FY2015 HUD CoC Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness

Transcription

1 FY2015 HUD CoC Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness

2 Contents What's New (pg. 3) Project Ranking (pg. 17) Match and Leverage Resources (pg. 25) Timeline (pg. 32) Useful Links (pg. 34) TCP Staff Contact Information (pg. 36) 2

3 WHAT S NEW 3

4 What s New A More Competitive Process (pg. 5) Implementing Strategies Consistent with Opening Doors (pg. 6) Bonus Project (pg. 11) Project Quality Threshold (pg. 13) Supportive Services Budget (pg. 16) Project Application (pg. 17) 4

5 A More Competitive Process While HUD believes that it has sufficient funding for FY 2015 to award all renewal projects, it continues to implement a tiered funding strategy. What this means for the CoC: Tier 1 will be a smaller percentage than in years past; The process for selecting projects from Tier 2 will be much more competitive; Whether a project is funded will depend much more on the performance of the CoC and the qualities of the project; and HUD expects the CoC to evaluate its performance and identifying lower priority projects that will be reallocated to create permanent housing projects. 5

6 Implementing Strategies Consistent with Opening Doors In FY 2015, HUD will more aggressively promote the strategies outlined in Opening Doors. This includes demonstrating progress towards HUD s policy priorities, which include: Strategic Resource Allocation; Ending Chronic Homelessness; Ending Family Homelessness; Ending Veteran Homelessness; Ending Youth Homelessness; and Implementing Housing First Approaches. As we get closer to the target dates for the Federal goals of ending family and youth homelessness, there is an increased emphasis on implementing these strategies during the competition. 6

7 Implementing Strategies Consistent with Opening Doors Every project must support at least one of HUD s policy priorities, and every Project Application must explicitly state how the project supports one or more of HUD s policy priorities. Last year s Project Applications did not adequately address this, so TCP is providing guidance around how projects might support each the policy priorities. 7

8 Implementing Strategies Consistent Strategic Resource Allocation: with Opening Doors HMIS Participation: Every project that contributes data to the HMIS supports this policy priority, because by contributing the the HMIS projects are contributing to the dataset the CoC has for measuring performance and outcomes as well as to the data set the CoC uses to make decisions about how resources are allocated. Maximizing Use of Mainstream Resources: Where homeless services projects are providing specialized services (such as employment services, substance abuse treatment services, mental health services), HUD s expectation is that they are coordinating with the District Agencies that oversee these services in our community. Providers who can demonstrate such coordination support this policy priority. Similarly, providers that use mainstream resources like Medicaid to pay for services support this policy priority. Leveraging Resources Through Partnerships: Any project that is supported by DHS or other District Government funding or that is supported by private funding supports this policy priority. Similarly, any project that leverages its community relationships to secure services that meet the needs of its clients supports this policy priority. Please Note: You will need to provide documentation (see Match and Leverage Resources on pg. 24). Reviewing the Efficacy of Transitional Housing: Any Transitional Housing project that participated in the CoC s Transitional Housing analysis project supports this policy priority. 8

9 Implementing Strategies Consistent with Opening Doors Ending Chronic Homelessness: Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Every PSH project should exclusively serve clients who are Chronically Homeless, and therefore support this policy priority. Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement (CAHP) System: Every project that participates in CAHP (also know as coordinated intake), helps ensure that vacancies in PSH are reserved for persons and families experiencing Chronic Homelessness, and therefore supports this policy priority. Ending Family Homelessness: Every project serving families supports this policy priority Ending Veteran Homelessness: Every project with units/beds designated for veterans supports this policy priority. Ending Youth Homelessness: Every project with units/beds designated for minors or transition aged youth supports this policy priority. 9

10 Implementing Strategies Consistent with Opening Doors Implementing Housing First Approaches: Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH): HUD Requires that all PSH and RRH programs operate according to the Housing First Model; therefore, all PSH and RRH programs should support this policy priority. Participation in CAHP: All projects participating in the District s CAHP system are helping to remove barriers to program entry and helping to ensure that individuals and families are matched to housing and services based on their assessed needs, and therefore support this policy priority. 10

11 Bonus Project HUD is accepting applications for Bonus Projects. Each CoC may submit an application for a Bonus Project that will be included in its Consolidated Application. TCP is seeking proposals for Bonus Projects from providers from which it will work with the District of Columbia Interagency Council on Homelessness (DCICH), in its role as the CoC Board, to select the Bonus Project application the CoC will put forward. 11

12 Bonus Project Bonus Project proposals must be for Permanent Supportive Housing projects that meet the following criteria: The project will exclusively serve chronically homeless households, including individuals, families, and unaccompanied youth; Households served in the project will all come directly from the streets, emergency shelter, or are fleeing domestic violence; and The project will be a new project. 12

13 Project Quality Threshold HUD is requiring that the CoC consider the need to continue funding each expiring project. Renewals must meet minimum project eligibility, capacity, timely expenditures, and performance standards. HUD s expectation is that projects that do not meet the minimum threshold will be rejected from consideration for funding. 13

14 Project Quality Threshold When considering renewal projects for award, HUD will review information in LOCCS, APRs, and information provided by the local Field Office. It will also assess projects on a pass/fail basis using the following criteria: Whether the project met the goals in the previous application Whether the applicant demonstrated timelines in the expenditure of grant funds; Record of success assisting participants to achieve and maintain independent living; and Whether there is evidence that a project applicant has been unwilling to accept technical assistance, has a history of inadequate financial accounting practices, has indications of project mismanagement, has a drastic reduction in the population served, has made program changes without HUD approval, or has lost a project site. 14

15 Project Quality Threshold HUD reserves the right to reduce or reject a funding request from the project applicant for the following reasons: Outstanding obligation to HUD that is in arrears or for which a payment schedule has not been agreed upon; Audit findings for which a response is overdue or unsatisfactory; History of inadequate financial management accounting practices; Evidence of untimely expenditures on prior a award; History of other major capacity issues that have significantly affected the operation of the project and its performance; History of serving ineligible program participants, expending funds on ineligible costs, or failing to expend funds within statutorily established timeframes. 15

16 Supportive Services Budget The Supportive Services budget in the contains an Operating Costs line. Applicants may only include Operating Costs (maintenance, repair, building security, furniture, utilities, and equipment) in the Supportive Services budget if the costs are for a facility that is used to provide supportive services for participants AND is separate from the housing units. 16

17 Project Application The following forms must be attached to each project application in esnaps: SFS-424: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunities (non-profits only) Organization Code of Conduct HUD Form 2880: Disclosure/Update Report HUD Form 50070: Certification for a Drug Free Workplace HUD Form SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 17

18 PROJECT RANKING 18

19 Project Ranking Annual Renewal Demand and Tier 1 and 2 Ranking (pg. 20) Ranking Criteria (pg. 22) Tier 2 Notification (23) Ranking and HUD Funding Priorities (pg. 24) 19

20 Annual Renewal Demand and Tiered Ranking The Annual Renewal Demand (ARD) is equal to all renewing grants and the Permanent Housing Bonus Project. Tier one is equal to 85 percent of the ARD; and Tier two is equal to 15 percent of the ARD. Projects in Tier 1 will be prioritized for renewal and Projects in Tier 2 will be renewed based on availability of funding and the strength of the overall application. 20

21 Annual Renewal Demand and Tiered Ranking For example, if: The CoC s renewing grants totaled to $22,000,000; The CoC chose a Bonus Project with a budget of $400,000 The CoC s ARD would be $22,400,000 In this example above the CoC s Tier 1/Tier 2 split would look like this: Tier 2, $3,360, Tier 1, $19,040,

22 Ranking Criteria Criteria Total possible value Details 1. Data quality 50 % of fields complete on Client Profile HMIS Data Entry (i.e. 90% completeness = score of 45) 2. Income For Transitional Housing (TH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) % of adults to increase income 100 % of adult program participants whose income increased while in program (i.e. 45% of adults increase income = score of 45) OR For Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), % adults to increase or maintain income 3. Exits to Permanent Housing or Stability in Permanent Housing For TH and RRH % of households exiting to permanent destinations OR For PSH, % of households to remain in PSH or exit to a permanent destination 4. Recidivism For TH, RRH, and PSH % households exiting to permanent destinations that did not return to the CoC. 100 This section is intended to be a reflection of the efforts of permanent housing programs to successfully maintain clients in permanent housing or exit to other permanent destinations. Points are awarded based on this percentage. Since this section is worth 100 points, the percentage achieved will equal points awarded. (i.e. 80% = 80 points) 50 For the purposes of this criterion, if 10% of exiters return there is a 90% success rate. However, since the measure is worth 50 points, the percentage success rate is halved to determine the points awarded. (i.e. 90% success rate = 45 points) 22

23 Tier 2 Notification Providers with projects that are preliminarily selected for Tier 2 will be notified on 10/02/2015. The providers will be given the opportunity to submit a letter to TCP and the CoC Board describing how the project supports HUD s policy priorities, how the project meets a need in the community that would otherwise go unmet if the project were not renewed, and any other relevant information for the CoC Board to consider as it makes it decisions. Letters will be due on 10/09/2015 and should be sent via to Jose Lucio (jlucio@community-partnership.org) and Tom Fredericksen (tfredericksen@community-partership.org). 23

24 Ranking and HUD Funding Priorities TCP will work with the DCICH to rank and tier all projects applying under this NOFA to create the CoC Priority Listing. Within the rank order established by the CoC Priority Listing, HUD will select projects from Tier 1 and Tier 2 in the following order by CoC Score: 1. Renewal PH (includes PSH and RRH) 2. New Reallocated PSH 3. New Reallocated RRH (families) 4. Renewal Safe Havens (no HUD CoC-funded Safe Havens in the District) 5. Renewal TH 6. CoC Planning Costs 7. UFA Costs 8. Supportive Services Only (SSO) Projects for Coordinated Assessment 9. Renewal HMIS 10. All other Renewal SSO Projects 11. Any other project application submitted by the CoC that was not on the HUD-approved GIW 24

25 MATCH AND LEVERAGE 25

26 Match and Leverage Resources HUD CoC program funding is limited and can provide only a portion of the resources needed to successfully address the needs of homeless families and individuals. Meaning, HUD does not intend to be the sole support of any project that it funds. Therefore, HUD requires applicants to use supplemental resources. Match: The HEARTH Act allows for a new, simplified match requirement that includes both cash and in-kind contributions. All eligible funding costs (including admin, but excluding leasing)must be matched with no less than a 25% cash or inkind match. Match must be used for eligible activities as defined by the CoC Program Interim Rule, 24 CFR Part 578, subpart D. Leverage: Leverage includes all funds, resources, and/or services beyond the 25% required match that the applicant can secure to support the project. HUD will score the CoC on project leverage to see what other resources are supporting the projects. Leveraged funds may be used for any program-related costs that make the project fully operational. 26

27 Match and Leverage Resources For example, if a given project has: $100, in leasing; $80, in supportive services; $25, in operating; and $10, in admin For a total HUD CoC budget of $215, Match: This project s Match requirement would be equal to $28, (or 25 percent of the combined total of supportive services, operating, and admin). 27

28 Match and Leverage Resources Leverage: This project s Leverage resources would be any resources beyond the HUD CoC funds and the Match requirement that support the program. If the project receives: $215, in HUD CoC funding $29, in funding from the District Government (this would be documented in the Project Application as Match); and $10, in funding from a private foundation The $10, from the foundation would be documented in the Project application as Leverage. 28

29 Match and Leverage Resources In this example the overall program budget is $254, and would be documented in the Project Application as follows: Private Foundation Funds (Leverage), $10, District Government Contract (Match), $29, HUD CoC Funds, $215,

30 Match and Leverage Resources Sources of Match and Leverage Cash: any funds that come from private or public resources (as long as they are not statutorily prohibited from being used as match/leverage). In-kind: services (counseling, legal advocacy, etc.), physical goods/equipment (food, furniture, clothing, etc.), and real property (donated land or buildings). Items provided directly to and for program participants are not eligible as match/leverage. For example: Not Allowable: Mainstream benefits provided directly to program participants (e.g., SSI/SSDI disability benefits) cannot be used as match/leverage. Allowable: Funds from mainstream resources provided directly to an organization for use in a CoC project (e.g., Medicaid dollars used to pay for services) can be used as match/leverage. PLEASE NOTE: Commitments of land, buildings, and equipment are one-time only and cannot be claimed in more than one competition. For example, donated land claimed in the 2013 competition cannot be claimed as leverage by that project or any other project in subsequent competitions 30

31 Match and Leverage Resources Documentation of Match and Leverage: Documentation must include written verification of the match and leverage amounts and sources and a cover letter on provider letterhead singed by the executive director. Documentation must be dated between July 1, 2015 November 20,

32 TIMELINE 32

33 Timeline 09/30/15: NOFA Provider s Meeting 10/02/15: Providers Notified of Preliminary Tier Ranking 10/05/15 10/09/15: NOFA Training Sessions 10/09/15: Tier 2 letters Due 10/16/15: Bonus Project Proposals Due 10/20/15: Provider Project Applications Due 10/30/15: Providers Notified of Issues and Pending Conditions 10/30/15: TCP Will Notify Providers Whether or Not Their Bonus Project Proposal has been Selected 10/30/15: TCP Will Notify Providers of the CoC Board s Decisions About Tier 1 and Tier 2 Ranking 11/18/15: Final Project Applications Submitted 11/20/15: Final Application Package Submitted to HUD 33

34 USEFUL LINKS 34

35 Useful Links HEARTH Act Interim Rule: Opening Doors: 77fd4- SNAPS+In+Focus%3A+NOFAs+Past+and+Present&utm_medium= &utm_term=0_f32b935a5ff715d77fd Housing First In Permanent Supportive Housing Brief: Housing-Brief.pdf Rapid Rehousing Brief: Brief.pdf Importance of Documenting Match Under the CoC Program Podcast: Homeward DC: StratPlan2.7-Web.pdf A Primer on Using Medicaid for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness and Tenants in Permanent Supportive Housing: 35

36 TCP STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION 36

37 TCP Staff Contact Information Tom Fredericksen, Chief of Policy and Programs Ext. 114 Jose Lucio, Senior Program Officer Ext. 107 Eileen Kroszner, Program Officer Ext