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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

64.024:  VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

Objectives:  To assist public and nonprofit private entities in establishing new programs and service centers to furnish supportive services and supportive housing for homeless veterans through grants that may be used to acquire, renovate or alter facilities, and to provide per diem payments, or in-kind assistance in lieu of per diem payments, to eligible entities which established programs after November 10, 1992 that provide supportive services and supportive housing for homeless veterans. (Note: The number of vans was limited to 20 for the life of this grant. This Van Restriction has not been lifted.)

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

64.024 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Applicants eligible for grants include public and nonprofit private entities with the capacity to effectively administer a grant; which demonstrate that adequate financial support will be available to carry out the project; and which agree to and demonstrate capacity to meet the applicable criteria and requirements of the grant program. Applicants eligible for per diem payments include public or nonprofit private entities who are either grant recipients, or who are eligible to receive a grant. Programs eligible for coverage under per diem payments must have been established after November 10, 1992.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Veterans, meaning a person who served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable.

Credentials/Documentation:  Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, and with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

64.024 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Application documents include a Standard Form 424, 424C and 424D, as well as VA Form 10-0361. Once per year if funds are available for the program, VA will publish in the Federal Register a notice of fund availability, soliciting applications for the grant program and information on applications for requesting eligibility to receive per diem payments. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  The application forms required by 38 CFR 17.700, "VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program," and furnished by the Federal agency must be used for the program.

Award Procedure:  Formal approval of the award of assistance is made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; the program is administered by Mental Health Strategic Healthcare Group.

Deadlines:  Deadlines for program applications are established in the notice of fund availability.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  For grant applicants, from 30 to 60 work days after receipt of items in the Second Submission section of the grant application package, including documentation on acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction; match and feasibility; matching funds; supportive services; and operating budget. For recognition by VA as eligible to receive per diem payments, 30 to 60 days after formal recognition is approved, pending availability of funds.

Appeals:  If an application would have been selected but for a procedural error committed by VA, VA will select that application for potential funding when sufficient funds become available, if there is no material change in the information that resulted in its selection. A new application will not be required for this purpose.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  As required by 38 CFR 17.700, applications are reviewed, rated and ranked in priority order. Selection criteria include: a. Quality of the project. b. Targeting to persons on street and in shelters. c. Ability of the applicant to develop and operate a project. d. Need for the type of project proposed in the area to be served. e. Innovative quality of the proposal. f. Leveraging. g. Cost effectiveness. h. Coordination with other programs.

Examples of Funded Projects:  None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $12,610 to $541,000.

64.024 RELATED PROGRAMS:

64.024 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

64.024 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $5,886,000; FY 00 est $20,000,000; and FY 01 est $31,653,000.

Budget Account Number:  36-0160-0-1-703.

Authorization:  Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992, Sections 3 and 4, Public Law 102-590; 38 U.S.C. 7721 note; Public Law 104-110.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations 17.700 - 17.731, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.

64.024 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program Manager, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Mental Health Strategic Healthcare Group (116E), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20420. Phone: (202) 273-8966. (This is not a toll-free number.) Toll-free 1-877-322-0334. Contacts: Victor Harris - Phone: (202) 273-8443. Roger Casey - Phone: 1-877-322-0334.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

64.024 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Refer to 38 CFR 17.706. Federal participation provides up to 65 percent of total project cost, with the grant recipient providing the remainder. Once funds are obligated for a grant project, VA will not increase the amount obligated.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  For the grant program, appropriation expires at the end of each fiscal year. Length of time limitations for the per diem programs are not established, however, per diem is contingent on availability of VA program funds. Reimbursement payments are made to the recipient based on the Federal share of costs incurred.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  The Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-590) established the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. The Act authorizes VA to assist public or non-profit private entities with partial funding for "bricks and mortar" to create supportive housing or services centers or to purchase vans for outreach and transportation. The Act also authorizes VA to partially fund operating expenses for these facilities through per diem payments.

64.024 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Required in accordance with 38 CFR 17.700.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Three categories of records should be maintained by VA and the contractor: (a) contractor fiscal records; (b) contractor treatment records; and (c) VA record summaries of treatment provided. Contractor fiscal records should be maintained by the contractor until they are certified by the General Accounting Office, as guided by Records Control Schedule 10-1. Contractor treatment records should be maintained by the contractor for a period of three years after the date of last patient activity before being disposed of by the contractor. Contractor summaries and related records will be maintained by the appropriate VA health care facility until three years after the last episode of care, then they will be filed with VA's Consolidated Health Records for each veteran patient. Consolidated Health Records are retained by the VA facility for 75 years from the last episode of care.