[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1259]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. N-94-3690; FR-3628-N-02]

 

Funding Availability for Fiscal Year 1994 for Innovative Project 
Funding Under the Innovative Homeless Initiatives Demonstration Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of waiver.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces a waiver, granted by the Secretary, of 
the minimum 30-day application period required under section 102(a) of 
the HUD Reform Act for the Innovative Homeless Initiatives 
Demonstration, which was announced in the Federal Register notice on 
December 21, 1993 (58 FR 67616).

DATES: January 20, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra L. Ransick, Assistant General 
Counsel for Regulations, room 10276, 451 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 708-3055; TDD (202) 708-3259. 
(These are not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 102(a) of the HUD Reform Act (42 
U.S.C. 3545(a)) sets out requirements for notice to the public 
regarding assistance available from HUD. Section 102(a)(3) requires 
Federal Register publication of selection criteria not less than 30 
days before the deadline for applications or requests for assistance. 
On December 21, 1993, the Department announced the availability of $25 
million in funds under the Innovative Homeless Initiatives 
Demonstration Program, which was authorized by the HUD Demonstration 
Act of 1993 (Pub.L. 103-120, approved October 27, 1993). (The funds 
were appropriated by the HUD appropriations act for fiscal year 1994 
(Pub.L. 103-124, approved October 28, 1993).) The notice announced that 
the Department would begin receiving applications during or prior to a 
three working day period beginning on January 10, 1994. The time period 
was less than the 30-day minimum application requirement under section 
102(a)(3).
    Section 102(a)(5) of the Reform Act permits the Secretary to waive 
the minimum 30-day application period ``if the Secretary determines 
that the waiver is required for appropriate response to an emergency.'' 
The Secretary is also required to publish, in the Federal Register, his 
reasons for granting such a waiver.
    The continuing tragedy of homelessness in our country has reached 
epidemic proportions. The deaths of Yetta Adams and two other homeless 
persons in the Washington area in December 1993 provided fresh evidence 
of how dire the consequences of homelessness can be. Homelessness is 
too destructive a force to be treated routinely. There is a desperate 
need for innovative solutions.
    The availability of new monies for homeless assistance under the 
HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 provided additional resources that could 
be used to assist homeless persons if HUD was able to act quickly in 
awarding those funds. Additionally, the extraordinarily high number of 
applications submitted in response to the most recent Supportive 
Housing NOFA provided further evidence of how desperately additional 
funding resources are needed. That only 43 applications out of 1340 
submitted could be funded is evidence that HUD should expedite the 
release of additional monies intended to help homeless persons.
    The Secretary determined that the continuing tragedy of 
homelessness, the desperate need for innovative solutions, the 
availability of new monies, the unprecedented demand for assistance 
from HUD to fight homelessness, and the harsh weather conditions, when 
considered in combination, demonstrated that an emergency exists that 
justifies the granting of a waiver of the 30-day application period 
required under section 102 of the HUD Reform Act.

    Dated: January 4, 1994.
Henry G. Cisneros,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-1259 Filed 1-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-32-P