[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63848-63850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28178]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for applications for assistance under the ``Per 
Diem Only'' component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program. This Notice contains information concerning the program, 
funding priorities, application process, and amount of funding 
available.

DATES: An original completed and collated grant application (plus three 
completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. eastern time on January 28, 2004. 
Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). In the interest of 
fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date 
and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any 
application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take 
this practice into account and make early submission of their material 
to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated 
delays or other delivery-related problems.
    For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from VA's 
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or call the Grant and Per Diem Program at (toll-free) 1-
877-332-0334. For a document relating to the VA Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program, see the Final Rule published in the Federal 
Register on September 26, 2003, Sec. Sec.  61.0-61.82.
    Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus three copies) must be submitted to the following 
address: VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 
N. 46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications must be 
received in the Grant and Per Diem Field office by the application 
deadline. Applications must arrive as a complete package and in the 
proper format. Materials arriving separately will not be included in 
the application package for consideration and may result in the 
application being rejected or not funded. VA will remove materials that 
are included in application packages that have not been requested by 
VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 N. 
46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces the availability of 
funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program for eligible programs that have not previously applied for or 
received per diem in connection with a grant (see 38 CFR 17.700 through 
17.731 (repealed) and Final Rule, published in the Federal Register, 
September 26, 2003, Sec. Sec.  61.0 through 61.82). Public Law 107-95, 
section 5(a)(1) the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 
2001 codified at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, and 2064 authorizes this 
program. The program has been extended through Fiscal Year 2005. 
Funding applied for under this notice may be used for aid for service 
centers and supportive housing. Funding will be in the form of per diem 
payments issued to eligible entities for a period not to exceed 36 
months, beginning on a date as determined by VA subject to availability 
of funds and re-authorization of the program past September 30, 2005. 
For eligibility criteria please refer to the Final Rule published in 
the Federal Register on September 26, 2003, 38 CFR 61.30, 61.31, and 
61.32.
    Grant recipients who received prior year funding for acquisition, 
renovation, or new construction need not reapply for per diem for those 
portions of their programs that were created with grant funds. Per diem 
for these programs is requested in the grant application and paid at 
the time of grant project completion. Per Diem Only Awardees from 
NOFA's in June of 2002 and May of 2003, should not reapply for per diem 
for those beds or portions of their programs that were funded under 
those rounds. However, if such entities desire per diem for programs/
beds not funded by a previous grant application or a Per Diem Only 
Award an application responding to this NOFA is required.
    VA is pleased to issue this Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) for 
the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. The Department 
expects to award approximately $15 million annually under this NOFA.
    Funding available under this NOFA is being offered to help offset 
the operating expenses of existing state and local governments, Indian 
Tribal governments, faith-based, and

[[Page 63849]]

community-based organizations that are capable of providing supportive 
housing and/or supportive service center services for homeless 
veterans. The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
any territory or possession of the United States, may be considered 
eligible entities under the definition of ``State'' in the Final Rule, 
Sec.  61.1 Definitions. It should be noted that VA payment is limited 
to the applicant's cost of care per eligible veteran minus other 
sources of payments to the applicant for furnishing services to 
homeless veterans up to the per day rate VA pays for State Home 
Domiciliary care. Awardees will be required to support their request 
for per diem payment with adequate fiscal documentation as to program 
income and expenses.
    Interested organizations should know that the vast majority of 
homeless veterans in this country suffer from mental illness or 
substance abuse disorders or are dually diagnosed with both mental 
illness and substance abuse disorders. In addition, many homeless 
veterans have serious medical problems. Collaboration with VA medical 
centers, VA community-based outpatient clinics or other health care 
providers is an important aspect of assuring that homeless veterans 
have access to appropriate health care services.
    It is important to be aware that VA places great emphasis on 
responsibility and accountability. VA has procedures in place to 
monitor services provided to homeless veterans and outcomes associated 
with the services provided in grant and per diem-funded programs. VA is 
also implementing new procedures to further this effort. Applicants 
should be aware of the following:
    All awardees that are conditionally selected in response to this 
NOFA must meet the Life Safety Code of the National Fire and Protection 
Association as it relates to their specific facility. VA will conduct 
an inspection prior to awardees being able to submit request for 
payment to ensure this requirement is met.
    Each per diem-funded program will have a liaison appointed from a 
nearby VA medical facility to provide oversight and monitor services 
provided to homeless veterans in the per diem-funded program.
    Monitoring will include at least an annual review of each per diem 
program's progress toward meeting internal goals and objectives in 
helping veterans attain housing stability, adequate income support, and 
self sufficiency as identified in each per diem program's original 
application. Monitoring will also include a review of the agency's 
income and expenses as they relate to this project to ensure per diem 
payment is accurate.
    Each per diem-funded program will participate in VA's national 
program monitoring and evaluation system administered by VA's Northeast 
Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). It is the intention of VA to develop 
specific performance targets with respect to housing for homeless 
veterans. NEPEC's monitoring procedures will be used to determine 
successful accomplishment of these housing outcomes for each per diem-
funded program.
    VA encourages all eligible and interested entities to review this 
NOFA and consider applying for funds to provide service for homeless 
veterans.

    Authority: VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is 
authorized by Public Law 107-95, section 5(a)(1) the Homeless 
Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 codified at 38 U.S.C. 
2011, 2012, 2061, 2064 and has been extended through Fiscal Year 
2005. The program is implemented by the final rule codified at 38 
CFR 61.0. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on 
September 26, 2003, the regulations can be found in their entirety 
in 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available under this Notice 
are subject to the requirements of those regulations.

    Allocation: Approximately $15 million annually is available for the 
per diem only award component of this program. This funding is expected 
to be available for a period not to exceed 36 months from a date as 
determined by VA, and is subject to the availability of funds and 
reauthorization of the program past September 30, 2005.
    Funding Priorities: VA establishes priority for funding to 
underserved and low utilization areas. VA encourages applications from 
applicants that are in the identified underserved areas listed in first 
two priorities. Also, it is known that many other areas of low 
utilization could exist in those states that are not prioritized in 
this NOFA. These areas may have high populations of homeless veterans 
and limited services to address homeless veterans needs. These areas 
can include both urban and rural areas but may be particularly 
prevalent outside the high population areas. VA urges organizations in 
those areas, even if the organization is not located in a prioritized 
state, to apply.
    VA establishes the following funding priorities in order to: (1) 
Implement the provisions of Public Law 107-95 regarding geographical 
dispersion and non-duplication of service; and (2) bolster capacity in 
areas that are underserved by the Grant and Per Diem Program. In this 
round of ``Per Diem Only'' funding, VA expects to award funding for 
approximately 1500 community-based supported housing beds.
    In no case will a single organization in response to this NOFA be 
funded for more than 5% (75 beds) for a single project or for multiple 
project applications a total of 10% (150 beds) of the 1500 beds 
expected to be funded regardless of funding priority. Additionally, the 
cumulative number of beds within any State may not exceed 10% (150 
beds) of the 1500 beds expected to be funded regardless of funding 
priority.
    Funding priority 1. Priority one are Indian Tribal Governments; 
based on the total number of beds expected to be funded in this round, 
approximately 150 beds (10% of the 1500 beds expected to be funded) 
from Indian Tribal Governments will be selected in the first funding 
priority. Of those Indian Tribal Governments in the first funding 
priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring applicants 
will be funded first, until enough projects totaling approximately 150 
beds are identified for funding. Applicants not funded in this priority 
may be considered in the third funding priority.
    Funding priority 2. Priority two are applicants whose projects are 
physically located in the states of Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, 
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, 
Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 
and Virginia. Based on the total number of beds expected to be funded 
in this round, approximately 900 beds (60% of the 1500 beds expected to 
be funded) from eligible entities whose projects are located in these 
states will be selected as the first funding priority. Of those 
eligible entities in the second funding priority, that are legally 
fundable, the highest scoring applicants from each state will be funded 
until enough projects totaling approximately 900 beds are identified 
for funding. Applicants not funded in this priority may be considered 
in the third funding priority.
    Funding priority 3. Finally, VA is encouraging interested, state 
and local governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations 
to apply for funding under this NOFA. Based on the total number of beds 
expected to be funded in this round, approximately 450 beds (30% of the 
1500 beds expected to be funded) from the eligible entities that are 
state and local governments, faith-based, and community-based 
organizations, along

[[Page 63850]]

with those applicants not selected in the first or second priority will 
be considered in the third funding priority. Of those eligible entities 
that are legally fundable, the highest-ranked applications for which 
funding is available, will be selected for eligibility to receive per 
diem payment in accordance with their ranked order until enough 
projects totaling approximately 450 beds are identified for funding or 
until funding is expended.
    Methodology: VA will review all [non-capital] grant applicants in 
response to this notice of funding availability. Then VA will group the 
applicants into the funding priorities categories. Applicants will then 
be ranked within their respective funding category based on score and 
any ranking criteria set forth in that funding category only if the 
applicant scores at least 500 cumulative points from paragraphs (b) (c) 
(d) (e) and (i) of the Final Rule published in the Federal Register, 
September 26, 2003, Sec.  61.13.
    The highest-ranked application for which funding is available, 
within the highest funding category, will be conditionally selected for 
eligibility to receive per diem payment in accordance with their ranked 
order until VA reaches the projected bed totals for each category. If 
funds are still available after selection of those applications in the 
highest priority group, VA will continue to conditionally select 
applicants in lower priority categories in accordance with the 
selection method set forth in the Final Rule Sec.  61.32.
    Application Requirements: The specific grant application 
requirements will be specified in the application package. The package 
includes all required forms and certifications. Selections will be made 
based on criteria described in the application, Final Rule, and NOFA. 
Applicants who are selected will be notified of any additional 
information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the 
application. Applicants will then be notified of the deadline to submit 
such information. If an applicant is unable to meet any conditions for 
grant award within the specified time frame, VA reserves the right to 
not award funds and to use the funds available for other grant and per 
diem applicants.

    Dated: November 3, 2003.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-28178 Filed 11-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P