July 18, 2016
Debrief of 2015 Competition Timeline Policy and Program Priorities Threshold Requirements Project Ranking Match and Leverage Permanent Housing Bonus Additional Resources and Information TCP Contact Information
DEBRIEF OF 2015 COMPETITION
TIMELINE
July 18, 2016: TCP Providers Meeting July 18, 2016: TCP Providers Notified of Preliminary Ranking in Project Listing July 25 29, 2016: Project Application Training Sessions July 25, 2016: Tier 2 Letters Due August 5, 2016: Proposals for Bonus Project due to TCP August 10, 2016: Providers That Submitted Bonus Project Proposals will be Notified about Whether or Not Their Proposals have been Selected August 10, 2016: TCP will Notify Providers of the CoC Board's Decisions about Final Ranking in the Project Listing and Projects Selected for Tier 1 and Tier 2 August 12, 2016: DRAFT Applications for renewal applications due to TCP August 17, 2016: Providers Notified of Issues and Conditions to be Addressed Prior to Final Submission August 19, 2016: Updates and Corrections to Project Applications Due August 26, 2016: Final Project Applications Submitted September 14, 2016: Final Consolidated Application Submitted to HUD
POLICY AND PROGRAM PRIORITIES
This NOFA focuses on the Administration goals articulated in Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. As a part of this increased focus on the Administration goals in Opening Doors, HUD has set the following policy and program priorities for the FY2016 NOFA: 1. Create a systemic response to homelessness 2. Strategically allocate resources 3. End chronic homelessness 4. End family homelessness 5. End youth homelessness 6. End veteran homelessness 7. Use of the Housing First approach
Every Project Application must: 1. State by name the policy priority/ies the project supports; 2. Explicitly state how the project operates in support of the stated policy prioity/ies. Any project application that does not do both of these things will be rejected by the CoC and not included in the District s Consolidated Application. TCP will work with DHS and the ICH to draft narrative responses regarding system level work to align the CoC with HUD; however, HUD s expectation is that all projects play an active role in this work.
Create a systemic response to homelessness: In addition to having the right mix of programs needed to end homelessness, HUD s expectation is that CoCs are developing and implementing systemic response to homelessness that is coordinated, well managed, inclusive, and achieves positive outcomes.
How do individual projects operate in support of creating a systematic response to homelessness: Create an effective Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement (CAHP) process: HUD sees CAHP as a key step in assessing the needs of homeless individuals and families and prioritizing them for assistance. In HUD s view CAHP achieves the following goals: 1. Easier access for persons experiencing homelessness 2. Prioritization of persons with the longest histories of homelessness and most extensive needs 3. Reduction in barriers to entering programs and receiving services Project applications will be scored on the extent to which the can demonstrate fidelity to the CoC s CAHP system.
Strategically Allocate Resources: Using cost, performance, and outcome data, CoCs should improve how resources are used to end homelessness, including CoC and ESG Program funds, state and local funds, public and assisted housing units, mainstream service resources.
How do individual projects operate in support of strategic resource allocation: Maximize use of mainstream and other community based resources: Providers should be knowledgeable about mainstream resources and funding opportunities, particularly new opportunities made available under the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, providers should be partner with other stakeholders within the community, philanthropic organizations, and relevant other Federal and District Government agencies that have resources that could serve persons experiencing homelessness. Review Transitional Housing projects: HUD recognizes that transitional housing may be an effective tool for addressing certain needs such as housing for underage homeless youth experiencing homelessness, safety for persons fleeing domestic violence, and assisting with recovery from addiction. That said, transitional housing is generally more expensive and achieves similar or worse outcomes as compared to other interventions. Therefore, HUD strongly encourages providers to carefully review their transitional housing projects for cost-effectiveness, performance, and for the number and type of eligibility criteria to determine whether it should be reallocated to Rapid Rehousing or PSH.
End chronic homelessness: To end chronic homelessness by 2017, HUD encourages three areas of focus: Target persons with the highest needs and longest histories of homelessness for existing and new permanent supportive housing. CoCs should prioritize chronically homeless individuals, youth, and families who have the longest histories of homelessness and the highest needs for housing; Dedicate existing permanent supportive housing units to those experiencing chronic homelessness; and Improve Outreach To decrease the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness in a community, the community must identify and continually engage all persons who are currently experiencing sheltered or unsheltered chronic homelessness and those who are in jeopardy of experiencing chronic homelessness. This includes ensuring effective communication with individuals with disabilities and taking reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP persons).
Ending Family Homelessness: Most families experiencing homelessness can be housed quickly and stably using rapid rehousing. Some will need the long-term support provided by a permanent housing subsidy or permanent supportive housing. Transitional Housing projects for families should reduce lengths of stay by helping families access housing assistance tailored to their strengths and needs and, through partnerships, help families increase access to mainstream affordable housing. Permanent Housing projects including Rapid Rehousing and PSH should reduce and where ever possible remove barriers to entry so that families experiencing homelessness can quickly and easily access permanent housing solutions.
End Youth Homelessness: Projects serving youth must demonstrate an understanding the varied and unique needs of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ youth. For the purposes of this NOFA youth means persons aged 24 years and younger. It should be noted that given the overrepresentation of household headed by young adults in the youth age ranges (i.e. persons aged 18 to 24 years) in the District s family emergency shelter system, family projects do not have a specific youth focus may be well positioned to demonstrate the fact that they operate in support of this priority.
End veteran homelessness: Ending veteran homelessness is within reach our CoCs, and HUD s expectation CoCs will take specific steps to reach this goal including: Prioritizing veterans and their families for assistance when they cannot be fully assisted with VA services; and Coordinating closely with veteran serving organizations and VA-funded housing and services.
Housing First: Housing First is an approach to homeless assistance that prioritizes rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing and does not have service participation requirements or preconditions such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold. Operating in support of this priority means: Removing barriers to entry: All projects should review eligibility criteria for and remove any barriers to accessing housing and services. Persons experiencing homelessness should not be screened out of or discouraged from participating in programs because they have poor credit history, or lack income or employment. People with addictions to alcohol or substances should not be required to cease active use before accessing housing and services; and Adopt client-centered service methods: All projects should ensure housing and service options are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual or family presenting for services and that program participants have access to the services that they reasonably believe will help them achieve their goals.
THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS
Pursuant to Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the FY2016 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition FR-6000-N-25, the Collaborative Applicant, in consultation with the Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, which serves as the CoC Board, has established minimum threshold requirements that all project applications must meet to be included in the District of Columbia Consolidated Application. Thresholds have been developed in accordance with HUD guidance, including: I. Project Eligibility II. Project Alignment with Homeward DC & Opening Doors III. Matched and Leveraged Resources IV. Consistency with the Policy and Program Priorities The CoC Board will review applications prior to final submission and reject those that the Board determines do not meet the minimum threshold requirements. 19
The CoC Board (or its designee) will review all project application to determine if they meet the following eligibility threshold criteria on a pass/fail standard. If the CoC Board (or its designee) determines that a project application does not meet the minimum threshold standards, that project application will be rejected from inclusion in the District of Columbia s Consolidated Application. 1. Project applicants and potential subrecipients must meet the eligibility requirements of the CoC Program as described in 24 CFR part 578 and provide evidence of eligibility required in the application. A full list of requirements can be found at: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/fy-2016- CoC-Program-NOFA.pdf. 2. Project applicants must submit the required certifications with their project applications. Certification s must be date between May 1 and September 14, 2016: a) Form HUD-2880 b) Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/Update Report c) Applicant Code of Conduct d) SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities e) Form HUD-50070 f) Certification for a Drug Free Workplace 3. The population to be served must meet program eligibility requirements as described in the HEARTH Act, and the project application must clearly establish eligibility of project applicants. For PSH programs a Housing First statement that declares the program s intention to operated in accordance with the Housing First approach must be submitted along with the application 20
The CoC Board must consider whether or not renewal projects help the CoC meet the goals, objectives, and milestones in Opening Doors: the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and Homeward DC: the DCICH Strategic Plan 2015 2020; renewal projects that do not help the CoC achieve these goals, objectives, and milestones may be rejected for funding and/or reallocated to create new programming that better meets the needs of the CoC. 21
HUD and the CoC intend for all projects to have diverse funding streams to ensure projects are not over-reliant on any one source and can continue operations should there be a delay in grant execution (as often happens with HUD CoC resources). Therefore, all project applications must meet minimum match requirements as stated in 24 CFR 578.73. 22
This NOFA sets the following program priorities: 1. Create a systemic response to homelessness 2. Strategically allocate resources 3. End chronic homelessness 4. End family homelessness 5. End youth homelessness 6. End veteran homelessness 7. Use a Housing First approach Every project application is required to: State by name the policy priority/ies the project supports; Explicitly state how the project operates in support of the stated policy prioity/ies. Any project application that does adequately address consistency with the stated policy and program priorities will be rejected by the CoC and not included in the District s Consolidated Application. 23
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; 1. Audit finding(s) for which a response is overdue or unsatisfactory; 2. History of inadequate financial management accounting practices; 3. Evidence of untimely expenditures on prior award; 4. History of other major capacity issues that have significantly affected the operation of the project and its performance; 5. History of not reimbursing subrecipients for eligible costs in a timely manner, or at least quarterly; and 6. History of serving ineligible program participants, expending funds on ineligible costs, or failing to expend funds within statutorily established timeframes. 24
When considering renewal projects for award, HUD will review information in eloccs; Annual Performance Reports (APRs); and information provided from the local HUD CPD Field Office, including monitoring reports and A-133 audit reports as applicable, and performance standards on prior grants, and will assess projects using the following criteria on performance standards on prior grants, and will assess projects using the following criteria on a pass/fail basis: 1. Whether the project applicant's performance met the plans and goals established in the initial application, as amended; 2. Whether the project applicant demonstrated all timeliness standards for grants being renewed, including those standards for the expenditure of grant funds that have been met; 3. The project applicant's performance in assisting program participants to achieve and maintain independent living and records of success, except HMIS-dedicated projects that are not required to meet this standard; and, 4. 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 prior HUD approval, or has lost a project site. Approval of new and renewal projects is not a determination by the CoC Board (or its designee) or HUD that a project applicant is in compliance with applicable fair housing and civil rights requirements. 25
PROJECT RANKING
Annual Renewal Demand and Tiered Ranking Criteria CoC Funding Priorities Tier 2 Notification 27
The Annual Renewal Demand (ARD) is equal to all renewing grants and the Permanent Housing Bonus Project. Tier one is equal to 93 percent of the ARD; and Tier two is equal to 7 percent of the ARD. Projects in Tier 1 will be prioritized for funding and Projects in Tier 2 will be funded based on availability of funding nationwide and the strength of the overall application. 28
For example, if: The CoC s renewing grants totaled to $19,000,000; The CoC chose a Bonus Project with a budget of $1,000,000 The CoC s ARD would be $20,000,000 In this example above the CoC s Tier 1/Tier 2 split would look like this: Tier 2 $1,400,000.00 Tier 1 $18,600,000.0 0 29
Projects will be ranked using program data from FY15 Data was pulled when putting together report cards for the ICH-Data and Performance Management (DPM) Performance Quality Improvement (PQI) process which was launched in May 2016. Program info for FY15 was selected by ICH-DPM because TCP has to report on CoC-wide data on FY15 as a part of the NOFA and other associated performance reporting due in August 2016. 30
Permanent Supportive Housing Criteria -Utilization Rate -Housing Stability -Returns to CoC Among Leavers -Maintain/Increase in Income -Length of Stay Transitional/RRH Housing Criteria -Utilization Rate -Exits to Permanent Housing -Returns to CoC Among Leavers -Increase Income -Length of Stay Detail 100pts, % = score 100pts, % = score 100pts, 100-% = score 100pts, % = score Tie breaker, higher LOS rates higher Detail 100pts, % = score 100pts, % = score 100pts, 100-% = score 100pts, % = score Tie breaker, lower LOS rates higher 31
The CoC Board has established ranking criteria and funding priorities consistent with the requirements and program and policy priorities stated in the FY2016 NOFA. The CoC Board will ranking all projects according to the established ranking to create the CoC Priority Listing and make decisions about Tier 1 and Tier 2. The CoC Board will prioritize projects for funding as follows: 1. Renewal Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH), and Youth Transitional Housing 2. New Reallocated PSH 3. New Reallocated RRH 4. Permanent Housing Bonus Project 5. Renewal Transitional Housing (non-youth) 6. Renewal HMIS 7. Any other project application submitted by the CoC that was not on the HUD-approved GIW 32
Providers with projects that are preliminarily selected for Tier 2 will be notified on 07/18/2016. 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 07/25/2016 and should be sent via email to Jose Lucio (jlucio@community-partnership.org). 33
MATCH AND LEVERAGE REQUIREMENTS
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 in-kind match. Match must be used for eligible activities as defined by the CoC Program Interim Rule, 24 CFR Part 578, subpart D. As authorized by the FY2016 HUD Appropriations Act, program income may now be used as a source of cash match, 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 programrelated costs that make the project fully operational. 35
For example, if a given project has: $100,000.00 in leasing; $80,000.00 in supportive services; $25,000.00 in operating; and $10,250.00 in admin For a total HUD CoC budget of $215,250.00. Match: This project s Match requirement would be equal to $28,812.50 (or 25 percent of the combined total of supportive services, operating, and admin). 36
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: $215,250.00 in HUD CoC funding $29,000.00 in funding from the District Government (this would be documented in the Project Application as Match); and $10,000.00 in funding from a private foundation The $10,000.00 from the foundation would be documented in the Project application as Leverage. 37
In this example the overall program budget is $254,250.00 and would be documented in the Project Application as follows: Private Foundation Funds District Government (Leverage), $10,000.00 Contract (Match), $29,000.00 HUD CoC Funds, $215,250.00 38
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 39
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 May 1, 2016 September 14, 2016 40
Permanent Housing Bonus
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 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.
The CoC may create one new project through the permanent housing bonus with funding equal to as much as 5 percent of the CoC's FPRN. New project types eligble for funding as : New permanent supportive housing projects that will serve 100 percent chronically homeless individuals or families, New rapid rehousing projects that will serve homeless individuals and families coming directly from the streets or emergency shelters, and include persons fleeing domestic violence situations
RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Opening Doors The Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness: https://www.usich.gov/opening-doors Homeward DC The District s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness: http://ich.dc.gov/page/homeward-dc-ich-strategic-plan-2015-2020 HUD Rapid Rehousing Overview: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/rapid- Re-Housing-Brief.pdf HUD Rehousing as a Model and a Best Practice: https://www.hudexchange.info/news/snaps-in-focus-rapid-re-housing-as-amodeland-best-practice/ HUD Rapid Rehousing for Youth: https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessnessassistance/resources-for-homeless-youth/rrhmodels-for-homeless-youth/ HUD Rapid Rehousing for Survivors of Domestic Violence: http://www.endhomelessness.org/files/2680_file_home_free_best_practice_writ e_up.pdf USICH Rapid Rehousing Overview: https://www.usich.gov/solutions/housing/rapid-rehousing USICH The Core Principles of Housing First and Rapid Rehousing: https://www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/webinar-core-principles-of-housing-firstand-rapidre-housing USICH Rapid Rehousing Training Tools: https://www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/rapidrehousing-online-training-parts-1-and-2
HUD Housing First in Permanent Supportive Housing: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/housing-first-permanentsupportive- Housing-Brief.pdf USICH Implementing Housing First in Permanent Supportive Housing: https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/implementing_housing_fi rst_in_permanent_supportive_housing.pdf HUD Coordinated Entry Policy Brief: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/coordinated-entry-policybrief.pdf HUD Creating a Systemic Response to Homelessness: https://www.hudexchange.info/news/coc-competition-focus-creating-a-systemic-responseto-homelessness/ HUD Ending Youth Homelessness: https://www.hudexchange.info/news/coc-competitionfocus-fy-2016-policy-priority-to-end-youth-homelessness/ USICH Preventing and Ending Youth Homelessness: A Coordinated Community Response: https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/youth_homelessness_coordinate d_response.pdf HUD NOFA Page: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/hud?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail /nofa16/coccomp TCP NOFA Page: http://community-partnership.org/providers/nofa TCP s Policy on Serving Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clients: http://communitypartnership.org/_literature_126519/transgender_gender_nonconforming.mp3
TCP Staff Contact Information
Tom Fredericksen, Chief of Policy and Programs tfredericksen@community-partnership.org Ext. 114 Jose Lucio, Senior Program Officer jlucio@community-partnership.org Ext. 107 Eileen Kroszner, Program Officer ekroszner@community-partnership.org Ext. 115 48