The
Youthbuild program provides funding assistance for a wide range
of multi-disciplinary activities and services to assist economically
disadvantaged youth. The opportunities are designed to help disadvantaged
young adults who have dropped out of high school to obtain the education
and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-efficiency
and develop leadership skills and a commitment to community development
in low income communities. Another important objective of the Youthbuild
program is to expand the supply of permanent affordable housing
for homeless persons and members of low income and very low income
families. By giving disadvantaged young adults participating in
the program meaningful on-site training experiences constructing
or rehabilitating housing as a community service, they are helping
to meet the housing needs of homeless and low income families in
their community.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grant funds can be used
to fund eligible educational and supportive services and activities
composed of basic skills development, and counseling, referral and
support services. Funds can also be used for architectural and engineering
fees, construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, operating expenses
and replacements reserves. If Youthbuild funds are used for these
construction related activities, certain housing related restrictions
apply. Use of Youthbuild funds in this way will also negatively
affect a proposal's chances of being funded. See the Final Rule
for specifics.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
(1) A public or private nonprofit agency, including: a community-based
organization which is accountable to low income community residents
through representation on the governing board and which has a history
of serving the local community where the Youthbuild program is to
be located; an administrative entity designated under section 103(b)(1)(B)
of the Job Training Partnership Act; a community action agency;
and a community development corporation; (2) State or local housing
agencies or authorities; (3) State or local units of general local
government, or (4) any other entity (including States, units of
general local government) eligible to provide education and employment
training under other Federal employment training programs as defined
in HUD regulations at 24 CFR 585.4.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Very low-income young adults, ages 16 to 24, who have dropped
out of high school are eligible. The program emphasizes special
outreach efforts to be undertaken to recruit eligible young women.
The program permits exceptions for young adults who do not meet
the program's income or education requirements but who have educational
needs despite attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Exceptions for individuals in this category cannot exceed 25 percent
of all participants.
Pre-application
Coordination: Applicants are strongly encouraged
to seek out and take advantage of other Federal, State, local or
private funds for housing construction, job training, counseling,
referral or social services which can be augmented with a Youthbuild
grant. The selection criteria for implementation grants provide
points for program coordination (using resources from other Federal,
State, local and private programs) and for securing financial assistance
from these other sources of funds. This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
Procedures noted in the Federal Register publication of the Notice
of Funds Availability (NOFA) which details all submission requirements
and the competitive factors by which each application will be
evaluated.
Award Procedure:
Competition for Implementation Grants. Awards go to applicants
securing the highest scores in relation to selection criteria
contained in the NOFA.
Deadlines:
The Youthbuild application package contains the deadline.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: Within 4 months of application submission,
all applicants will be notified in writing as to approval or disapproval.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Implementation Grants - 30
months. Funds are accessed through an established Line of Credit.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Semi-annual narrative and statistical reports, and tracking status
of trainees and affordable housing activities.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133,
"Audits of State and Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations,"
nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000
or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program- specific
audit conducted 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:
Each recipient must maintain records to facilitate audits of funds,
disposition of proceeds, costs from all sources, in- kind/cash
contributions, and information on participants and housing constructed/rehabilitated,
and relocation information.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
86-0162-0-1-451.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $59,868,000; FY 02 est $65,000,000; and FY 03 est
$65,000,000. (NOTE: Amounts reported reflect allocation of new
budget authority rather than obligation amounts).
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
For FY 2001, the minimum grant was $300,000, the maximum
grant was $500,000.
In fiscal year 2001, 115
grants were awarded. It is anticipated that 3,614 youths will be
trained, and more than 1,397 housing units have been proposed for
construction and rehabilitation.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
Final Rule R-95-1675-FR-3450
F-02; Application Kit.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: None.
Headquarters Office:
Jackie Williams-Mitchell, Director, Office of Rural Housing and
Economic Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development,
451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410, Room 7136. Telephone:
(202) 708-2035. (Use the same number for FTS).
Web Site Address: http://www.hud.gov/progdesc/cpdindx.html
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
(1) capacity of the applicant
and relevant organizational experience; (2) need and extent of the
problem; (3) soundness of the approach; (4) leveraging resources;
and (5) comprehensiveness and See detailed specific criteria in
the Youthbuild program section of the SuperNOFA.
