FEDERAL AGENCY:

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

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.

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.)

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

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.

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.

Pre-application 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.

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.

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 Nonprofit 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 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.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   36-0160-0-1-703.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $20,000,000; FY 02 est $31,653,000; and FY 03 est $31,653,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Capital grants have ranged from $12,610 to $1,000,000 for with an average award of $250,000.00. Per Diem is a based on the operational costs and income of each project per the requirements of 38 CFR 61.33. To receive per diem the bed must be occupied. The maximum per diem is $43.32; the average per diem is $31.45 with the average number of beds per project at 22. With an eighty-five per cent occupancy rate the result is an average per diem of approximately $588.

During the first five rounds of funding, more than 400 applications were received, requesting approximately $200 million to acquire, renovate, or construct supportive housing or service center facilities for homeless veterans or to purchase vans for outreach and transportation. Total VA funding for these projects was over $26 million. When these projects are completed, approximately 2,500 new community-based beds will be available for homeless veterans. Additionally, under this funding, 14 homeless veterans service centers will be established; 20 vans have been purchased by entities to conduct outreach or provide transportation for homeless veterans; and five mobile service center units will provide medical care and/or counseling services for homeless veterans with limited access to treatment. Most programs have been awarded grants for acquiring and renovating facilities. A small number of programs have been awarded a grant for new construction of buildings or acquiring already renovated facilities. Twenty programs were awarded grants to purchase vans for outreach and transportation. The majority of grant funding for housing will create transitional housing for homeless veterans. Of this transitional housing or in addition to it, supportive housing beds will be created for special populations including homeless elderly veterans, female veterans, veterans experiencing mental health or substance abuse problems, and homeless terminally ill veterans. In addition to housing, the funding will also create service centers that provide linkages with other community resources, job training, and/or emergency services in an effort to engage the homeless veteran in more longer term support. The projects funded to purchase vans will be using the vehicles for expanding outreach efforts and providing transportation for homeless veterans to VA and community services.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

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

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  

Jeffery L. Quarles Director,
VA Homeless Providers Grant
and Per Diem Program
VA National GPD Program Office
10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200
Tampa, FL 33617,
Tampa, Florida 33617
Phone: 1-877-322-0334

Web Site Address:  
https://www.va.gov/homeless/GPD.asp

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

None.

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.

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