VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program

 

To provide supportive services grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives who will coordinate or provide supportive services to very low-income Veteran families who: (i) are residing in permanent housing, (ii) are homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within a specified time period, or (iii) after exiting permanent housing within a specified time period, are seeking other housing that is responsive to such very low-income Veteran family?s needs and preferences.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
64.033
Federal Agency/Office
Veterans Health Administration Center, Department of Veterans Affairs
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2015 Fiscal Year 2014: VA received 697 applications in response to the SSVF Program NOFA. VA awarded 407 grants to 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam for operations during FY 2015. VA awarded 92 of those 407 grants a 3-year non-renewable award.
Fiscal Year 2016 Fiscal Year 2015: VA received 289 applications in response to the SSVF Program NOFA. VA awarded 286 grants to 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam for operations during FY 2016
Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available
Authorization
Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, Public Law 110-387 (as amended), 38 U.S.C 2044., Public Law 110-387, 38 U.S.C. 2044
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants eligible for grants must be either a private non-profit organization or a consumer cooperative. The SSVF Program defines a private non-profit organization as: 1. An incorporated private institution or foundation that (a) has no part of the net earnings that inure to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual; (b) has a governing board that is responsible for the operation of the supportive services; and (c) is approved by VA as to financial responsibility; 2. A for-profit limited partnership, the sole general partner of which is an organization that (a) has no part of the net earnings that inure to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual; (b) has a governing board that is responsible for the operation of the supportive services; and (c) is approved by VA as to financial responsibility; 3. A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an organization that (a) has no part of the net earnings that inure to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual; (b) has a governing board that is responsible for the operation of the supportive services; and (c) is approved by VA as to financial responsibility; or 4. A tribally designated housing entity (as defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)). The SSVF Program defines a consumer cooperative as having the meaning given such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
Beneficiary Eligibility
Veteran families, meaning families in which the head of household or the spouse of the head of household served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. Eligible Veteran families must be very-low income, meaning their annual income, as determined in accordance with 24 CFR 5.609, does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for an area or community. Eligible Veteran families must also fall within one of the following categories: (i) residing in permanent housing; (ii) homeless and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent housing; or (iii) exited permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing that is responsive to the very low-income Veteran family's needs and preferences.
Credentials/Documentation
Proof of private non-profit organization or consumer cooperative status is required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. OMB Circular No. A-122 is applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. An environmental impact assessment is not required for this listing. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. As funds are available for the program, VA will publish in the Federal Register a notice of fund availability, soliciting applications for the grant program and information on applications for requesting eligibility to receive SSVF grant funds. The NOFA will contain; the content and form of the application with information on obtaining an application; the date, time, and place for submitting completed applications; the estimated amount and type of funding available; any priorities for or exclusions from funding, and provide information on additional documents necessary for the application. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The application content the Federal agency must use is required by 38 CFR 62, "VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program". VA will provide information to applicants on how to access a copy of the regulation in the notice of funding availability. Applications will only be accepted when received within the timeframe and meeting the requirements described in the notice of fund availability published in the Federal Register. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.
Award Procedure
Formal approval of the award of assistance is made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The program is administered by Veterans Health Administration, Homeless Programs, Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Office.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days. Deadlines for program applications are established in the notices of fund availability.
Appeals
If an application would have been selected but for a procedural error committed by VA, VA may reconsider that application in the next funding round. A new application will not be required for this purpose so long as there is no material change in the information.
Renewals
Subject to the availability of funds, grants may be renewed. Grantees would be required to submit a renewal application within the time frame established in a notice of fund availability.
How are proposals selected?
As required by 38 CFR 62.23, applications are reviewed, rated, and ranked in priority order. Selection criteria for initial projects include: (i) background, qualifications, experience, and past performance; (ii) program concept and supportive services plan; (iii) quality assurance and evaluation plan; (iv) financial capability and plan; and (v) area or community linkages and relations. Selection criteria for renewal projects include program outcomes; cost-effectiveness; and compliance with final rule and federal requirements. Ranked scores of applicants are the primary basis for selection. However, in accordance with 38 CFR 62.23(d), VA will utilize the following considerations to select applicants for funding: i. Preference applicants that provide or coordinate the provision of supportive services for very low-income Veteran families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing; and ii. To the extent practicable, ensure that supportive services grants are equitably distributed across geographic regions, including rural communities and Tribal lands.
How may assistance be used?
Section 604 of the Veterans Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-387) established VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. The SSVF Program provides grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will coordinate or provide supportive services to Veterans and their families who have less than 50% area median income and (i) are residing in permanent housing, (ii) are homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within a specified time period, or (iii) after exiting permanent housing within a specified time period, are seeking other housing that is responsive to such very low-income Veteran family’s needs and preferences. Grantees are responsible for providing outreach, case management, linkages to VA benefits, and linkages to other public benefits with the supportive services grant funds. Grantees may choose to provide temporary financial assistance on behalf of the Veteran family for certain costs. Limitations on the use of supportive services grant funds, including time and amount limitations, are described in 38 CFR Part 62.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Audits are performed in accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, Audit Requirements. Per OMB SuperCircular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in SuperCircular No. A-133. However, records must be available for review or audit by VA and/or the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Records
Records must be retained at least 3 years. Fiscal records should be maintained by the grantee as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D--Post Federal Award Requirements.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Length of time limitations are established in the notice of fund availability. Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS). Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly, at a minimum. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
John Kuhn
VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, SSVF, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201
Philadelpha, PA 19104. US
Phone: 877-737-0111.
Website Address
http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp
Financial Information
Account Identification
36-0160-0-1-705
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 16 est $300,000,000.00; FY 17 Estimate Not Available FY 15$297,997,000.00;
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Annual range and average of grant awards have varied over funding rounds, ranging from $118,000 to $6,800,000 and averaging $1.1 million per award.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 62 - Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



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