Implementation of the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program; Technical Correction, 87948-87949 [2016-29211]

Download as PDF 87948 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Notices justification for travel, all costs associated with the travel, name and contract number for the vendor and signature of the requesting vendor. The travel-related submission policy for the TSA program office using the form will determine whether the person completing and submitting the form is an individual from the vendor’s administrative staff or the traveler. The completed form is submitted to the contractor via email or other electronic format and does not require password protection. The data will be collected, as necessary, when travel-related expenses under a contract meet the stipulated requirements for reimbursable-travel. The total annual number of respondents is estimated to be 450 and the annual burden hours is estimated to be 112.5 hours per year. HUD–VASH). Today’s Federal Register notice makes technical corrections to the October 21, 2015, notice to clarify the program’s intent and to address various issues that have risen during the implementation of the program. DATES: Effective Date: December 6, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi J. Frechette, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Native American Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 4126, Washington, DC, 20410, telephone number (202) 402–7914. (This is not a toll-free number.) Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may access this number via TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at 1–800– 877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Use of Results I. Background On October 21, 2015 (80 FR 63822), HUD published in the Federal Register a notice that set forth the policies and procedures for the administration of a supportive housing and rental demonstration called the Tribal HUD– VASH. As described in the October 21, 2015, notice, HUD made $4 million in grant funding available to Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) to fund this rental assistance and associated administrative fees. Under Tribal HUD–VASH, Indian tribes and TDHEs participating must partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide healthcare assistance to eligible Native American veterans. On March, 2, 2016 at 81 FR 10880, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register that announced the availability of additional funding for Tribal HUD– VASH and the tribes/TDHEs selected for the program. In total, 26 tribes/TDHEs were awarded $5.9 million in funding. The purpose of this notice is to make technical corrections to the October 21, 2015, Federal Register notice detailing the Implementation of the Tribal HUD– VA Supportive Housing Program to clarify the program’s intent and to address issues that have risen during the implementation of the program. TSA will use these results as a basis for authorizing travel before departure and as a means to track expenditures for contractor-reimbursable travel. Reviewing the information collected will ensure that travel remains within scope of the contract and that any costs incurred are in compliance with the FTR. By continuing to track the expenditures annually and by contract, TSA can improve budgeting for travel and have a more informed set of requirements for future contracts. Failure to collect this information could lead to unauthorized expenditures by the contractor and/or incorrect budget request submissions. Dated: November 30, 2016. Christina Walsh, TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology. [FR Doc. 2016–29146 Filed 12–5–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–05–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR 5889–N–03] Implementation of the Tribal HUD–VA Supportive Housing Program; Technical Correction Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, HUD. ACTION: Notice, technical correction. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: On October 21, 2015, HUD published in the Federal Register a notice that set forth the policies and procedures for the administration of a supportive housing and rental demonstration called the Tribal HUD– VA Supportive Housing program (Tribal SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:39 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 II. Technical Corrections A. Section II. Definitions A review of this section has caused HUD to add a definition of ‘‘privatelyowned housing.’’ HUD is adding this definition to clarify the difference between privately-owned housing and tribally-owned housing since it is possible for a housing unit owned by the tribe to be leased by a Tribal HUD– VASH Veteran participant. Accordingly, on page 63823 under section II, PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 captioned ‘‘Definitions,’’ HUD corrects the October 21, 2015, notice by adding alphabetically the definition of ‘‘privately-owned housing to read as follows: Privately-owned housing—Privatelyowned housing is any unit not directly owned by the Tribal HUD–VASH grantee. Accordingly, in situations where the TDHE is the Tribal HUD– VASH grantee, but the unit is owned by another tribal organization (such as the tribe), the unit would be considered privately-owned for purposes of this program. B. Section VI. Subsection B. (Native American Veteran Eligibility) 1. HUD’s review of Section VI.B. of the October 21, 2015, notice revealed a lack of clarity in determining income eligibility for program participants. Accordingly, on page 63826 under section VI.B.4., HUD corrects the October 21, 2015, notice by replacing the second sentence of paragraph 4.b. to read as follows: ‘‘To be eligible, a Veteran household’s annual income must be no more than 80 percent of the greater of the median income for the Indian area, or the median income for the United States as prescribed by Section 4(15) of NAHASDA.’’ 2. Additionally, HUD is providing a new section under item 4.c. to provide tribes/TDHE’s with information about the exclusion of certain Veteran’s benefits from income calculations to read as follows. Accordingly, on page 63826 under section VI.B.4.c, HUD corrects the October 21, 2015, notice by adding new paragraph to read as follows: ‘‘Annual income is used to determine program eligibility under NAHASDA. Per PIH Notice 2011–15, Veteran compensation for service-connected disability or death under title 38 U.S.C. chapter 11 and dependency and indemnity compensation for serviceconnected deaths under title 38 U.S.C. chapter 13 are excluded from income. Refer to NAHASDA Program Guidance 2013–05 for more information on calculating income.’’ C. Section VI. Subsection H. (Rent) HUD has determined it needs to revise section VI.H. to establish guidelines determining unit bedroom size for the program and clarify how to determine the amount of rental assistance when, the bedroom sizes of the available housing stock exceed the Veteran family’s need for bedrooms. Accordingly, on page 63827 under section VI.H., HUD corrects the October 21, 2015, notice by redesignating E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Notices paragraph H. to be H.1. and by adding paragraph H.2. to read as follows: ‘‘2. Bedroom size must be determined based on the number of family members living in the household, not on the number of bedrooms in the unit to be rented. Guidelines for determining unit size are one bedroom for each two persons within the household, except: a. Persons of the opposite sex (other than spouses, and children under age 5) are not required to share a bedroom; b. Persons of different generations are not required to share a bedroom; c. Live-in aides must be allocated a separate bedroom. No additional bedrooms will be provided for the livein aide’s family; and d. Single person families must be allocated zero or one bedroom. Therefore, in situations where the available housing has more bedrooms than necessary for the family size and composition, the rental assistance payment must be limited to the number of bedrooms based on the guidelines listed above. If a grantee chooses to ‘‘over house’’ a Veteran family by placing the family in a larger unit than the family requires under the above guidelines, the maximum amount of Tribal HUD–VASH funds that can be used to house the Veteran family is the rent for a unit sized in accordance with the guidelines, and in accordance with Section VI., subsection H of this notice. Any additional rental costs due to over housing cannot be funded with Tribal HUD–VASH or regular Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funds, but can be funded by other resources. In addition, Tribes/TDHEs may want to consider shared housing arrangements in situations where appropriate-sized housing is limited, but where individual Veterans could have a separate bedroom and share common areas.’’ mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES D. Section VI. Subsection L (Affordability Periods and Binding Commitments) HUD has determined that this subsection is too restrictive when project-based housing is being used to house eligible homeless Native American Veterans. As a result, HUD is removing this requirement and deleting Section VI.L of the October 21, 2015, Notice. Dated: November 28, 2016. ´ Lourdes Castro Ramırez, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. [FR Doc. 2016–29211 Filed 12–5–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:39 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 24 CFR Chapter V [Docket No. FR–5976–C–04] Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016: Initial Guidance; Correction AGENCY: Office of General Counsel, HUD. Initial implementation guidance; correction. ACTION: On October 24, 2016, HUD published implementation guidance for the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act. In that document, HUD inadvertently published the incorrect implementation information for changes regarding the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP). This notice corrects that information. SUMMARY: Effective Date: The effective date for the implementation guidance of October 24, 2016 is unchanged. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: With respect to this supplementary document, contact Ariel Pereira, Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 10238, Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202–708–1793 (this is not a tollfree number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: I. Introduction On October 24, 2016, HUD published a document advising the public on HUD’s implementation plans for the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) (Pub. L. 114–201). That document inadvertently contained inaccurate implementation information for changes relating to SHOP. This correction replaces that inaccurate information with the corrected information. II. Correction In document FR–5897–N–01, published October 24, 2016 (81 FR 73030), make the following correction: On page 73032, in the first column, replace the implementation action for section 502 with the following paragraph: Implementation action: This provision was effective upon enactment of HOTMA. The Fiscal Year 2016 SHOP PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 87949 Notice of Funding Availability states that due to this provision, all applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to use ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances and products. Applicants are also strongly encouraged, but not required, to meet the standard for ENERGY STAR Certified New Homes (single-family homes and low-rise multifamily properties up to three stories), or for ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise (four or more stories). Dated: December 1, 2016. Ariel Pereira, Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations. [FR Doc. 2016–29208 Filed 12–5–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5985–N–01] HUD Program Evaluation Policy— Policy Statement Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This policy statement of HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research articulates the core principles and practices of the office’s evaluation and research activities. This policy reconfirms the Department’s commitment to conducting rigorous, relevant evaluations and to using evidence from evaluations to inform policy and practice. DATES: December 6, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark D. Shroder, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring, Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5922. The listed telephone number is not a toll-free number. Persons with hearing- or speech-impairments may access this number through TTY by calling Federal Relay Service at 1–800– 877–8339 (this is a toll-free number). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Background The mission of HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is to inform HUD policy development and implementation to improve life in American communities through conducting, supporting, and sharing research, surveys, demonstrations, E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87948-87949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29211]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR 5889-N-03]


Implementation of the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program; 
Technical Correction

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice, technical correction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On October 21, 2015, HUD published in the Federal Register a 
notice that set forth the policies and procedures for the 
administration of a supportive housing and rental demonstration called 
the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing program (Tribal HUD-VASH). Today's 
Federal Register notice makes technical corrections to the October 21, 
2015, notice to clarify the program's intent and to address various 
issues that have risen during the implementation of the program.

DATES: Effective Date: December 6, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi J. Frechette, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Native American Programs, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Room 4126, Washington, DC, 20410, telephone number (202) 
402-7914. (This is not a toll-free number.) Hearing- or speech-impaired 
individuals may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free 
Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On October 21, 2015 (80 FR 63822), HUD published in the Federal 
Register a notice that set forth the policies and procedures for the 
administration of a supportive housing and rental demonstration called 
the Tribal HUD-VASH. As described in the October 21, 2015, notice, HUD 
made $4 million in grant funding available to Indian tribes and 
tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) to fund this rental 
assistance and associated administrative fees. Under Tribal HUD-VASH, 
Indian tribes and TDHEs participating must partner with the Department 
of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide healthcare assistance to eligible 
Native American veterans. On March, 2, 2016 at 81 FR 10880, HUD 
published a notice in the Federal Register that announced the 
availability of additional funding for Tribal HUD-VASH and the tribes/
TDHEs selected for the program. In total, 26 tribes/TDHEs were awarded 
$5.9 million in funding.
    The purpose of this notice is to make technical corrections to the 
October 21, 2015, Federal Register notice detailing the Implementation 
of the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program to clarify the 
program's intent and to address issues that have risen during the 
implementation of the program.

II. Technical Corrections

A. Section II. Definitions

    A review of this section has caused HUD to add a definition of 
``privately-owned housing.'' HUD is adding this definition to clarify 
the difference between privately-owned housing and tribally-owned 
housing since it is possible for a housing unit owned by the tribe to 
be leased by a Tribal HUD-VASH Veteran participant. Accordingly, on 
page 63823 under section II, captioned ``Definitions,'' HUD corrects 
the October 21, 2015, notice by adding alphabetically the definition of 
``privately-owned housing to read as follows:
    Privately-owned housing--Privately-owned housing is any unit not 
directly owned by the Tribal HUD-VASH grantee. Accordingly, in 
situations where the TDHE is the Tribal HUD-VASH grantee, but the unit 
is owned by another tribal organization (such as the tribe), the unit 
would be considered privately-owned for purposes of this program.

B. Section VI. Subsection B. (Native American Veteran Eligibility)

    1. HUD's review of Section VI.B. of the October 21, 2015, notice 
revealed a lack of clarity in determining income eligibility for 
program participants. Accordingly, on page 63826 under section VI.B.4., 
HUD corrects the October 21, 2015, notice by replacing the second 
sentence of paragraph 4.b. to read as follows:
    ``To be eligible, a Veteran household's annual income must be no 
more than 80 percent of the greater of the median income for the Indian 
area, or the median income for the United States as prescribed by 
Section 4(15) of NAHASDA.''
    2. Additionally, HUD is providing a new section under item 4.c. to 
provide tribes/TDHE's with information about the exclusion of certain 
Veteran's benefits from income calculations to read as follows. 
Accordingly, on page 63826 under section VI.B.4.c, HUD corrects the 
October 21, 2015, notice by adding new paragraph to read as follows:
    ``Annual income is used to determine program eligibility under 
NAHASDA. Per PIH Notice 2011-15, Veteran compensation for service-
connected disability or death under title 38 U.S.C. chapter 11 and 
dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths 
under title 38 U.S.C. chapter 13 are excluded from income. Refer to 
NAHASDA Program Guidance 2013-05 for more information on calculating 
income.''

C. Section VI. Subsection H. (Rent)

    HUD has determined it needs to revise section VI.H. to establish 
guidelines determining unit bedroom size for the program and clarify 
how to determine the amount of rental assistance when, the bedroom 
sizes of the available housing stock exceed the Veteran family's need 
for bedrooms. Accordingly, on page 63827 under section VI.H., HUD 
corrects the October 21, 2015, notice by redesignating

[[Page 87949]]

paragraph H. to be H.1. and by adding paragraph H.2. to read as 
follows:
    ``2. Bedroom size must be determined based on the number of family 
members living in the household, not on the number of bedrooms in the 
unit to be rented. Guidelines for determining unit size are one bedroom 
for each two persons within the household, except:
    a. Persons of the opposite sex (other than spouses, and children 
under age 5) are not required to share a bedroom;
    b. Persons of different generations are not required to share a 
bedroom;
    c. Live-in aides must be allocated a separate bedroom. No 
additional bedrooms will be provided for the live-in aide's family; and
    d. Single person families must be allocated zero or one bedroom.

Therefore, in situations where the available housing has more bedrooms 
than necessary for the family size and composition, the rental 
assistance payment must be limited to the number of bedrooms based on 
the guidelines listed above. If a grantee chooses to ``over house'' a 
Veteran family by placing the family in a larger unit than the family 
requires under the above guidelines, the maximum amount of Tribal HUD-
VASH funds that can be used to house the Veteran family is the rent for 
a unit sized in accordance with the guidelines, and in accordance with 
Section VI., subsection H of this notice. Any additional rental costs 
due to over housing cannot be funded with Tribal HUD-VASH or regular 
Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funds, but can be funded by other 
resources. In addition, Tribes/TDHEs may want to consider shared 
housing arrangements in situations where appropriate-sized housing is 
limited, but where individual Veterans could have a separate bedroom 
and share common areas.''

D. Section VI. Subsection L (Affordability Periods and Binding 
Commitments)

    HUD has determined that this subsection is too restrictive when 
project-based housing is being used to house eligible homeless Native 
American Veterans. As a result, HUD is removing this requirement and 
deleting Section VI.L of the October 21, 2015, Notice.

    Dated: November 28, 2016.
Lourdes Castro Ram[iacute]rez,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2016-29211 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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