FOA-VETS-24-50.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Veterans' Employment and Training Service

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP), Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP), and the Homeless Women Veterans' and Homeless Veterans' with Children Reintegration Grant Program (HWVHVWC) (referred to collectively as HVRP)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-VETS-24-50

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 17.805

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 03/11/2024. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Submit all applications in response to this solicitation through https://www.grants.gov. For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is responsible for the grant award process of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service grant program.

A Prospective Applicant Webcast will be available on February 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time and February 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. While a review of the webcast is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory. The two sessions will cover the same information, but prospective applicants are welcome to attend both sessions. The webcast will provide specific information related to this funding opportunity and guidance on how to apply. Applicants will also be able to ask questions during the webcast.

Click on the link below to register for the respective session:

• February 8, 2024 at 10 a.m. EST: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5f121d10- 8cd7-46d4-b127-5da942d1c362@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration

• February 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. EST: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cb77c0b- 650d-4b4e-97ca-d95d988acbb5@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration https://www.grants.gov https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5f121d10-8cd7-46d4-b127-5da942d1c362@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5f121d10-8cd7-46d4-b127-5da942d1c362@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cb77c0b-650d-4b4e-97ca-d95d988acbb5@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cb77c0b-650d-4b4e-97ca-d95d988acbb5@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS AND ADDRESS

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

C. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), announces the availability of approximately $12,000,000 in grant funds authorized under Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Sections 2021, 2021A, and 2023 for the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.

The HVRP grant has a three-year period of performance (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027) and is funded incrementally on an annual basis. Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), applicants may apply for up to $600,000 for the first year of the project’s operation in Program Year (PY) 2024. Applications must not exceed this amount. Applicants may receive subsequent increments in PYs 2025 and 2026, receiving up to a total of $1,800,000 over the three-year period of performance.

In 2022, the Departments of Labor and Commerce published the Good Jobs Principles, which outline a shared vision of job quality by describing core elements of good jobs. Applicants are encouraged to consult these Principles as they shape their proposed projects. You can find the Principles here: https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles. Successful applicants must demonstrate (through direct services or referrals) clear strategies to provide needed career exploration and placement services, career training, and support services to eligible veterans, so they may secure good jobs in stable, high-demand occupations earning livable wages.

DOL/VETS requires applicants to propose strategies to achieve economic prosperity and address historical inequities. Such strategies may include the following:

• Addressing and advancing equity through adjustments in recruitment, service design, implementation, and support services that aim to remove barriers to the full and equal participation of marginalized communities, and through partnerships with a range of organizations that support the applicant’s ability to reach out to and deliver equitable services to marginalized groups;

• Designing flexible approaches to service delivery to allow for in-person, virtual, socially distanced, or hybrid models of services and training;

• Demonstrating a need for the program based upon current statistical or empirical evidence, including the numbers and characteristics of the eligible veterans who are experiencing homelessness in the proposed service delivery area(s);

• Establishing strong support between public, private, and nonprofit organizations, especially those that are led by and/or include people who have experienced homelessness;

• Developing and implementing strategies with attainable goals for job training based on labor market information (LMI);

• Collaborating and coordinating with organizations to ensure that local, state, and federal resources are used effectively and efficiently to expedite the reintegration of eligible veterans into the labor force;

• Implementing effective outreach on behalf of the participant to facilitate the delivery of effective job training, counseling, and other wraparound services, such as the provision of https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles http://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/goodjobs/Good-Jobs-Summit-Principles-Factsheet.pdf housing, transportation, childcare, and necessary health services (including mental health), as the means for expediting the reintegration of eligible veterans into the labor force;

• Providing services specifically tailored to the needs of women veterans experiencing homelessness and homeless veterans with children;

• Providing services specifically tailored to the needs of veterans with disabilities and partnering with employers who provide the support, coaching, and mentorship to assist the veteran to retain employment;

• Providing services specifically tailored to the needs of incarcerated veterans and veterans returning home from jail or prison who are at risk of homelessness;

• Demonstrating the ability to provide services to episodically homeless veterans, as appropriate;

• Partnering with employers who give workers a voice on the job and a free and fair chance to collectively bargain, including permitting union organizer access to workers; and

• Partnering with employers who provide adequate health insurance that includes, mental health coverage, as well as pension/retirement coverage, and work-family benefits, such as paid family medical leave, paid sick leave, and other paid time off.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This announcement solicits applications for Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP), Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP), and the Homeless Women Veterans' and Homeless Veterans' with Children Reintegration Grant Program (HWVHVWC) (referred to collectively as HVRP).

The intent of HVRP, an employment-focused competitive federal grant program, is to enable America’s veterans experiencing homelessness to reach their full employment potential and obtain high-quality career outcomes. The Department encourages applicants to propose strategies to achieve meaningful and sustainable employment, resulting in financial independence for the veteran and all dependents. Applicants are also encouraged to propose strategies that address historical inequities and provide equitable access and outcomes to marginalized groups.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, women make up about nine percent of veterans who are experiencing homelessness. Women veterans are more than twice as likely as non-veteran women to experience homelessness. Additionally, approximately two percent of veterans experiencing homelessness have children, and veteran women experiencing homelessness are more likely to be part of a family with children than male veterans.

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) reports in its Emergency Community Practices that, among veterans who experience homelessness, and particularly among those who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other behavioral health disorders, involvement in the criminal justice system may be a risk factor for homelessness and/or a consequence of homelessness. Research shows that nearly half of all veterans experiencing homelessness who have participated in VA homeless assistance programs have been involved in the justice system at some point in their lifetime.

https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/nchav/docs/HERS-Womens-Proceedings.pdf https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/nchav/docs/HERS-Womens-Proceedings.pdf https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Justice_Involved_Veterans.pdf https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Justice_Involved_Veterans.pdf

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) House America Initiative is a partnership between state, local, and tribal leaders to help combat the crisis of homelessness in the U.S. through funding provided by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The House America Initiative provides an opportunity for state, local, and tribal leaders to set and achieve ambitious goals to re-house individuals experiencing homelessness. Additional federal resources to help with the homelessness crisis are located in Section VIII.A of this FOA.

According to HUD’s 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, the highest percentage of veterans experiencing homelessness were White (57 percent), followed by veterans who were Black, African American, or African (31 percent). People who identify as Black, African American, or African were considerably overrepresented among veterans experiencing homelessness. For examples, Black veterans comprised 36 percent of veterans experiencing sheltered homelessness and 25 percent of veterans experiencing unsheltered homelessness compared with 12 percent of all U.S. veterans.

Conversely, while 57 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness were White, they were underrepresented compared to their share of all U.S. veterans (75 percent).

The percentage of veterans experiencing homelessness who identify as Hispanic/Latino was considerably smaller than the percentage of Hispanics among people experiencing homelessness as individuals (13 percent vs. 24 percent).

Veterans who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous were 3.6 percent of the homeless veteran population and made up a higher share of the unsheltered veteran population than the sheltered (5% vs 2%). Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders were 1.2 percent of the homeless veteran population.

Each year HUD, in collaboration with the VA, conducts a physical count of sheltered and unsheltered veterans experiencing homelessness. This count is referred to as the Point in Time (PIT) count. According to the HUD 2023 AHAR, 35,574 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023. This 2023 PIT count showed a seven percent increase in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness compared to the January 2022 PIT count.

To meet the fluctuations in the population and changing needs of veterans experiencing homelessness, DOL/VETS requires grant recipients to provide an array of client-centered services utilizing a case management approach that directly assists homeless veterans and provides critical linkages to a variety of support services available in their local communities.

The HVRP approach is focused on obtaining high-quality career outcomes for the veteran.

Veterans are to receive the job training and employment services required to re-enter and be successful in the labor force. To realize long-term benefits for veterans experiencing homelessness, grant recipients must address the complex employment-related requirements and support services necessary to meet the needs of this population. This can be achieved either through direct services or through a robust referral system with established tools, resources, and partnerships to identify, recruit, prepare, and support veterans experiencing homelessness for employment success. Through direct services, a robust referral system, or a hybrid approach, grant recipients will provide job placement, job training, job development, career counseling, and resumé preparation services, among other services, to assist with obtaining high-quality career outcomes. Services are provided only if the individual is found to be eligible for and enrolled https://www.hud.gov/house_america https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf into the program. Follow-up services are provided to participants to increase the success of employment and job retention.

The HVRP grant prioritizes ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all workers, providing opportunities for marginalized communities, and ensuring accessibility for underserved communities. Grant recipients will be better able to achieve more outcomes that are equitable for marginalized veterans by understanding the inequities that exist and by embedding equity into decision-making processes. Applicants are encouraged to address systemic and programmatic barriers that have created employment and economic inequities for historically marginalized populations, particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous Native American persons, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons;

persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; justice-impacted individuals; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Title 38 U.S.C. Sections 2021, 2021A, and 2023 and the Public Law under which FY2024 funding is appropriated for this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $12,000,000 in grant funds to award the first year of the three-year period of performance. Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $600,000 each year, with a total of up to $1,800,000 for the three-year period of performance for program years covering July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027. Applications under this FOA must not exceed $600,000, which will cover the first year of operation. Additional information regarding the budget documents can be found in Section IV. B. 2(a).

Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds.

DOL/VETS has requested funding for new awards for PY2024, however, the actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. We are accepting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process, should Congress appropriate funds for this program.

If additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. VETS may increase or decrease award amounts to successful applicants to maximize the use of available funding.

VETS may increase or decrease the budget period within the period of performance, depending on the availability of funds, in future funding opportunity announcements.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 36 months with an anticipated start date of 07/01/2024, and an end date of 06/30/2027. This performance period includes all necessary implementation, start-up activities, and follow-up activities.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

00 (State governments)

01 (County governments)

02 (City or township governments)

04 (Special district governments)

06 (Public and State controlled institutions of higher education)

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))

12 (Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education)

13 (Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education)

20 (Private institutions of higher education)

22 (For profit organizations other than small businesses)

23 (Small businesses)

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

U.S Territory or Possession

Native American Tribally Designated Organization

State and Local Workforce Development Boards established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Faith-based Organizations

Other State and Local Government Agencies

U.S Territories or Possessions

Native American Tribally Designated Organizations

State and Local Workforce Development Boards (SWDBs/LWDBs) established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Faith-based Organizations

Other State and Local Government Agencies

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

You should use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. We urge you to use this checklist to ensure that your application contains all required items. If your application does not meet all of the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C

Eligibility Section III.A

The components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (We will attempt to open the document but will not take any additional measures in the event of problems with opening the document.)

Section

IV.C.2

System for Award Management (SAM) Registration Section

IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance (one year, not to exceed $600,000) that includes a Unique Entity Identifier Number

Section

IV.B.1

SF-424A, Budget Information Form (one year, not to exceed $600,000)

Section

IV.B.2

Budget Narrative (one year, not to exceed $600,000) (Sample Format: Attachment B – Budget Narrative Template)

Section

IV.B.2

Project Narrative Section

IV.B.3

Recent Letter of Support (dated within the last 12 months from the date the FOA is published) from a local American Jobs Center (Submit as an attachment)

Section

IV.B.3

Chart of Past Performance (Attachment C) Section

IV.B.3

VETS-704 form – Abstract (tab 1 in Attachment A) – submit as an Excel document

Section

IV.B.4

VETS-704 form – VETS-700 Planned Goals Chart (tab 4 in Attachment A) – fully complete and submit as an Excel document

Section

IV.B.4

2. Population Categories and Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

This FOA establishes three population categories:

1. Category 1 (HVRP) consists of applicants that meet the requirements of this FOA but do not fall under Categories 2 or 3. Applicants proposing to serve all three population categories fall under Category 1.

2. Category 2 (HWVHVWC) consists of applicants that propose to use 100 percent of their grant funding to serve homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

For the definition of “children,” refer to the definition of “child” at 38 U.S.C. § 101(4).

3. Category 3 (IVTP) consists of applicants that propose to use 100 percent of their grant funding to serve incarcerated veterans and/or veterans returning home from jail or prison who are at risk of homelessness.

The Department plans to make at least one grant award under Category 2 and at least one under Category 3, contingent upon the receipt of responsive competitive applications under those categories.

Applicants must identify in the Abstract/Attachment A - Tab 1 if an application is in Category 1 (HVRP), Category 2 (HWVHVWC), or Category 3 (IVTP). If the applicant does not explicitly identify one single category in the Abstract, the application will be reviewed under Category 1 (HVRP). There will be no additional changes or discussions of this category determination during or after the competition.

Applicants must identify in the Abstract/Attachment A - Tab 1 the service delivery area(s) and Continuum of Care (CoC) locations for the proposed project. See the HVRP FOA Glossary of Terms for definitions. The service delivery area(s) and CoC MUST be entered in the Abstract/Attachment A - Tab 1. DOL/VETS will not read the entire application to make this determination.

DOL/VETS will compare an applicant’s proposed service delivery area(s) and planned enrollments with participants served by an active grant in the same area. Applicants should reference the SDA Saturation Map for current HVRP grants and their service delivery areas to ensure no duplication of service.

Duplication of Services

DOL/VETS is committed to awarding grants to high-quality applicants serving geographic areas with excess homeless/unhoused populations. In making awards, DOL/VETS will consider the existing landscape of the homeless/unhoused population in the geographic area being targeted for service by an applicant.

DOL/VETS maintains a map of every HUD CoC served by current HVRP grant recipients and calculates the saturation level as follows: total number of HVRP planned enrollments in the CoC divided by the most recent HUD PIT count for the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the CoC. CoCs with saturation levels of 100 percent or more indicate that https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section101&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp/foa-glossary-of-terms https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp/foa-glossary-of-terms https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp/SDA-Saturation-Map current HVRP grant recipients are already planning to enroll more participants than the estimated number of veterans experiencing homeless for the CoC. DOL/VETS recognizes that the PIT count data may be outdated and/or may not fully account for the seasonality of homelessness.

Applicants proposing to serve areas that have a high level of saturation must explain why there is unmet demand in their Statement of Need. Applicants must reference the SDA Saturation Map for current HVRP grant saturation levels for the geographic areas you propose to serve.

Applicants are responsible for reporting if this application will result in duplication of services in an area being served by an active HVRP grant.

Applicants may submit more than one application for different service delivery areas. If the application's service delivery areas and CoC(s) overlap, the applicant must identify the need and specify how the areas being served will not result in a duplication of service.

Duplication occurs when two or more agencies or programs are engaged in or implementing the same activities or provide the same services to the same eligible beneficiaries within a geographic location or county, which arises often because of inadequate coordination of projects, resulting in inefficiency. Any duplication of services will be assessed prior to award disbursement and program implementation.

The applicant must upload the report in Grants.gov under “Other Attachment Forms.” The document should be labeled “Report on Duplication of Services.”

3. Eligible Participants

HVRP provides services to veterans experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness.

Eligible participants must be a “veteran,” which means a person who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, or Reserve Component (National Guard or Reserve), who meets the following criteria:

• Received a discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable (see 38 U.S.C.

§ 101(18)); and,

• At least one day of active duty (see 38 U.S.C. § 101(21)) to include time spent in basic training for active-duty members; or,

• Federal active duty for National Guard and Reserve members (does not include inactive or active duty for training as defined in 38 U.S.C. §§ 101(22) and (23)); or

• Any period of inactive duty or active duty for training during which National Guard and Reserve members received a service-connected disability rating resulting from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty (see 38 U.S.C. § 101(24)).

Veterans served by this program include:

A. Homeless veterans (as defined in the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 – see definition below)

a. Includes individuals who were homeless but found housing during the 60-day period preceding the date of HVRP enrollment (recently housed);

b. Includes those at imminent risk (within 14 days) of homelessness; or

B. Veterans who, at the time of enrollment in the program, are “at risk of homelessness” within the next 60 days;

C. Veterans participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs supported housing program for which rental assistance is provided pursuant to section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o)(19)); the Tribal HUD–VA Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD–VASH) program; or veterans participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program authorized in 38 U.S.C. § 2044;

D. Veterans who are receiving assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. § 4101 et seq.);

E. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children;

F. Veterans described in 38 U.S.C. § 2023(d) or any other veterans who are returning home from jail or prison; and, G. Formerly incarcerated veterans who are at risk of homelessness.

At Risk of Homelessness:

The “at risk of homelessness” criteria is defined as an individual or family who:

• Has income below 30 percent of the median income for the geographic area; and

• Has insufficient resources immediately available to attain housing stability; and

• Meets one or more of the following:

o Has moved frequently because of economic reasons;

o Is living in the home of another because of economic hardship;

o Has been notified that their right to occupy their current housing or living situation will be terminated;

o Lives in a hotel or motel;

o Lives in severely overcrowded housing;

o Is exiting an institution; or o Otherwise lives in housing that has characteristics associated with instability and an increased risk of homelessness.

Note: Written documentation of the participant’s status in the categories above is required, and self-attestation should be used only in rare instances to document the circumstances of “at risk of homelessness.” Recently housed veterans and veterans at imminent risk (14 days or less) of homelessness are considered homeless, not “at risk of homelessness” for HVRP eligibility purposes. Written documentation may be in any form and could include (for example) a letter from a landlord, shelter, or individual providing temporary housing, proof of SSVF participation, or documentation showing recent release from incarceration.

Veterans Transitioning from Incarceration:

• A veteran who is a resident of a penal institution or an institution that provides long-term care for mental illness, including substance use disorder; and

• Is at risk of homelessness absent referral and counseling services provided under the program.

“Homeless” is defined by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 as follows:

• An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;

• An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground;

• An individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including hotels and motels paid for by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, congregate shelters, and transitional housing);

• An individual who resided in a shelter or place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where they temporarily resided;

• An individual or family who— o Will imminently lose their housing, including housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent, housing they are sharing with others, and rooms in hotels or motels not paid for by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, as evidenced by—

▪ A court order resulting from an eviction action that notifies the individual or family that they must leave within 14 days;

▪ The individual or family having a primary nighttime residence that is a room in a hotel or motel where they lack the resources necessary to reside there for more than 14 days; or

▪ Credible evidence indicating that the owner or renter of the housing will not allow the individual or family to stay for more than 14 days, and any oral statement from an individual or family seeking homeless assistance that is found to be credible shall be considered credible evidence for purposes of this clause;

o Has no subsequent residence identified; and o Lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing;

• Unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other federal statutes who— o Have experienced a long-term period without living independently in permanent housing, o Have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over such period, and o Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability, or multiple barriers to employment;

or

• Any individual or family who is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the individual’s or family’s current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, and who have no other residence and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov, contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of four separate and distinct parts:

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance;

2. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

3. Project Narrative; and

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative.

You must ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

You must complete the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance (available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family).

• In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) zip code. Nine-digit zip codes can be looked up on the USPS website at https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action.

• The organization’s legal name on the SF-424 must match the name registered in the System for Award Management at https://www.sam.gov. If unsure of the legal name of your organization, visit www.sam.gov to confirm.

• The organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number should match its information in www.sam.gov. If unsure of the EIN or UEI of your organization, visit www.sam.gov to confirm.

• The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424 form, the signature of the Authorized Representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B (available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

a. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier http://www.Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action https://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov https://www.sam.gov https://www.sam.gov https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

All applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities must have a UEI and must supply their UEI on the SF-424. The UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies all entities. Any entity registering to do business with the government is required to have one.

UEIs are issued by SAM.gov and are a part of an entity’s record in the Entity Information section of SAM.gov. If your organization does not have a UEI, one can be obtained for free at https://sam.gov.

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to UEIs:

• Grant recipients must notify potential subawardees that no entity may receive a subaward unless the entity has provided its UEI.

• Grant recipients may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its

UEI.

(See Appendix A to 2 CFR Part 25.)

b. Requirement for Registration with SAM

Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Find instructions for registering with SAM at https://www.sam.gov.

A recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. If you do not renew your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov. Registration and renewal can take up to ten business days to complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to approve a federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive the federal award and use that determination as a basis for approving a federal award to another applicant.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

Budget Narrative

Applicants must provide a one-year budget that cannot exceed $600,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) that supports the targeted population and the service delivery area(s); additionally, proposed allocations must be proportional to the resources needed to implement the proposed project and be allowable and allocable in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, including

200.403. The allocation in the budget for staff conducting outreach must be proportional to the https://sam.gov https://www.sam.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family outreach resources needed to accomplish a multi-county/multi-state outreach effort. Service delivery areas must be consistent with areas identified in the Abstract.

Line items in the budget must crosswalk with the proposed project design. For example, if the project design includes training for 30 veterans to obtain career certifications, there must be an allocation in the budget for 30 veterans to obtain career certifications.

The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each object class cost category on the SF-424A. All expenditures requested must comply with 2 CFR Part 200. All planned expenditures must support the goals and objectives of the grant, and costs must be realistic, reasonable, and necessary to the operation of the grant. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. DOL/VETS considers any resources contributed to the project, beyond the funds provided by the agency, as leveraged resources. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden and sustain the impact of the project itself. The Budget Narrative should include, as applicable, a description of the leveraged resources provided to support grant activities, the specific activities they will cover, the way they will support HVRP goals, and the funding source. Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as matching funds.

Please see Attachment B for a sample format of the Budget Narrative as a form-fillable template.

DOL/VETS does not allow the purchase of motor vehicles, buildings, or land.

Participant Support Costs

A participant support cost may only be provided to participants to enable their participation in HVRP services and must be tied to a specific HVRP service; it is not intended to meet every need of the participant. Needs are typically identified through the intake and assessment process and outlined in the employment plan. A participant support payment is made to, or on behalf of, eligible participants for temporary assistance required to support the individual’s employment plan. A participant support cost should be reasonable and necessary to enable a participant to take part in services and activities related to the employment plan. A participant support cost should not duplicate a service a participant receives from another program (i.e., federal, state, local, etc., programs). Participant support costs under HVRP may include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance with transportation (including bikes, bus passes, gas cards, etc., if reasonable and necessary to obtain or retain employment);

• Assistance with childcare and dependent care, if eligible (see section IV.B.3.c.IV);

• Assistance with housing for formally incarcerated veterans after release and during re-entry, if eligible (see IV.B.3.c.IV);

• Uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work-related tools or other related items necessary for training or employment;

• Assistance with books, fees, supplies, and other necessary items for job-driven training;

• Payments and fees for employment and training-related applications, tests, and certifications;

• Fines and fees that are creating a barrier to employment, up to $100 per participant;

• Reasonable and necessary costs to start a business (e.g., filing fees and licenses), up to $500 per participant. The business must be documented with the IRS. Start-up costs exclude costs for products and materials to start a business;

• Licensing fees and background check fees;

• Participant workplace accommodations that enable a participant to participate in employment, training, or education;

• Automobile repair that is necessary for the participant to seek, accept, or participate in employment and training activities. This is limited to repairs of an immediate need and excludes routine and normal maintenance costs, up to $400 per participant; or

• Other reasonable and necessary costs to assist the participant in overcoming a barrier to obtain or retain employment.

All participant support costs must be reasonable and necessary for the participant to overcome barriers to employment and to be successful in the program to find and maintain employment.

Grant recipients must leverage resources and exhaust all other resources prior to incurring a participant support cost. All costs must support the goals and objectives of the grant and must be adequately documented within the participant case file. Please see 2 CFR § 200.403 on the factors affecting allowability of costs.

The use of a participant support cost is determined on an individual basis, and the awarded grant recipient will be required to have a standard operating procedure (SOP), which is a written procedure to ensure supportive services are implemented and executed consistently and equitably. The SOP must describe the means for justifying the cost to the HVRP program, how costs will be documented, and the procedures for issuing payment.

Recurring participant support costs are limited to 90 days, unless noted otherwise.

When planning to budget for participant support costs, applicants must consider the following:

• What HVRP service or activity does this participant support cost support?

• How does this help the participant in achieving their employment goals?

• Can these costs be covered by other entities?

• How long will the participant support cost for recurring expenses be incurred for the participant?

• How will the participant be able to cover this cost once placed into employment?

Participant support costs that may not be allocated to HVRP for participant support are:

• Assistance in paying for expenses that are directly refundable to the participant;

• Expenses related to titled or deeded items or when recovery of such expense is anticipated (e.g., rent or housing deposits, mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, car payments, purchase, rental, or lease of vehicles);

• Expenses for household items or supplies not directly related to the participant’s employment plan;

• Expenses incurred prior to enrollment into the HVRP program;

• Expenses for training after the participant exits the program. Note: Other participant support costs may be incurred after the participant exits the program (during follow-up activities), but only if the cost is reasonable and necessary in order to retain employment;

• Membership fees not required to obtain employment; and

• Any other costs unallowable under 2 CFR Part 200.

Incentives

Incentives may be provided to active HVRP participants for recognition and achievement directly tied to participation in the program and employment goals. Incentives may be provided to enrolled participants and participants maintaining employment throughout the 12-month retention period.

Examples of allowable incentives may include gift cards, such as gas cards or gift cards to a restaurant or grocery store, provided to participants as an incentive for completing training, providing placement verification documentation, etc. Incentives may not be used for entertainment, such as movie tickets, sporting event tickets, or other entertainment purposes.

Incentives must not be used to purchase alcohol, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, tobacco, etc. Incentives may not be given to a veteran to simply entice them to enroll into the HVRP. Incentives are used throughout the program to provide recognition for achievements and accomplishing goals. For an incentive to be effective, participants must be aware of the existence of such incentive and understand the terms and standards of award to improve the likelihood of it leading to successful program outcomes or achievement of grant performance measures.

The Budget Narrative must explain in detail what specific form the incentive will take (e.g., gift cards, vouchers, etc.) and how it will be used to motivate program participants to achieve HVRP outcomes. Planned costs for incentives must be categorized under the “Other” cost category and not as a Participant Support Cost. Awarded grant recipients using HVRP funds for incentives must have an SOP in place that outlines a disbursement policy and tracking system to ensure supportive services are implemented and executed consistently and equitably before incentives are dispersed.

The awarded grant recipient’s SOP on incentives must describe the following:

• Identification of the amount(s) and type(s) of incentives;

• Criteria for participant issuance;

• Authorization process for a transaction;

• Receipt and custody of the asset;

• Recording and reporting activity related to that asset;

• Taking periodic inventory and reconciling balances; and

• Segregation of duties, such as:

o Requiring limited access to cards and who can handle, etc.

o Having managers or staff from the program offices perform specific cash-related functions.

o Requiring two authorizing signatures on checks issued.

o Requiring supervisory approval for each use of vouchers.

o Verifying usage and balances of logs through management information system reports.

Note: Each object class cost category must include the total cost for the first year of the period of performance only. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Each category should include the total cost for the first year of the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Personnel: List all staff positions (including individuals hired by an employment contract) by title (both current and proposed) including the roles and responsibilities. For each position give the annual salary, the percentage of time devoted to the project, and the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant.

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem, estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel.

Applicants should include, in their budget, funds to cover travel to DOL-sponsored training events such as the annual post-award conference, professional conference, and/or any other offered trainings. Applicants must provide a justification for travel expenditures that exceed 10 percent of the one-year budget.

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase that has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies, not “equipment.” In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

Supplies: Identify the cost categories of supplies (e.g., general office supplies, desk/chairs, laptops/printers, other specialty items) in the detailed budget, per category. Except for general office supplies (pens paper, etc.), list the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately.

Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.1 as a legal instrument by which a non-federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR 200.1, 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.

For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and activities to be provided, and the estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed and this line must be left as zero. Minor alterations to adjust an existing space for grant activities (such as a classroom alteration) may be allowable.