicago CoC............ 2,000,000
WA................. (WA-501) Washington Balance of 2,000,000
State CoC.
CA................. (CA-514) Fresno City & County/ 2,000,000
Madera County CoC.
CA................. (CA-602) Santa Ana, Anaheim/ 2,000,000
Orange County CoC.
IN................. (IN-502) Indiana Balance of 2,000,000
State CoC.
TX................. (TX-503) Austin/Travis County 2,000,000
CoC.
FL................. (FL-502) St. Petersburg, 1,000,000
Clearwater, Largo/Pinellas
County CoC.
FL................. (FL-600) Miami-Dade County CoC.. 1,000,000
FL................. (FL-601) Ft Lauderdale/Broward 1,000,000
County CoC.
IN................. (IN-503) Indianapolis CoC....... 1,000,000
CA................. (CA-603) Santa Maria/Santa 1,000,000
Barbara County CoC.
CO................. (CO-500) Colorado Balance of 1,000,000
State CoC.
[[Page 66393]]
FL................. (FL-507) Orlando/Orange, 1,000,000
Osceola, Seminole Counties CoC.
FL................. (FL-510) Jacksonville-Duval, 1,000,000
Clay Counties CoC.
CA................. (CA-606) Long Beach CoC......... 1,000,000
MT................. (MT-500) Montana Statewide CoC.. 1,000,000
OH................. (OH-507) Ohio Balance of State 1,000,000
CoC.
WA................. (WA-503) Tacoma, Lakewood/Pierce 1,000,000
County CoC.
WI................. (WI-500) Wisconsin Balance of 1,000,000
State CoC.
OK................. (OK-502) Oklahoma City CoC...... 1,000,000
CA................. (CA-511) Stockton/San Joaquin 1,000,000
County CoC.
NM................. (NM-500) Albuquerque CoC........ 1,000,000
NJ................. (NJ-503) Camden City & County/ 1,000,000
Gloucester, Cape May,
Cumberland Counties CoC.
NC................. (NC-505) Charlotte/Mecklenburg 1,000,000
County CoC.
AR................. (AR-501) Fayetteville/Northwest 1,000,000
Arkansas CoC.
CA................. (CA-510) Turlock, Modesto/ 1,000,000
Stanislaus County CoC.
NM................. (NM-501) New Mexico Balance of 1,000,000
State CoC.
CA................. (CA-604) Bakersfield/Kern County 1,000,000
CoC.
CA................. (CA-604) Marin County CoC....... 1,000,000
FL................. (FL-605) West Palm Beach/Palm 1,000,000
Beach County CoC.
OH................. (OH-503) Columbus/Franklin 1,000,000
County CoC.
PA................. (PA-509) Eastern Pennsylvania 1,000,000
CoC.
MO................. (MO-606) Missouri Balance of 750,000
State CoC.
FL................. (FL-511) Pensacola/Escambia, 750,000
Santa Rosa Counties CoC.
DE................. (DE-500) Delaware Statewide CoC. 750,000
VA................. (VA-500) Richmond/Henrico, 750,000
Chesterfield, Hanover Counties
CoC.
CA................. (CA-513) Visalia/Kings, Tulare 750,000
Counties CoC.
CA................. (CA-515) Roseville, Rocklin/ 750,000
Placer, Nevada Counties.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Allocation of Funds: Funding will be awarded under this NOFO to
existing grantees for a 1-year (Priority 2 and 3) or a 3-year period
(Priority 1) beginning October 1, 2022. The following requirements
apply to supportive services grants awarded under this NOFO:
1. In response to this NOFO, only existing grantees can apply as
Priority 1 or 2 applicants. New applicants apply under Priority 3.
2. Priority 1 and 2 renewal grant requests cannot exceed the
current award.
3. If a Priority 1 or 2 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, 2022.
4. Priority 3 applicants cannot request funding that exceeds the
amount listed in Table 1 as the Maximum Award. If an applicant proposes
to serve adjacent CoCs in a single application, the maximum award is
the lesser amount of those combined Maximum Awards listed in Table 1 or
$2 million.
5. Priority 1 and 2 applicants may request an amount less than
their current award (this will not be considered a substantial change
to the program).
6. If a grantee failed to use all of awarded funds in the previous
fiscal year (FY 2020) or had unspent funds returned to VA in FY 2021,
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.
7. If, during the course of the grant year, VA determines that
Priority 1 and 2 grantee spending is not meeting the minimum percentage
milestones below, 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, 2022) 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 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, 2023) 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 40% of 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, 2023) 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 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).
8. Applicants should fill out separate applications for each
supportive services funding request.
9. Priority 1 and 2 applicants who fail to provide a letter of
support from at least one of the CoCs they plan to serve will be
eligible for renewal funding at a level no greater than 90% of their
previous award. Priority 3 applicants must provide a letter of support
from the CoC they are requesting funding to serve to be considered for
an award. Applicants are responsible for determining who in each
serviced CoC is authorized to provide such letters of support. This
requirement applies to all applicants, including existing multi-year
grantees that are only required to submit a LOI in response to this
NOFO. In order to meet this requirement and allow the applicant to be
eligible for full funding, letters must include the following:
[[Page 66394]]
(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 instance, confirmation of applicant's
active participation in planning coordinated entry, commitment to
participating in coordinated entry, hours spent on CoC-sponsored
committee or workgroup assignments and names of said committees or
workgroups).
(b) The applicant's contribution to the CoC's coordinated entry
process capacity building efforts, detailing the specific nature of
this contribution (for instance, 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.
10. Should additional funding become available over the course of
the grant term from funds recouped under the Award Information section
of this Notice, funds that are voluntarily returned by grantees, funds
that become available due to a grant termination, or 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 first to the highest scoring grantee
in the selected area who is in compliance with their grant agreement
and has the capacity to utilize the additional funds.
D. Supportive Services Grant Award Period: Priority 2 and 3 grants
are made for a 1-year period, although selected grants may be eligible
for a 3-year award (see VI.C.6) as Priority 1 awards. All grants are
eligible to be renewed subject to the availability of funding.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants: For Priority 1 and 2, only eligible
entities that are existing grantees with grants scheduled to end by
September 30, 2022, can apply in response to this NOFO. For Priority 3,
eligible entities may apply for up to one new award nationally. These
applicants can apply to serve CoCs identified in Table 1. Applicants
can request a maximum award dependent of the CoC where they are
applying to provide SSVF services. These maximums are also listed in
Table 1.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching: None.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Obtaining an Application Package: Applications are located at
<a href="http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf">www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf</a>. Any questions regarding this process should
be referred to the SSVF Program Office via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6c3f3f3a2a2c1a0d420b031a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c09393968680b6a1eea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>. For
detailed SSVF Program information and requirements, see 38 CFR part 62.
B. Content and Form of Application: Applicants must submit
applications electronically following instructions found at <a href="http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf">www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf</a>.
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 February 7, 2022. Awards made for
supportive services grants will fund operations beginning October 1,
2022. 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: Funding will be awarded for existing
supportive services grants under this NOFO depending on funding
availability. Priority 1 and 2 applicants should fill out separate
applications for each supportive services funding request. Priority 1
and 2 applicants must use applications designated for renewal
applicants. Priority 3 applicants must submit an application designated
for new applicants. Funding will be awarded under this NOFO to existing
grantees beginning October 1, 2022.
1. Funding used for staff education and training cannot exceed 1%
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 instance, every 3 years for CARF and every 4
years for COA. Expenses related to the renewal of less than full
accreditation are not allowed.
F. Other Submission Requirements:
1. Existing applicants applying for Priority 1 or 2 grants may
apply only as renewal applicants using the application designed for
renewal grants.
2. New applicants applying for Priority 3 grants may apply only as
new applicants using the application designed for new grants.
3. 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.
4. 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 sent by facsimile.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria:
1. VA will only score applicants 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 (Priority 1 and 2) of a supportive
services grant.
3. VA will use the criteria described in 38 CFR 62.22 to score
grantees applying for a new supportive services grant (Priority 3).
B. Review and Selection Process: VA will review all supportive
services renewal grant applications in response to this NOFO according
to the following steps:
1. Score all applications that meet the threshold requirements
described in 38 CFR 62.21.
2. Rank those applications that score at least 75 cumulative points
and receive at least one 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.
3. VA will utilize the ranked scores of applications as the primary
basis for selection. However, VA will also utilize 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
[[Page 66395]]
of supportive services for very low-income veteran families
transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Consistent with
this preference, where other funds from community resources are not
readily available for temporary financial assistance, applicants are
required to spend no less than 60% of all budgeted temporary financial
assistance on participants occupying permanent housing as defined in 38
CFR 62.11. Waivers to this 60% 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 USICH certification, that a
community has ended homelessness as defined by Federal Benchmarks and
Criteria or has reached Community Solution's Functional Zero. Waivers
for the 60% 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. Waiver requests must include an
endorsement by the impacted CoC explicitly stating that a shift in
resources from rapid re-housing to prevention will not result in an
increase in homelessness.
(b) To the extent practicable, ensure that supportive services
grants are equitably distributed across geographic regions, including
rural communities 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.
4. Subject to the considerations noted in paragraph B.3 above, VA
will fund the highest-ranked applicants for which funding is available.
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 2022 with grants beginning October 1, 2022. Prior
to executing a funding agreement, VA will contact the applicants, to
inform them of the amount of proposed funding, and verify that the
applicant is still interested in 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 part 62
and this NOFO.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
As SSVF grants cannot be used to fund treatment for mental health
or substance use disorders, applicants must provide evidence that they
can provide access to such services to all program participants through
formal and informal agreements with community providers.
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 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.
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 at-risk participants are expected for very 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
results of both the standardized survey offered to all participant
households and unannounced visits to assess screening and intake
procedures (commonly known as a mystery shopper program).
6. Organizations receiving renewal awards that have had ongoing
SSVF program operation for at least 1 year (as measured from the start
of initial SSVF services until February 7, 2022) may be eligible for a
3-year award. 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, receive 3-year accreditation from 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
grant renewal subject to funding availability. (NOTE: Multi-year awards
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 2 and 3 of their renewal funding.
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, and guidelines. 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
United States
[[Page 66396]]
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (<a href="http://www.huduser.org">http://www.huduser.org</a>).
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 Category 2 and 3 (currently homeless) veteran families.
6. Veteran families located in a rural area.
7. Veteran families located on Indian Tribal Property.
B. Payments of Supportive Services Grant Funds: Grantees will
receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services 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 6% 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 this
document on November 16, 2021, 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.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-25463 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.