Description
SUMMARY: VA announces the availability of approximately $5 million per year for 3 years in new special need grants to eligible entities for per diem payments to facilitate housing stabilization for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who are in one of the special need populations (i.e., chronically mentally ill, frail elderly, individuals who care for minor dependents, terminally ill or women). This funding will provide assistance to cover operational costs including costs that would not otherwise be incurred, but for the fact that the recipient is providing supportive housing beds in private rooms with private bathrooms for a homeless Veteran population with special needs. VA expects to award per diem for approximately 135 beds across approximately 10-15 grants with this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). DATES: Applications for grants must be received by the GPD National Program Office no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 5, 2021. In the interest of fairness to all, this deadline is firm as to date and hour. VA will treat any application that is received after the deadline as ineligible. Applicants should take this practice into account and submit their materials early to avoid the risk of unanticipated delays, computer service outages or other submission-related problems that might result in ineligibility. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: The required documentation for applications is outlined under the Application Documentation Required sections of this NOFO. For detailed GPD program information and requirements, see part 61 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) or 38 CFR part 61. APPLICATION SUBMISSION: Applications must be submitted by following instructions found at the following link: www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Applications may not be submitted any other way. Applications must be received by the GPD National Program Office no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date. Applications must be submitted as a complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be included in the application package for consideration and may result in the application being rejected or not funded. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Information regarding how to obtain technical assistance with the preparation of a grant application is available on the GPD program website at the following link: www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. A. Purpose VA announces the availability of approximately $5 million per year for 3 years in special need grants to eligible entities for per diem payments to facilitate housing stabilization for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who are in one of the special need populations (i.e., chronically mentally ill, frail elderly, individuals who care for minor dependents, terminally ill, or women). This funding will provide assistance to cover operational costs, including costs that would not otherwise be incurred, but for the fact that the recipient is providing supportive housing beds in private rooms with private bathrooms for a homeless Veteran population with special needs. VA expects to award funding to pay per diem for approximately 135 beds through this NOFO. The funding will allow GPD grantees to continue to transform programs and to meet the challenges local communities face when providing services to certain populations of Veterans experiencing homelessness. Each application must include a minimum of five special need beds and up to a maximum of 10 special need beds per VA medical facility catchment area, per each applicant’s Employer Identification Number (EIN). Each application must propose to serve one special need population. The various special needs populations are defined in 38 CFR 61.1 and are summarized in this NOFO. Each applicant may request the lesser of 100% of the daily cost of care for furnishing services to homeless Veterans with special needs; or two times the current VA State Home Program per diem rate for domiciliary care as set by the Secretary under 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 2012 and 38 U.S.C. 1741(a)(1), which at the time of this NOFO publication would be two times $49.91 per day as shown on the GPD program website at the following link: www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. The per diem payment calculation may be found at 38 CFR 61.33. The maximum amount of per diem requested must not exceed the cost of care or $1,100,000 total costs for the entire 3-year grant period, whichever is less, based on variables such as the average number of beds to be provided as stated in the grant application and the current per diem rate maximum. Applicants may request no more than the cost of care or $110,000 total costs per bed over the entire 3-year grant period, whichever is less, based on variables such as the average number of beds to be provided as stated in the grant application and the current per diem rate maximum.