VA – Supportive Services for Veteran Families (2014)

By NLADA on October 22, 2014 • ( 0 )

Description:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Oct. 10, 2014 announced the availability of funds for supportive services grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program for the March 1, 2015 – Feb. 28, 2018 period. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) contains information concerning the SSVF Program, initial supportive services grant application processes, and the amount of funding available. Awards made for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning approximately March 1, 2015, through February 28, 2018.

Funding Title: Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

Agency Name: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. There is very helpful language for legal services in the NOFA:

“Grantees are encouraged to provide, or assist participants in obtaining, legal services relevant to issues that interfere with the participants’ ability to obtain or retain permanent housing. (NOTE: Legal services provided may be protected from release or review by the grantee or VA under attorney-client privilege.) Support for legal services can include paying for court filing fees to assist a participant with issues that interfere with the participant’s ability to obtain or retain permanent housing or supportive

services, including issues that affect the participant’s employability and financial security. Grantees (in addition to employees and members of grantees) may represent participants before VA with respect to a claim for VA benefits, but only if they are recognized for that purpose pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 59. Further, the individual providing such representation must be accredited pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 59.”

Target Population: 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. VA will provide funds over a 3-year period for non-renewable grants to eligible entities proposing services for one of the 28 priority CoCs listed. See page 61379 of the NOFA.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

How to Apply: Two completed, collated, hard copies of the application and two compact discs (CD) containing electronic versions of the entire application are required. Each application copy must (i) be fastened with a binder clip, and (ii) contain tabs listing the major sections of and exhibits to the application. Each CD must be labeled with the applicant’s name and must contain an electronic copy of the entire application. A budget template must be attached in Excel format on the CD, but all other application materials may be attached in a PDF or other format. The application copies and CDs must be submitted to the following address: Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Office National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Applicants must submit two hard copies and two CDs. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). Applications must arrive 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. See Section II.C. of this NOFA for maximum allowable grant amounts.

Current Closing Date for Applications: Dec. 5, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Estimated Total Program Funding: $93 million

Award Ceiling: $2 million per year

Award Floor: $0

Eligible Applicants: In order to be eligible, an applicant must qualify as a private non-profit organization (Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status is required) or a consumer cooperative as has the meaning given such term in Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q). In addition, tribally designated housing entities (as defined in Section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act 0f 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4104)) are eligible.

Policy and Regulations on Use of Funds: See full announcement

Current/Past Funding Recipients:

FY2015_SSVF_Providers_List_Website_Version (2) FY2015 Grantees (2015)

http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_September2014_GrantRecipients.pdf (2015)

Samples of Successful MOUs Between Legal Aid Programs and SSVF Grantees:

Sample SSVF MOU for Pine Tree Legal Assistance

LSNY and NY-SSVF executed subcontract for 10-1-13 to 9-30-14

Link to Full Announcement: http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_NOFA_October10_2014.pdf

Contact Information: Mr. John Kuhn, Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Office, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, 4100 Chester Avenue,
Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (877) 737–0111 (this is a toll-free number).

For SSVF application materials see: http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp