FY 2009 Funding Opportunity Announcement for Refugee Emergency Housing Assistance Funding

The Bureau intends to award up to ten cooperative agreements in FY 2009 to public or private non-profit agencies (hereinafter referred to as “Recipients”) participating in the U.S Reception and Placement Program under a current cooperative agreement to provide refugee emergency housing assistance (REHA). NOTE: Applicants should understand that receipt of prior funding from the Bureau does not guarantee participation for this funding opportunity. The purpose of REHA is to provide emergency housing assistance to refugees (defined as persons admitted to the United States under section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, or persons to whom eligibility for the resettlement assistance available to individuals admitted under section 207(c) has been extended by statute (hereinafter collectively referred to as “refugees”)), which were admitted to the U.S. in FY 2009 and have extreme unmet housing needs in paying rent and other associated housing costs during their first 90 days in the U.S. Recipients must demonstrate that refugees receiving REHA are actively participating in R&P activities or required activities in any other benefit program in which they are enrolled or have documented extenuating circumstances that prevent them from actively participating. This funding should be administered in a manner that will not adversely affect refugee eligibility for other programs and benefits. Funding should focus on unmet needs and not duplicate or supplant programs available under any other Federal source of funding. In addition to distributing these funds, affiliates of successful Recipients should also be working to develop long-term housing solutions by creating linkages with both national and local housing assistance programs and other sources of funding. The Bureau is particularly interested in proposals that demonstrate such collaboration and pursuit of long-term solutions.