[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23912-23914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11274]



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Part IV





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Funding Availability (NOFA) for Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program 
Coordinators for the Section 8 Rental Certificate and Rental Voucher 
Programs; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 84 / Thursday, May 1, 1997 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4195-N-01]


Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Family Self-Sufficiency 
(FSS) Program Coordinators for the Section 8 Rental Certificate and 
Rental Voucher Programs

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 for 
Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinators.

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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the availability of up to $15 million in 
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 to fund Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) 
program coordinators. Public housing agencies and Indian housing 
authorities (HAs) eligible to receive funding are only those which 
administer FSS programs of at least 25 mandatory FSS slots. HAs with 
FSS programs of fewer than 25 slots also may receive funding under this 
NOFA, if they previously applied jointly and were awarded FSS 
coordinator funding with other eligible HAs, so that between or among 
the HAs they administer at least 25 FSS slots. Due to limited funding, 
HUD has decided to award funds available in FY 1997 only to HAs that 
previously received Federal FY 1995 or FY 1996 funding for an FSS 
program coordinator, to allow them to continue paying an FSS 
coordinator, in amounts not to exceed $44,000 per HA. In order to 
receive funding under this NOFA, an eligible HA must certify to the HUD 
State or Area Office or to the HUD Office of Native American Programs 
(hereinafter ``HUD Office''), that the HA has hired an FSS program 
coordinator with funding previously awarded for that purpose and has 
made progress in implementing the FSS program.

DATES: The HA certification required for FY 1997 funding is due in the 
HUD Office no later than 3 local time on June 2, 1997. This 
certification deadline is firm as to date and hour.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald J. Benoit, Director, Operations 
Division, Office of Rental Assistance, Office of Public and Indian 
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, room 4220, 451 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410-8000, telephone number (202) 
708-0477. Hearing or speech impaired individuals may call HUD's TTY 
number (202) 708-4594. (These numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    The information collection requirements contained in this notice 
were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520) and have been assigned OMB control number 2577-0198. An agency 
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, 
a collection of information unless the collection displays a valid 
control number.

Promoting Comprehensive Approaches to Housing and Community Development

    HUD is interested in promoting comprehensive, coordinated 
approaches to housing and community development. Economic development, 
community development, public housing revitalization, homeownership, 
assisted housing for special needs populations, supportive services, 
and welfare-to-work initiatives can work better if linked at the local 
level. Toward this end, the Department in recent years has developed 
the Consolidated Planning process designed to help communities 
undertake such approaches.
    In this spirit, it may be helpful for applicants under this NOFA to 
be aware of other related HUD NOFAs that have recently been published 
or are expected to be published in the near future. By reviewing these 
NOFAs with respect to their program purposes and the eligibility of 
applicants and activities, applicants may be able to relate the 
activities proposed for funding under this NOFA to the recent and 
upcoming NOFAs and to the community's Consolidated Plan.
    The other NOFA published with respect to welfare-to-work 
initiatives was the Moving to Work Demonstration NOFA published in the 
Federal Register on December 18, 1996 (61 FR 66856).
    To foster comprehensive, coordinated approaches by communities, the 
Department intends for the remainder of FY 1997 to continue to alert 
applicants to upcoming and recent NOFAs as each NOFA is published. In 
addition, a complete schedule of NOFAs to be published during the 
fiscal year and those already published appears under the HUD Homepage 
on the Internet, which can be accessed at http://www.hud.gov/
nofas.html. Additional steps on NOFA coordination may be considered for 
FY 1998.
    For help in obtaining a copy of your community's Consolidated Plan, 
please contact the community development office of your municipal 
government.

I. Purpose and Substantive Description

    In recent years, HUD provided funding for FSS program coordinators 
to HAs with Section 8 programs of fewer than 1,000 units. The FY 1994 
and FY 1995 funds were awarded to these HAs based on a request for 
funding and all complete applications were funded. The FY 1996 funds 
were awarded based on a competitive NOFA. In FY 1996, state and 
regional HAs that administer more than 1,000 rental vouchers and 
certificates, but fewer than 1,000 mandatory FSS slots, were also 
eligible to apply and some received funding. HUD is allocating FY 1997 
funds for FSS program coordinators to allow HAs that were previously 
funded to continue paying an FSS coordinator. Since funding for FSS 
program coordinators is limited, applications from HAs that were not 
previously funded will not be accepted.
    The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban 
Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Pub. L. 
No. 104-204) allows funding for program coordinators under the Section 
8 FSS program. As a result, HUD determined to make a sufficient amount 
available under this NOFA to enable the previously funded smaller HAs 
(i.e., those with programs of fewer than 1,000 total rental vouchers 
and certificates) with FSS programs of at least 25 mandatory FSS slots, 
and previously funded state and regional HAs, to hire up to one FSS 
program coordinator for one year at a reasonable cost, as determined by 
the HA and HUD, based on salaries for similar positions in the 
locality. Each eligible HA is limited to an award of $44,000 under this 
NOFA.
    HUD is allocating funds as follows:
    1. All HAs funded in FY 1996 that have made progress in the FSS 
program will receive a 3 percent increase in FY 1996 funding;
    2. All HAs funded in FY 1995 that did not receive additional 
funding in FY 1996 that have made progress in the FSS program will 
receive a 6 percent increase in the amount funded in FY 1995.
    These funds will be awarded contingent upon the HUD Office receipt 
of an HA certification, subject to HUD verification, that the HA has 
hired an FSS program coordinator with funding previously awarded for 
that purpose and that the HA has made progress in implementing the FSS 
program.

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(1) Eligible Activity

    Funds are available under this NOFA to employ or otherwise retain 
the services of up to one FSS program coordinator for one year. A part-
time FSS program coordinator may be retained where appropriate. Under 
the FSS program, HAs are required to use Section 8 rental assistance 
together with public and private resources to provide supportive 
services to enable participating families to achieve economic 
independence and self-sufficiency. Effective delivery of supportive 
services is a critical element in a successful program.
(a) Program Coordinator Role
    HAs administering the FSS program use program coordinating 
committees (PCCs) to assist them to secure resources for and implement 
the FSS program. The PCC is made up of representatives of local 
government, job training and employment agencies, local welfare 
agencies, educational institutions, child care providers, nonprofit 
service providers, and businesses.
    An FSS program coordinator works with the PCC, and with local 
service providers to assure that program participants are linked to the 
supportive services they need to achieve self-sufficiency. The FSS 
program coordinator may ensure, through case management, that the 
services included in participants' contracts of participation are 
provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis, and that 
participants are fulfilling their responsibilities under the contracts.
(b) Staffing Guidelines
    Under normal circumstances, a full-time FSS program coordinator 
should be able to serve approximately 50 FSS participants, depending on 
the coordinator's case management functions.
(c) Eligibility of HAs
    All HAs that received FY 1995 and FY 1996 funding for FSS program 
coordinators will be funded in FY 1997, provided the HA certifies, 
subject to HUD verification, that it has hired an FSS program 
coordinator with funding previously awarded for that purpose and has 
made progress in implementing the FSS program. The HAs funded in FY 
1996 will receive a 3 percent increase in funding. The HAs funded in FY 
1995 but not funded in FY 1996 will receive a 6 percent increase in 
funding. The HUD Office may not provide FY 1997 funding to any HA that 
has not used its prior allocation of FSS program coordinator funding to 
hire an FSS coordinator, or that has failed to make progress in its FSS 
program.

(2) HUD Corrections to Rating and Ranking of FY 1996 Applications

    Seventeen HA applications submitted under the FY 1996 NOFA were not 
funded due to a HUD Headquarters error in failing to fund the 
approvable applications processed in the HUD Colorado State Office. HUD 
believes that this error must be corrected; therefore, HUD will, prior 
to funding any FY 1997 applications, fund those eligible FY 1996 
applications that were rated high enough to be funded in FY 1996. Of 
the available $15 million, $557,290 will be used for this purpose.

(3) Eligible HAs With HUD Approved Exceptions to Mandatory Minimum Size

    If HUD has approved either a full or partial exception to 
implementing an FSS program of the mandatory minimum size for an 
eligible HA, solely because of a lack of funds for reasonable 
administrative costs, the approval of the exception is hereby rescinded 
after funding for an FSS program coordinator is awarded under this 
NOFA.

II. Allocation Amounts

    For FY 1997, $15 million is available for HA administrative fees 
for Section 8 FSS program coordinators. This is the fourth fiscal year 
of funding for FSS program coordinators.

III. Required Certification

    All HAs that received funding for FSS program coordinators under 
the FY 1995 and FY 1996 NOFAs and that wish to receive funding under 
this NOFA, must complete a certification in the format shown below and 
submit it to the HUD Office by the due date. Funding under this NOFA 
will be automatic for FY 1996 funded HAs and for FY 1995 HAs that did 
not receive FSS program coordinator funding in FY 1996, provided the HA 
certifies as follows and the HUD Office determines that the HA has made 
progress in implementation of the FSS program:

    Required Certification Format for FSS Program Coordinator Funds 
Dear Director, Office of Public Housing (or Administrator, Office of 
Native American Programs):
    In connection with the FY 1997 NOFA for FSS program 
coordinators, I hereby certify for the ____________________ (enter 
name) HA that:
    (1) The HA has hired an FSS program coordinator using HUD funds 
provided for that purpose on ________________________ (enter the ACC 
effective dates of all previous FSS program coordinator funding 
increments), and
    (2) The HA has (check all that apply):
    (a) Formed and convened an FSS program coordinating committee 
________________,
    (b) Developed an FSS action plan and submitted it to HUD for 
approval ________________,
    (c) Executed contracts of participation with FSS participants 
________________.
    (3) The HA has an FSS minimum program size of ________ (enter 
number) mandatory FSS slots. The HA has ________ (enter number) 
Section 8 families currently enrolled in the FSS program.
        Sincerely,
Executive Director

IV. Other Matters

(a) Environmental Impact

    This NOFA does not direct, provide for assistance or loan and 
mortgage insurance for, or otherwise govern or regulate property 
acquisition, disposition, lease, rehabilitation, alteration, 
demolition, or new construction, or set out or provide for standards 
for construction or construction materials, manufactured housing, or 
occupancy. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(1), this NOFA is 
categorically excluded from environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 USC 4321).

(b) Executive Order 12612, Federalism

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the 
provisions of this NOFA do not have ``federalism implications'' within 
the meaning of the Order. The NOFA makes funds available for HAs to 
employ or otherwise retain the services of up to one FSS program 
coordinator for one year. As such, there are no direct implications on 
the relationship between the national government and the states or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities among various levels of 
government.

(c) Executive Order 12606, The Family

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive 
Order 12606, The Family, has determined that the policies announced in 
this notice would not have a significant impact on the formation, 
maintenance, and general well-being of families except indirectly to 
the extent of the social and other benefits expected from this program 
of assistance.

(d) Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

    The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the 
prohibitions of section 319 of the Department of Interior and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1990 (31 USC 1352) (the 
``Byrd Amendment'') and the implementing regulations at 24 CFR part

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87. These authorities prohibit recipients of Federal contracts, grants, 
or loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying the executive or 
legislative branches of the Federal Government in connection with a 
specific contract, grant, or loan. Indian Housing Authorities (IHAs) 
established by an Indian tribe as a result of the exercise of the 
tribe's sovereign power are excluded from coverage of the Byrd 
Amendment, but IHAs established under State law are not excluded from 
the statute's coverage.

    Dated: April 23, 1997.
Kevin E. Marchman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 97-11274 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P