Foa_Content_of_FR-6700-N-96.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Planning and Development

The Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) Grants

FR-6700-N-96

02/15/2024

Table of Contents

OVERVIEW

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

B. Authority

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds

B. Number of Awards

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

D. Period of Performance

E. Type of Funding Instrument

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Ineligible Applicants

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility

F. Program-Specific Requirements

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Obtain an Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. System for Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

D. Application Submission Dates and Times

E. Intergovernmental Review

F. Funding Restrictions

G. Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Review Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative, National and Departmental Policy Requirements and Terms for HUD Applicants and Recipients of Financial Assistance Awards

C. Reporting

D. Debriefing

VII. AGENCY CONTACT(S)

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX

Program Office:

Community Planning and Development Funding Opportunity Title:

The Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) Grants Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6700-N-96

Assistance Listing Number (formerly CFDA Number):

14.277 Due Date for Applications:

02/15/2024

OVERVIEW

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite applications from eligible applicants for the program and purpose described within this NOFO. You, as a prospective applicant, should carefully read all instructions in all sections to avoid sending an incomplete or ineligible application. HUD funding is highly competitive. Failure to respond accurately to any submission requirement could result in an incomplete or noncompetitive proposal.

In accordance with Title 24 part 4, subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), during the selection process (which includes HUD’s NOFO development and publication and concludes with the award of assistance), HUD is prohibited from disclosing covered selection information.

Examples of impermissible disclosures include: 1) information regarding any applicant’s relative standing; 2) the amount of assistance requested by any applicant; and 3) any information contained in the application. Prior to the application deadline, HUD may not disclose the identity of any applicant or the number of applicants that have applied for assistance.

For further information regarding this NOFO, direct questions regarding the specific requirements of this NOFO to the agency contact identified in section VII.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501- 3520) (PRA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements in this NOFO. HUD may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless the collection displays a valid OMB control number. This NOFO identifies its applicable OMB control number, unless its collection of information is excluded from these requirements under 5 CFR part 1320.

OMB Approval Number(s):

2506-0219

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

Through this NOFO, HUD is awarding Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) grants to support selected communities in either improving existing or establishing and implementing a response system for youth homelessness. The grants will focus on systemic change to either improve or create response systems for youth homelessness by funding projects that create and build capacity for Youth Action Boards; collect and use data on at-risk youth and https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-4/subpart-B https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-1320?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-1320?toc=1 youth experiencing homelessness; develop strong leaders within a community; and improve the coordination, communication, operation, and administration of homeless assistance projects to better serve youth, including prevention and diversion strategies. Communities may either establish or improve existing response systems for youth homelessness through the following objectives:

• Improve the capacity of youth in the community: Developing peer support models, including training, project design, and implementation; creating Youth Action Board training, including government rules, leadership, and other skills; community training and outreach on how to work with youth and integrate youth leadership in an authentic way.

• Establish partnerships: Bringing together system partners who also work with youth who are living in unstable housing. This could include partnerships with Tribes and cultural organizations in the community, K-12 schools, higher education, juvenile justice, child welfare, employment services, etc.

• Improve the centralized or coordinated assessment system also known as the Coordinated Entry Systems (CES).

• Improve data collection and use between systems that work with youth at-risk of and experiencing homelessness.

• Assess, address, and improve equity in youth homeless response systems.

To meet these objectives, HUD will award $50,000,000 in YHSI grants under this NOFO through funding appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117- 103, approved March 15, 2022) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022)). The FY 2022 and FY 2023 Appropriations Acts provided this funding to HUD "to support communities… in establishing and implementing a response system for youth homelessness, or for improving their existing system”

This NOFO outlines the methodology HUD will follow to determine award amounts. Systemic change is often larger than one Continuum of Care. HUD is including additional points for statewide or cross-community project proposals in order to emphasize the need for coordination across communities. Subject to HUD’s right to select lower scoring community selection applications under Section III.F.a, HUD will use the community scores under this NOFO to select communities. See Section II, Award Information, for further information on the award process.

Technical assistance will be available to selected communities to build their knowledge, skills, capacity, tools, and HUD systems knowledge in order for the recipient to implement their YHSI grant. Communities will be expected to fully participate in any evaluation activities conducted by HUD or entities identified by HUD beginning no earlier than the announcement of community selection.

After the application submission deadline, HUD will assess the applications and select communities. Award amount for communities is outlined in Section II.C.

2. HUD and Program-Specific Goals and Objectives

This NOFO supports HUD’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2026 to accomplish HUD’s mission and vision. Each of the five goals in the Strategic Plan include what HUD hopes to accomplish, the strategies to accomplish those objectives, and the indicators of success.

However, of the five goals only those applicable to this NOFO are identified below.

You are expected to align your application to the applicable strategic goals and objectives below.

Use the information in this section to describe in your application the specific goals, objectives, and measures that your project is expected to help accomplish. If your project is selected for funding, you are also expected to establish a plan to track progress related to those goals, objectives, and measures. HUD will monitor compliance with the goals, objectives, and measures in your project.

Applicable Goals and Objectives from HUD’s Strategic Plan

1. Strategic Goal 1: Support Underserved Communities Fortify support for underserved communities and support equitable community development for all people.

2. 1A: Advance Housing Justice Fortify support for vulnerable populations, underserved communities, and Fair Housing enforcement.

3. 1B: Reduce Homelessness Strengthen Federal, State, Tribal, and community implementation of the Housing First approach to reducing the prevalence of homelessness, with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness.

4. 1C: Invest in the Success of Communities Promote equitable community development that generates wealth-building for underserved communities, particularly for communities of color.

5. Strategic Goal 2: Ensure Access to and Increase the Production of Affordable Housing Ensure housing demand is matched by adequate production of new homes and equitable access to housing opportunities for all people.

6. 2A: Increase the Supply of Housing Enhance HUD's programs that increase the production and supply of housing across the country.

7. 2B: Improve Rental Assistance Improve rental assistance to address the need for affordable housing.

8. Strategic Goal 3: Promote Homeownership Promote homeownership opportunities, equitable access to credit for purchase and improvements, and wealth-building in underserved communities.

9. 3A: Advance Sustainable Homeownership Advance the deployment of tools and capital that put sustainable homeownership within reach.

10. 3A � Major Initiative: Expand Homeownership Opportunities Promote financing for innovative ownership models to increase the availability of affordable housing.

11. 3B: Create a More Accessible and Inclusive Housing Finance System Advance new policy, programs, and modernization initiatives that support a more equitable housing finance system. Promote the preservation and creation of affordable housing stock.

12. Strategic Goal 4: Advance Sustainable Communities Advance sustainable communities by strengthening climate resilience and energy efficiency, promoting environmental justice, and recognizing housing's role as essential to health.

13. 4A: Guide Investment in Climate Resilience https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas

Invest in climate resilience, energy efficiency, and renewable energy across HUD programs.

14. 4B: Strengthen Environmental Justice Reduce exposure to health risks, environmental hazards, and substandard housing, especially for low-income households and communities of color.

15. 4C: Integrate Health and Housing Advance policies that recognize housing's role as essential to health.

The YHSI grants will incorporate HUD's strategy to reduce homelessness by increasing the capacity of the Continuum of Care, by focusing on systemic change through projects that create and build capacity for Youth Action Boards; collect and use data on at-risk youth and youth experiencing homelessness; develop strong leaders within a community; and improve the coordination, communication, operation, and administration of homeless assistance projects to better serve youth, including prevention and diversion strategies. Additionally, in recognition that “promoting equity is a key component in reducing homelessness,” awarded recipients are required to evaluate the impact of YHSI projects on racial equity in the community.

Funding Opportunity GoalsCommunities may either establish or improve existing response systems for youth homelessness through the following objectives

Improve the capacity of youth in the community Developing peer support models including training project design and implementation creating Youth Action Board training including government rules leadership and other skills community training and outreach on how to work with youth and integrate youth leadership in an authentic way.

Establish partnerships Bringing together system partners who also work with youth who are living in unstable housing. This could include partnerships with Tribes and cultural organizations in the community K12 schools higher education juvenile justice child welfare employment services etc.

Improve the centralized or coordinated assessment system also known as the Coordinated Entry Systems CES.

Improve data collection and use between systems that work with youth at risk of and experiencing homelessness.

Assess address and improve equity in youth homeless response systems.

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

Not applicable-this is the first YHSI NOFO.

4. Definitions

a. Standard Definitions

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) means taking meaningful actions, in addition to combating discrimination to overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics. Specifically, affirmatively furthering fair housing means taking meaningful actions that, taken together, address significant disparities in housing needs and in access to opportunities, replacing segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns, transforming racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity, and fostering and maintaining compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws.

The duty to affirmatively further fair housing extends to all program participant’s activities and programs relating to housing and urban development.

Assistance Listing number refers to the unique number assigned to each Federal assistance program publicly available in the Assistance Listing, which is managed and administered by the General Services Administration. The Assistance Listing number was formerly known as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number.

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is a person authorized to legally bind your organization and submit applications via Grants.gov. The AOR is authorized by the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) in the System for Award Management (see E-Biz POC definition).

An AOR may include an Expanded AOR and/or a Standard AOR.

Expanded Authorized Organization Representative is a user in Grants.gov who is authorized by the E-Biz POC to perform the functions of a Standard AOR, initiate and submit applications on behalf of your organization, and is allowed to modify organization-level settings and certifications in Grants.gov.

Standard Authorized Organization Representative is a user in Grants.gov who is authorized by the E-Biz POC to initiate and submit applications in Grants.gov. A Grants.gov user with the Standard AOR role can only submit applications when they are a Participant for that workspace.

Consolidated Plan is the document submitted to HUD that serves as the comprehensive housing affordability strategy, community development plan, and submission for funding under any of the Community Planning and Development formula grant programs (e.g., CDBG, ESG, HOME, and HOPWA). This Plan is prepared in accordance with the process described in 24 CFR part 91.

This plan is completed by engaging in a participatory process to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions with funding from formula grant programs. (See 24 CFR part 91 for HUD’s requirements regarding the Consolidated Plan and related Action Plan).

Contract means, for the purpose of Federal financial assistance, a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal award. For additional information on contractor and subrecipient determinations, see 2 CFR 200.331.

Contractor means an entity that receives a contract as defined above and in 2 CFR 200.1.

Cooperative agreement has the same meaning defined at 2 CFR 200.1.

Deficiency, with respect to the making of an application for funding, is information missing or omitted within a submitted application. Examples of deficiencies include missing documents, missing or incomplete information on a form, or some other type of unsatisfied information requirement. Depending on specific criteria, a deficiency may be either Curable or Non-Curable.

A Curable Deficiency is missing or incomplete application information that may be corrected by the applicant with timely action. To be curable, the deficiency must:

• Not be a threshold requirement, except for documentation of applicant eligibility;

• Not influence how an applicant is ranked or scored versus other applicants; and https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.331 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

• Be remedied within the time frame specified in the notice of deficiency.

A Non-Curable Deficiency is missing or incomplete application information that cannot be corrected by an applicant after the submission deadline. A non-curable deficiency is a deficiency that is a threshold requirement, or a deficiency that, if corrected, would change an applicant’s score or rank versus other applicants. If an application includes a non-curable deficiency, the application may receive an ineligible determination, or the non-curable deficiency may otherwise adversely affect the application’s score and final funding determination.

E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) is an organization applicant who is responsible for the administration and management of grant activities for his or her organization. The E-Biz POC is likely to be an organization's chief financial officer or authorizing official. The E-Biz POC authorizes representatives of their organization to apply on behalf of the organization (see Authorized Organization Representative definition). There can only be one E-Biz POC per unique entity identifier (see definition of Unique Entity Identifier below).

Eligibility requirements are mandatory requirements for an application to be eligible for funding.

Environmental Justice means investing in environmental improvements, remedying past environmental inequities, and otherwise developing, implementing, and enforcing laws and policies in a manner that advances environmental equity and provides meaningful involvement for people and communities that have been environmentally underserved or overburdened, such as Black and Brown communities, indigenous groups, and individuals with disabilities. This definition does not alter the requirements under HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR 58.5(j) and 24 CFR 50.4(l) implementing Executive Order 12898. E.O. 12898 requires a consideration of how federally assisted projects may have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and/or low-income populations. For additional information on environmental review compliance, refer to:

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/environment_energy/regulations.

Equity has the meaning given to that term in Section 2(a) of Executive Order 13985 and means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Federal Award, has the meaning, depending on the context, in either paragraphs (1) or (2) of this definition:

(1)

(a) The Federal financial assistance that a recipient receives directly from a Federal awarding agency or a subrecipient receives indirectly from a pass-through entity, as described in 2 CFR 200.101; or https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-58/subpart-A/section-58.5 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-50/subpart-A/section-50.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-50/subpart-A/section-50.4 https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/executive-orders/pdf/12898.pdf https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/environment_energy/regulations https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

(b) The cost-reimbursement contract under the Federal Acquisition Regulations that a non- Federal entity receives directly from a federal awarding agency or indirectly from a pass- through entity, as described in 2 CFR 200.101.

(2) The instrument setting forth the terms and conditions. The instrument is the grant agreement, cooperative agreement, other agreement for assistance covered in paragraph (2) of the definitions of Federal financial assistance in 2 CFR 200.1, and this NOFO, or the cost-reimbursement contract awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

(3) Federal award does not include other contracts that a Federal agency uses to buy goods or services from a contractor or a contract to operate Federal Government owned, contractor operated facilities (GOCOs).

(4) See also definitions of Federal financial assistance, grant agreement, and cooperative agreement in 2 CFR 200.1.

Federal Financial Assistance has the same meaning defined at 2 CFR 200.1.

Grants.gov is the website serving as the Federal government’s central portal for searching and applying for Federal financial assistance throughout the Federal government. Registration on Grants.gov is required for submission of applications to prospective agencies unless otherwise specified in this NOFO.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation. A list of accredited HBCUs can be found at the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are

(1) a part B institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1601);

(2) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1101a(5));

(3) a Tribal College or University (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059c);

(4) an Alaska Native-serving institution or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b));

(5) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059e);

(6) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059g); or

(7) a Native American-serving nontribal institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059f).

Non-Federal Entity (NFE) means a state, local government, Indian tribe, Institution of Higher Education (IHE), or non-profit organization that carries out a federal award as a recipient or subrecipient.

Primary Point of Contact (PPOC) is the person who may be contacted with questions about the application submitted by the AOR. The PPOC is listed in item 8F on the SF-424.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partB-sec1061.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapV-partA-sec1101a.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title20/pdf/USCODE-2015-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059c.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title20/pdf/USCODE-2015-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059d.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059e.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059g.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059g.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059f.pdf

Racial Equity is the elimination of racial disparities, and is achieved when race can no longer predict opportunities, distribution of resources, or outcomes – particularly for Black and Brown persons, which includes Black, Latino, indigenous, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other persons of color.

Recipient means an entity, usually but not limited to non-Federal entities, that receives a federal award directly from HUD. The term recipient does not include subrecipients or individuals that are beneficiaries of the award.

Resilience is a community’s ability to minimize damage and recover quickly from extreme events and changing conditions.

Small business is defined as a privately-owned corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that has fewer employees and less annual revenue than regular-sized business. The definition of “small”—in terms of being able to apply for government support and qualify for preferential tax policy—varies by country and industry. The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a small business according to a set of standards based on specific industries. See 13 CFR Part 121.

Subaward means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a Federal program. A subaward may be provided through any form of legal agreement, including an agreement that the pass-through entity considers a contract.

Subrecipient means an entity, usually but not limited to non-Federal entities, that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity to carry out part of a federal award but does not include an individual that is a beneficiary of such award. A subrecipient may also be a recipient of other federal awards directly from a federal awarding agency.

System for Award Management (SAM) is the Federal Repository into which an entity must provide information required for the conduct of business as a recipient. Registration with SAM is required for submission of applications via Grants.gov. You can access the website at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/. There is no cost to use SAM.

Threshold Requirements are eligibility requirements that must be met for an application to be reviewed, rated, and ranked. Threshold requirements are not curable, except for documentation of applicant eligibility, which are listed in Section III.D., Threshold Eligibility Requirements.

Similarly, there are eligibility requirements under Section III.E., Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

Underserved Communities has the meaning given to that term in Section 2(b) of Executive Order 13985 and refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the definition of “equity” above.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) means the identifier assigned by SAM to uniquely identify business entities. As of April 4, 2022, the Federal government has transitioned from the use of the DUNS Number to the use of UEI, as the primary means of entity identification for Federal awards government-wide.

b. Program Definitions.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121?toc=1 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

Definitions from 24 CFR 578.3.

The following terms are defined under HUD’s Continuum of Care Program regulations at 24 CFR 578.3 and are applicable in this NOFO.

1. At-risk of homelessness

2. Centralized or coordinated assessment system

3. Collaborative Applicant

4. Continuum of Care

5. Homeless Management Information System

6. Homeless. Although not reflected in the regulation, section 605 of Violence Against

Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 amended Section 103(b) of the Act and requires HUD to consider certain individuals and families as homeless. This amendment takes effect on October 1, 2022. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this NOFO, where 578.3 paragraph (4) is referenced, applicants may apply to serve the population as defined in Section 103(b) of the Act.

7. State

Other Definitions

1. YHSI Community - Self-organized network of people in a defined geographic area with common agenda, cause, or interest, who collaborate by sharing ideas, information, and other resources. The community can be part or all of the geographic area covered by a CoC, span multiple CoCs, or be a state-wide community. A community can include Tribal "formula areas,” as defined in the Indian Housing Block Grant program at 24 CFR 1000.302, which includes trust lands and reservations, as part of or the entirety of the community.

2. Formula Area - This term has the same meaning as in the IHBG Program at 24 CFR 1000.302, as may be amended from time to time.

3. Letter of Commitment - a written communication from an organization that is not the applicant that commits to specific tasks within the overall project proposal.

4. Project Applicant - an eligible applicant, as outlined in Section III.A of this NOFO, that is designated by the Collaborative Applicant or its designee to apply for assistance under the YHSI.

5. Public Child Welfare Agency - the governmental entity that has care, custody and responsibility for children in foster care and is responsible for the provision of services and support to youth who have left foster care after age 18 to age 21.

6. Reservation - For purposes of this NOFO, reservations are a type of formula area as specifically delineated under HUD’s IHBG program at 24 CFR 1000.302.

7. Trust Land - For purposes of this NOFO, trust lands are a type of formula area as delineated under HUD’s IHBG program at 24 CFR 1000.302

8. Youth - Persons aged 24 and younger (has not reached their 25th birthday)

a. Unaccompanied Youth - persons who are age 24 or younger, who are not part of a family with children.

b. Pregnant or Parenting Youth – Individual heads of households who are age 24 or younger who are pregnant or who are the parents or legal guardians of one or more children who are present with or sleeping in the same place as that youth parent.

c. Transition Age Youth- persons between age 18 and 24.

9. Youth Action Board (YAB) - A group of at least 3 youth that have leadership or voting power on the contents of this application and the proposed projects. At least two-thirds of the YAB members must be age 24 or younger and have lived experience of homelessness and should be representative of the youth population experiencing homelessness in the YHSI community. Applicants are required to have a YAB for the purposes of this project; however, this does not need to be a new organization. Rather, applicants may choose to use an existing YAB or convene members of more than one YAB to serve as the YAB for this application and project.

B. Authority The funds announced in this NOFO were provided and authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103, approved March 15, 2022) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022).

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds Funding of approximately $50,000,000 is available through this NOFO.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFO consistent with Section VI.A.2.e., Adjustments to Funding. Use of these funds is subject to statutory constraints. All awards are subject to the funding restrictions contained in this NOFO.

B. Number of Awards HUD expects to make approximately 35 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information HUD will rate submitted applications according to the rating factors outlined in Section V, Application Review Information, and fund applications in that order.

HUD will limit the amount awarded to applications based on the proposed activities in the project description. These limits are based on the eligible activity categories outlined in Section IV.F, Funding Restrictions, and are as follows:

• Planning and Partnerships: The maximum a community may request in this category of activities is $400,000.

• Data: The maximum a community may request in this category of activities is $300,000.

• Coordinated Entry: The maximum a community may request in this category of activities is $200,000.

• Racial and Gender Equity: The maximum a community may request in this category of activities is $200,000.

These maximum amounts will be doubled for applications that cover geographic areas in 2 or more CoCs or if the CoC covers the entire geography of the state. Further, HUD will review all proposals and budgets for cost effectiveness and reserves the right to award less than requested if the costs are considered not cost-effective or unreasonable, including if an applicant does not include letters of commitment from identified partners.

If the proposed project activities include eligible HMIS activities in section IV.F, the NOFO application must include a letter of commitment from the HMIS lead for each CoC represented in the proposed project geography.

If the proposed project activities include eligible Coordinated Entry activities in section IV.F, the NOFO application must include a letter of commitment from the CoC or Coordinated Entry lead for each CoC represented in the proposed project geography.

Estimated Total Funding:

$50,000,000 Minimum Award Amount:

$200,000 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

$2,000,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance YHSI grants will be for a term of up to 30 months immediately following HUD's selection. The grant term may be extended consistent with 2 CFR 200.308 and 2 CFR 200.309, the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. As outlined in Section IV.B.1. of this NOFO, Content and Form of Application, applicants must submit as part of their application a milestone summary of the proposed projects activities and must meet these milestones unless a request to modify or extend the time period of the milestones is approved by HUD. If a YHSI grant recipient does not meet the proposed milestones, HUD may terminate the award consistent with 2 CFR 200 Subpart D and recapture any unspent funds. Within the period of availability of the recaptured funds, HUD may reallocate the recaptured funds to another community awarded YHSI funds, if authorized.

Estimated Project Start Date:

06/01/2024 Estimated Project End Date:

12/01/2026 Length of Project Periods:

Other

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

HUD will award projects up to a term of 30 months. HUD expects that awarded applicants may need up to six months for grant start-up activities, followed by a total of 24 months of project activity. Applicants may choose to have a period of performance of less than 30 months.

Applicants must include the total number of months requested for the project in their project milestone tracker.

E. Type of Funding Instrument Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant)

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants 00 (State governments)

01 (County governments)

02 (City or township governments)

04 (Special district governments)

07 (Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized))

08 (Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities)

11 (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments))

25 (Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification))

Additional Information on Eligibility

(25) Other

Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities as defined in Section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)

Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, as demonstrated by criteria at 24 CFR 5.109(l)(1) through 24 CFR 5.109(l)(5).

Faith-based organizations

(1) Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at 24 CFR 5.109, and subject to the protections and requirements of 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., HUD will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization based on the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

(2) A faith-based organization that participates in this program will retain its independence and may continue to carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom and conscience protections in Federal law, including the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the Constitution, 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., 42 U.S.C. 238n, 42 U.S.C. 18113, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-1(a) and 2000e-2(e), 42 U.S.C. 12113(d), and the Weldon Amendment, among others. Religious accommodations may also be sought under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws, particularly under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

(3) A faith-based organization may not use direct financial assistance from HUD to support or engage in any explicitly religious activities except where consistent with the Establishment Clause and any other applicable requirements. Such an organization also may not, in providing services funded by HUD, discriminate against a beneficiary or prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-5#p-5.109

B. Ineligible Applicants HUD will not consider an application from an ineligible applicant. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply for grants or to be subrecipients of grant funds.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching This Program does not require cost sharing or matching, but provides points based on leverage as described below.

This NOFO does not require applicants to leverage resources through cost sharing or matching.

Applicants will receive additional points for partnerships, including through a commitment of funds, as outlined in section V.A., Review Criteria.

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements Applicants who fail to meet any of the following threshold eligibility requirements are deemed ineligible. Applications from ineligible applicants are not rated or ranked and will not receive HUD funding.

1. Resolution of Civil Rights Matters

Outstanding civil rights matters must be resolved before the application submission deadline.

Applicants with unresolved civil rights matters at the application deadline are deemed ineligible.

Applications from ineligible applicants are not rated or ranked and will not receive HUD funding.

a. An applicant is ineligible for funding if the applicant has any of the charges, cause determinations, lawsuits, or letters of findings referenced in subparagraphs (1) – (5) that are not resolved to HUD’s satisfaction before or on the application deadline date for this NOFO.

(1) Charges from HUD concerning a systemic violation of the Fair Housing Act or receipt of a cause determination from a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing agency concerning a systemic violation of a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing law proscribing discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, disability or familial status;

(2) Status as a defendant in a Fair Housing Act lawsuit filed by the United States alleging a pattern or practice of discrimination or denial of rights to a group of persons raising an issue of general public importance under 42 U.S.C. 3614(a);

(3) Status as a defendant in any other lawsuit filed or joined by the Department of Justice, or in which the Department of Justice has intervened, or filed an amicus brief or statement of interest, alleging a pattern or practice or systemic violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Violence Against Women Act, or a claim under the False Claims Act related to fair housing, non-discrimination, or civil rights generally including an alleged failure to affirmatively further fair housing;

(4) Receipt of a letter of findings identifying systemic non-compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; Violence Against Women Act; or the Americans with Disabilities Act; or

(5) Receipt of a cause determination from a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing agency concerning a systemic violation of provisions of a state or local law prohibiting discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or lawful source of income.

b. HUD will determine if actions to resolve the charge, cause determination, lawsuit, or letter of findings taken before the application deadline date will resolve the matter. Examples of actions that may be sufficient to resolve the matter include, but are not limited to:

(1) Current compliance with a voluntary compliance agreement signed by all the parties;

(2) Current compliance with a HUD-approved conciliation agreement signed by all the parties;

(3) Current compliance with a conciliation agreement signed by all the parties and approved by the state governmental or local administrative agency with jurisdiction over the matter;

(4) Current compliance with a consent order or consent decree;

(5) Current compliance with a final judicial ruling or administrative ruling or decision; or

(6) Dismissal of charges.

2. Timely Submission of Applications

Applications submitted after the deadline stated within this NOFO that do not meet the requirements of the grace period policy are marked late. Late applications are ineligible and are not considered for funding. See Section IV. D. Application Submission Dates and Times.

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility Eligibility Requirements for Applicants of HUD’s Financial Assistance Programs The following requirements affect applicant eligibility. Detailed information on each requirement is found in the “Eligibility Requirements for Applicants of HUD’s Financial Assistance Programs” document on HUD’s Funding Opportunities page.

• Universal Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Requirements

• Outstanding Delinquent Federal Debts

• Debarments or Suspensions, or both

• Mandatory Disclosure Requirement

• Pre-selection Review of Performance

• Sufficiency of Financial Management System

• False Statements

• Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

In addition, each applicant under this NOFO must have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the Award Term in Appendix A of 24 CFR part 170 if the applicant receives an award, unless an exception applies as provided in 2 CFR170.110.

https://www.hud.gov/grants https://www.hud.gov/grants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-25/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-170 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-170/subpart-A/section-170.110

F. Program-Specific Requirements

1. Applicants must propose projects specifically to build or improve youth homeless response systems. Funds may not be used to provide housing or services and HUD will reject applications that list housing and/or housing services as proposed activities.

2. YHSI grant recipients must complete each project funded under the grant by the end of the grant period. HUD may extend the grant term of a YHSI grant consistent with 2 CFR

200.308 and 2 CFR 200.309

3. YHSI grant recipients must agree to submit biannual updates to the milestone chart outlined in Section IV.B.1 to ensure the grant is progressing at an acceptable rate. If a recipient fails to submit a biannual milestone update, funding obligated but not yet spent by the community may be rescinded. The milestone chart must include the following required elements:

a. Activities undertaken in the project, including dates and critical organizations/partners in the work

b. A list and description of deliverables that will be produced, including estimated date.

HUD reserves the right to review and require changes to the proposed updates to the milestone chart, including proposed dates and deliverables.

3. Recipients of YHSI grants must agree to receive and participate in HUD-funded Technical Assistance (TA) before the recipient commits awarded funds, as a condition of award. YHSI TA will consist of direct TA to the community as well as project-specific group learning.

4. Recipients of YHSI grants must agree to participate in any future HUD-funded research and evaluation activities meant to better understand the outcomes or impact associated with these funds.

5. HUD has determined that geographic diversity is an appropriate consideration in selecting communities for the YHSI. To this end, HUD reserves the right to select lower scoring applications in order to fund applications from eligible communities with the highest total score in each of the 10 HUD regions.

6. HUD will review one application per organization for this NOFO unless the applicant chooses to submit one state-wide application and one non-statewide application. For example, an applicant could submit one application that will create a state-wide discharge strategy for youth aging out of foster care and involves partners throughout the state; and another application that works on developing partnerships and processes related to coordinated entry for youth at the CoC level. HUD will not review more than two applications per applicant.

Advancing Racial Equity In accordance with Executive Order 13985, Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and federal fair housing and civil rights laws, you must submit a narrative demonstrating the following:

▪ You analyzed the racial composition of the persons or households who are expected to benefit from your proposed grant activities;

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

▪ You identified any potential barriers to persons or communities of color equitably benefiting from your proposed grant activities;

▪ You detailed the steps you will take to prevent, reduce or eliminate these barriers; and

▪ You have measures in place to track your progress and evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts to advance racial equity in your grant activities.

Note that any actions taken in furtherance of this section must be consistent with federal nondiscrimination requirements.

This narrative is required and must address the four bullets outlined in the paragraph above. This narrative will be evaluated for sufficiency and points will not be awarded or deducted based on the narrative. Applicants should provide their response as an attachment entitled “Advancing Racial Equity responses.” This will not count toward the 25-page limit.

Please note that you may use some of the responses to questions in the Rating Factors to address questions in this attachment; however, to receive credit, you must include the response in both documents.

Affirmative Marketing You must submit a narrative demonstrating that the housing, services, or other benefits provided under this grant will be affirmatively marketed broadly throughout the local area and nearby areas to any demographic groups that would be unlikely or least likely to apply absent such efforts. Such demographic groups may include, for example, Black and Brown persons or communities, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals with disabilities, or families with children. Such activities may include outreach through community contacts or service providers or at community centers serving the target population; and marketing on websites, social media channels, television, radio, and print media serving local members of the targeted group. Documentation for this factor consists of a narrative describing the activities that will fulfill the factor requirements.

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries.

Not Applicable

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Obtain an Application Package Instructions for Applicants All application materials, including the Application Instructions and Application Package, are available through Grants.gov. You must access and review all available application materials.

You must submit your application electronically via Grants.gov under the Funding Opportunity Number cited within this NOFO. Your application must list the applicable Funding Opportunity Number.

You can request a waiver from the requirement for electronic submission, if you demonstrate good cause. An example of good cause may include: a lack of available Internet access in the geographic area in which your business offices are located. However, lack of SAM registration or valid UEI is not a good cause.