Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year 1994, for the Section 8 Set-Aside for Homeless Veterans With Severe Psychiatric or Substance Abuse Disorders
Federal RegisterJul 14, 1994
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of $18.4 million in FY
1994 budget authority (approximately 700 units) for a national
competition established by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award
funding under the section 8 rental voucher program for homeless
veterans with severe psychiatric or substance abuse disorders. This
notice invites public housing agencies and Indian housing authorities,
hereinafter collectively referred to as housing agencies (HAs), in
conjunction with eligible VA Medical Centers (see Attachment 1) to
submit applications.
This NOFA contains information for the applicants regarding the
allocation of rental voucher budget authority, the application process,
including the application requirements and the deadline for filing
applications, the selection criteria and the application rating,
ranking, and selection process.
DATES: The due date for submission of applications in response to this
NOFA is August 29, 1994. Application forms may be obtained from the
local HUD State and Area Offices/Native American Programs Office.
Applications must be received in the local HUD State and Area Offices/
Native American Programs Office on the due date by 3 p.m. local time.
The local HUD State and Area Offices/Native American Programs Offices
are the official place of receipt for all applications. At the time, or
immediately following the submission of the application to the HUD
State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office, the HA also must
submit a copy of the application for funding under this NOFA to the
following address: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Mr. Gerald J. Benoit, Director, Operations Branch, Rental Assistance
Division, Room 4220, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410.
The above-stated application deadline for submission of completed
applications to the HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs
Office is firm as to date and hour. In the interest of fairness to all
competing HAs, the Department will treat as ineligible for
consideration any application that is not received before the
application 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 or other delivery-
related problems. HUD will not accept applications submitted via
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald J. Benoit, Director, Operations
Branch, Rental Assistance Division, Office of Assisted Housing,
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20410-8000, telephone number (202) 708-0477. Hearing or
speech-impaired individuals may call HUD's TDD number (202) 708-4594.
(These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The information collection requirements contained in this notice
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. OMB has approved the section 8
information collection requirements under the assigned control number
2577-0169.
I. Purpose and Substantive Description
(A) Background
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program for
homeless veterans with severe psychiatric or substance abuse disorders
is a national initiative of HUD and VA. Under this initiative, VA
ongoing case management, health and other supportive services will be
made available for the term of the Section 8 funding at selected sites
to the participants in the HUD-VASH program. The VA services and HUD
rental assistance will support community-based initiatives to provide
rental assistance, and comprehensive health and other supportive
services to homeless veterans suffering from complex, often chronic,
health, mental health and substance abuse problems. The supportive
services will be delivered in conjunction with permanent, affordable
housing.
The goal of the HUD-VASH initiative is to show that appropriate
health and other supportive services combined with decent, safe,
sanitary, and affordable housing, can help homeless veterans with
severe psychiatric or substance abuse disorders lead healthy,
productive lives in the community, and exit from homelessness. This
initiative also promotes the expansion of permanent housing options for
these individuals.
The HUD-VASH initiative is an expansion of previous demonstration
programs on behalf of homeless veterans or mentally ill persons,
including VA's Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) and Domiciliary
Care for the Homeless Veterans (DCHV) programs and the HUD/Robert Wood
Johnson Program for the Chronically Mentally Ill.
The HUD-VASH initiative combines Section 8 rental voucher
assistance provided by HUD to selected HAs with case management and
clinical services provided by VA at its medical centers. Under this
initiative, VA will identify homeless veterans with severe psychiatric
or substance abuse disorders through outreach efforts. The selected
veterans will receive treatment and be medically stabilized, prior to
issuance of the rental assistance. VA will work with HA staff to help
veterans locate suitable private market rental units where the veterans
can be assisted under the rental assistance program. VA will continue
to provide case management services, outpatient health services,
hospitalization and other assistance on a regular basis, as needed.
Veterans involved in this program will continue in the prescribed
treatment programs after they have leased units under the rental
assistance program.
This announcement invites HAs who currently administer a housing
program in areas where eligible VA sites are located to submit
applications for rental voucher funding under this initiative. The
rating of Selection Criteria 2, 3, 4, and 6 will be made by VA and
based on information available from VA's Northeast Program Evaluation
Center (NEPEC) and includes data regularly submitted by VA Medical
Centers in the annual Progress Reports for the HCHV and the DCHV
programs.
(B) Allocation Amounts
Of the amounts made available by the VA, HUD-Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act for FY 1994, up to $18.4 million of budget authority
for the rental voucher program is set-aside for the HUD-VASH program.
This amount will support approximately 700 rental vouchers. Each HA may
apply for funding for at least 25 rental vouchers but not more than 50
rental vouchers per VA Medical Center. An applicant may apply for as
many as 50 rental vouchers if VA Medical Centers commit in a letter to
the HA that the VA Medical Center will provide two professional, full-
time equivalent employees for case management services. An applicant
may apply for 25 rental vouchers if VA Medical Centers commit in a
letter to the HA that the VA Medical Center will provide one
professional, full-time equivalent employee for case management
services.
(C) Eligibility
The eligible VA Medical Centers are listed in Attachment 1 to this
NOFA. The eligible HAs are those which are currently administering a
Section 8 rental assistance program within the catchment area for the
eligible VA Medical Centers. Only one HA per VA Medical Center may
apply for funding, but an HA may apply for rental vouchers for more
than one eligible VA Medical Center if there are multiple VA Medical
Centers within the HA's jurisdiction. Each HA may apply for a maximum
of 50 rental vouchers per VA Medical Center as discussed in Section
II(B) of this NOFA.
(D) Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Unless specifically exempted by HUD, any rental voucher or rental
certificate funding reserved in FY 94 (except funding for renewals or
amendments) will be used to establish the minimum size of a PHA's FSS
program.
(E) Guidelines
The rental assistance provided under the HUD-VASH initiative will
enable very low-income, homeless veterans with severe psychiatric or
substance abuse disorders to live in decent, safe and sanitary housing.
The amount of the rental assistance is generally the difference between
the applicable payment standard of the HA for the appropriate size unit
and 30 percent of the family's adjusted income. The rental assistance
allows an individual to be assisted in a standard rental unit of his or
her choice. If the individual subsequently moves to a different unit,
the individual can continue to receive the rental assistance. Funding
for five years of rental assistance will be provided by HUD to the HA
in support of the HUD-VASH program. HAs and local VA Medical Centers
will need to work together throughout the course of this initiative to
achieve the objectives of the program.
(1) VA Medical Center Responsibilities
VA Medical Center responsibilities include:
(a) Screening of the homeless veterans on the HA's Section 8
waiting list to determine whether these veterans meet the HUD-VASH set-
aside participation criteria established by the VA national office, and
if there are an insufficient number of applicants on the HA waiting
list, referring homeless veterans to the HA;
(b) Providing treatment and supportive services to potential HUD-
VASH participants prior to the HA issuance of rental assistance;
(c) Providing housing search assistance to HUD-VASH participants;
(d) Identifying the social service and medical needs of HUD-VASH
participants and providing regular ongoing case management, outpatient
health services, hospitalization and other supportive services as
needed throughout the five year term of the Section 8 funding; and
(e) Maintaining records and providing information for evaluation
purposes, as required by HUD or VA.
(2) Veteran Eligibility
In order to be certified to be eligible for rental assistance under
this initiative, a veteran must:
(a) Have been contacted by the VA homeless program while living in
a shelter or on the street;
(b) Have a severe psychiatric or substance abuse disorder as
determined by the VA Medical Center;
(c) Have received treatment and have been medically stabilized; and
(d) Agree to participate in the clinical program offered by the VA
Medical Center's specialized homeless program.
Preferences will be given to veterans who have been homeless for 30
days or more.
(3) HA Responsibilities
An HA's responsibilities include: (a) Reviewing its Section 8
waiting list and identifying homeless veterans to be referred to the VA
Medical Centers for a determination of whether the veterans meet the
HUD-VASH participation criteria;
(b) Determining the Section 8 eligibility of homeless veterans
referred by the VA Medical Center;
(c) Amending its administrative plan and equal opportunity housing
plan to provide for a preference for homeless veterans certified by the
VA Medical Center for participation in the HUD- VASH program in a
number equal to the number of rental vouchers provided under this NOFA;
(d) Maintaining records and providing information for evaluation
purposes, as required by HUD or VA; and
(e) Administering the Section 8 rental assistance programs in
accordance with HUD regulations and requirements.
(4) Section 8 Rental Voucher Assistance
The HUD-VASH initiative provides assistance under the section 8
rental voucher program. HAs must administer this demonstration program
in accordance with HUD's regulations governing the section 8 rental
voucher program, codified at 24 CFR part 887. The HA may issue a rental
certificate instead of a rental voucher to an individual selected to
participate in the HUD-VASH initiative if the individual requests a
rental certificate and the HA has one available. If section 8
assistance for a participant under this demonstration terminates during
the five-year term of the ACC for the section 8 rental vouchers
provided under this demonstration, the rental assistance must be
reissued to another eligible veteran.
II. Application Process
(A) Selection Criteria/Ranking Factors
To provide each applicant HA with a fair opportunity to receive an
award of rental vouchers for the HUD-VASH program during FY 1994, HUD
will use the eight selection criteria listed below to rate all
applications found acceptable for further processing.
(1) Selection Criterion 1: HA Administrative Capability (40
points)--
(a) Description: Overall HA administrative capability in the Rental
Voucher, Rental Certificate, and Moderate Rehabilitation Programs is
either excellent or good. Administrative Capability is evidenced by
factors such as leasing rates and correct administration of housing
quality standards (HQS), compliance with the portability requirements
for rental vouchers and rental certificates, compliance with Fair
Housing and Equal Opportunity program requirements, assistance payment
computation, timely submission of budgets and financial statements, and
rent reasonableness requirements. For purposes of this NOFA, an HA
administering a Rental Voucher, Rental Certificate, or Moderate
Rehabilitation Program will not be rated on the administration of its
Public or Indian Housing Program. If an HA is not administering a
Rental Voucher, Rental Certificate, or Moderate Rehabilitation Program,
HUD will rate HA administration of the Public or Indian Housing
Program. If an HA is not administering a Rental Voucher, Rental
Certificate, Moderate Rehabilitation, Public Housing or Indian Housing
Program, HUD will assess the administrative capability of the HA based
on such factors as experience of staff, support of the HA by the local
government, and the HA's administrative experience with non-HUD housing
programs.
(b) Rating and Assessment: (i) HUD review of HA Operations--
8 Points--Assign 8 points if HA has no review findings
outstanding, or all review findings have been corrected, for HUD HA
management reviews, Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity reviews, or
Inspector General audits as of the deadline date for submission of
applications under this NOFA.
5 Points--Assign 5 points if HA has less than five review
findings outstanding and all findings are being addressed.
2 Points--Assign 2 points if HA has five or more review
findings outstanding and all findings are being addressed.
0 Points--Assign 0 points if HA has any review findings
outstanding and the findings are not being addressed.
(ii) Compliance with Section 8 Portability rules:
8 Points--Assign 8 points if HA is in compliance with all
provisions of the portability rules.
5 Points--Assign 5 points if HA is in general compliance
with portability rules, but has some minor compliance issues.
2 Points--Assign 2 points if HA has some major compliance
issues under portability which are being addressed.
0 Points--Assign 0 points if HA is not in compliance with
portability rules and issues are not being addressed.
(iii) Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections:
8 Points--Assign 8 points if HA had more than 95% of its
units pass HQS inspections by HUD at the last review or HUD is aware of
actions taken by the HA to improve the number of units that pass HQS
inspections to 95% or more.
6 Points--Assign 6 points if HA had more than 90% of its
units pass HQS inspections by HUD at the last review, or HUD is aware
of actions taken by the HA to improve the number of units that pass HQS
inspections to 90% or more.
4 Points--Assign 4 points if HA had more than 85% of its
units pass HQS inspections by HUD at the last review, or HUD is aware
of actions taken by the HA to improve the number of units that pass HQS
inspections to 85% or more.
2 Points--Assign 2 points if HA had more than 80% of its
units pass HQS inspections by HUD at the last review, or HUD is aware
of actions taken by the HA to improve the number of units that pass HQS
inspections to 80% or more.
0 Points--Assign 0 points if HA had 80% or less of its
units pass HQS inspections by HUD at the last review and HUD is not
aware of actions taken by the HA to improve the number of units that
pass HQS inspections to 80% or more.
(iv) Percentage of Units Leased as of September 30, 1993. HUD staff
should use the percentage of units under ACC for a period of one year
leased for the tenant-based rental assistance program administered by
an HA. HUD may use a report on leasing for another period if the
September 30, 1993, report is not reflective of HA performance.
8 Points--Assign 8 points if HA had 98% or more of its
rental certificates and rental vouchers under lease.
6 Points--Assign 6 points if HA had 96% or more of its
rental certificates and rental vouchers under lease.
4 Points--Assign 4 points if HA had 94% or more of its
rental certificates and rental vouchers under lease.
2 Points--Assign 2 points if HA had 90% or more of its
rental certificates and rental vouchers under lease.
0 Points--Assign 0 points if HA had less than 90% of its
rental certificates and rental vouchers under lease.
(v) Timely Submission of HA Budget and Financial Statements to HUD.
8 Points--Assign 8 points if the HA submitted both its
most recent fiscal year Section 8 budget at least 30 days prior to the
start of the HA fiscal year and its year-end Section 8 annual financial
statements within the required 45 days of the end of the HA's fiscal
year.
4 Points--Assign 4 points if the HA submitted either its
most recent fiscal year budget at least 30 days prior to the start of
the HA's fiscal year or its year-end Section 8 annual financial
statements within the required 45 days of the end of the HA fiscal
year.
0 Points--Assign 0 points if the HA is unable to document
the timely submission of the budget and financial statements.
(2) Selection Criterion 2: Appropriateness of Population Served by
VA Medical Center (10 points).
(a) Description: The VA Medical Center has shown its ability to
target specialized homeless program resources for veterans who are
homeless (i.e., living in homeless shelters or outdoors at the time of
initial program assessment).
(b) Rating: 10 points. The proportion of all homeless veterans
served by the VA Medical Center is in the higher twenty-fifth
percentile for all program sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
5 Points--The proportion of all homeless veterans served by the VA
Medical Center is in the higher fiftieth percentile for all program
sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
0 Points--If neither of the above statements apply, assign 0
points.
(3) Selection Criterion 3: Outreach efforts of the VA Medical
Center (10 points).
(a) Description: The VA Medical Center has adhered to the program
principles as evidenced by outreach efforts in the homeless programs it
currently administers.
(b) Rating: 10 points. The proportion of homeless veterans served
who were contacted through outreach at healthcare for homeless veterans
(HCHV) sites or entered the program from the community at DCHV sites is
in the higher twenty-fifth percentile for all program sites as rated by
VA's NEPEC.
5 Points--The proportion of homeless veterans served who were
contacted through outreach (at HCHV sites) or entered the program from
the community (at DCHV sites) is in the higher fiftieth percentile for
all program sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
0 Points--If neither of the statements apply, assign 0 points.
(4) Selection Criterion 4: Success rate of treatment by VA Medical
Center's specialized homeless program (10 points).
(a) Description: The proportion of veterans served by the VA
Medical Center in a specialized homeless program which had arrangements
for housing and employment at the time of discharge from contract
residential care or domiciliary care.
(b) Rating: 10 points. The number of homeless veterans served in a
specialized homeless program is in the higher twenty-fifth percentile
for all program sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
5 Points--The number of homeless veterans served in a specialized
homeless program is in the higher fiftieth percentile for all program
sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
0 Points--If neither of the above statements apply, assign 0
points.
(5) Selection Criterion 5: The Extent of the VA Medical Center's
integration of Homeless programs with other Community Programs for the
Homeless (15 points).
(a) Description: Integration of the VA Medical Center's program for
homeless veterans with other community programs for the homeless. The
application must contain a description of such integration.
(b) Rating: 15 points. The application shows the VA Medical
Center's commitment of resources to the Access to Community Care and
Effective Supportive Services (ACCESS) program, other initiatives
undertaken by local coalitions for the homeless, or comparable multi-
service integration initiatives on behalf of the homeless.
8 Points--The application shows the VA Medical Center's involvement
in service integration through membership in local coalitions of
homeless service providers and attendance of meetings of such groups,
but the Center has not committed resources to the groups.
0 Points--The application does not show that the VA Medical Center
cooperates with service integration activities or resource exchange.
(6) Selection Criterion 6: Need for Specialized Services for
Homeless Veterans. (15 points).
(a) Description: The number of homeless veterans in the area of the
VA Medical Center warrants additional resources to address the demand
for services.
(b) Rating: 15 points. The number of homeless veterans who were
screened by outreach clinicians of the VA Medical Center's specialized
program for homeless veterans during FY 1993 was in the top twenty-
fifth percentile of all program sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
8 Points--The number of homeless veterans who were screened by
outreach clinicians of the VA Medical Center's specialized program for
homeless veterans during FY 1993 was in the top fiftieth percentile of
all program sites as rated by VA's NEPEC.
0 Points--If neither of the above statements apply, assign 0
points.
(7) Selection Criterion 7: Efforts of HAs to Establish a Family
Self-Sufficiency Program (10 point Deduction).
(a) Description: The application must describe administration of a
PHA's FSS program. The description must include (1) Submission to HUD
of an Action Plan, and (2) creation of a Program Coordinating
Committee. If a PHA is not administering a Rental Voucher or Rental
Certificate Program, the HUD State or Area Office will rate HA
administration of the Public Housing FSS program, if applicable. All
activities rated under this criterion must have been completed prior to
the submission of an application under this NOFA. The score of the PHA
application must be reduced if the PHA received an FSS Incentive award
of Section 8 funding in FY 1992 and the PHA has failed to complete the
required implementation steps as described below. Also, the score of a
PHA application must be reduced if the PHA received funding in FY 1993
(unless the HUD State or Area Office granted a total exception to the
FSS program requirement) and the PHA has failed to complete the
required implementation steps as described below.
(b) Rating and Assessment: The HUD State or Area Office must deduct
point values as shown below:
10 Point Deduction--Deduct 10 points if HA has failed to
establish a Program Coordinating Committee and provide the names,
duties and experience of all members to HUD (24 CFR 984.202(a) and
(b)), and the HA has failed to submit an Action Plan to HUD within 90
days of notification by HUD of approval of the PHA's application for
units under the FY 91/92 FSS incentive award competition or HUD
approval of the HA's first application, commencing in FY 93, for rental
certificates or rental vouchers (24 CFR 984.201(c)(1)).
5 Point Deduction--Deduct 5 points if the HA has failed to
establish a Program Coordinating Committee and provide the names,
duties and experience of all members or has failed to submit an Action
Plan in accordance with 24 CFR 984.201(c)(1).
(8) Selection Criterion 8: Efforts of HA to Provide Area-Wide
Housing Opportunities for Families (5 points).
(a) Description: Many HAs have undertaken voluntary efforts to
provide area-wide housing opportunities for families. These HAs have
established cooperative agreements with other HAs or created a
consortium of HAs in order to facilitate the transfer of families and
their rental assistance funding between HAs. HAs have established
relationships with other entities such as non-profit groups to provide
families with additional counseling to increase the likelihood of a
successful move by the families to low-poverty areas.
(b) Rating and Assessment: HUD will assign point values as shown
below:
5 Points--Assign 5 points if the HA documents that it has
taken steps to increase area-wide housing opportunities for families
such as being a member of an established consortium of HAs including at
least 50 percent of the HAs in its housing market, providing extra
counseling to families, establishing a relationship with other groups
including non-profit agencies, or participating in other activities
that facilitate area-wide housing opportunities for families.
0 Points--Assign 0 points if the HA is unable to document
area-wide efforts as shown in this criterion.
(B) Unacceptable Applications
To be eligible for processing, an application must be received by
the HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office no later
than the application submission deadline date and time specified in
this notice. The HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs
Office will screen all applications and notify HAs of technical
deficiencies by letter. Allowable corrections relate only to technical
items, as determined by HUD, which do not improve the substantive
quality of the application relative to the ranking factors.
All HAs must submit corrections within 14 calendar days from the
date of HUD's letter notifying the applicant of any technical
deficiency. Information received after 3:00 p.m. local time on the
fourteenth calendar day of the correction period will not be accepted
and the application will be rejected as being incomplete.
All HAs are encouraged to review the ``Checklist for Technical
Requirements'' provided in Section IV of this NOFA. The checklist
identifies all technical requirements needed for application
processing. An HA application that does not comply with the
requirements of 24 CFR 887.55 (b) and this notice, including the drug-
free workplace certification, and the anti-lobbying certification
disclosure requirements, by the expiration of the 14-day cure period
will be rejected from processing.
(a) After the 14-calendar day cure period, if any, the HUD State or
Area Office will disapprove HA applications that it determines are not
acceptable for processing (refer to Checklist of Technical Requirements
in the Section 8 HA Application Kit available at the HUD State or Area
Office/Native American Programs Office). The HUD State or Area Office/
Native American Programs Office notification of rejection letter must
state the basis for the decision.
(b) HUD may decide to deny processing of applications that fall
into any of the following categories:
(i) The Department of Justice has brought a civil rights suit
against the applicant HA and the suit is pending;
(ii) There are outstanding findings of noncompliance with civil
rights statutes, Executive Orders, or regulations as a result of formal
administrative proceedings, or the Secretary has issued a charge
against the applicant under the Fair Housing Act, unless the applicant
is operating under a conciliation or compliance agreement designed to
correct the areas of noncompliance;
(iii) There has been an adjudication of a civil rights violation in
a civil action brought against the HA by a private individual, unless
the HA is operating in compliance with court order, or implementing a
HUD approved plan or compliance agreement designed to correct the areas
of noncompliance.
(iv) HUD has deferred application processing under Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Attorney General's Guidelines (28 CFR
50.3) and the Title VI regulations (24 CFR 1.8), or under section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the section 504
regulations (24 CFR 8.57), or under The Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990.
(v) The HA has serious, unaddressed, outstanding Inspector General
audit findings or fair housing and equal opportunity monitoring review
findings or HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office
management review findings for one or more of its rental certificate,
rental voucher, or moderate rehabilitation programs, or, in the case of
an HA that is not currently administering a Rental Voucher, Rental
Certificate, or Moderate Rehabilitation Program, for its Public Housing
Program or Indian Housing Program.
(vi) The leasing rate for rental certificates and rental vouchers
under ACC for at least one year is less than 85 percent.
(vii) The HA is involved in litigation and HUD determines that the
litigation may seriously impede the ability of the HA to administer an
additional increment of rental vouchers.
(C) Application Processing
The HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office is
responsible for rating the applications for Selection Criterion 1: HA
Administrative Capability, for Selection Criterion 7: Efforts of HAs to
Establish a Family Self-Sufficiency Program and for Selection Criterion
8: Efforts to provide Area-wide Housing Opportunities for Families. HUD
Headquarters is responsible for rating, ranking and selecting
applications which will receive assistance under the HUD-VASH Program.
The HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office will
initially screen all applications, using the ``Checklist for Technical
Requirements'' listed in Section III of this NOFA as a guide to
determine if an application is complete.
(D) Selection Process
After the HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office
has screened HA applications and disapproved any applications
unacceptable for further processing (See Section II of this NOFA), the
HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office will review
and rate all approvable applications for Selection Criterion 1: HA
Administrative Capability, Selection Criterion 7: Efforts of HAs to
Establish a Family Self-Sufficiency Program and for Selection Criterion
8: Efforts to provide Metropolitan-wide Housing Opportunities for
Families only, utilizing the point assignments listed in this NOFA. All
scored applications and rating sheets in each HUD State or Area Office/
Native American Programs Office will be sent to the HUD Headquarters.
HUD Headquarters and the Department of Veterans Affairs will review
and rate these applications for Selection Criteria 2 through 8,
utilizing the point assignments listed in this NOFA. Headquarters will
select the highest rated applications until the rental voucher funds
are insufficient to fund the next highest rated application(s).
When remaining rental voucher funds are insufficient to fund the
next highest scoring application(s) in full, HUD Headquarters may fund
that application(s) to the extent of the number of rental vouchers
available. Applicants that do not wish to have the size of their
programs reduced may indicate in their applications that they do not
wish to be considered for a reduced award of funds. HUD Headquarters
will skip over these applicants if assigning the remaining funding
would result in a reduced funding level.
(E) Local Government Comments
The HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office will
obtain section 213 comments, in accordance with 24 CFR part 791,
subpart C, from the unit of general local government, including an
Indian tribe. Comments submitted by the unit of general local
government must be considered before an application can be approved.
For purposes of expediting the application process, the HA should
encourage the chief executive officer of the unit of general local
government to submit a letter with the HA application commenting on the
HA application in accordance with Section 213. Since HUD cannot approve
an application until the 30-day comment period is closed, the Section
213 letter should not only comment on the application, but also state
that HUD may consider the letter to be the final comments and that no
additional comments will be forthcoming from the unit of general local
government.
III. Checklist of Application Submission Requirements.
(A) Application Requirements
Each HA must submit the items identified in this section and must
include the descriptions required by Selection Criteria 5, 7 and 8. All
other rating criteria will be rated based on data currently available
to HUD and VA.
(1) Letter From VA Medical Center
The HA application must include a letter from the Director of the
VA Medical Center stating that the HA's jurisdiction to operate a
rental voucher program, as identified by the HA to the Medical Center,
is within the catchment area of the VA Medical Center to operate
homeless programs. This letter must also include a statement that the
VA Medical Center will commit a minimum of one professional, full-time
equivalent (FTE) employee per each new increment of 25 rental vouchers
awarded to the corresponding HA, i.e., two FTE for 50 vouchers
requested. These additional FTE are necessary to provide case-
management services for the homeless veterans who receive rental
assistance under this HUD-VASH set-aside.
(2) Narrative on VA Medical Center's Homeless Programs
The applicants must describe the VA Medical Center's efforts to
integrate its work with homeless veterans with other community programs
for the homeless. Commitment of resources to the Access to Community
Care and Effective Supportive Services (ACCESS) program is an example
of the multi-service integration initiatives which the Medical Center
must describe.
(B) Application Kit
An Application Kit, which includes Form HUD-52515, Application for
Existing Housing, may be obtained from the local HUD State or Area
Office/Native American Programs Office. Only an original application
and one copy should be submitted; it is not necessary to submit
additional copies of the application. In addition, the basic
application and other required submissions are available from the HUD
State or Area Office, as follows: Form HUD-52515; Certification for a
Drug-Free Workplace; Text for the Certification Regarding Lobbying; and
Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.
IV. Corrections to Deficient Applications
To be eligible for processing, an application must be received by
the appropriate HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs
Office no later than the date and time specified in Section II of this
NOFA. The HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office will
initially screen all applications and notify HAs of technical
deficiencies by letter.
If an application has technical deficiencies, the HA will have 14
calendar days from the date when HUD issues written notification to
submit the missing or corrected information to the HUD State or Area
Office and/or Native American Programs Office. Curable technical
deficiencies relate only to items that do not improve the substantive
quality of the application relative to the rating factors.
All HAs must submit corrections within 14 calendar days from the
date of HUD's letter notifying the applicant of any such deficiency.
Information received after 3 p.m. local time (i.e., the time in the
appropriate HUD State or Area Office/Native American Programs Office),
of the fourteenth calendar day of the correction period will not be
accepted and the application will be rejected as incomplete. All HAs
are encouraged to review the initial screening checklist provided in
Section III of this notice. The checklist identifies all technical
requirements needed for application processing. An HA application that
does not comply with the requirements of 24 CFR 887.55(b) and this
notice, including the drug-free workplace certification and the anti-
lobbying certification/disclosure requirements, after the expiration of
the 14-day cure period will be rejected from processing.
V. Other Matters
(A) Environmental Impact
A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment
has been made in accordance with the Department's regulations at 24 CFR
Part 50, which implement section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332). The Finding is
available for public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
weekdays in the Office of the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General
Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, room 10276, 451
Seventh Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20410.
(B) Federalism Impact
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a)
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that this NOFA
does not have substantial, direct effect on the States, on their
political subdivisions, or on the relationship between the Federal
government and the States, or on the distribution of power or
responsibilities among the various levels of government, because this
NOFA would not substantially alter the established roles of HUD, the
States and local governments, including HAs.
(C) Impact on the Family
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive
Order 12606, the Family, has determined that this notice does not have
potential for significant impact on family formation, maintenance, and
general well-being within the meaning of the Executive Order and, thus,
is not subject to review under the Order. This is a funding notice and
does not alter program requirements concerning family eligibility.
(D) Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance
HUD has promulgated a final rule to implement section 102 of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (HUD
Reform Act). The final rule is codified at 24 CFR part 12. Section 102
contains a number of provisions that are designed to ensure greater
accountability and integrity in the provision of certain types of
assistance administered by HUD. On January 16, 1992, HUD published at
57 FR 1942, additional information that gave the public (including
applicants for, and recipients of, HUD assistance) further information
on the implementation of section 102. The documentation, public access,
and disclosure requirements of section 102 are applicable to assistance
awarded under this NOFA as follows:
(1) Documentation and Public Access
HUD will ensure that documentation and other information regarding
each application submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to
indicate the basis upon which assistance was provided or denied. This
material, including any letters of support, will be made available for
public inspection for a five-year period beginning not less than 30
days after the award of the assistance. Material will be made available
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and
HUD's implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. In addition, HUD will
include the recipients of assistance pursuant to this NOFA in its
quarterly Federal Register notice of all recipients of HUD assistance
awarded on a competitive basis. (See 24 CFR 12.14(a) and 12.16(b), and
the notice published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR
1942), for further information on these requirements.)
(2) Disclosures
HUD will make available to the public for five years all applicant
disclosure reports (HUD Form 2880) submitted in connection with this
NOFA. Update reports (also Form 2880) will be made available along with
the applicant disclosure reports, but in no case for a period less than
three years. All reports--both applicant disclosures and updates--will
be made available in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5
U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. (See
24 CFR subpart C, and the notice published in the Federal Register on
January 16, 1992 (57 FR 1942), for further information on these
disclosure requirements.)
(E) Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities
The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the
disclosure requirements and prohibitions of section 319 of the
Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 1990 (31 U.S.C. 1352) (the ``Byrd Amendment'') and the
implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 87. These authorities prohibit
recipients of Federal contracts, grants, or loans from using
appropriated funds for lobbying the Executive or Legislative Branches
of the Federal Government in connection with a specific contract,
grant, or loan. The prohibition also covers the awarding of contracts,
grants, cooperative agreements, or loans unless the recipient has made
an acceptable certification regarding lobbying. Under 24 CFR part 87,
applicants, recipients, and subrecipients of assistance exceeding
$100,000 must certify that no Federal funds have been or will be spent
on lobbying activities in connection with the assistance.
(F) Prohibition Against Lobbying of HUD Personnel
Section 13 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act
(42 U.S.C. 3537b) contains two provisions dealing with efforts to
influence HUD's decisions with respect to financial assistance. The
first imposes disclosure requirements on those who are typically
involved in these efforts--those who pay others to influence the award
of assistance or the taking of a management action by the Department
and those who are paid to provide the influence. The second restricts
the payment of fees to those who are paid to influence the award of HUD
assistance, if the fees are tied to the number of housing units
received or are based on the amount of assistance received, or if they
are contingent upon the receipt of assistance.
HUD's regulation implementing section 13 is codified at 24 CFR part
86. If readers are involved in any efforts to influence the Department
in these ways, they are urged to read the final rule, particularly the
examples contained in Appendix A of the rule. Appendix A of this rule
contains examples of activities covered by this rule.
Any questions concerning the rule should be directed to the Office
of Ethics, Room 2158, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410. Telephone: (202) 708-3815
(voice/TDD). This is not a toll-free number. Forms necessary for
compliance with the rule may be obtained from the local HUD office.
(G) Prohibition Against Advance Information on Funding Decisions
Section 103 of the HUD Reform Act proscribes the communication of
certain information by HUD employees to persons not authorized to
receive that information during the selection process for the award of
assistance. HUD's regulation implementing section 103 is codified at 24
CFR part 4, and was recently amended by an interim rule published in
the Federal Register on August 4, 1992 (57 FR 34246). In accordance
with the requirements of section 103, HUD employees involved in the
review of applications and in the making of funding decisions are
restrained by 24 CFR part 4 from providing advance information to any
person (other than an authorized employee of HUD) concerning funding
decisions, or from otherwise giving any applicant an unfair competitive
advantage. Persons who apply for assistance in this competition should
confine their inquiries to the subject areas permitted by 24 CFR part
4. Applicants who have questions should contact the HUD Office of
Ethics, (202) 708-3815 (voice/TDD). (This is not a toll-free number.)
Dated: June 29, 1994.
Michael B. Janis,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
Checklist for Technical Requirements
The following checklist specifies the required information which
must be submitted in the joint application. It is recommended, but not
required, that the application contain a narrative explaining how the
application meets the selection criteria.
Initial Screening Checklist
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA
-----------------------
Yes No
------------------------------------------------------------------------
{time} {time} 1. The application contains a cover letter
stating the total number of rental vouchers
requested in the application and indicates
whether the applicant is willing to accept a
reduced number and the minimum number of units
the applicant is willing to accept.
{time} {time} 2. The application includes form HUD 52515 and
the average adjusted monthly income (see
section H of HUD 52515) by bedroom size for
which the HA has submitted an application.
{time} {time} 3. The application demonstrates that the
applicant qualifies as an HA and is legally
qualified and authorized to participate in the
rental assistance programs for the area in
which the program is to be carried out. Such
demonstration includes (i) The relevant
enabling legislation, (ii) any rules and
regulations adopted or to be adopted by the
agency to govern its operations, and (iii) a
supporting opinion from the agency counsel. If
such documents are currently on file in the HUD
State or Area Office, they do not have to be
resubmitted.
{time} {time} 4. The application includes a statement that the
housing quality standards to be used in the
operation of the program will be as set forth
in 24 CFR 887.251 or that variations in the
Acceptability Criteria are proposed. In the
latter case, each proposed variation shall be
specified and justified.
{time} {time} 5. The application contains the HA schedule of
leasing which must provide for the expeditious
leasing of units. In developing the schedule,
an HA must specify the number of units that are
expected to be leased at the end of each three-
month interval. The schedule must project lease-
up by eligible individuals within twelve months
or sooner after execution of the ACC by HUD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirement for Drug-Free Workplace Certification, Anti-Lobbying
Certification and Disclosure Statement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA
-----------------------
Yes No
------------------------------------------------------------------------
{time} {time} 6. The application meets HUD's drug-free
workplace requirement set out at 24 CFR part
24, subpart F. (The application contains an
executed Certification for a Drug-Free
Workplace.)
{time} {time} 7. The application meets HUD's regulations
regarding anti-lobbying set out at 24 CFR part
87. The anti-lobbying requirements apply to
applications that, if approved, would result in
the HA obtaining more than $100,000 in budget
authority. To comply, HAs must submit an Anti-
Lobbying Certification [Attachment 4] and if
warranted, a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.
{time} {time} 8. The application includes a description of the
VA Medical Center's integration of homeless
programs with other community programs for the
homeless.
{time} {time} 9. The application includes a description of the
efforts of the HA to establish an FSS program
and to provide area-wide housing opportunities
for families.
{time} {time} 10. The application includes a letter from the
VA Medical Center that states the HA's
jurisdiction, as identified to the VA Medical
Center by the HA, to operate a rental voucher
program is within the catchment area of the VA
Medical Center and the VA Medical Center
commits to provide additional FTE employee for
case-management services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Eligible VA Medical Centers
FY 1993 HUD-VASH Notice of Fund Availability
1. Allen Park, MI
2. Anchorage, AK
3. Albany, NY
4. American Lake, WA
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Augusta, GA
7. Baltimore, MD
8. Bath, NY
9. Bay Pines, FL
10. Bedford, MA
11. Biloxi, MS
12. Birmingham, AL
13. Boston, MA
14. Brockton, MA
15. Bronx, NY
16. Brooklyn, NY
17. Buffalo, NY
18. Butler, PA
19. Canandaigua, NY
20. Charleston, SC
21. Cheyenne, WY
22. Chicago (West Side), IL
23. Cincinnati, OH
24. Cleveland, OH
25. Coatesville, PA
26. Dallas, TX
27. Dayton, OH
28. Denver, CO
29. Dublin, GA
30. Des Moines, IA
31. East Orange, NJ
32. Fargo, ND
33. Hampton, VA
34. Hines, IL (Chicago)
35. Hot Springs, SD
36. Houston, TX
37. Huntington, WV
38. Indianapolis, IN
39. Kansas City, MO
40. Leavenworth, KS
41. Lebanon, PA
42. Little Rock, AR
43. Loma Linda, CA
44. Long Beach, CA
45. Los Angeles, CA
46. Louisville, KY
47. Lyons, NJ
48. Martinsburg, WV
49. Miami, FL
50. Milwaukee, WI
51. Minneapolis, MN
52. Montrose, NY
53. Mountain Home, TN
54. Nashville, TN
55. New Orleans, LA
56. New York, NY
57. North Chicago, IL
58. Oklahoma City, OK
59. Palo Alto, CA
60. Perry Point, MD
61. Philadelphia, PA
62. Phoenix, AZ
63. Pittsburgh, PA
64. Portland, OR
65. Prescott, AZ
66. Providence, RI
67. Roseburg, OR
68. Salisbury, NC
69. Salt Lake City, UT
70. San Antonio, TX
71. San Diego, CA
72. San Francisco, CA
73. St. Louis, MO
74. Seattle, WA
75. Syracuse, NY
76. Tampa, FL
77. Toledo, OH
78. Tomah, WA
79. Tucson, AZ
80. Tuskegee, AL
81. Walla Walla, WA
82. Washington, DC
83. West Haven, CT
84. West Los Angeles, CA
85. White City, OR
86. Wilkes-Barre, PA
87. Lebanon, PA
[FR Doc. 94-17029 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.