2004 NOFA Analysis
Continuum of Care
NOFA
Significant Changes for
2004
The
2004 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was released
on
The
following summarizes several modifications to the NOFA, including changes to
Exhibit 1, project application sections, the number of points assigned to
various scoring factors, as well as some minor project
changes:
·
Submitted applications
should only include the actual application questions and responses being
provided. Do not include HUD’s
application instructions or any blank tables and charts.
·
All applicants will need a
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number.
·
To help reach the goal of
ending chronic homelessness by 2012, at least ten percent of the FY 2004
homeless appropriation must be awarded to projects predominantly serving
individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. New or renewal transitional, Safe Haven,
or permanent housing projects that have at least 70% of their clients who are
chronically homeless will count toward this target.
·
HUD will be giving added
weight to the community’s response to the chronic homelessness strategy goals
within the Exhibit 1 “Process and Strategy” section.
·
Projects must receive a
minimum score of 65 points in the competition in order to receive any funding
consideration for lower-rated SHP renewals.
·
The permanent housing bonus
is once again available for communities whose number one priority project is a
new permanent housing project. Only
the ‘housing activity’ portion of a new permanent housing project may be counted
toward the permanent housing bonus award.
Housing activities include all approvable funds requested for rental
assistance (including new Shelter Plus Care), acquisition, rehabilitation,
construction, leasing, and operations when used in conjunction with
housing. Bonus awards will now be
applied using a sliding scale based on a Continuum of Care’s preliminary “Pro
Rata Need” (PRN) amount.
·
Communities with a PRN of
$10 million or more will be eligible for up to a $2 million
bonus;
·
Communities with a PRN of $5
to $10 million will be eligible for up to a $1.5 million
bonus;
·
Communities with a PRN of
less than $5 million (e.g. Columbus/Franklin County) are eligible for a bonus of
$750,000 or the PRN amount, whichever is less.
·
Starting this year, all
newly proposed Supportive Housing Program projects, excluding HMIS projects, are
required to have a three-year term.
·
HUD is requiring all
Continuums to plan to conduct a Point-in-Time count of homeless persons
(sheltered and unsheltered) during the last week of January 2005. HUD is also requiring that beginning in
2005 all communities update their Point-in-Time count at least
bi-annually.
·
The NOFA remains interested
in Discharge Planning. This year
communities must describe what they have achieved working with the appropriate
local and State governments to ensure that a discharge policy for persons
leaving publicly funded institutions or systems of care is being developed and
implemented to prevent the discharge of persons from immediately resulting in
homelessness and requiring assistance from homeless
programs.
|
Exhibit 1
Scoring |
2003
Points |
2004
Points |
|
Process and
Strategy |
20 |
17 |
|
HMIS
Implementation |
0 |
5 |
|
Gaps and
Priorities |
15 |
10 |
|
Leveraging
Supplemental Resources |
15 |
13 |
|
Housing
Emphasis |
10 |
10 |
|
TOTAL |
60 |
60 |
·
A new “Performance
Measurement” section within the Supplemental Resources section is included and
will be given the added weight of up to 5 points in the scoring
process.
·
An “HMIS Implementation”
section is included and will be given the added weight of up to 5 points in the
scoring process.
·
A new scoring opportunity on
“Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing” valued at up to 2 points has been
added to the “Process and Strategy” rating factor.
·
Starting this year, HUD has
reserved the right to fund lower rated eligible dedicated HMIS projects
receiving 40 need points and at least 25 Continuum points for at least one
year.
Exhibit 1
Modifications
·
A new “Performance
Measurement” section requires the Continuum applicant to compile housing outcome
information from the most recent renewal project APR’s.
·
The “Supplemental Resources”
section has been simplified by replacing an extensive narrative section with a
multiple choice chart.
·
Continuums must describe any
changes in the number of chronically homeless persons reported from 2003 to
2004.
·
Continuums must describe
their plans to conduct a Point-in-Time count during the last week of January
2005.
·
The Housing Activity Chart
has been modified with the addition of an HMIS participation column and columns
distinguishing Overflow and Seasonal Beds and Family Units and Family Beds. Gaps Analysis Chart data is supposed to
be directly tied to information from the Housing Activity Chart.
·
The new section called
“Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing” is a multiple choice chart that does
not involve any narrative and is to be completed by the local jurisdiction where
the majority of CoC assistance will be provided.
Project Application
Changes
·
Project applications must
include an estimate of the number of chronically homeless persons that will be
served and which subpopulations it will target.
·
This year, HUD is requiring
more specific information about project extensions, including dates and length
of extension periods.
·
Project applications no
longer require attachment of APR Questions 11 and 16.
·
Project sponsors must submit
evidence in the application that they qualify as eligible sponsors (under the
same criteria as applicants) for the program from which they seek funding
(except S+C SRA component).