Funding Opportunity Under Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, 66389-66396 [2021-25463]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66389-66396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25463]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Funding Opportunity Under Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for supportive services grants under the 
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. This Notice of 
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains information concerning the SSVF 
Program, the renewal and new applicant supportive services grant 
application processes, and the amount of funding available. Awards made 
for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning October 
1, 2022.

DATES: Applications for supportive services grants under the SSVF 
Program must be received by the SSVF Program Office by 4:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time on February 7, 2022. In the interest of fairness to all 
competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA 
will treat as ineligible for consideration any application that is 
received after the deadline. Applicants should take this practice into 
account and make early submission of their materials to avoid any risk 
of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays, computer 
service outages, or other submission-related problems.

ADDRESSES: 
    For a Copy of the Application Package: Copies of the application 
can be downloaded from the SSVF website at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf. 
Questions should be referred to the SSVF Program Office by email at 
[email protected]. For detailed SSVF Program information and requirements, 
see part 62 of Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (38 CFR part 62).
    Submission of Application Package: Applicants must submit 
applications electronically following instructions found at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf. Applications may not be mailed, hand carried or sent by 
facsimile (FAX). Applications must be received in the SSVF Program 
Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date. 
Applications must arrive as a complete package. Materials arriving 
separately will not be included in the application package for 
consideration and may result in the application being rejected. See 
Section II.B. and II.C. of this NOFO for maximum allowable grant 
amounts.
    Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain technical 
assistance with the preparation of a renewal supportive services grant 
application is available on the SSVF Program website at: www.va.gov/
HOMELESS/SSVF.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Kuhn, National Director, 
Supportive Services for Veteran Families, (727) 273-5619, or by email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Funding Opportunity Title: Supportive Services for Veteran Families 
Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: VA-SSVF-103121.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 64.033, VA 
Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose: The SSVF Program's purpose is to provide supportive 
services grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer 
cooperatives, who will coordinate or provide supportive services to 
very low-income veteran families who:
    (i) Are residing in permanent housing and at risk of becoming 
homeless; (ii) are homeless and scheduled to become residents of 
permanent housing within a specified time period; or (iii) after 
exiting permanent housing within a specified time period, are seeking 
other housing that is responsive to such very low-income veteran 
family's needs and preferences. SSVF prioritizes the delivery of rapid 
re-housing services to homeless veteran households.
    Rapid re-housing is an intervention designed to help individuals 
and families quickly exit homelessness, return to housing in the 
community, and avoid homelessness again in the near term. The core 
components of a rapid re-housing program are housing identification, 
move-in and rent financial assistance, and rapid re-housing case 
management and services. These core components represent the minimum 
that a program must be providing to households to be considered a rapid 
re-housing program, but do not provide guidance for what constitutes an 
effective rapid re-housing program. Applicants should familiarize 
themselves with the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Best 
Practice Standards found at the following link: https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/fidelity_tool_ssvf_standards.
    B. Funding Priorities: The principal goal for this NOFO is to 
provide support to those applicants who demonstrate the greatest 
capacity to end homelessness among veterans or, in communities that 
have already met U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) 
Federal Criteria and Benchmarks, sustain the gains made in ending 
homelessness among veterans. Priority will be given to grantees who can 
demonstrate adoption of evidence-based practices in their application. 
Under Priority 1, VA will provide funding to those existing grantees 
with 3-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of 
Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in Employment and Community Services: 
Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention standards, a 4-year 
accreditation in Housing Stabilization and Community Living Services 
from the Council on Accreditation (COA), or a 3-year accreditation in 
The Joint Commission's (JC) Behavioral Health Care: Housing Support 
Services Standards. Priority 2 includes existing grantees not included 
in Priority 1 with annual awards, seeking to renew their grants. 
Priority 3 applications will be accepted from new applicants in the 
communities described in Section II.B.

[[Page 66390]]

    C. Definitions: Part 62 of title 38, 38 CFR part 62, contains 
definitions of terms used in the SSVF Program. In addition to the 
definitions and requirements described in 38 CFR part 62, this NOFO 
provides further clarification in this paragraph on the use of 
Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA). EHA may be provided by the SSVF 
grantee under 38 CFR 62.34(f) to offer transition in place when a 
permanent housing voucher, such as is offered through the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Section 8 program, is available 
from any source, but access to the permanent housing voucher is pending 
completion of the housing inspection and administrative processes 
necessary for leasing. In such circumstances, the EHA payment cannot 
exceed what would otherwise be paid when the voucher is utilized. EHA 
may also be used as part of a Rapid Resolution or diversion response 
that helps veteran households avoid entry into homelessness through 
placements with family or friends.
    D. Approach: Respondents to this NOFO should base their proposals 
and applications on the current requirements of part 62. Grantees will 
be expected to leverage supportive services grant funds to enhance the 
housing stability of very low-income veteran families who are occupying 
permanent housing. In doing so, grantees are required to establish 
relationships with local community resources. Therefore, agencies must 
work through coordinated partnerships built either through formal 
agreements or the informal working relationships commonly found among 
successful social service providers.
    As part of the application, all applicants are strongly encouraged 
to provide letters of support from the Continuums of Care (CoC) in the 
location where they plan to deliver services, reflecting the 
applicant's engagement in the CoC's efforts to coordinate services. A 
CoC is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to 
meet the needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable 
housing and maximize self-sufficiency. The CoC includes action steps to 
end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness. CoC locations 
and contact information can be found at the following link: https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/contacts/?params=%7B%22limit%22%3A20%2C%22sort%22%3A%22%22%2C%22order%22%3A%22%22%2C%22years%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22searchTerm%22%3A%22%22%2C%22grantees%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22state%22%3A%22%22%2C%22programs%22%3A%5B3%5D%2C%22coc%22%3Atrue%7D##granteeSearch.
    The CoC's letter of support should note if the applicant is 
providing assistance to the CoC in creating local capacity to build 
Coordinated Entry Systems (CES) and the value and form of that 
assistance, whether support is direct funding or staffing. CES requires 
that providers operating within the CoC's geographic area must also 
work together to ensure the CoC's coordinated entry process allows for 
coordinated screening, assessment and referrals (HUD Notice: CPD-17-
01). The CoC's letter of support should also describe the applicant's 
participation in the CoC's community planning efforts. Failure for a 
Priority 1 or 2 applicant to provide a letter of support from the CoC 
as described, will limit the maximum award to 90% of the award made in 
the previous fiscal year (as described in II.C.9). Failure for a 
Priority 3 applicant to provide a letter of support from the CoC as 
described will disqualify the applicant from funding consideration 
unless the applicant can demonstrate that the CoC is unable to provide 
such a letter for this application. In addition, any applicant 
proposing to serve an Indian tribal area is strongly encouraged to 
provide a letter of support from the relevant Indian tribal government.
    The aim of the provision of supportive services is to assist very 
low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing to remain 
stably housed and to rapidly transition those not currently in 
permanent housing to stable housing. SSVF emphasizes the placement of 
homeless veteran families who are described in 38 CFR 62.11(b)-(c) as 
follows:
    (b)(1) Is lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime 
residence, meaning:
    (i) That the veteran family's primary nighttime residence is a 
public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a 
regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, 
abandoned bus or train station, airport or camping ground;
    (ii) That the veteran family is living in a supervised publicly or 
privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living 
arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and 
hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by Federal, 
state or local government programs for low-income individuals); or
    (iii) That the veteran family is exiting an institution where the 
veteran family resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an 
emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately 
before entering that institution;
    (2) Are at risk to remain in the situation described in paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section but for the grantee's assistance; and
    (3) Scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 
days pending the location or development of housing suitable for 
permanent housing; or
    (c) Has met any of the conditions described in paragraph (b)(1) of 
this section after exiting permanent housing within the previous 90 
days to seek other housing that is responsive to the very low-income 
veteran family's needs and preferences.
    Assistance in obtaining or retaining permanent housing is a 
fundamental goal of the SSVF Program. Case management supporting 
permanent housing should include tenant counseling, mediation with 
landlords, and outreach to landlords.
    E. Authority: Funding available under this NOFO is authorized by 38 
U.S.C. 2044. VA implements the SSVF Program through regulations in 38 
CFR part 62. Funds made available under this NOFO are subject to the 
requirements of these regulations.
    F. Requirements for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: The 
applicant's request for funding must be consistent with the limitations 
and uses of supportive services grant funds set forth in 38 CFR part 62 
and this NOFO. In accordance with the regulations and this NOFO, the 
following requirements apply to supportive services grants awarded 
under this NOFO:
    1. Grantees may use a maximum of 10% of supportive services grant 
funds for administrative costs identified in 38 CFR 62.70(e).
    2. Grantees must use a minimum of 60% of the temporary financial 
assistance portion of their supportive services grant funds to serve 
very low-income veteran families who qualify under 38 CFR 62.11(b). 
(NOTE: Grantees may request a waiver to decrease this minimum, as 
discussed in section V.B.3.a.)
    3. Grantees are required to have available temporary financial 
assistance resources that can be paid directly to a third party on 
behalf of a participant for child care, emergency housing assistance, 
transportation, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, 
security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs and general housing 
stability assistance (which includes emergency supplies), and as

[[Page 66391]]

otherwise stated in 38 CFR 62.33 and 38 CFR 62.34.
    G. Guidance for the Use of Supportive Services Grant Funds: 
Grantees are expected to demonstrate adoption of evidence-based 
practices most likely to lead to reductions in homelessness or, in 
communities that have successfully ended homelessness among veterans as 
defined by the USICH's Federal Criteria and Benchmarks, maintain gains 
that have been made in ending homelessness among Veterans. As part of 
their application, the applying organization's Executive Director must 
certify on behalf of the agency that they will actively participate in 
community planning efforts and operate the rapid re-housing component 
of their SSVF grant in a manner consistent with the Homelessness 
Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Best Practice Standards found at the 
following link: https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/fidelity_tool_ssvf_standards.Housing is not contingent 
on compliance with mandated therapies or services; instead, 
participants must comply with a standard lease agreement and be 
provided with the services and supports that are necessary to help them 
do so successfully.
    Grantees must develop plans that will ensure that veteran 
participants have the level of income and economic stability needed to 
remain in permanent housing after the conclusion of the SSVF 
intervention. Both employment and benefits assistance from VA and non-
VA sources represent a significant underutilized source of income 
stability for homeless veterans. Income is not a pre-condition for 
housing. Case management should include income maximization strategies 
to ensure households have access to benefits, employment and financial 
counseling. The complexity of program rules and the stigma some 
associate with entitlement programs contribute to their lack of use. 
For this reason, grantees are encouraged to consider strategies that 
can lead to prompt and successful access to employment and benefits 
that are essential to retaining housing. Consistent with 38 CFR 62.30-
62.34, grantees are expected to offer the following supportive 
services: Counseling participants about housing; assisting participants 
in understanding leases; securing utilities; making moving 
arrangements; providing representative payee services concerning rent 
and utilities when needed; using health care navigation services to 
help participants access health and mental health care; providing legal 
services; and providing mediation and outreach to property owners 
related to locating or retaining housing. Grantees may also assist 
participants by providing rental assistance, security or utility 
deposits, moving costs, emergency housing, or general housing stability 
assistance; or using other Federal resources, such as the HUD Emergency 
Solutions Grants Program (ESG), or supportive services grant funds 
subject to the limitations described in this NOFO and 38 CFR 62.34.
    1. As SSVF is a short-term crisis intervention, grantees must 
develop plans that will produce sufficient income or supports to 
sustain veteran participants in permanent housing after the conclusion 
of the initial SSVF intervention. Grantees must ensure the availability 
of employment and vocational services either through the direct 
provision of these services or their availability through formal or 
informal service agreements. Agreements with Homeless Veteran 
Reintegration Programs funded by the U.S. Department of Labor are 
strongly encouraged. For participants unable to work due to disability, 
income must be established through available benefits programs.
    2. Per 38 CFR 62.33, grantees must assist participants in obtaining 
public benefits. Grantees must screen all participants for eligibility 
for a broad range of entitlements such as Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families (TANF), Social Security, the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the 
Earned Income Tax Credit and local General Assistance programs. 
Grantees are expected to access the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration's Supplemental Security Income/Social Security 
Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) 
program directly by training staff and providing the service or 
subcontracting services to an organization to provide SOAR services. In 
addition, where available, grantees should access information 
technology tools to support case managers in their efforts to link 
participants to benefits.
    3. In accordance with 38 CFR 62.33(g), grantees must provide, or 
assist participants in obtaining, legal services relevant to issues 
that interfere with the participants' ability to obtain or retain 
permanent housing or supportive services. (NOTE: Information regarding 
legal services provided may be protected from being released to the 
grantee or VA under attorney-client privilege, although the grantee 
must provide sufficient information to demonstrate the frequency and 
type of service delivered.) Support for legal services can include 
paying for court filing fees to assist a participant with issues that 
interfere with the participant's ability to obtain or retain permanent 
housing or supportive services, including issues that affect the 
participant's employability and financial security. Grantees (in 
addition to employees and members of grantees) may represent 
participants before VA with respect to a claim for VA benefits, but 
only if they are recognized for that purpose pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 
Chapter 59. Further, the individual providing such representation must 
be accredited pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Chapter 59.
    4. Access to mental health and addiction services is required by 
SSVF; however, grantees cannot fund these services directly through the 
SSVF grant. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to promote rapid 
access to and engagement with mental health and addiction services for 
the veteran and family members. Grantees are required to provide health 
care navigation services that aid participants in accessing these 
health and mental health care services.
    5. When serving participants who are residing in permanent housing, 
the defining question to ask is: ``Would this individual or family be 
homeless but for this assistance?'' The grantee must use a VA-approved 
screening tool with criteria that target those most at-risk of 
homelessness. To qualify for SSVF services, a participant who is served 
under 38 CFR 62.11(a) (homeless prevention) must not have sufficient 
resources or support networks (e.g., family, friends, faith-based or 
other social networks) immediately available to prevent them from 
becoming homeless. To further qualify for services under 38 CFR 
62.11(a), the grantee must document that the participant meets at least 
one of the following conditions:
    (a) Has moved because of economic reasons two or more times during 
the 60 days immediately preceding the application for homelessness 
prevention assistance;
    (b) Is living in the home of another because of economic hardship;
    (c) Has been notified in writing that their right to occupy their 
current housing or living situation will be terminated within 21 days 
after the date of application for assistance;
    (d) Lives in a hotel or motel, and the cost of the hotel or motel 
stay is not paid by charitable organizations or by Federal, State, or 
local government programs for low-income individuals;
    (e) Is exiting a publicly funded institution or system of care 
(such as a health care facility, a mental health

[[Page 66392]]

facility, or correctional institution) without a stable housing plan; 
or
    (f) Otherwise lives in housing that has characteristics associated 
with instability and an increased risk of homelessness, as identified 
in the recipient's approved screening tool.
    6. SSVF grantees are required to participate in local planning 
efforts designed to end veteran homelessness. Grantees may use grant 
funds to support SSVF involvement in such community planning by sub-
contracting with CoCs, when such funding is essential, to create or 
sustain the development of these data driven plans.
    7. When other funds from community resources are not readily 
available to assist program participants, grantees may choose to 
utilize supportive services grants, to the extent described in this 
NOFO and in 38 CFR 62.33 and 62.34, to provide temporary financial 
assistance. Such assistance may, subject to the limitations in this 
NOFO and 38 CFR part 62, be paid directly to a third party on behalf of 
a participant for child care, transportation, family emergency housing 
assistance, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, security 
or utility deposits, moving costs and general housing stability 
assistance as necessary.
    8. SSVF requires grantees to offer Rapid Resolution (also known as 
diversion or problem solving) services. These services engage veterans 
immediately before or after they become homeless and assist them to 
avoid continued homelessness. These efforts can reduce the trauma and 
expense associated with extended periods of homelessness, and the 
strain on the crisis response and affordable housing resources in the 
community. Through Rapid Resolution, the grantee and the veteran 
explore safe, alternative housing options immediately before or quickly 
after they become homeless. Rapid Resolution can identify an immediate 
safe place to stay within the veteran's network of family, friends, or 
other social networks. All veterans requesting SSVF services should 
have a Rapid Resolution screening and if not appropriate for Rapid 
Resolution grantees should then assess the veteran for other SSVF 
services. More information about Rapid Resolution can be found at 
www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.

II. Award Information

    A. Overview: This NOFO announces the availability of funds for 
supportive services grants under the SSVF Program and pertains to 
proposals for renewal of existing supportive services grant programs.
    B. Funding: The funding priorities for this NOFO are as follows.
    1. Priority 1: Under Priority 1, VA will provide funding to those 
grantees with 3-year CARF accreditations, 4-year COA accreditations, or 
3-year JC accreditations. Proof of accreditation must be submitted with 
the application no later than the application due date. Grantees 
previously awarded a 3-year grant that is not scheduled to end by 
September 30, 2022, cannot apply under this NOFO but are required to 
submit a letter of intent (LOI) by the NOFO deadline indicating their 
intention of continuing SSVF services in fiscal year (FY) 2023. All 
grantees submitting a LOI must include a letter of support from the CoC 
(see Section II.C.9.) and a proposed budget for FY 2023. Priority 1 
grantees submitting a LOI must also submit proof of continued 
accreditation.
    2. Priority 2. Priority 2 includes other existing grantees seeking 
to renew their annual grant awards.
    Both Priority 1 and 2 applicants must apply using the renewal 
application. To be eligible for renewal of a supportive services grant, 
the Priority 1 and 2 applicants' program must be substantially the same 
as the program of the grantees' current grant award. Renewal 
applications can request funding that is equal to or less than their 
current annualized award. If sufficient funding is available, VA may 
provide an increase of up to 2% from the previous year's award. Any 
percentage increase, if provided, will be awarded uniformly to all 
grant recipients regardless of their grant award.
    3. Priority 3. Under Priority 3, VA will accept applications for 
new funding. Priority 3 applicants must apply using the application 
materials designated for new applicants. The availability and maximum 
awards are limited to those amounts specified for communities listed in 
Table 1. Eligible entities can submit only 1 application nationally 
under Priority 3. Funding for any Priority 3 applicant is limited to 
the maximum funding available for a single CoC, though applicants can 
propose to serve adjacent CoCs and include the combined maximum award 
totals into a single grant. For example, an eligible entity may elect 
to target CoCs CA-510 and CA-511 for its only allowable Priority 3 
application as these CoCs are adjacent. As the maximum available 
funding for CA-510 and CA-511 is each $1 million, the applicant can 
submit a single application to serve both of these areas for up to $2 
million. Priority 3 applications cannot exceed a total of $2 million 
even if adjacent CoCs are combined.

             Table 1--Priority 3 Areas Eligible for Funding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Maximum award
       State                        CoC                    (dollars)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA.................  (CA-600) Los Angeles City &               2,000,000
                      County CoC.
WA.................  (WA-500) Seattle/King County CoC          2,000,000
CA.................  (CA-502) Oakland, Berkeley/               2,000,000
                      Alameda County CoC.
CA.................  (CA-501) San Francisco CoC......          2,000,000
CA.................  (CA-503) Sacramento City &                2,000,000
                      County CoC.
CO.................  (CO-503) Metropolitan Denver CoC          2,000,000
AZ.................  (AZ-502) Phoenix, Mesa/Maricopa           2,000,000
                      County CoC.
IL.................  (IL-510) Chicago CoC............          2,000,000
WA.................  (WA-501) Washington Balance of            2,000,000
                      State CoC.
CA.................  (CA-514) Fresno City & County/            2,000,000
                      Madera County CoC.
CA.................  (CA-602) Santa Ana, Anaheim/              2,000,000
                      Orange County CoC.
IN.................  (IN-502) Indiana Balance of               2,000,000
                      State CoC.
TX.................  (TX-503) Austin/Travis County             2,000,000
                      CoC.
FL.................  (FL-502) St. Petersburg,                  1,000,000
                      Clearwater, Largo/Pinellas
                      County CoC.
FL.................  (FL-600) Miami-Dade County CoC..          1,000,000
FL.................  (FL-601) Ft Lauderdale/Broward            1,000,000
                      County CoC.
IN.................  (IN-503) Indianapolis CoC.......          1,000,000
CA.................  (CA-603) Santa Maria/Santa                1,000,000
                      Barbara County CoC.
CO.................  (CO-500) Colorado Balance of              1,000,000
                      State CoC.

[[Page 66393]]

 
FL.................  (FL-507) Orlando/Orange,                  1,000,000
                      Osceola, Seminole Counties CoC.
FL.................  (FL-510) Jacksonville-Duval,              1,000,000
                      Clay Counties CoC.
CA.................  (CA-606) Long Beach CoC.........          1,000,000
MT.................  (MT-500) Montana Statewide CoC..          1,000,000
OH.................  (OH-507) Ohio Balance of State            1,000,000
                      CoC.
WA.................  (WA-503) Tacoma, Lakewood/Pierce          1,000,000
                      County CoC.
WI.................  (WI-500) Wisconsin Balance of             1,000,000
                      State CoC.
OK.................  (OK-502) Oklahoma City CoC......          1,000,000
CA.................  (CA-511) Stockton/San Joaquin             1,000,000
                      County CoC.
NM.................  (NM-500) Albuquerque CoC........          1,000,000
NJ.................  (NJ-503) Camden City & County/            1,000,000
                      Gloucester, Cape May,
                      Cumberland Counties CoC.
NC.................  (NC-505) Charlotte/Mecklenburg            1,000,000
                      County CoC.
AR.................  (AR-501) Fayetteville/Northwest           1,000,000
                      Arkansas CoC.
CA.................  (CA-510) Turlock, Modesto/                1,000,000
                      Stanislaus County CoC.
NM.................  (NM-501) New Mexico Balance of            1,000,000
                      State CoC.
CA.................  (CA-604) Bakersfield/Kern County          1,000,000
                      CoC.
CA.................  (CA-604) Marin County CoC.......          1,000,000
FL.................  (FL-605) West Palm Beach/Palm             1,000,000
                      Beach County CoC.
OH.................  (OH-503) Columbus/Franklin                1,000,000
                      County CoC.
PA.................  (PA-509) Eastern Pennsylvania             1,000,000
                      CoC.
MO.................  (MO-606) Missouri Balance of                750,000
                      State CoC.
FL.................  (FL-511) Pensacola/Escambia,                750,000
                      Santa Rosa Counties CoC.
DE.................  (DE-500) Delaware Statewide CoC.            750,000
VA.................  (VA-500) Richmond/Henrico,                  750,000
                      Chesterfield, Hanover Counties
                      CoC.
CA.................  (CA-513) Visalia/Kings, Tulare              750,000
                      Counties CoC.
CA.................  (CA-515) Roseville, Rocklin/                750,000
                      Placer, Nevada Counties.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    C. Allocation of Funds: Funding will be awarded under this NOFO to 
existing grantees for a 1-year (Priority 2 and 3) or a 3-year period 
(Priority 1) beginning October 1, 2022. The following requirements 
apply to supportive services grants awarded under this NOFO:
    1. In response to this NOFO, only existing grantees can apply as 
Priority 1 or 2 applicants. New applicants apply under Priority 3.
    2. Priority 1 and 2 renewal grant requests cannot exceed the 
current award.
    3. If a Priority 1 or 2 applicant is not renewed, all existing SSVF 
grants made to the non-renewed grantee, including awards made to 
support 62.34(a), will be discontinued on September 30, 2022.
    4. Priority 3 applicants cannot request funding that exceeds the 
amount listed in Table 1 as the Maximum Award. If an applicant proposes 
to serve adjacent CoCs in a single application, the maximum award is 
the lesser amount of those combined Maximum Awards listed in Table 1 or 
$2 million.
    5. Priority 1 and 2 applicants may request an amount less than 
their current award (this will not be considered a substantial change 
to the program).
    6. If a grantee failed to use all of awarded funds in the previous 
fiscal year (FY 2020) or had unspent funds returned to VA in FY 2021, 
VA may elect to limit the renewal award to the amount of funds used in 
the previous fiscal year or in the current fiscal year less the money 
swept.
    7. If, during the course of the grant year, VA determines that 
Priority 1 and 2 grantee spending is not meeting the minimum percentage 
milestones below, VA may elect to recoup projected unused funds and 
reprogram such funds to provide supportive services in areas with 
higher need. Should VA elect to recoup unspent funds, reductions in 
available grant funds would take place the first business day following 
the end of the quarter. VA may elect to recoup funds under the 
following circumstances:
    (a) By the end of the first quarter (December 31, 2022) of the 
grantee's supportive services annualized grant award period, the 
grantee's cumulative requests for supportive services grant funds are 
less than an amount equal to 15% of total supportive services grant 
award. (During this same period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 35% of the total 
supportive services grant award.)
    (b) By the end of the second quarter (March 31, 2023) of the 
grantee's supportive services annualized grant award period, the 
grantee's cumulative requests for supportive services grant funds are 
less than an amount equal to 40% of total supportive services grant 
award. (During this same period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 60% of the total 
supportive services grant award.)
    (c) By the end of the third quarter (June 30, 2023) of the 
grantee's supportive services annualized grant award period, the 
grantee's cumulative requests for supportive services grant funds are 
less than an amount equal to 65% of total supportive services grant 
award. (During this same period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 80% of the total 
supportive services grant award).
    8. Applicants should fill out separate applications for each 
supportive services funding request.
    9. Priority 1 and 2 applicants who fail to provide a letter of 
support from at least one of the CoCs they plan to serve will be 
eligible for renewal funding at a level no greater than 90% of their 
previous award. Priority 3 applicants must provide a letter of support 
from the CoC they are requesting funding to serve to be considered for 
an award. Applicants are responsible for determining who in each 
serviced CoC is authorized to provide such letters of support. This 
requirement applies to all applicants, including existing multi-year 
grantees that are only required to submit a LOI in response to this 
NOFO. In order to meet this requirement and allow the applicant to be 
eligible for full funding, letters must include the following:

[[Page 66394]]

    (a) A detailed description of the applicant's participation in the 
CoC's Coordinated Entry process or planning activities and overall 
community planning efforts (for instance, confirmation of applicant's 
active participation in planning coordinated entry, commitment to 
participating in coordinated entry, hours spent on CoC-sponsored 
committee or workgroup assignments and names of said committees or 
workgroups).
    (b) The applicant's contribution to the CoC's coordinated entry 
process capacity building efforts, detailing the specific nature of 
this contribution (for instance, the hours of staff time and/or the 
amount of funding provided), if such SSVF capacity has been requested 
by the CoC or otherwise has shown to be of value to the CoC.
    10. Should additional funding become available over the course of 
the grant term from funds recouped under the Award Information section 
of this Notice, funds that are voluntarily returned by grantees, funds 
that become available due to a grant termination, or other funds still 
available for grant awards, VA may elect to offer these funds to 
grantees in areas where demand has exceeded available SSVF resources. 
Additional funds will be provided first to the highest scoring grantee 
in the selected area who is in compliance with their grant agreement 
and has the capacity to utilize the additional funds.
    D. Supportive Services Grant Award Period: Priority 2 and 3 grants 
are made for a 1-year period, although selected grants may be eligible 
for a 3-year award (see VI.C.6) as Priority 1 awards. All grants are 
eligible to be renewed subject to the availability of funding.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Applicants: For Priority 1 and 2, only eligible 
entities that are existing grantees with grants scheduled to end by 
September 30, 2022, can apply in response to this NOFO. For Priority 3, 
eligible entities may apply for up to one new award nationally. These 
applicants can apply to serve CoCs identified in Table 1. Applicants 
can request a maximum award dependent of the CoC where they are 
applying to provide SSVF services. These maximums are also listed in 
Table 1.
    B. Cost Sharing or Matching: None.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Obtaining an Application Package: Applications are located at 
www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf. Any questions regarding this process should 
be referred to the SSVF Program Office via email at [email protected]. For 
detailed SSVF Program information and requirements, see 38 CFR part 62.
    B. Content and Form of Application: Applicants must submit 
applications electronically following instructions found at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.
    C. Submission Dates and Times: Applications for supportive services 
grants under the SSVF Program must be received by the SSVF Program 
Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 7, 2022. Awards made for 
supportive services grants will fund operations beginning October 1, 
2022. Applications must arrive as a complete package. Materials 
arriving separately will not be included in the application package for 
consideration and may result in the application being rejected. 
Additionally, in the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, 
this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will treat as 
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the 
deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make 
early submission of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of 
eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays, computer service 
outages, or other delivery-related problems.
    E. Funding Restrictions: Funding will be awarded for existing 
supportive services grants under this NOFO depending on funding 
availability. Priority 1 and 2 applicants should fill out separate 
applications for each supportive services funding request. Priority 1 
and 2 applicants must use applications designated for renewal 
applicants. Priority 3 applicants must submit an application designated 
for new applicants. Funding will be awarded under this NOFO to existing 
grantees beginning October 1, 2022.
    1. Funding used for staff education and training cannot exceed 1% 
of the overall program grant award. This limitation does not include 
the cost to attend VA mandated training. All training costs must be 
directly related to the provision of services to homeless veterans and 
their families.
    2. Expenses related to maintaining accreditation are allowable. 
Grantees are allowed to include expenses for seeking initial 
accreditation only once in a 5-year period. The expenses to renew full 
accreditation are allowed and are based on the schedule of the 
accrediting agency: For instance, every 3 years for CARF and every 4 
years for COA. Expenses related to the renewal of less than full 
accreditation are not allowed.
    F. Other Submission Requirements:
    1. Existing applicants applying for Priority 1 or 2 grants may 
apply only as renewal applicants using the application designed for 
renewal grants.
    2. New applicants applying for Priority 3 grants may apply only as 
new applicants using the application designed for new grants.
    3. At the discretion of VA, multiple grant proposals submitted by 
the same lead agency may be combined into a single grant award if the 
proposals provide services to contiguous areas.
    4. Additional supportive services grant application requirements 
are specified in the application package. Submission of an incorrect or 
incomplete application package will result in the application being 
rejected during threshold review. The application packages must contain 
all required forms and certifications. Selections will be made based on 
criteria described in 38 CFR part 62 and this NOFO. Applicants and 
grantees will be notified of any additional information needed to 
confirm or clarify information provided in the application and the 
deadline by which to submit such information. Applicants must submit 
applications electronically. Applications may not be mailed, hand 
carried, or sent by facsimile.

V. Application Review Information

    A. Criteria:
    1. VA will only score applicants that meet the threshold 
requirements described in 38 CFR 62.21.
    2. VA will use the criteria described in 38 CFR 62.24 to score 
grantees applying for renewal (Priority 1 and 2) of a supportive 
services grant.
    3. VA will use the criteria described in 38 CFR 62.22 to score 
grantees applying for a new supportive services grant (Priority 3).
    B. Review and Selection Process: VA will review all supportive 
services renewal grant applications in response to this NOFO according 
to the following steps:
    1. Score all applications that meet the threshold requirements 
described in 38 CFR 62.21.
    2. Rank those applications that score at least 75 cumulative points 
and receive at least one point under each of the categories identified 
for renewal applicants in 38 CFR 62.24. The applications will be ranked 
in order from highest to lowest scores in accordance with 38 CFR 62.25 
for renewal applicants.
    3. VA will utilize the ranked scores of applications as the primary 
basis for selection. However, VA will also utilize the following 
considerations in 38 CFR 62.23(d) to select applicants for funding:
    (a) Give preference to applications that provide or coordinate the 
provision

[[Page 66395]]

of supportive services for very low-income veteran families 
transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Consistent with 
this preference, where other funds from community resources are not 
readily available for temporary financial assistance, applicants are 
required to spend no less than 60% of all budgeted temporary financial 
assistance on participants occupying permanent housing as defined in 38 
CFR 62.11. Waivers to this 60% requirement may be requested when 
grantees can demonstrate significant local progress towards eliminating 
homelessness in the target service area. Waiver requests must include 
data from authoritative sources such as USICH certification, that a 
community has ended homelessness as defined by Federal Benchmarks and 
Criteria or has reached Community Solution's Functional Zero. Waivers 
for the 60% requirement may also be requested for services provided to 
rural Indian tribal areas and other rural areas where shelter capacity 
is insufficient to meet local need. Waiver requests must include an 
endorsement by the impacted CoC explicitly stating that a shift in 
resources from rapid re-housing to prevention will not result in an 
increase in homelessness.
    (b) To the extent practicable, ensure that supportive services 
grants are equitably distributed across geographic regions, including 
rural communities and tribal lands. This equitable distribution 
criteria will be used to ensure that SSVF resources are provided to 
those communities with the highest need as identified by VA's 
assessment of expected demand and available resources to meet that 
demand.
    4. Subject to the considerations noted in paragraph B.3 above, VA 
will fund the highest-ranked applicants for which funding is available.

VI. Award Administration Information

    A. Award Notices: Although subject to change, the SSVF Program 
Office expects to announce grant recipients for all applicants in the 
fourth quarter of FY 2022 with grants beginning October 1, 2022. Prior 
to executing a funding agreement, VA will contact the applicants, to 
inform them of the amount of proposed funding, and verify that the 
applicant is still interested in the funding. Once VA verifies that the 
applicant is still seeking funding, VA will execute an agreement and 
make payments to the grant recipient in accordance with 38 CFR part 62 
and this NOFO.
    B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
    As SSVF grants cannot be used to fund treatment for mental health 
or substance use disorders, applicants must provide evidence that they 
can provide access to such services to all program participants through 
formal and informal agreements with community providers.
    C. Reporting: VA places great emphasis on the responsibility and 
accountability of grantees. As described in 38 CFR 62.63 and 62.71, VA 
has procedures in place to monitor supportive services provided to 
participants and outcomes associated with the supportive services 
provided under the SSVF Program. Applicants should be aware of the 
following:
    1. Upon execution of a supportive services grant agreement with VA, 
grantees will have a VA regional coordinator assigned by the SSVF 
Program Office who will provide oversight and monitor supportive 
services provided to participants.
    2. Grantees will be required to enter data into a Homeless 
Management Information System (HMIS) web-based software application. 
This data will consist of information on the participants served and 
types of supportive services provided by grantees. Grantees must treat 
the data for activities funded by the SSVF Program separate from that 
of activities funded by other programs. Grantees will be required to 
work with their HMIS Administrators to export client-level data for 
activities funded by the SSVF Program to VA on at least a monthly 
basis. The completeness and quality of grantee uploads into HMIS will 
be factored into the evaluation of their grant performance.
    3. VA will complete annual monitoring evaluations of each grantee. 
Monitoring will also include the submittal of quarterly and annual 
financial and performance reports by the grantee. The grantee will be 
expected to demonstrate adherence to the grantee's proposed program, as 
described in the grantee's application. All grantees are subject to 
audits conducted by VA or its representative.
    4. Grantees will be assessed based on their ability to meet 
critical performance measures. In addition to meeting program 
requirements defined by the regulations and applicable NOFO(s), 
grantees will be assessed on their ability to place participants into 
housing and the housing retention rates of participants served. Higher 
placement for homeless participants and higher housing retention rates 
for at-risk participants are expected for very low-income veteran 
families when compared to extremely low-income veteran families with 
incomes below 30% of the area median income.
    5. Grantees' performance will be assessed based on their consumer 
satisfaction scores. These scores include the participation rates and 
results of both the standardized survey offered to all participant 
households and unannounced visits to assess screening and intake 
procedures (commonly known as a mystery shopper program).
    6. Organizations receiving renewal awards that have had ongoing 
SSVF program operation for at least 1 year (as measured from the start 
of initial SSVF services until February 7, 2022) may be eligible for a 
3-year award. Grantees meeting outcome goals defined by VA and in 
substantial compliance with their grant agreements (defined by meeting 
targets and having no outstanding corrective action plans) and who, in 
addition, receive 3-year accreditation from CARF in Employment and 
Community Services: Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention standards, 
a 4-year accreditation from COA in Supported Community Living Services, 
or a 3-year accreditation in The Joint Commission's Behavioral Health 
Care: Housing Support Services Standards are eligible for a 3-year 
grant renewal subject to funding availability. (NOTE: Multi-year awards 
are contingent on funding availability). If awarded a multiple year 
renewal, grantees may be eligible for funding increases as defined in 
NOFOs that correspond to years 2 and 3 of their renewal funding.

VII. Other Information

    A. VA Goals and Objectives for Funds Awarded Under this NOFO: In 
accordance with 38 CFR 62.24(c), VA will evaluate an applicant's 
compliance with VA goals and requirements for the SSVF Program. VA 
goals and requirements include the provision of supportive services 
designed to enhance the housing stability and independent living skills 
of very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing across 
geographic regions and program administration in accordance with all 
applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines. For purposes of this 
NOFO, VA goals and requirements also include the provision of 
supportive services designed to rapidly re-house or prevent 
homelessness among people in the following target populations who also 
meet all requirements for being part of a very low-income veteran 
family occupying permanent housing:
    1. Veteran families earning less than 30% of area median income as 
most recently published by HUD for programs under section 8 of the 
United States

[[Page 66396]]

Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (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, or a county not currently served by a SSVF grantee.
    5. Veteran families located in a community, as defined by HUD's 
CoC, where the current level of SSVF services is not sufficient to meet 
demand of Category 2 and 3 (currently homeless) veteran families.
    6. Veteran families located in a rural area.
    7. Veteran families located on Indian Tribal Property.
    B. Payments of Supportive Services Grant Funds: Grantees will 
receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services Payment Management System. Grantees will have the 
ability to request payments as frequently as they choose subject to the 
following limitations:
    1. During the first quarter of the grantee's supportive services 
annualized grant award period, the grantee's cumulative requests for 
supportive services grant funds may not exceed 35% of the total 
supportive services grant award without written approval by VA.
    2. By the end of the second quarter of the grantee's supportive 
services annualized grant award period, the grantee's cumulative 
requests for supportive services grant funds may not exceed 6% of the 
total supportive services grant award without written approval by VA.
    3. By the end of the third quarter of the grantee's supportive 
services annualized grant award period, the grantee's cumulative 
requests for supportive services grant funds may not exceed 80% of the 
total supportive services grant award without written approval by VA.
    4. By the end of the fourth quarter of the grantee's supportive 
services annualized grant award period, the grantee's cumulative 
requests for supportive services grant funds may not exceed 100% of the 
total supportive services grant award.

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on November 16, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign 
and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-25463 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P