Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a) The department shall issue one or more
request for proposals and shall solicit proposals from potential applicants for
funding under this Part. These requests shall provide for the submission of
applications in a form prescribed by the department. Applications shall contain
information sufficient to show compliance with all applicable criteria for
award of contracts set forth in the statute, these regulations and the request
for proposals.
(b) From among
applicants found eligible in accordance with applicable law and the provisions
of this Part, the commissioner shall, within the limits of available funds,
award contracts for homeless housing projects.
(c) Any proposed project which requires a
license from any State agency shall be sent to that agency for a review and
recommendation to the commissioner. No award shall be made to a proposed
licensed project which is not recommended by a certifying agency, in accordance
with the standards of that agency.
(d) Without limiting the power of the
commissioner to select such projects as will best carry out the purposes of the
applicable statutes, contract awards shall, in general, be based on the
following criteria:
(1) the extent to which
housing for the homeless is needed in a community;
(2) the degree of community support for and
participation in the proposed projects;
(3) the experience of the applicant in
developing or managing housing, providing supportive services, and dealing with
the specified target population of homeless persons;
(4) the feasibility of early implementation
of the project, as evidenced by site control of the proposed project location,
provision of details of the renovation plan, cost projections, sources of
figures and a timetable for completion, including, at the department's
discretion, architectural drawings and specifications where
appropriate;
(5) the reasonableness
of the project cost with preference given to projects that minimize acquisition
costs and maximize the number of units produced per State dollar
expended;
(6) the financial
feasibility of operating, over the seven-year period specified in the contract,
without additional State subsidies;
(7) the appropriateness of plans for tenant
selection to serve a mixed or specifically identified population, consistent
with the intent of the homeless housing program and the interest and need of
the community; such population(s) may include, but is (are) not limited to:
families, youth, singles, elderly persons, abused persons, substance abusers,
alcoholics/alcohol abusers and the mentally disabled who are
homeless;
(8) clustered sites or
multiple sites in close proximity may be considered as one project;
(9) proposals which seek funds for opening or
expanding emergency or transitional shelters shall be considered provided that
there be reasonable expectation of placement in decent, affordable long-term
housing at the end of the shelter stay; and that such placement be a service of
the shelter; and
(10) evidence,
when hiring contractors, of employing neighborhood residents who are unemployed
or not fully employed; and evidence that the applicant promotes both
affirmative action in employment and use of minority contractors.
(e) In addition to the above
criteria, and without limiting the power of the commissioner to select such
projects as will best carry out the purposes of the applicable statutes,
preference will be given to:
(1) projects
that increase the number of permanent housing units for the homeless through
construction of innovative use and rehabilitation of existing structures that
will not cause displacement of present tenants;
(2) projects that propose innovative and
cost-effective support service components which are appropriate to the needs of
the population to be served;
(3)
projects that enhance the use of the Homeless Housing and Assistance Fund by
providing for nonhousing services wherever appropriate from other funding
sources or through linkages with existing community providers;
(4) applicants who are working with local
municipalities which will provide additional financial or in-kind
services;
(5) projects that made
use of publicly owned property which is currently available for disposition and
can be transferred or leased for a minimal amount; and
(6) projects that involve other sources of
funds (municipal, Federal or any other source other than the State), in-kind
contributions made by such sources, or involve projects receiving State
financial assistance pursuant to chapters 339 and 549 of the Laws of 1982, in
order to maximize the effect of State financial assistance.
