HUD's Homeless Policy Priorities and Program Highlights- 2022 NOFO- RFA Overview

  1. Ending homelessness for all persons.
  2. Use a Housing First approach.
  3. Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness
  4. Improving Systems Performance
  5. Partnering with Housing, Health, and Service Agencies
  6. Racial Equity
  7. Improving Assistance to LGBTQ+ Individuals
  8. Persons with Lived Experience
  9. Increasing Affordable Housing Supply

HUD revised its rating factors regarding CoC evaluation of racial disparities to place greater emphasis on racial equity and increased the number of points on whether CoCs and homeless providers have identified barriers that lead to racial disparities, have taken steps to eliminate barriers to improve racial equity, and have implemented measures to evaluate the efficacy of the steps taken. Additionally, points were added to Section VII.B.2.e of this NOFO that will be awarded to CoCs that are promoting racial equity through the local CoC competition.

These points will be awarded on the rating factors; review, selection, and ranking processes used; and if rating and ranking of projects is based on the degree to which projects have identified any barriers to participation (e.g., lack of outreach) faced by persons of different races and ethnicities, particularly those over-represented in the local homelessness population, and are taking or will take steps to eliminate the identified barriers.

HUD revised the rating factors for addressing the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) individuals to place greater emphasis on CoCs implementing and training their providers on the CoC-wide anti-discrimination policies that ensure LGBTQ+ individuals and families receive supportive services, shelter, and housing free from discrimination.

Further, points were added to Section VII.B.1.f of this NOFO that will be awarded to CoCs that are updating their CoC-wide anti-discrimination policies based on stakeholder feedback and assisting providers in developing their own agency anti-discrimination policies that are consistent with the CoC-wide anti-discrimination policies

Throughout the past two years, as CoCs responded to the challenges of COVID-19, partnerships were developed between CoCs, homeless service providers, and state and local public health agencies. In the FY 2021 CoC Program Competition, HUD asked CoCs to demonstrate how these partnerships increased the safety of people experiencing homelessness from contracting COVID-19 and helped people increase vaccination rates amongst people experiencing homelessness. In the FY 2022 CoC Program Competition, HUD is asking CoCs to demonstrate how they will build on these partnerships to ensure they are prepared to prevent and respond to future infectious disease outbreaks amongst people experiencing homelessness.

Background Rationale-RFA Overview

  1. Racial Equity. In nearly every community, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color are substantially overrepresented in the homeless population. HUD is emphasizing system and program changes to address racial equity within CoCs. Responses to preventing and ending homelessness should address racial inequities to ensure successful outcomes for all persons experiencing homelessness using proven approaches, such as: developing a coordinated community response created in partnership with a racially diverse set of stakeholders and people experiencing homelessness and partnering with organizations with experience serving underserved populations. CoCs should review local policies, procedures, and processes with attention to identifying barriers that result in racial disparities, and taking steps to eliminate barriers to improve racial equity and to address disparities.
  2. Improving Assistance to LGBTQ+ Individuals. Discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation manifests differently for different individuals and often overlaps with other forms of prohibited discrimination. CoCs should address the needs of LGBTQ+, transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals and families in their planning processes. Additionally, when considering which projects to select in their local competition to be included in their application to HUD, CoCs should ensure privacy, respect, safety, and access regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation in projects. CoCs should also consider partnering with organizations with expertise in serving LGBTQ+ populations.
  3. Persons with Lived Experience. HUD is encouraging CoCs to include in the local planning process people who are currently experiencing or have formerly experienced homelessness. People with lived experience should determine how local policies may need to be revised and updated to improve the effectiveness of homelessness assistance programs, including participating in planning and oversight activities and developing local competition processes. CoC leaders and stakeholders should also prioritize hiring people who have experienced homelessness in areas where their expertise is needed (e.g. peer outreach and support).
  4. Increasing Affordable Housing Supply. The lack of affordable housing is the main driver of homelessness. CoCs play a critical role in educating local leaders and stakeholders about the importance of increasing the supply of affordable housing and the specific consequences of the continued lack of affordable housing. CoCs should be communicating with jurisdiction leaders, including for the development of Consolidated Plans, about the harmful effects of the lack of affordable housing, and they should engage local leaders about steps such as zoning and land use reform that would increase the supply of affordable housing.

This FY2022 CoC NOFO awards points to CoCs that take steps to engage local leaders about increasing affordable housing supply.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS COVER PAGE

PROJECT APPLICANTS: PLEASE  REVIEW THE LINKS(BELOW) AND AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL APPLICATION INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO PROJECT APPLICATIONS AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.

Detailed Instructions for Project Applicants e-snaps

Project Applicant Profile Navigational Guide (hudexchange.info)

Project Name: ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 1:  Project Information

Organization Name: _______________________________________________________

Organization Type: __________________________________________________________

Is your organization a 501 c 3?_________________________________________________

Employer or Tax Identification Number: _________________________________________

UEI Number:_______________________________________________________________

Physical Address of Applicant:

Street Address _____________________________________________________________

City State Zip ________________________________________________________________

Congressional District(s): _________________

Physical Address of Project:

Street Address:________________________________________________________________

City State Zip _________________________________________________________________

Congressional District(s)_____________________

Project District (s)___________________________

ALL PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL AND ADHERE TO FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES INCLUDING HUD ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

Applicant: Has the applicant ever received a federal grant, either directly from a federal agency or through a State/local agency? ___________

Contact Person Information :

Name _____________________________________          Title ________________________

Email Address____________________________________

Contact Phone ___________________________________

Component/Project type the project is applying as a (select one)

Permanent Housing Project(select one below)

New Project (select)______

Renewal Project (select)____

Supportive Housing (select one below)

___Rapid Rehousing
___ Permanent Supportive Housing
Supportive Services Only-_______

Coordinated Entry Homeless Management Information System (HMIS Lead Only)

Homeless Management Information Systems___________

DV Bonus Project___________

Is your organization, or subrecipient a victim service provider as defined in CFR583 ? _______

Project Expansion Project (for renewal grants only to increase  units) ___________

PARTNERSHIP DISCLOSURES

You must disclose all developers, contracts or consultants involved in the application or in the planning development or implementation of the project or activity and any other person who has a financial assistance in the project or activity for which the assistance is sought that exceeds $50,000 or 10% of the assistance (whichever is lower).

If not applicable, please select __N/A_

List of all persons with reportable financial interest in project or activity or__N/A____________________________________________________________________

Contact us with questions at: [email protected]

2: Threshold Requirements Please complete and return the threshold section with your complete application. Applications submitted without answers to threshold questions will not be considered.

For questions about threshold measures, please email [email protected].

 Please refer to the attachment  link below and on our website for complete application and threshold information.

Detailed Instructions for Project Applicants e-snaps

e-snaps is the electronic Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Application and Grants Management System that HUD uses to support the CoC Program funding application and grant awards process for the CoC Program.

For detailed instructions on filling out and completing the Applicant Profile, see the Project Applicant Profile Navigational Guide. Project Applicant Profile Navigational Guide (hudexchange.info)

ALL PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL AND ADHERE TO FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES INCLUDING HUD ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

Contact us with questions at: [email protected]

Eligible organizations may submit one or more of the following application types:

  • Renewal Project Application. Any organization with a CoC funded grant that is expiring in calendar year 2023 must submit a renewal application to continue operating the project. The renewal application must be fully consistent with the total funding associated with the project as detailed in the Grant Inventory Worksheet (GIW) provided by HUD. The amount requested for renewal grants may not exceed the total amount shown for the grant on the GIW.

 Renewal grants may elect to not renew or to renew at a dollar amount below the GIW.

  • New project application.
    New project applications may be for any of the eligible new project categories:

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) where 100% of the beds are either dedicated to serving chronically homeless or DedicatedPLUS2 projects. Eligibility for PSH is limited to long term homeless households with a disability.

Rapid Rehousing (RRH) projects serving individuals and families who meet the HUD homeless definition of categories 1, 2, or 4.3 RRH projects emphasize housing search and relocation services and short- and medium-term rental assistance to move homeless persons and families (with or without a disability) as rapidly as possible into permanent housing. The total length of assistance cannot exceed 24 months

Domestic Violence Bonus Projects (DV)  Projects in which all persons served are survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.

ALL PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL AND ADHERE TO FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES INCLUDING HUD ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

 Project Selection Process: Update

New project applications will be reviewed by an independent panel with subject matter expertise but no conflicts of interest with regard to the application.

Renewal Projects will be evaluated according to criteria set by HUD in the project rating tool found here: https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5292/project-rating-and-ranking-tool/       

The revised rating and ranking of projects, including assigned goals and weights, will be posted to our website and distributed to the CoC membership as soon as completed. Contact us with questions at: [email protected]