HUD – Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (2019)

By NLADA on August 6, 2019

Applications Due: November 4, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET

This program helps transform neighborhoods by redeveloping severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing. Successful applicants have a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, which includes working with public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals to gain and leverage buy-in.

Goals and Objectives

The program has three core goals:

Housing: Replaced distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing;
People: Improve outcomes of households related to employment and income, health, and children’s education; and
Neighborhood: Improve safety, good schools, and commercial activity to get public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods.

As it relates to legal aid, the second goal (“people”) is the most relevant. Within this goal, there are four objectives:

Effective education
Employment opportunities
Quality health care
Housing location, quality, and affordability

Funding Title: Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants Program

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6300-N-34

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: No, however, legal aid could be a subgrantee. It qualifies as a supportive service (“The term “supportive services” includes all activities that will promote upward mobility, self-sufficiency, or improved quality of life, including such activities as literacy training, activities that promote early learning and the continuum of educational supports, remedial and continuing education, job training, financial literacy instruction, day care, youth services, aging-in-place, public transportation, physical and mental health services, economic development activities, and other programs for which the community demonstrates need” (p. 13). Service coordination with supportive services “are critical” to address needs (p. 12).

Target Population: Persons living in public housing or HUD-assisted housing

Expected Number of Awards: 5

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes, at least 5 percent of the requested grant amount in cash or in-kind donations. For more information, see Section 24(c)(1)(A) of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437v(c)(1)(A)) that sets the requirement for matching funds.

Estimated Total Program Funding: $164,000,000

Award Ceiling: $35,000,000

Award Floor: $1

How to Apply: A local government is the lead or co-applicant. A legal aid organization can either subgrant from an eligible applicant or be a co-applicant on the proposal.

Current Closing Date for Applications: by November 4, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Eligible Applicants: The local government must either be the lead or co-applicants. Applicants may jointly apply with a public entity are: Public Housing Authorities, local governments, tribal entities, nonprofits, and for-profit developers.

Link to Full Announcement: Link to NOFA and Link to HUD page

Contact Information: Contact choiceneighborhoods@hud.gov. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.