Fund Availability Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program; Amendment, 58442 [2012-23210]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 58442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23210]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families Program; Amendment

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Amendment to notices.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing an 
amendment to the Notices of Fund Availability issued in fiscal years 
2011 and 2012 for supportive services grants under the Supportive 
Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program.
    VA published two Notices in the Federal Register on December 17, 
2010 (75 FR 79087), and on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74849), titled, 
``Fund Availability Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families 
Program.'' Under ``Requirements for the Use of Supportive Services 
Grant Funds'' section of the Notices, grantees were permitted to 
``utilize a maximum of 30 percent of supportive services grant funds to 
provide the supportive service of temporary financial assistance paid 
directly to a third party on behalf of a participant for child care, 
transportation, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, 
security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, and emergency 
supplies in accordance with 38 CFR 62.33 and 62.34 of the final rule.''
    VA has received comments from a variety of stakeholders that the 30 
percent maximum for financial assistance is inadequate to meet the 
needs of Veteran families served in SSVF. For instance, the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development offers similar financial assistance 
through its Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing and Emergency 
Solutions Grant programs without such caps and also allows longer time 
limits for financial assistance. Grantees have stated that they are 
turning away eligible Veteran families for services as they are unable 
to successfully intervene to meet the needs of these families within 
the program's limits on financial assistance. As this limit may 
interfere with the mission of the SSVF program to prevent and end 
homelessness, VA announces that grantees are permitted to utilize a 
maximum of 50 percent of supportive services grant funds for these 
purposes.
    Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain technical 
assistance with the preparation of this request should be directed to a 
grantee's regional coordinator. Additional information can also be 
found at https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kuhn, Supportive Services for 
Veteran Families Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among 
Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (877) 
737-0111 (this is a toll-free number); SSVF@va.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Eligibility Information

    Eligible Applicants: In order to be eligible, an applicant must be 
a current SSVF grantee.

II. Application and Submission Information

    Content and Form of Application: Current SSVF grantees interested 
in increasing the funds they can make available for temporary financial 
assistance should submit a program change request along with a revised 
budget through their regional coordinator. No change in the total 
program award will be made in conjunction with such a request.

    Approved: September 13, 2012.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-23210 Filed 9-19-12; 8:45 am]
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