FR-6700-N-11_NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Planning and Development

Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Competitive Grant: Housing Interventions (HINT) to End the HIV Epidemic

FR-6700-N-11

01/31/2024

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:

Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Competitive Grant: Housing Interventions (HINT) to End the HIV Epidemic Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6700-N-11

Assistance Listing Number (formerly CFDA Number):

14.241 Due Date for Applications:

01/31/2024

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):

2506-0133

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program was enacted to provide states and localities with the resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of low-income people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and their families. Stable housing has 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 been a major issue facing many people with HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. Achieving and maintaining stable housing can be a powerful structural intervention in ending the HIV epidemic.

Collectively, our local, domestic, and global communities have committed to ending the HIV epidemic through strategies and initiatives including Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE), the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and Getting to Zero. With aggressive goals set to end the HIV epidemic under each of these initiatives and strategies, all available resources must be used to achieve these goals. HOPWA grantees have the opportunity to further these efforts by using housing as an effective structural intervention to end HIV epidemic. Grants funded under this NOFO will complement local and federal efforts to end the domestic HIV epidemic.

The 2022 publication of Needs for Shelter or Housing Assistance Among People with Diagnosed HIV by jurisdiction: United States, 2015-2020 (Dasgupta et al) shows 1 in 4 (27.7%) people with HIV had shelter or housing service needs and among those who needed housing services, 2 in 5 (40.4%) did not receive them. Reasons for unmet needs were multifactorial and included not being able to find the information needed to get the service or they did not know the service existed; did not meet their needs or they were not eligible for the service; and personal reasons, such as fear or embarrassment; or having other things going on in their life that made it difficult to receive the service.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the importance of housing on HIV-related health outcomes in the Issue Brief: The Role of Housing in Ending the HIV Epidemic through compiled research. Housing acts as a social determinant of health, meaning it is a nonmedical factor that influences HIV-related health outcomes, and research has shown that stable housing has been associated with better HIV-related health outcomes. The brief also highlights the work currently in progress to end the HIV epidemic.

Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) is a federal initiative led by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with a goal to end the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years by reducing new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent by 2025 and by 90 percent by 2030. EHE leverages critical scientific advances in HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak response by coordinating the highly successful programs, resources, and infrastructure of many HHS agencies and offices and providing a targeted infusion of new resources and support to the jurisdictions most heavily impacted. Phase I of EHE has a geographic focus on 48 counties plus Washington, DC and San Juan, PR and seven states where new HIV infections are highly concentrated.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy was first released on July 13, 2010, and identified a set of priorities and strategic action steps tied to measurable outcomes for moving the Nation forward in addressing the domestic HIV epidemic. In July 2015, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States: Updated to 2020 was released, and it expired in 2020. In January 2021, the HIV National Strategic Plan was released as the nation’s third consecutive national HIV strategy. The HIV Plan was replaced by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022-2025) in December 2021. The current Strategy focuses on four goals: (1) Prevent New HIV Infections, (2) Improve HIV- Related Health Outcomes of People with HIV, (3) Reduce HIV-Related Health Disparities and Health Inequities, and (4) Achieve Integrated Coordinated Efforts That Address the HIV https://files.constantcontact.com/91b81457001/acb7a259-a12b-4f90-a560-58a29c0006bb.pdf?rdr=true https://files.constantcontact.com/91b81457001/acb7a259-a12b-4f90-a560-58a29c0006bb.pdf?rdr=true https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/policies/data/role-of-housing-in-ending-the-hiv-epidemic.html#issue-brief-4 https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/policies/data/role-of-housing-in-ending-the-hiv-epidemic.html#issue-brief-4 https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/ending-the-hiv-epidemic/overview https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/jurisdictions.html https://files.hiv.gov/s3fs-public/nhas-update.pdf https://files.hiv.gov/s3fs-public/nhas-update.pdf https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/hiv-national-strategic-plan/hiv-plan-2021-2025 https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/hiv-national-strategic-plan/hiv-plan-2021-2025

Epidemic among All Partners and Interested Parties. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022- 2025) and the EHE initiative are closely aligned and complementary, with the EHE initiative serving as a leading component of the work by HHS, in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, to achieve the Strategy’s goals.

In August 2022, a Federal Implementation Plan was released. The Federal Implementation Plan documented federal agencies’ commitments to programs, policies, research, and activities during fiscal years 2022–2025 to meet the Strategy’s goals, pursuant to their respective missions, funding, and resources. HUD has committed to taking meaningful action and working alongside federal partners to end the HIV epidemic. In December 2021, HUD awarded 20 grants under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 HOPWA Competitive Grant: Housing as an Intervention to Fight AIDS (HIFA) NOFO with a goal of aligning HOPWA funding with other federal efforts to end the HIV epidemic. HUD continues to work towards meeting the Strategy’s goals with this funding announcement.

HIV-related stigma and discrimination add additional barriers to accessing and maintaining housing. To end the HIV epidemic, people with HIV must have access to high-quality and appropriate services, including housing and supportive services that are non-stigmatizing, non-discriminatory, inclusive, and responsive to their needs. Issues such as discrimination and systemic racism that contribute to differences in access to housing and lead to ongoing disparities among racial, ethnic, and LGBTQI+ communities must be addressed. Reducing these disparities requires a focus on identifying the underlying barriers to participation and challenges faced by these subpopulations, addressing those barriers and the needs of disproportionately affected populations, supporting racial justice, LGBTQI+ rights, combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination, providing leadership and employment opportunities for people with or at risk for HIV, and addressing social determinants of health and co-occurring conditions to reduce health inequities and disparities.

This NOFO announces the availability of funding under the authority for HOPWA Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) at Section 854(c)(5) of the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12903(c)(5)). This funding will provide communities an opportunity to create and implement new projects that align with initiatives aimed at ending the HIV epidemic, and elevate housing as an effective structural intervention in ending the epidemic. HUD is seeking projects with exemplary and innovative qualities, including incorporation of Housing First principles, community-level coordination, data collection with emphasis on stable housing and positive health outcomes, the use of cultural humility in providing housing and services, and a systemic approach to advance equity in underserved communities that can serve as a national place-based model.

Each project must be designed for the Grantee to achieve the following six required project objectives:

• Implement and document a low-barrier model using Housing First principles to provide housing and services to low-income people with HIV and their families that is innovative and replicable in other similar localities or nationally;

• Increase alignment with new or existing local initiatives or strategies to end the HIV epidemic by elevating housing as an effective structural intervention;

• Improve use of available community resources and coordination among local housing and service providers;

• Increase the amount of quality data collected and used for data-driven decision making with an emphasis on stable housing, positive health outcomes, and equity;

• Assess and document replicable practices that ensure equitable access and cultural humility in providing housing and services for populations of people with HIV experiencing service gaps; and

• Prioritize sustainable, effective, and equitable approaches to providing housing and services to people with HIV and their families that can be continued past the funded project’s period of performance.

Each successful applicant under this NOFO will receive a one-time, non-renewable grant to fund housing assistance and supportive services for eligible individuals and families, coordination and planning activities, and grants management and administration. Reporting requirements under this NOFO are more comprehensive than traditional HOPWA program reporting. Grantees will be required to collect client-level data to produce a programmatic HIV Housing Care Continuum Model at the end of each operating year. At the end of the grant period of performance, each grantee must also develop a SPNS Grant Model, consisting of promising practices for and lessons learned in using housing as a structural intervention to end the HIV epidemic. Each SPNS Grant Model will be shared with the public, and lessons learned through these grantee efforts will help inform national and community policy and actions.

Pre-Application Webcast: HUD will conduct a Pre-Application Webcast for anyone interested in submitting an application for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 HOPWA Competitive Grant. The webcast will cover the information contained in this NOFO. Viewing the webcast is optional.

Interested applicants who do not view the webcast are still eligible to apply and will receive equal consideration for their grant applications. More information on the webcast will be provided through the HOPWA mailing list and posted online here. Sign up for the mailing list here.

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.

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/hopwa/listserv https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/signup?listname=Housing%20Opportunities%20for%20Persons%20with%20AIDS%20Program&list=HOPWA-L https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas

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. 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.

5. 4C: Integrate Health and Housing Advance policies that recognize housing's role as essential to health.

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

The previous HOPWA NOFO was FR-6400-N-11, Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Competitive Grant: Housing as an Intervention to Fight AIDS (HIFA). This FY23 NOFO departs from the FY20 NOFO by streamlining rating factors allowing applicants to provide responses more cohesively, adjusting terminology to reflect current Administration and HUD language choices, raising the minimum and maximum award amount, providing extra considerations for applicants who have never received HOPWA or HUD funding directly, adding a Capacity Building budget line item, and further aligning the NOFO to support the Administration’s and HUD’s goals to advance racial equity and implement Housing First approaches. This NOFO also requires two new narratives (each 1 page maximum) on Advancing Racial Equity and Affirmative Marketing (see Section III.F). Applicants should ensure responses to Rating Factor 2, Subfactor 2 are aligned with these narratives.

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

• 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.

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

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

(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).

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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

(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.

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.

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

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.

The following apply in addition to program definitions stated in 24 CFR 574.3.

Client is an eligible person as defined at 24 CFR 574.3 who is receiving HOPWA-funded assistance.

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is the systematic process of identifying, describing, and analyzing strengths and problems and then testing, implementing, learning from, and revising solutions. More simply, CQI can be described as an ongoing cycle of collecting data and using it to make decisions to gradually improve program processes. For more information, see the following publication from the Office of Adolescent Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/cqi-intro.pdf 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 https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/cqi-intro.pdf

Cultural humility refers to an orientation towards caring for one’s clients that is based on: self-reflexivity and assessment, appreciation of clients’ expertise on the social and cultural context of their lives, openness to establishing power-balanced relationships with clients, and a lifelong dedication to learning. Cultural humility means admitting that one does not know and is willing to learn from clients about their experiences, while being aware of one’s own embeddedness in culture(s). For more information, see the following publication Rethinking Cultural Competence:

Shifting to Cultural Humility: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7756036/

HIV Housing Care Continuum Model is an annual reporting document available as form HUD-4154. This reporting document uses a diagnosis-based HIV Care Continuum that outlines where eligible individuals are on the sequential stages of HIV medical care including receipt of care, retained in care, and viral suppression. The HIV Housing Care Continuum Model requires grantees to collect client-level data to aggregately report where clients are on the HIV Care Continuum by type of HOPWA assistance received through this NOFO. Demographic information will also need to be reported for each data element by type of assistance received through the NOFO. For more information on the HIV Housing Care Continuum, see published CDC resources at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/factsheets/cdc-hiv-care-continuum.pdf;

and HOPWA resources at: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa/hiv-housing-care-continuum-initiative/

Household refers to either an “eligible person” or a “family” as defined in 24 CFR 574.3, depending on whether the household consists of 1 person or multiple persons. The term is used in HOPWA reporting forms and for collecting data on changes in income, changes in access to services, receipt of housing information services, and outcomes on achieving housing stability.

The term “household” excludes any “live-in aide” (as defined in 24 CFR 5.403) or roommate in a “shared housing arrangement” (as that term is used in 24 CFR 574.320(b)) who resides in the same unit as the eligible person or family.

Housing as an Intervention to Fight AIDS (HIFA) Model is a reporting document available as form HUD-4153. This reporting document is the SPNS Grant Model due to HUD 120 calendar days after the end of the period of performance and will be made available to the public via the Office of HIV/AIDS Housing. The HIFA Model includes the following components: a vision or goal for the project; description of the need being met by the project; description of the program design; description of the alignment with initiatives or strategies to end the HIV epidemic;

description of data collection and analysis used to make data-driven decisions on stable housing, positive health outcomes, and equity; description of cultural humility practices used with clients experiencing service gaps; partnerships formed or continued with community organizations and other housing and service providers; resources and partnerships used to transition clients to self-sufficiency or other forms of housing assistance by the end of the grant period; successes and challenges in using housing as a structural intervention to end the HIV epidemic; client outcomes related to health and housing stability including a summary of HIV Housing Care Continuum results and, if applicable, employment and income growth.

Housing First, as defined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and used in this NOFO, is an approach and framework for ending homelessness that is centered on the principles https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7756036/ https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/4154.pdf https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/4154.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/factsheets/cdc-hiv-care-continuum.pdf https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa/hiv-housing-care-continuum-initiative/ https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa/hiv-housing-care-continuum-initiative/ https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/4153.pdf that everyone can achieve stability in permanent housing directly from homelessness and that stable housing is the foundation for pursuing other health and social services goals.

Implementing Housing First involves both project-level and community-level dimensions.

Implementing Housing First at the project level, including in permanent supportive housing models, means having screening practices that promote the acceptance of applicants regardless of their sobriety or use of substances, completion of treatment, and participation in services. At the community-level, Housing First means that the homelessness crisis response system is oriented to help people obtain permanent housing as quickly and with as few intermediate steps as possible. More information on Housing First is available at:

https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Implementing_Housing_First_in_Perman ent_Supportive_Housing.pdf

Operating Year refers to a single year within the grant’s period of performance. The first of these years will begin on the period of performance start date. For purposes of reporting, if HUD approves an extension of less than 6 months, the final operating year shall be considered to include the additional extension time period. For example, if HUD approves a 3-month extension, the final operating year will be a period of 15 months.

Project Sponsor is any nonprofit organization or governmental housing agency that receives funds under a contract with the grantee to carry out eligible activities under this NOFO. The selection of project sponsors is not subject to the procurement requirements of 2 CFR part 200, subpart D. This definition is specific to the HOPWA program and applies to the use of “project sponsor” in this NOFO and the HOPWA regulations at 24 CFR 574.3. A project sponsor is a “subrecipient" for purposes of 2 CFR part 200 and other applicable Federal regulations that use the term “subrecipient.”

Receipt of Care is a data element collected for the HIV Housing Care Continuum. Receipt of Care is measured as a person with diagnosed HIV qualifying the household to receive HOPWA assistance under this NOFO who had at least one CD4 or viral load test during a single operating year.

Retained in Care is a data element collected for the HIV Housing Care Continuum. Retained in Care is measured as a person with diagnosed HIV qualifying the household to receive HOPWA assistance under this NOFO who had two or more CD4 or viral load tests, performed at least three months apart, during a single operating year.

Social Determinant of Health refers to the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes.

They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies, and political systems that are responsible for most health inequities, including the disproportionate effect of HIV on certain populations. For more information, see the CDC HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report: Social Determinants of Health among Adults with Diagnosed HIV Infection, 2019 at:

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-supplemental-report-vol-27-2.pdf

Technical Assistance or TA means providing HOPWA grantees with the knowledge, skills, tools, capacity, and systems to successfully implement the HOPWA program and its policies. TA is provided by HUD-funded TA providers that are selected under HUD’s Community Compass https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Implementing_Housing_First_in_Permanent_Supportive_Housing.pdf https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Implementing_Housing_First_in_Permanent_Supportive_Housing.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-supplemental-report-vol-27-2.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-supplemental-report-vol-27-2.pdf

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program NOFO. HOPWA grantees may request TA via the TA portal on HUD Exchange, a website maintained by a HUD funded TA provider, at this link: https://www.hudexchange.info/program-support/

Trauma-informed is a term referring to how one thinks about and responds to those who have experienced or may be at risk for experiencing trauma. An approach that is trauma-informed reflects an understanding of the widespread impact of trauma and potential paths for recovery;

recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with a program, organization, or system; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, while actively resisting re-traumatization. For more information, see the following publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA14-4884/SMA14-4884.pdf

Viral Suppression is a data element collected for the HIV Housing Care Continuum. Viral Suppression is measured as a person with diagnosed HIV qualifying the household to receive HOPWA assistance under this NOFO who has a viral load test result of <200 copies/mL at the most recent viral load test during a single operating year.

B. Authority HUD’s authority to award funding under this NOFO is provided by the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. 12901-12912), 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).

Awards are also subject to the HOPWA program requirements under 24 CFR part 574 (as now in effect and as may be amended from time to time), except as expressly stated in Section III of this

NOFO.

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 20 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information Estimated Total Funding:

$50,000,000 Minimum Award Amount:

$600,000 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA14-4884/SMA14-4884.pdf

$2,500,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance Estimated Project Start Date:

10/01/2024 Estimated Project End Date:

09/30/2027 Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period and budget period

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

The Period of Performance and Budget Period for each grant will be a 36-month period beginning on the date the grant agreement is executed unless HUD approves an extension.

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)

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)

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

Additional Information on Eligibility Eligible applicants for funding under this NOFO are States, units of general local government, and nonprofit organizations. To be eligible, nonprofit organizations must meet the definition of an eligible “nonprofit organization” under the HOPWA program regulations at 24 CFR 574.3.

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

B. Ineligible Applicants HUD will only score applications from eligible applicants as defined in Section III.A.

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

More information on leveraging is available at Rating Factor 4 in Section V.A.

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…