Funding Availability Under Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, 2535-2543 [2014-00289]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
• Veterans Health Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2535-2543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00289]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Veterans Health Administration


Funding Availability Under Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: Funding Opportunity Title: Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families (SSVF) Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: VA-SSVF-123013.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 62.033.


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 March 14, 2014. Awards made for Priority 1 supportive 
services grants will fund operations over a non-renewable 3-year period 
beginning October 1, 2014. Awards made for Priority 2 and 3 supportive 
services grants will fund

[[Page 2536]]

operations for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2014.
    See section II for definitions of Priorities 1-3.
    VA is announcing the availability of funds for supportive services 
grants under the SSVF Program. This NOFA contains information 
concerning the SSVF Program, initial and renewal supportive services 
grant application processes, and amount of funding available.
    Dates & Addresses: 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 March 14, 2014. 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.
    For a Copy of the Application Package: Copies of the application 
can be downloaded directly from the SSVF Program Web site at: 
www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp. Questions should be referred to the SSVF 
Program Office via phone at (877) 737-0111 (toll-free number) or via 
email at SSVF@va.gov. For detailed SSVF Program information and 
requirements, see 38 CFR part 62.
    Submission of Application Package: Two completed, collated, hard 
copies of the application and two compact discs (CD) containing 
electronic versions of the entire application are required. Each 
application copy must (i) be fastened with a binder clip; and (ii) 
contain tabs listing the major sections of and exhibits to the 
application. Each CD must be labeled with the applicant's name and must 
contain an electronic copy of the entire application. A budget template 
must be attached in Excel format on the CD, but all other application 
materials may be attached in a PDF or other format. The application 
copies and CDs must be submitted to the following address: Supportive 
Services for Veteran Families Program Office, National Center on 
Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, 
Philadelphia, PA 19104. Applicants must submit two hard copies and two 
CDs. Applications may not be 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.C. of this NOFA for maximum allowable 
grant amounts.
    Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain technical 
assistance with the preparation of an initial or renewal supportive 
services grant application is available on the SSVF Program Web site 
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. 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, 
(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.
    B. Funding Priorities: The overriding goal for this NOFA is to 
ensure that appropriate levels of resources are provided to communities 
with the greatest need to end Veteran homelessness. Under Priority 1, 
VA will provide up to $300 million over a 3-year period for non-
renewable grants to eligible entities proposing services for one of the 
76 priority Continuums of Care (CoC) listed below. VA has designed this 
3-year effort to provide a surge of resources in communities with the 
highest need. These 76 locations have been selected based on factors 
that include current unmet service needs, levels of Veteran 
homelessness, levels of Veteran poverty, and the overall size of the 
Veteran population. Priority 2 is for existing SSVF Program grantees 
seeking to renew their supportive services grants. To be eligible for 
renewal of a supportive services grant, the grantee's program concept 
must be substantially the same with the program concept of the 
grantee's current grant award. Priority 3 is for eligible entities 
applying for initial supportive services grants.
    C. Definitions: Sections 62.2 and 62.11(a) of title 38, Code of 
Federal Regulations, contain definitions of terms used in the SSVF 
Program. In addition to the definitions included in those sections, 
this NOFA includes two program areas: Emergency Housing Assistance and 
General Housing Stability Assistance.
    Emergency Housing Assistance means the provision of up to 30 days 
of temporary housing that does not require the participant to sign a 
lease or occupancy agreement. The cost cannot exceed the reasonable 
community standard for such housing. Emergency housing is limited to 
short-term commercial residences (private residences are not eligible 
for such funding) not already funded to provide on-demand emergency 
shelter (such as emergency congregate shelters). By authorizing the 
limited provision of SSVF funded emergency housing, grantees will be 
able to ensure that participants do not become homeless while they 
transition to permanent housing or otherwise be put at risk pending 
placement in permanent housing. Appropriate provision of emergency 
housing is limited to those cases in which no space is available at a 
community shelter that would be appropriate for placement of a family 
unit and where permanent housing has been identified and secured but 
the participant cannot immediately be placed in that housing. Only 
families with children under the age of 18 may receive such assistance; 
individuals are not eligible for SSVF funded emergency housing 
placement. In the event that longer term transitional housing or 
emergency housing is needed without such restrictions, VA offers 
community-based alternatives including, the Grant and Per Diem Program 
and the Health Care for Homeless Veterans contract residential care 
program, as well as a variety of VA-based residential care programs.
    General Housing Stability Assistance means the provision of goods 
or payment of expenses not included in other sections, but are directly 
related to supporting a participant's housing stability. This is a 
category that may offer a maximum of $1,500 in assistance per 
participant. Such assistance, when not available through existing 
mainstream and community resources, may include: (1) Items necessary 
for a participant's life or safety that are provided to the participant 
by a grantee on a temporary basis in order to address the participant's 
emergency situation (limited to $500 per participant under 38 CFR 
62.34); (2) Expenses associated with gaining or keeping employment, 
such as obtaining uniforms, tools, certifications, and licenses; (3) 
Expenses

[[Page 2537]]

associated with moving into permanent housing, such as obtaining basic 
kitchen utensils, bedding, and other supplies; and (4) Expenses 
necessary for securing appropriate permanent housing, such as fees for 
applications, brokerage fees, or background checks.
    D. Approach: 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 amongst strong social service 
providers. As part of the application, under 62.22(e), all applicants 
should provide letters of support from the CoC where they plan to 
deliver services that reflect 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. 
It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to 
homelessness [CoC locations and contact information can be found at the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Web site, https://www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=viewCocMaps]. This coordination should 
describe the applicant's participation in the CoC's coordinated 
assessment efforts (coordinated assessment refers to a common process 
for accessing homeless assistance services including: Prevention, 
diversion, emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, 
supportive services and even permanent supportive housing). In 
addition, any applicant proposing to serve an Indian Tribal area is 
expected 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 to stable housing. 
SSVF emphasizes the placement of homeless Veteran families who are 
described in regulation as (i) very low-income Veteran families who are 
homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 
90 days, including those leaving VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem projects and (ii) very low-income Veteran families who have exited 
permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing 
that is responsive to their needs and preferences. Accordingly, VA 
encourages eligible entities skilled in facilitating housing stability 
and experienced in operating rapid re-housing programs (i.e., 
administering HUD's Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing 
Program HUD's Emergency Solution Grant (ESG), or other comparable 
Federal or community resources) to apply for supportive services 
grants. As a crisis intervention program, the SSVF Program is not 
intended to provide long-term support for participants, nor will it be 
able to address all of the financial and supportive services needs of 
participants that affect housing stability. Rather, when participants 
require long-term support, grantees should focus on connecting such 
participants to income supports, such as employment and mainstream 
Federal and community resources (e.g., HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) 
program, HUD Housing Choice Voucher programs, McKinney-Vento funded 
supportive housing programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, 
Social Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance etc.) that 
can provide ongoing support as required.
    Assistance in obtaining or retaining permanent housing is a 
fundamental goal of the SSVF Program. Grantees are expected to provide 
case management services in accordance with 38 CFR 62.31. Such case 
management should include tenant counseling; mediation with landlords; 
and outreach to landlords.
    E. Authority: Funding applied for under this NOFA is authorized by 
38 U.S.C. 2044, as recently amended by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013, Public Law 113-37. VA 
implements the SSVF Program by regulation in 38 CFR part 62. Funds made 
available under this NOFA are subject to the requirements of the 
aforementioned regulations and other applicable laws and regulations.
    F. Requirements for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: The 
grantee'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 NOFA. In accordance with the regulations and this NOFA, the 
following requirements apply to supportive services grants awarded 
under this NOFA:
    (1) Grantees may use a maximum of 10 percent of supportive services 
grant funds for administrative costs identified in Sec.  62.70.
    (2) Grantees must use a minimum of 60 percent of supportive 
services grant (of the grant reward remaining after allowable 
deductions for administrative costs) funds to serve very low-income 
Veteran families who either (i) are homeless and scheduled to become 
residents of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or 
development of housing suitable for permanent housing, as described in 
Sec.  62.11(a)(2), or (ii) have exited permanent housing within the 
previous 90 days to seek other housing that is responsive to their 
needs and preferences, as described in Sec.  62.11(a)(3). (Note: 
Grantees may request a waiver to decrease this minimum to 40 percent, 
discussed in section V.B.3.i.)
    (3) Grantees may use a maximum of 50 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, 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) in accordance with Sec. Sec.  62.33 and 
62.34. Grantees funded under Priority 1 funding must use a minimum of 
40 percent of their supportive services grant (of the grant reward 
remaining after allowable deductions for administrative costs) funds to 
provide temporary financial assistance.
    G. Guidance for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: It is 
VA policy to support a ``Housing First'' model in addressing and ending 
homelessness. Housing First establishes housing stability as the 
primary intervention in working with homeless persons. The Housing 
First approach is based on research that shows a homeless individual or 
household's first and primary need is to obtain stable housing, and 
that other issue that may affect the household can and should be 
addressed as housing is obtained. Research supports this approach as an 
effective means to end homelessness. Housing is not contingent on 
compliance with services--instead, participants must comply with a 
standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and 
supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully.
    1. Consistent with the Housing First model supported by VA, 
grantees are expected to offer the following supportive services: 
Housing counseling; assisting participants in understanding leases; 
securing utilities;

[[Page 2538]]

making moving arrangements; provide representative payee services 
concerning rent and utilities when needed; and 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 or emergency supplies; or using other 
Federal resources, such as the HUD's ESG, or supportive services grant 
funds subject to the limitations described in this NOFA and 38 CFR 
62.34.
    2. VA recognizes that extremely low-income Veterans, with incomes 
below 30 percent of the area median income, face greater barriers to 
permanent housing placement. In order to support grantees' efforts to 
serve this population, VA has proposed new program regulations that 
will expand temporary financial assistance that may be offered to these 
participants. Grantees must consider the proposed rule when developing 
their response to this NOFA, if the proposed rule is published by 
February 14, 2014.
    3. Grantees are encouraged to provide, or assist participants in 
obtaining, legal services relevant to issues that interfere with the 
participants' ability to obtain or retain permanent housing. (Note: 
Legal services provided may be protected from release or review by the 
grantee or VA under attorney-client privilege.) 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.
    4. Access to mental health and addiction services are required by 
SSVF; however, grantees cannot fund these services directly through the 
SSVF grant. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate, through either 
formal or informal agreements, their ability to promote rapid access 
and engagement to mental health and addiction services for the Veteran 
and family members.
    5. As SSVF is a short-term crisis intervention, grantees must 
develop plans that will produce sufficient income to sustain Veteran 
participants in permanent housing after the conclusion of the 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.
    6. Notwithstanding any other section in this part, grantees are not 
authorized to use SSVF funds to pay for the following: (i) Mortgage 
costs or costs needed by homeowners to assist with any fees, taxes, or 
other costs of refinancing; (ii) construction or the cost of housing 
rehabilitation; (iii) credit card bills or other consumer debt; (iv) 
medical or dental care and medicines; (v) mental health, substance use, 
or other therapeutic interventions designed to treat diagnostic 
conditions as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of 
Mental Disorders fifth edition (Note: Although SSVF grant funds cannot 
be used to pay for the treatment of mental health or substance use 
disorders, grantees are required to offer such services through formal 
coordinated relationships with VA and other community providers); (vi) 
home care and home health aides typically used to provide care in 
support of daily living activities--this includes care that is focused 
on treatment for an injury or illness, rehabilitation, or other 
assistance generally required to assist those with handicaps or other 
physical limitations; (vii) pet care; (viii) entertainment activities; 
(ix) direct cash assistance to program participants; or (x) court-
ordered judgments or fines.
    7. When serving participants who are residing in permanent housing, 
it is required that 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 targets those 
most at-risk of homelessness. To qualify for SSVF services, a Veteran 
who is served under Category 1 (homeless prevention), the participants 
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 Category 1, 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 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.
    8. Where ESG funds or other funds from community resources are not 
readily available, grantees may choose to utilize supportive services 
grants, subject to the limitations described in this NOFA and in 38 CFR 
62.33 and 62.34, to provide temporary financial assistance. Such 
assistance may, subject to the limitations in this NOFA 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.

II. Award Information

    A. Overview: This NOFA announces the availability of funds for 
supportive services grants under the SSVF Program and pertains to 
proposals for initial and renewal supportive services grant programs. 
Up to $600 million \1\ may be available through this NOFA with up to 
$300 million available through Priority 1 and approximately $300 
million available through Priorities 2 and 3 (combined), subject to 
available appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and FY 2015. Funding 
for Priority 1 that is not expended will be made available for 
Priorities 2 and 3.
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    \1\ The $600 million funding level is composed of both the $300 
million in funds appropriated to Medical Services for FY 2014 and 
the $300 million anticipated from the FY 2015 advance appropriation 
for Medical Services.
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    B. Funding: The funding priorities for this NOFA are as follows.
    1. Priority 1. Under Priority 1, VA will provide up to $300 million 
over a 3-year period for non-renewable grants to eligible entities 
proposing services for one of the 76 priority CoCs listed below. 
Available funding for each CoC is listed below. Applications must 
include a letter of support from the VA's Network Homeless Coordinator 
assigned to the priority city and be endorsed by a CoC located within a 
priority community to be considered. Each continuum can endorse no more 
than two applications.

[[Page 2539]]

Available funding for each CoC is as follows:

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                                                                                                 Eligible 3 year
                      Id                                           CoC Name                          funding
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA-600.......................................  Los Angeles City & County CoC..................       $24,000,000
NY-600.......................................  New York City CoC..............................        12,000,000
CA-500.......................................  San Jose/Santa Clara City & County CoC.........         6,000,000
CA-501.......................................  San Francisco CoC..............................         6,000,000
CA-504.......................................  Santa Rosa/Petaluma/Sonoma County CoC..........         6,000,000
CA-514.......................................  Fresno/Madera County CoC.......................         6,000,000
CA-601.......................................  San Diego City and County CoC..................         6,000,000
CA-606.......................................  Long Beach CoC.................................         6,000,000
CA-614.......................................  San Luis Obispo County CoC (CA-614)............         6,000,000
FL-502.......................................  St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Largo/Pinellas County         6,000,000
                                                CoC.
FL-507.......................................  Orlando/Orange, Osceola, Seminole Counties CoC.         6,000,000
GA-500.......................................  Atlanta/Roswell/DeKalb, Fulton Counties CoC....         6,000,000
NV-500.......................................  Las Vegas/Clark County CoC.....................         6,000,000
OR-501.......................................  Portland/Gresham/Multnomah County CoC..........         6,000,000
UT-500.......................................  Salt Lake City & County CoC....................         6,000,000
WA-500.......................................  Seattle/King County CoC........................         6,000,000
AR-500.......................................  Little Rock/central Arkansas CoC (AR-500)......         3,000,000
AZ-501.......................................  Tucson/Pima County CoC.........................         3,000,000
AZ-502.......................................  Phoenix/Mesa/Maricopa County Regional CoC......         3,000,000
CA-502.......................................  Oakland/Alameda County CoC.....................         3,000,000
CA-503.......................................  Sacramento City & County CoC...................         3,000,000
CA-506.......................................  Salinas/Monterey, San Benito Counties CoC (CA-          3,000,000
                                                506).
CA-508.......................................  Watsonville/Santa Cruz City & County CoC (CA-           3,000,000
                                                508).
CA-516.......................................  Redding/Shasta CoC (CA-516)....................         3,000,000
CA-522.......................................  Humboldt County CoC (CA-522)...................         3,000,000
CA-602.......................................  Santa Ana/Anaheim/Orange County CoC............         3,000,000
CA-608.......................................  Riverside City & County CoC....................         3,000,000
CA-604.......................................  Bakersfield/Kern County CoC....................         3,000,000
CA-609.......................................  San Bernardino City & County CoC...............         3,000,000
CO-503.......................................  Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative........         3,000,000
CO-504.......................................  Colorado Springs/El Paso County CoC............         3,000,000
DC-500.......................................  District of Columbia CoC.......................         3,000,000
FL-501.......................................  Tampa/Hillsborough County CoC..................         3,000,000
IN-503.......................................  Indianapolis CoC...............................         3,000,000
FL-504.......................................  Daytona Beach/Daytona/Volusia, Flagler Counties         3,000,000
                                                CoC.
FL-510.......................................  Jacksonville-Duval, Clay Counties CoC..........         3,000,000
FL-513.......................................  Palm Bay/Melbourne/Brevard County CoC..........         3,000,000
FL-600.......................................  Miami/Dade County CoC..........................         3,000,000
HI-501.......................................  Honolulu CoC...................................         3,000,000
IL-510.......................................  Chicago CoC....................................         3,000,000
IL-511.......................................  Cook County CoC................................         3,000,000
KS-501.......................................  Kansas City/Independence/Lee's Summit/Jackson           3,000,000
                                                County CoC.
KY-501.......................................  Louisville/Jefferson County CoC................         3,000,000
LA-503.......................................  New Orleans/Jefferson Parish CoC...............         3,000,000
MA-500.......................................  Boston CoC.....................................         3,000,000
MA-506.......................................  Worcester County CoC (MA-506)..................         3,000,000
MA-507.......................................  Pittsfield/Berkshire County CoC (MA-507).......         3,000,000
MD-501.......................................  Baltimore City CoC.............................         3,000,000
MI-501.......................................  Detroit CoC....................................         3,000,000
MN-500.......................................  Minneapolis/Hennepin County CoC................         3,000,000
MO-604.......................................  Kansas City CoC (MO-604).......................         3,000,000
MT-500.......................................  Montana Statewide CoC..........................         3,000,000
NC-501.......................................  Asheville/Buncombe County CoC (NC-501).........         3,000,000
NC-507.......................................  Raleigh/Wake County CoC........................         3,000,000
NC-511.......................................  Fayetteville/Cumberland County CoC.............         3,000,000
NY-603.......................................  Islip/Babylon/Huntington/Suffolk County CoC....         3,000,000
OH-500.......................................  Cincinnati/Hamilton County CoC.................         3,000,000
OH-502.......................................  Cleveland/Cuyahoga County CoC..................         3,000,000
OH-505.......................................  Dayton/Kettering/Montgomery County CoC.........         3,000,000
OR-500.......................................  Eugene/Springfield/Lane County CoC (OR-500)....         3,000,000
OR-502.......................................  Medford/Ashland/Jackson County CoC (OR-502)....         3,000,000
PA-500.......................................  Philadelphia CoC...............................         3,000,000
PR-503.......................................  South/Southeast Puerto Rico CoC................         3,000,000
RI-500.......................................  Rhode Island Statewide CoC.....................         3,000,000
SC-502.......................................  Columbia/Midlands CoC..........................         3,000,000
SC-503.......................................  Myrtle Beach/Sumter City & County CoC..........         3,000,000
TN-501.......................................  Memphis/Shelby County CoC......................         3,000,000
TX-503.......................................  Austin/Travis County CoC.......................         3,000,000
TN-504.......................................  Nashville/Davidson County CoC..................         3,000,000
TX-600.......................................  Dallas City & County/Irving CoC................         3,000,000

[[Page 2540]]

 
TX-601.......................................  Fort Worth/Arlington/Tarrant County CoC........         3,000,000
TX-603.......................................  El Paso City & County CoC......................         3,000,000
TX-700.......................................  Houston/Harris County CoC......................         3,000,000
WA-502.......................................  Spokane City & County CoC......................         3,000,000
WA-503.......................................  Tacoma/Lakewood/Pierce County CoC..............         3,000,000
WI-501.......................................  Milwaukee City & County CoC....................         3,000,000
    TOTAL....................................  ...............................................       300,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Priority 2. Renewal applications can request funding that is up 
to 2 percent higher than their current award, subject to the $2 million 
cap per award. (Note: if an existing grantee would like to 
substantially modify an existing program or request additional funding, 
the grantee may submit an initial application and apply under Priority 
3. Grantees cannot submit more than one application serving the same 
geographic area). An existing grantee applying for funding for a 
program that is substantially the same as their existing program, may 
only apply under Priority 2. Should not enough applications be funded 
under Priority 2, funds not expended in this priority will fall to 
Priority 3.
    3. Priority 3. Priority 3 is for eligible entities applying for 
initial supportive services grants.
    C. Allocation of Funds: Funding will be awarded under this NOFA to 
grantees for a 1- to 3-year period. The following requirements apply to 
Priority 2 and 3 supportive services grants awarded under this NOFA:
    (1) Each grant cannot exceed $2 million per year.
    (2) The total number of supportive services grants awarded to a 
grantee cannot exceed seven grants nationwide per year.
    (3) Applicants should fill out separate applications for each 
supportive services funding request.
    D. Supportive Services Grant Award Period: All Priority 1 
supportive services grants will be for a 3-year, non-renewable period. 
Priority 3 supportive services grants awarded under this NOFA will be 
for a 1-year period. Selected Priority 2 grants applying for renewals 
of existing grants may be eligible for a 3-year award (see VI.C.6).

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Applicants: In order to be eligible, an applicant must 
qualify as a private non-profit organization (Section 501(c)(3) tax 
exempt status is required) or a consumer cooperative as has the meaning 
given such term in Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
1701q). In addition, tribally designated housing entities (as defined 
in Section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4104)) are eligible.
    B. Cost Sharing or Matching: This section is not applicable to the 
SSVF Program.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Address To Request Application Package: Download directly from 
the SSVF Program Web site at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp or send a 
written request for an application to SSVF Program Office, National 
Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, 
Philadelphia, PA 19104. Any questions regarding this process should be 
referred to the SSVF Program Office via phone at (877) 737-0111 (toll-
free number) or via email at SSVF@va.gov. For detailed SSVF Program 
information and requirements, see 38 CFR part 62.
    B. Content and Form of Application: Two completed, collated, hard 
copies of the application and two compact discs (CD) containing 
electronic versions of the entire application are required. Each 
application copy must (i) be fastened with a binder clip; and (ii) 
contain tabs listing the major sections of and exhibits to the 
application. Each CD must be labeled with the applicant's name and must 
contain an electronic copy of the entire application. A budget template 
must be attached in Excel format on the CD, but all other application 
materials may be attached in a PDF or other format.
    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 March 14, 2014. Awards made for 
Priority 1 supportive services grants will fund operations over a 3-
year period beginning October 1, 2014. Awards made for Priority 2 and 3 
supportive services grants will fund operations for the fiscal year 
beginning October 1, 2014. 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.
    It should also be noted that in order to encourage the equitable 
distribution of supportive services grants across geographic regions, 
in accordance with 38 CFR 62.23(d)(2), under Priority 2 and 3 an 
eligible entity may apply for a total of $2 million per year in funding 
per grant (see II.B.1 for award amounts available under Priority 1).
    D. Intergovernmental Review: This section is not applicable to the 
SSVF Program.
    E. Funding Restrictions: Up to $600 million may be awarded 
depending on funding availability and subject to available 
appropriations for initial and renewal supportive services grants to be 
funded under this NOFA for a 1- to 3-year period. Applicants should 
fill out separate applications for each supportive services funding 
request. Eligible entities applying under Priority 1 are not restricted 
by award amount or the number of grants they may receive other than 
what is described in II.B.1. The following requirements apply only to 
Priority 2 and 3 supportive services grants awarded under this NOFA 
(any grants received under Priority 1 do not accrue to these limits):
    (1) Each grant cannot exceed $2 million per year.
    (2) The total number of supportive services grants awarded to a 
grantee cannot exceed seven grants nationwide per year.
    (3) Grants to the same applicant cannot have overlapping service 
areas.
    F. Other Submission Requirements:
    (1) Applicants may apply as new applicants or as a grant renewal.
    (a) Renewals. Renewal funding (Priority 2) is for existing SSVF 
Program grantees seeking to renew their

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supportive services grants. To be eligible for renewal of a supportive 
services grant, the grantee's program concept must be substantially the 
same with the program concept of the grantee's current grant award. 
Renewal applications can request a grant amount that is no more than 
two percent higher than the grantee's current grant award (subject to 
the allocation limitations described in Section IV.E of this NOFA). 
(Note: if an existing grantee would like to modify an existing program, 
the grantee may respond as a new applicant. Grantees cannot submit more 
than one application serving the same geographic area). Only an 
existing grantee applying for funding for a program that is 
substantially the same as their existing program, may apply using the 
renewal application.
    (b) New Applicants. Eligible entities may apply for funding as new 
applicants (Priority 3) apply using the application designed for new 
grants.
    (2) Additional supportive services grant application requirements 
are specified in the initial and renewal application packages. 
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 NOFA. 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. The application copies and CDs must be submitted to the 
following address: SSVF Program Office, National Center on Homelessness 
Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104. 
Applicants must submit two hard copies and two CDs. Applications may 
not be sent by facsimile (FAX).

V. Application Review Information

A. Criteria

    1. VA will only score applicants that meet the following threshold 
requirements:
    (a) The application is filed within the time period established in 
the NOFA, and any additional information or documentation requested by 
VA under Sec.  62.20(c) is provided within the time frame established 
by VA;
    (b) The application is completed in all parts;
    (c) The applicant is an eligible entity;
    (d) The activities for which the supportive services grant is 
requested are eligible for funding under this part;
    (e) The applicant's proposed participants are eligible to receive 
supportive services under this part;
    (f) The applicant agrees to comply with the requirements of this 
part;
    (g) The applicant does not have an outstanding obligation to the 
Federal Government that is in arrears and does not have an overdue or 
unsatisfactory response to an audit; and
    (h) The applicant is not in default by failing to meet the 
requirements for any previous Federal assistance.
    2. VA will use the following criteria to score applicants who are 
applying for a new supportive services grant:
    (a) VA will award up to 35 points based on the background, 
qualifications, experience, and past performance (with particular focus 
on housing placement and retention rates for those applicants serving 
homeless persons), of the applicant, and any subcontractors identified 
by the applicant in the supportive services grant application.
    (b) VA will award up to 25 points based on the applicant's program 
concept and supportive services plan.
    (c) VA will award up to 15 points based on the applicant's quality 
assurance and evaluation plan.
    (d) VA will award up to 15 points based on the applicant's 
financial capability and plan.
    (e) VA will award up to 10 points based on the applicant's area or 
community linkages and relations.
    3. VA will use the following process to select applicants to 
receive supportive services grants:
    (a) VA will score all applicants that meet the threshold 
requirements set forth in Sec.  62.21 using the scoring criteria set 
forth in Sec.  62.22.
    4. VA will use the following criteria to score grantees applying 
for renewal of a supportive services grant:
    (a) VA will award up to 55 points based on the success of the 
grantee's program.
    (b) VA will award up to 30 points based on the cost-effectiveness 
of the grantee's program.
    (c) VA will award up to 15 points based on the extent to which the 
grantee's program complies with SSVF Program goals and requirements.
    5. VA will use the following process to select grantees applying 
for renewal of supportive services grants:
    (a) So long as the grantee continues to meet the threshold 
requirements set forth in Sec.  62.21, VA will score the grantee using 
the scoring criteria set forth in Sec.  62.24. Detailed information 
regarding application criteria can be found in 38 CFR 62.21-62.25.

B. Review and Selection Process

    VA will review all initial and renewal supportive services grant 
applications in response to this NOFA according to the following steps:
    1. Score all applications that meet the threshold requirements 
described in 38 CFR 62.21.
    2. Rank those applications who score at least 70 cumulative points 
and receive at least one point under each of the categories identified 
for new applicants in Sec.  62.22, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and 
(e) and renewal applicants in Sec.  62.24, paragraphs (a), (b), and 
(c). The applications will be ranked in order from highest to lowest 
scores.
    3. Utilize the ranked scores of applications as the primary basis 
for selection. However, in accordance with Sec.  62.23(d), VA will 
utilize the following considerations to select applicants for funding:
    i. Preference applications that provide or coordinate the provision 
of supportive services for very low-income Veteran families 
transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Consistent with 
this preference, applicants are required to serve no less than 60 
percent of their participants and spend no less than 60 percent of all 
budgeted temporary financial assistance on homeless participants 
defined in Sec.  62.11(a)(2) and (a)(3). Waivers to this 60 percent 
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 HUD's Annual Homeless Assessment Report, annual Point-In-Time Counts 
and evidence of decreased demand for emergency shelter and transitional 
housing. Waivers can reduce this 60 percent minimum funding requirement 
to a 40 percent minimum, with the balance available for participants at 
imminent risk of homelessness as defined in Sec.  62.11(a)(1). Waivers 
for the 60 percent 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.
    ii. 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 authoritative 
sources such as HUD's Annual Homeless Assessment Report annual

[[Page 2542]]

Point-In-Time Counts and VA Homeless Registry data.
    4. Subject to the considerations noted in paragraph B.3 above, VA 
will fund the highest-ranked applications 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 by late summer, 2014 with 
grants beginning October 1, 2014. Prior to executing a funding 
agreement, VA will contact the applicants and make known the amount of 
proposed funding and verify the applicant still would like 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 62 and other applicable provisions of this NOFA.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    It is VA's policy to support a ``Housing First'' model in 
addressing and ending homelessness. Housing First establishes housing 
stability as the primary intervention in working with homeless persons. 
The Housing First approach is based on research that shows a homeless 
individual or household's first and primary need is to obtain stable 
housing, and that other issues that may affect the household can and 
should be addressed as housing is obtained. Housing is not contingent 
on compliance with services--instead, participants must comply with a 
standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and 
supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully. Research 
supports this approach as an effective means to end homelessness.
    Consistent with the Housing First model supported by VA, grantees 
are expected to offer the following supportive services: Housing 
counseling; assisting participants in understanding leases; securing 
utilities; making moving arrangements; provide representative payee 
services concerning rent and utilities when needed; and 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 or emergency supplies, using 
other Federal resources, such as the ESG, or supportive services grant 
funds subject to the limitations described in this NOFA and 38 CFR 
62.34.
    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.
    3. VA shall 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 
concept, as described in the grantee's application. All grantees are 
subject to audits conducted by VA's Financial Services Center.
    4. Grantees will be required to provide each participant with a 
satisfaction survey which can be submitted by the participant directly 
to VA, within 45 to 60 days of the participant's entry into the 
grantee's program and again within 30 days of such participant's 
pending exit from the grantee's program.
    5. Grantees will be assessed based on their ability to meet 
critical performance measures. In addition to meeting program 
requirements defined by the regulations and NOFA, 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 
percent of the area median income.
    6. Organizations receiving renewal awards and that have had ongoing 
SSVF Program operation for at least 1 year (as measured by the start of 
initial SSVF services until March 14, 2014) 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 the Commission on 
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities in Employment and Community 
Services (CARF) or a 4-year accreditation from the Council on 
Accreditation's (COA) accreditation in Case Management services are 
eligible for a 3-year grant renewal pending 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 NOFAs that correspond to years 2 and 3 of their 
renewal funding.
    7. Organizations that received a 2-year award in the previous NOFA 
(awards that were announced July 13, 2013) can receive an additional 1-
year extension with proof of CARF or COA accreditation (as described in 
C.6.) supplied by the application deadline. Organizations requesting 
this 1-year extension to their current 2-year grant award only need to 
submit this proof of accreditation and do not need to submit any 
additional application information.

VII. Agency Contact

    A. For further information contact: John Kuhn, Supportive SSVF 
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.

VIII. Other Information

A. VA's Goals and Objectives for Funds Awarded Under This NOFA

    In accordance with 38 CFR 62.22(b)(6), VA will evaluate an 
applicant's ability to meet VA's goals and objectives for the SSVF 
Program. VA's goals and objectives include the provision of supportive 
services

[[Page 2543]]

designed to enhance the housing stability and independent living skills 
of very low-income Veteran families occupying permanent housing across 
geographic regions. For purposes of this NOFA, VA's goals and 
objectives 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 percent of area median 
income as most recently published by HUD for programs under section 8 
of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (https://www.huduser.org).
    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, not currently served by a SSVF grantee.
    5. Veteran families located in a community, as defined by HUD's 
CoC, where 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 
grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for supportive 
services grant funds may not exceed 35 percent 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 grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 60 percent 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 grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 80 percent 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 grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 100 percent of the total 
supportive services grant award.

    Dated: December 20, 2013.
Jose D. Riojas,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-00289 Filed 1-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P