Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, 3970-3972 [2010-1297]
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jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
3970
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2010 / Notices
applications for which funding is
available, will be conditionally selected
for eligibility to receive a capital grant
in accordance with their ranked order
until funding is expended
(approximately $19 million).
Methodology: VA will review all
capital grant applications in response to
this Notice of funding availability as
follows: VA will group the applicants
into the funding priority categories as
applicable. Applicants will then be
ranked within their respective funding
category based on score and any ranking
criteria set forth in that funding category
only if the applicant scores at least 600
cumulative points, and receive points
under the criteria in paragraphs (b), (c),
(d), (e) and (i) of § 61.13.
The highest-ranked application for
which funding is available, within the
highest funding category, will be
conditionally selected in accordance
with their ranked order until VA
reaches the projected amount of funding
for each category. If funds are still
available after selection of those
applications in the highest priority
group, VA will continue to
conditionally select applicants in lower
priority categories in accordance with
the selection method set forth in the
Final Rule § 61.14.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must include a cover letter
clearly stating under which funding
priority they wish to be considered.
Non-profit agencies who apply under
funding priority two are required to
provide a letter of assurance from the
Indian Tribal Government stating that if
funded the provision of service will
occur on Indian Tribal Property. The
grant application requirements will be
specified in the application package.
Applicants should be careful to
complete the proper application
package. Submission of the incorrect or
incomplete application package will
result in the application being rejected
at threshold. The packages include all
required forms and certifications.
Selections will be made based on
criteria described in the application,
Final Rule, and NOFA. Applicants who
are conditionally selected will be
notified of any additional information
needed to confirm or clarify information
provided in the application. Applicants
will then be notified of the deadline to
submit such information. If an applicant
is unable to meet any conditions for
grant award within the specified time
frame, VA reserves the right to not
award funds and to use the funds
available for other grant and per diem
applicants.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
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Jkt 220001
Dated: January 11, 2010.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010–1296 Filed 1–22–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Fund Availability Under the VA
Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Program
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is announcing the
availability of funds for applications for
assistance under the ‘‘Per Diem-Only’’
(PDO) component of VA’s Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.
This Notice contains information
concerning the program, funding
priorities, application process, and
amount of funding available.
DATES: An original completed and
collated grant application (plus three
completed collated copies) for
assistance under the VA’s Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program
must be received in the Grant and Per
Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern
Time on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.
Applications may not be sent by
facsimile (FAX). In the interest of
fairness to all competing applicants, this
deadline is firm as to date and hour,
and VA will treat as ineligible for
consideration any application that is
received after the deadline. Applicants
should take this practice into account
and make early submission of their
material to avoid the risk of loss of
eligibility due to unanticipated delays
or other delivery-related problems.
For a Copy of the Application
Package: Download directly from VA’s
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page
at: https://www.va.gov/homeless/ or
https://www.grants.gov/. Questions
should be referred to the Grant and Per
Diem Program at (toll-free) 1–877–332–
0334. For information relating to the VA
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem
Program, see the Final Rule published
in the Federal Register on September
26, 2003.
Submission of Application: An
original completed and collated grant
application (plus three copies) and a
cover letter clearly stating under which
funding priority applicants (see funding
priorities) wish to be considered must
be submitted to the following address:
VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Field Office, 10770 N. 46th Street,
Suite C–200, Tampa, FL 33617.
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Applications must be received in the
Grant and Per Diem Field office by the
application deadline. This includes
applications submitted through
Grants.gov. Applications must arrive as
a complete package. Materials arriving
separately will not be included in the
application package for consideration
and may result in the application being
rejected or not funded.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Chelsea Watson, VA Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program,
Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770
N. 46th Street, Suite C–200, Tampa, FL
33617; (toll-free) 1–877–332–0334.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
Notice announces the availability of
funds for assistance under VA’s
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem
Program for eligible programs that have
not previously applied for or received
per diem in connection with a grant (see
38 CFR 61.1 through 61.82). Funding
applied for under this Notice is
authorized by Public Law 109–461, Sec.
703, known as the Veterans Benefit,
Health Care and Information
Technology Act of 2006, and by the
‘‘Homeless Veterans Comprehensive
Assistance Act of 2001,’’ Public Law
107–95, § 5, codified as amended at 38
U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064,
and may be used for aid for supportive
housing. Service centers will not be
funded in this NOFA. Funding will be
in the form of per diem payments issued
to eligible entities from the date of the
award and will continue subject to
availability of funds and the recipients’
compliance with 38 CFR 61.1 through
61.82. For eligibility criteria, please
refer to Final Rule published in the
Federal Register on September 26, 2003,
38 CFR 61.30, 61.31, and 61.32.
VA expects that it will take no longer
than 90 days from the date of award for
projects to be inspected and become
operational. Failure to meet the 90-day
milestone may result in the per diem
award being terminated.
Capital grant recipients who received
capital grant funding under VA’s
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem
Program in years 1994 through 2009 for
acquisition, renovation or new
construction should not respond to this
NOFA. Per diem payments for those
portions of their programs that were
created with capital grant funds is
requested in the capital grant
application and paid at the time of the
capital grant project completion and
inspection.
Previous PDO recipients that renewed
their PDO grants in 2005, 2007, or 2008
need not reapply to continue these
projects.
E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2010 / Notices
VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for
the Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Program as a part of the effort to
end chronic homelessness among our
Nation’s veterans. The Department
expects to create approximately 1,200
beds under this NOFA.
Funding available under this NOFA is
being offered to help offset the operating
expenses of existing State and local
governments, Indian Tribal
Governments, faith-based, and
community-based organizations that are
capable of providing supported housing
and supportive services for homeless
veterans. The District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any
territory or possession of the United
States, may be considered eligible
entities under the definition of ‘‘State’’ in
the 38 CFR 61.1 Definitions. It should be
noted that VA payment is limited to the
applicant’s cost of care per eligible
veteran minus other sources of
payments to the applicant for furnishing
services to homeless veterans up to the
per-day rate VA pays for State Home
Domiciliary care. Awardees will be
required to support their request for per
diem payment with adequate fiscal
documentation as to program income
and expenses.
Interested organizations should know
that the vast majority of homeless
veterans in this country suffer from
mental illness or substance abuse
disorders or are dually diagnosed with
both mental illness and substance abuse
disorders. In addition, many homeless
veterans have serious medical problems.
The recent events associated the
Nation’s returning Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OEF/OIF) veterans further emphasizes
the need for collaboration with VA
medical centers, VA community-based
outpatient clinics or other health care
providers as well as with VA and other
benefit providers as an important aspect
of ensuring that homeless veterans have
access to appropriate health care
services. VA considers this program an
important part of our effort to end
chronic homelessness among all
veterans.
It is important to be aware that VA
places great emphasis on responsibility
and accountability. VA has procedures
in place to monitor services provided to
homeless veterans and outcomes
associated with the services provided in
grant and per diem-funded programs.
VA is also implementing new
procedures to further this effort.
Applicants should be aware of the
following:
All awardees that are conditionally
selected in response to this NOFA must
meet the Life Safety Code of the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
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Jkt 220001
National Fire and Protection
Association as it relates to their specific
facility. Applicants should note that all
facilities are to be equipped with
sprinklers unless they are specifically
exempted under the Life Safety Code
and make consideration of this when
submitting their grant applications as no
additional funds will be made available
for capital improvements under this per
diem-only NOFA. VA will conduct an
inspection prior to awardees being able
to submit request for payment to ensure
this requirement is met.
Each per diem-funded program will
have a liaison appointed from a nearby
VA medical facility to provide oversight
and monitor services provided to
homeless veterans in the per diemfunded program.
Monitoring will include at least an
annual review of each per diem
program’s progress toward meeting
internal goals and objectives in helping
veterans attain housing stability,
adequate income support, and selfsufficiency as identified in each per
diem program’s original application.
Monitoring will also include a review of
the agency’s income and expenses as
they relate to this project to ensure per
diem payment is accurate.
Each per diem-funded program will
participate in VA’s national program
monitoring and evaluation system
administered by VA’s Northeast
Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). It
is the intention of VA to develop
specific performance targets with
respect to housing for homeless
veterans. NEPEC’s monitoring
procedures will be used to determine
successful accomplishment of these
housing outcomes for each per diemfunded program.
Authority: Funding applied for under this
Notice is authorized by Public Law 109–461,
Sec. 703, known as the Veterans Benefit,
Health Care and Information Technology Act
of 2006 and by the Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,
Public Law 107–95, § 5, codified as amended
at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064.
The program is implemented by the final rule
codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. The regulations
can be found in their entirety in 38 CFR, Sec.
61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available
under this Notice are subject to the
requirements of those regulations.
Allocation: Approximately $15
million annually is available for the per
diem-only award component of this
program. This funding subject to the
availability of funds and will be
available so long as recipients meet the
requirements of 38 CFR 61.0 through
61.82.
Funding Priorities: VA establishes the
following funding priorities in order to:
PO 00000
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3971
(1) Implement the provisions of Public
Law 107–95 regarding geographical
dispersion and non-duplication of
service; and (2) bolster capacity in areas
that are underserved by the Grant and
Per Diem Program. These areas may
have high populations of homeless
veterans and limited services to address
homeless veteran’s needs. These areas
can include both urban and rural areas
but may be particularly prevalent
outside the high population areas.
VA is offering eligible applicants
funding priorities for transitional
housing and services to: (1) Serve
women and women with care of
dependent children; (2) Indian Tribal
Governments or non-profit agencies that
will provide transitional housing and
services on Indian Tribal Property. VA
is encouraging interested State and local
governments, faith-based and
community-based organizations to
apply for funding under this NOFA.
In this round of per diem-only grant
funding, VA expects to award eligibility
for funding to create approximately
1,200 per diem-only community-based
supported housing beds.
Funding priority 1. VA is offering the
opportunity for providers who are
willing to create new projects
specifically for women and women with
care of dependent children only, which
are 30 beds or less. Of those eligible
entities in the first funding priority, that
are legally fundable, the highest scoring
applicants will be funded first until
approximately 200 beds are awarded.
Applicants not funded in this priority
will be considered in the third funding
priority. Should not enough eligible
projects be funded under the first
funding priority, beds not awarded in
this priority will fall to the third
funding priority.
Funding priority 2. VA is offering the
opportunity to Indian Tribal
Governments or non-profit agencies that
will provide transitional housing and
services on Indian Tribal Property to
apply for funding under this NOFA to
create transitional housing and services
for homeless veterans. Eligible entities
such as Indian Tribal Governments and
non-profit agencies willing to provide
transitional housing and services on
Indian Tribal Property will be
considered in the second funding
priority as applicable. Of those eligible
entities in the second funding priority
that are legally fundable; the highest
scoring applicants will be funded first
until approximately 100 beds are
awarded. Applicants not funded in this
priority will be placed in the third
funding priority. Should not enough
eligible projects be funded under the
second funding priority, beds not
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2010 / Notices
expended in this priority will fall to the
third funding priority. Note: Non-profit
agencies who apply under this priority
will be required to provide a letter of
assurance from the Indian Tribal
Government that if funded, the
provision of service will occur on
Indian Tribal Property.
Funding priority 3. VA is encouraging
interested State and local governments,
non-profit organizations and State and
local governments that have been
selected to utilize buildings on VA
Medical Center grounds under the
Secretary’s Enhanced Use Lease
Program initiative for housing homeless
veterans, faith-based, and communitybased organizations, as well as eligible
entities located in the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, or any territory or possession of
the United States, to apply for funding
under this NOFA to create transitional
housing and services for all homeless
veterans. Eligible entities that are State
and local governments, Indian Tribal
Governments, Enhanced Use Lease
organizations, faith-based, and
community-based organizations, or any
territory or possession of the United
States, will be considered in the third
funding priority as applicable. Of those
eligible entities that are legally
fundable, the highest-ranked
applications for which funding is
available, will be conditionally selected
for eligibility to receive a per diem-only
award in accordance with their ranked
order until funding is expended
(approximately 900 beds).
Methodology: VA will review all noncapital grant recipients in response to
this notice of funding availability. VA
will then group the applicants into the
funding priorities categories. Applicants
will then be ranked within their
respective funding category based on
score and any ranking criteria set forth
in that funding category only if the
applicant scores at least 500 cumulative
points from paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e),
and (i) of 38 CFR Sec. 61.13.
The highest-ranked application for
which funding is available, within the
highest funding category, will be
conditionally selected for eligibility to
receive per diem payment in accordance
with their ranked order until VA
reaches the projected bed totals for each
category. If funds are still available after
selection of those applications in the
highest priority group, VA will continue
to conditionally select applicants in
lower priority categories in accordance
with the selection method set forth in
the final rule Sec. 61.32.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must include a cover letter
clearly stating under which funding
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:23 Jan 22, 2010
Jkt 220001
priority they wish to be considered.
Non-profit agencies who apply under
funding priority two are required to
provide a letter of assurance from the
Indian Tribal Government that if
funded, the provision of service will
occur on Indian Tribal Property. The
grant application requirements will be
specified in the application package.
Applicants should be careful to
complete the proper application
package. Submission of the incorrect or
incomplete application package will
result in the application being rejected
at threshold review. The packages
include all required forms and
certifications. Selections will be made
based on criteria described in the
application, Final Rule, and NOFA.
Applicants who are conditionally
selected will be notified of any
additional information needed to
confirm or clarify information provided
in the application. Applicants will then
be notified of the deadline to submit
such information. If an applicant is
unable to meet any conditions for grant
award within the specified timeframe,
VA reserves the right to not award funds
and to use the funds available for other
grant and per diem applicants.
Dated: January 13, 2010.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010–1297 Filed 1–22–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
AGENCY:
Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA).
ACTION: Notice of amendment to system
of records.
SUMMARY: As required by the Privacy
Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e), notice is
hereby given that the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the
system of records currently entitled
‘‘Employee Incentive Scholarship
Program—VA’’ (110VA10) as set forth in
the Federal Register 67 FR 66712. VA
is amending the system records by
revising the Routine Uses of Records
Maintained in the System Including
Categories of Users and the Purpose of
Such Uses. VA is republishing the
system notice in its entirety.
DATES: Comments on the amendment of
this system of records must be received
no later than February 24, 2010. If no
public comment is received, the
amended system will become effective
February 24, 2010.
PO 00000
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ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
submitted through
www.Regulations.gov; by mail or handdelivery to Director, Regulations
Management (02Reg), Department of
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,
NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC
20420; or by fax to (202) 273–9026.
Comments received will be available for
public inspection in the Office of
Regulation Policy and Management,
Room 1063B, between the hours of 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday (except holidays). Please call
(202) 461–4902 (this is not a toll-free
number) for an appointment. In
addition, during the comment period,
comments may be viewed online
through the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Privacy Officer, Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20420; telephone (704)
245–2492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Routine
Use 6 was amended to allow disclosure
to the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) and the General
Services Administration (GSA) in
records management inspections
conducted under authority of Title 44,
Chapter 29, of the United States Code
(U.S.C.). NARA and GSA are
responsible for management of old
records no longer actively used, but
which may be appropriate for
preservation, and for the physical
maintenance of the Federal
government’s records. VA must be able
to provide the records to NARA and
GSA in order to determine the proper
disposition of such records.
Routine Use 11 was added to allow
VA to disclose information from this
system of records to the Department of
Justice (DoJ), either on VA’s initiative or
in response to DoJ’s request for the
information, after either VA or DoJ
determines that such information is
relevant to DoJ’s representation of the
United States or any of its components
in legal proceedings before a court or
adjudicative body, provided that, in
each case, the agency also determines
prior to disclosure that release of the
records to the DoJ is a use of the
information contained in the records
that is compatible with the purpose for
which VA collected the records. VA, on
its own initiative, may disclose records
in this system of records in legal
proceedings before a court or
administrative body after determining
that the disclosure of the records to the
court or administrative body is a use of
the information contained in the records
E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3970-3972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1297]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the
availability of funds for applications for assistance under the ``Per
Diem-Only'' (PDO) component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Program. This Notice contains information concerning the program,
funding priorities, application process, and amount of funding
available.
DATES: An original completed and collated grant application (plus three
completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and
Per Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 31,
2010. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). In the interest
of fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to
date and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any
application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take
this practice into account and make early submission of their material
to avoid the risk of loss of eligibility due to unanticipated delays or
other delivery-related problems.
For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from VA's
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: https://www.va.gov/homeless/ or
https://www.grants.gov/. Questions should be referred to the Grant and
Per Diem Program at (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334. For information
relating to the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, see
the Final Rule published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2003.
Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant
application (plus three copies) and a cover letter clearly stating
under which funding priority applicants (see funding priorities) wish
to be considered must be submitted to the following address: VA
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 N. 46th
Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications must be received in
the Grant and Per Diem Field office by the application deadline. This
includes applications submitted through Grants.gov. Applications must
arrive as a complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be
included in the application package for consideration and may result in
the application being rejected or not funded.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Watson, VA Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs,
10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-
332-0334.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces the availability of
funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem
Program for eligible programs that have not previously applied for or
received per diem in connection with a grant (see 38 CFR 61.1 through
61.82). Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized by Public
Law 109-461, Sec. 703, known as the Veterans Benefit, Health Care and
Information Technology Act of 2006, and by the ``Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,'' Public Law 107-95, Sec. 5,
codified as amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064, and may
be used for aid for supportive housing. Service centers will not be
funded in this NOFA. Funding will be in the form of per diem payments
issued to eligible entities from the date of the award and will
continue subject to availability of funds and the recipients'
compliance with 38 CFR 61.1 through 61.82. For eligibility criteria,
please refer to Final Rule published in the Federal Register on
September 26, 2003, 38 CFR 61.30, 61.31, and 61.32.
VA expects that it will take no longer than 90 days from the date
of award for projects to be inspected and become operational. Failure
to meet the 90-day milestone may result in the per diem award being
terminated.
Capital grant recipients who received capital grant funding under
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program in years 1994
through 2009 for acquisition, renovation or new construction should not
respond to this NOFA. Per diem payments for those portions of their
programs that were created with capital grant funds is requested in the
capital grant application and paid at the time of the capital grant
project completion and inspection.
Previous PDO recipients that renewed their PDO grants in 2005,
2007, or 2008 need not reapply to continue these projects.
[[Page 3971]]
VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for the Homeless Providers Grant
and Per Diem Program as a part of the effort to end chronic
homelessness among our Nation's veterans. The Department expects to
create approximately 1,200 beds under this NOFA.
Funding available under this NOFA is being offered to help offset
the operating expenses of existing State and local governments, Indian
Tribal Governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations that
are capable of providing supported housing and supportive services for
homeless veterans. The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States, may be
considered eligible entities under the definition of ``State'' in the
38 CFR 61.1 Definitions. It should be noted that VA payment is limited
to the applicant's cost of care per eligible veteran minus other
sources of payments to the applicant for furnishing services to
homeless veterans up to the per-day rate VA pays for State Home
Domiciliary care. Awardees will be required to support their request
for per diem payment with adequate fiscal documentation as to program
income and expenses.
Interested organizations should know that the vast majority of
homeless veterans in this country suffer from mental illness or
substance abuse disorders or are dually diagnosed with both mental
illness and substance abuse disorders. In addition, many homeless
veterans have serious medical problems. The recent events associated
the Nation's returning Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans further emphasizes the need for
collaboration with VA medical centers, VA community-based outpatient
clinics or other health care providers as well as with VA and other
benefit providers as an important aspect of ensuring that homeless
veterans have access to appropriate health care services. VA considers
this program an important part of our effort to end chronic
homelessness among all veterans.
It is important to be aware that VA places great emphasis on
responsibility and accountability. VA has procedures in place to
monitor services provided to homeless veterans and outcomes associated
with the services provided in grant and per diem-funded programs. VA is
also implementing new procedures to further this effort. Applicants
should be aware of the following:
All awardees that are conditionally selected in response to this
NOFA must meet the Life Safety Code of the National Fire and Protection
Association as it relates to their specific facility. Applicants should
note that all facilities are to be equipped with sprinklers unless they
are specifically exempted under the Life Safety Code and make
consideration of this when submitting their grant applications as no
additional funds will be made available for capital improvements under
this per diem-only NOFA. VA will conduct an inspection prior to
awardees being able to submit request for payment to ensure this
requirement is met.
Each per diem-funded program will have a liaison appointed from a
nearby VA medical facility to provide oversight and monitor services
provided to homeless veterans in the per diem-funded program.
Monitoring will include at least an annual review of each per diem
program's progress toward meeting internal goals and objectives in
helping veterans attain housing stability, adequate income support, and
self-sufficiency as identified in each per diem program's original
application. Monitoring will also include a review of the agency's
income and expenses as they relate to this project to ensure per diem
payment is accurate.
Each per diem-funded program will participate in VA's national
program monitoring and evaluation system administered by VA's Northeast
Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). It is the intention of VA to develop
specific performance targets with respect to housing for homeless
veterans. NEPEC's monitoring procedures will be used to determine
successful accomplishment of these housing outcomes for each per diem-
funded program.
Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized
by Public Law 109-461, Sec. 703, known as the Veterans Benefit,
Health Care and Information Technology Act of 2006 and by the
Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, Public Law
107-95, Sec. 5, codified as amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013,
2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the final rule codified at
38 CFR Part 61.0. The regulations can be found in their entirety in
38 CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available under this
Notice are subject to the requirements of those regulations.
Allocation: Approximately $15 million annually is available for the
per diem-only award component of this program. This funding subject to
the availability of funds and will be available so long as recipients
meet the requirements of 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82.
Funding Priorities: VA establishes the following funding priorities
in order to: (1) Implement the provisions of Public Law 107-95
regarding geographical dispersion and non-duplication of service; and
(2) bolster capacity in areas that are underserved by the Grant and Per
Diem Program. These areas may have high populations of homeless
veterans and limited services to address homeless veteran's needs.
These areas can include both urban and rural areas but may be
particularly prevalent outside the high population areas.
VA is offering eligible applicants funding priorities for
transitional housing and services to: (1) Serve women and women with
care of dependent children; (2) Indian Tribal Governments or non-profit
agencies that will provide transitional housing and services on Indian
Tribal Property. VA is encouraging interested State and local
governments, faith-based and community-based organizations to apply for
funding under this NOFA.
In this round of per diem-only grant funding, VA expects to award
eligibility for funding to create approximately 1,200 per diem-only
community-based supported housing beds.
Funding priority 1. VA is offering the opportunity for providers
who are willing to create new projects specifically for women and women
with care of dependent children only, which are 30 beds or less. Of
those eligible entities in the first funding priority, that are legally
fundable, the highest scoring applicants will be funded first until
approximately 200 beds are awarded. Applicants not funded in this
priority will be considered in the third funding priority. Should not
enough eligible projects be funded under the first funding priority,
beds not awarded in this priority will fall to the third funding
priority.
Funding priority 2. VA is offering the opportunity to Indian Tribal
Governments or non-profit agencies that will provide transitional
housing and services on Indian Tribal Property to apply for funding
under this NOFA to create transitional housing and services for
homeless veterans. Eligible entities such as Indian Tribal Governments
and non-profit agencies willing to provide transitional housing and
services on Indian Tribal Property will be considered in the second
funding priority as applicable. Of those eligible entities in the
second funding priority that are legally fundable; the highest scoring
applicants will be funded first until approximately 100 beds are
awarded. Applicants not funded in this priority will be placed in the
third funding priority. Should not enough eligible projects be funded
under the second funding priority, beds not
[[Page 3972]]
expended in this priority will fall to the third funding priority.
Note: Non-profit agencies who apply under this priority will be
required to provide a letter of assurance from the Indian Tribal
Government that if funded, the provision of service will occur on
Indian Tribal Property.
Funding priority 3. VA is encouraging interested State and local
governments, non-profit organizations and State and local governments
that have been selected to utilize buildings on VA Medical Center
grounds under the Secretary's Enhanced Use Lease Program initiative for
housing homeless veterans, faith-based, and community-based
organizations, as well as eligible entities located in the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or
possession of the United States, to apply for funding under this NOFA
to create transitional housing and services for all homeless veterans.
Eligible entities that are State and local governments, Indian Tribal
Governments, Enhanced Use Lease organizations, faith-based, and
community-based organizations, or any territory or possession of the
United States, will be considered in the third funding priority as
applicable. Of those eligible entities that are legally fundable, the
highest-ranked applications for which funding is available, will be
conditionally selected for eligibility to receive a per diem-only award
in accordance with their ranked order until funding is expended
(approximately 900 beds).
Methodology: VA will review all non-capital grant recipients in
response to this notice of funding availability. VA will then group the
applicants into the funding priorities categories. Applicants will then
be ranked within their respective funding category based on score and
any ranking criteria set forth in that funding category only if the
applicant scores at least 500 cumulative points from paragraphs (b),
(c), (d), (e), and (i) of 38 CFR Sec. 61.13.
The highest-ranked application for which funding is available,
within the highest funding category, will be conditionally selected for
eligibility to receive per diem payment in accordance with their ranked
order until VA reaches the projected bed totals for each category. If
funds are still available after selection of those applications in the
highest priority group, VA will continue to conditionally select
applicants in lower priority categories in accordance with the
selection method set forth in the final rule Sec. 61.32.
Application Requirements: Applicants must include a cover letter
clearly stating under which funding priority they wish to be
considered. Non-profit agencies who apply under funding priority two
are required to provide a letter of assurance from the Indian Tribal
Government that if funded, the provision of service will occur on
Indian Tribal Property. The grant application requirements will be
specified in the application package. Applicants should be careful to
complete the proper application package. Submission of the incorrect or
incomplete application package will result in the application being
rejected at threshold review. The packages include all required forms
and certifications. Selections will be made based on criteria described
in the application, Final Rule, and NOFA. Applicants who are
conditionally selected will be notified of any additional information
needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the application.
Applicants will then be notified of the deadline to submit such
information. If an applicant is unable to meet any conditions for grant
award within the specified timeframe, VA reserves the right to not
award funds and to use the funds available for other grant and per diem
applicants.
Dated: January 13, 2010.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-1297 Filed 1-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
