Full Announcement_FR-6700-N-87.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

Housing Mobility-Related Services

FR-6700-N-87

08/30/2023

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:

Public and Indian Housing Funding Opportunity Title:

Housing Mobility-Related Services Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6700-N-87

Assistance Listing Number (formerly CFDA Number):

14.871 Due Date for Applications:

08/30/2023

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):

2577-0169, 2501-0017

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law, 117-103, approved March 15, 2022) (2022 Appropriations Act), made available $25,000,000 for housing mobility-related services (as 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 defined by the Secretary) for voucher families with children modeled after services provided in connection with the housing mobility demonstration authorized under section 235 of division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 116–6). The overall purpose of these housing mobility-related services funds made available under the 2022 Appropriations Act is to expand housing choices for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) families with children by increasing access to opportunity neighborhoods with high-performing schools, access to jobs, low crime, parks, and other amenities.

The HCV program offers families with vouchers the opportunity to live in a neighborhood of their choice, including low-poverty, opportunity neighborhoods. Yet, HCV families may encounter barriers to using their vouchers in communities with expanded opportunities. Some barriers may be financial, such as saving enough money for a security deposit or maintaining a high enough credit score. Other barriers may include inadequate time to find a unit, landlord unwillingness to rent to voucher holders, or limited awareness of neighborhood amenities, such as the location of high-performing schools.

Congress previously made available $50 million for the Community Choice Demonstration (CCD), formerly known as the HCV mobility demonstration. The CCD is now underway at 8 Public Housing Agency (PHA) sites across the country. As required by the 2022 Appropriations Act, the funds awarded under this NOFO will be modeled after the services provided in the

CCD.

The CCD builds upon recent research that shows growing up in neighborhoods with lower levels of poverty improves children's academic achievement and long-term chances of success and reduces intergenerational poverty. Children who move to low-poverty neighborhoods have also been shown to experience lower rates of hospitalizations, lower hospital spending, and some positive changes in mental health over the long-term. Adults given the chance to move to low-poverty neighborhoods may experience reductions in obesity and diabetes.

The CCD supports selected PHAs in addressing barriers to accessing housing choices by offering housing mobility-related services to increase the number of voucher families with children living in opportunity areas. The CCD includes a rigorous, independent evaluation to determine whether housing mobility-related services help families move to—and remain in—opportunity areas, and what services are most effective at helping families make those moves. HUD also intends to make materials developed for the CCD available to all PHAs for use in their own communities.

Under the CCD program, PHAs must offer comprehensive housing mobility-related services (CMRS), which includes pre- and post-move supports, family financial assistance (e.g., security deposits), landlord outreach, and housing search assistance.

The housing mobility-related services funds made available under this NOFO will allow more PHAs to administer housing mobility programs, thus increasing the number of HCV families with children residing in lower-poverty neighborhoods. HUD will continue, to the extent possible, to share lessons learned and evidence from the CCD with grantees to implement successful evidence and practice-based programs. A variety of technical assistance materials https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/communitychoicedemo related to the delivery of housing mobility-related services have been posted to:

https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/public-housing/housing-mobility-toolkit/.

2. HUD and Program-Specific Goals and Objectives

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

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

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

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

Applicable Goals and Objectives from HUD’s Strategic Plan

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

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

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

4. 2B: Improve Rental Assistance Improve rental assistance to address the need for affordable housing.

5. 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.

6. 4C: Integrate Health and Housing Advance policies that recognize housing's role as essential to health.

The implementation of housing mobility-related services helps achieve HUD’s strategic goals, including advancing housing justice, improving rental assistance, and integrating health and housing. By assisting voucher families with children in accessing opportunity areas, PHAs help ensure that, “a person’s race, disability or other protected characteristics should never limit their access to housing or their ability to fully live and participate in the community.” Additionally, housing mobility programs require PHAs to adopt administrative policies that enhance the administration of their voucher programs, which helps improve rental assistance delivery. And finally, ample research evidence shows that there are positive health benefits for both adults and children that live in safe, lower-poverty communities. Section IV.G.2. of this NOFO describes how applicants will provide a narrative on how their program goals align with HUD’s strategic plan.

Other Goals and Objectives https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/public-housing/housing-mobility-toolkit/ https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas

The implementation of housing mobility-related services also helps achieve programmatic goals to increase housing choices for HCV families with children, and to increase the number of such families living in lower-poverty neighborhoods. HUD also seeks to use evidence, both research and practice-based, to inform the implementation of housing mobility programs. PHAs awarded funding under this NOFO will implement programs based on the best available evidence from the CCD, as well as previous and emerging research on housing mobility.

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

This is a new funding category in FY 2022 and there was no previous NOFO for housing mobility-related services.

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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/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.

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

(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.

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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are

(1) a part B institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1061);

(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.

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.

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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121?toc=1

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.

Community Choice Demonstration (CCD) PHAs: PHAs awarded funding for the CCD under 83 FR 42890, “Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Implementation of the Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration” and currently participating in the demonstration.

High-Poverty Neighborhood is a census tract with a family poverty rate of 30 percent or higher.

Housing Mobility-related Services are services, financial assistance and incentives that are likely to be successful in helping families move to opportunity areas. These include a range of services, such as pre-move support and housing search assistance, landlord outreach and support, post-move, and subsequent-move supports. These also include family financial assistance such as security deposit assistance and landlord financial incentives. PHAs will have the flexibility to work with individual families to customize services, provided every family is offered all of the available services.

Opportunity Area means a census tract with a family poverty rate of 10 percent or less. These are typically areas with ample community resources, high-performing schools, and low crime.

PHAs may establish stricter criteria for their opportunity area designations.

Public Housing Agencies with Higher Concentrations of HCV Families with Children Residing in High-Poverty Neighborhoods means a PHA that has a high concentration of voucher holders with children in the PHA's jurisdiction living in high-poverty neighborhoods or are qualified census tracts (QCTs) as defined under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Please see the rating factor for PHA Concentration of Voucher Holders in High-Poverty Neighborhoods for further information on this definition.

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

HCV Families with Children are applicants or participants in the HCV program with at least one child in the household aged 17 or younger.

B. Authority

Funding for this program is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103), approved March 15, 2022, which provides $25 million for housing mobility-related services.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds

Funding of approximately $25,000,000 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 11 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

Estimated Total Funding:

$25,000,000 Minimum Award Amount:

$750,000 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

$5,000,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance

The estimated project start date is November 1, 2023. The estimated project end date is November 2, 2028.

Estimated Project Start Date:

11/01/2023 Estimated Project End Date:

11/02/2028 Length of Project Periods:

60-month project period and budget period

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

E. Type of Funding Instrument

Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant)

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

08 (Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities)

Additional Information on Eligibility

1. Only PHAs that have an existing Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) with HUD for

HCVs are eligible to apply for funding under this announcement.

2. PHAs wishing to share the administration of housing mobility-related services with another PHA may apply jointly. However, the grant will solely be with the lead PHA applicant.

3. HUD will only consider funding one application per PHA.

B. Ineligible Applicants

1. A contract administrator that does not have an Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) with HUD for HCVs, but constitutes a PHA under 24 CFR 982.4 by reason of its administering HCVs on behalf of another PHA, is not eligible to submit an application under this NOFO.

2. Nonprofit administrators of HCV Mainstream assistance, which by statute are classified as PHAs solely for the purpose of administering HCV Mainstream assistance, are also ineligible.

3. PHAs participating in the CCD. As described in the Supplementary Notice for Demonstration Participants (87 FR 19522), HUD will issue a separate Federal Register notice describing an allocation process for remaining CCD funds.

4. Individuals and entities not designated as PHAs.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

This Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements

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

1. Resolution of Civil Rights Matters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(6) Dismissal of charges.

2. Timely Submission of Applications

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

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility

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

Universal Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Requirements Outstanding Delinquent Federal Debts Debarments or Suspensions, or both Mandatory Disclosure Requirement Pre-selection Review of Performance Sufficiency of Financial Management System False Statements Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

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

F. Program-Specific Requirements

Overview

The funding made available under this grant will be used for PHAs implementing a comprehensive housing mobility program. The funds will be available for up to five years (60-month performance period). Over the full period of performance, PHAs must provide housing mobility-related services to a minimum of 300 families with at least one child aged 17 or younger living in the household, up to a maximum of 1,000 such families. PHAs’ average annual caseloads would range between a minimum of 50, up to a maximum of 200 families.

HUD recognizes that caseload management is more of an art than a science, and that some fluctuation on average annual caseloads may occur. The PHA must demonstrate its ability to recruit and enroll its proposed number of families each year.

PHAs will submit a detailed housing mobility plan as part of their application. The housing mobility plan will discuss the housing mobility-related services, including financial assistance, in addition to the administrative policies, that the PHA will implement. PHAs also will submit a detailed cost proposal as part of their application. While HUD is evaluating the total costs for administering housing mobility-related services through the CCD, HUD estimates that the average cost per family is between $2,500 and $4,500 depending on the services offered and local housing and employment markets. PHAs must submit an estimate of the costs for their proposed services, taking into account their local housing and employment markets. A PHA may apply in partnership with another PHA, but HUD’s relationship is with the lead PHA only.

Program funds will be awarded and disbursed to the lead PHA only.

Although the program is intended to increase housing choice for families in the HCV program, especially in opportunity areas, PHAs may not require voucher holders to move to designated https://www.hud.gov/grants https://www.hud.gov/grants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-25/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-170 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-170/subpart-A/section-170.110 opportunity areas, limit access to other neighborhoods, or terminate assistance for lack of participation in housing mobility-related services.

Planning Period After award, PHAs will engage in a six-month planning period, with the option of extensions up to another six months. HUD will review the PHA’s housing mobility plan and detail any required changes to ensure compliance with this NOFO to the PHA in writing within 60 days of award. The PHA must make required updates to their housing mobility plan and submit the final version to HUD prior to implementing services. HUD will provide written approval of the final housing mobility plan to the PHA. HUD will assess the PHA’s readiness to execute their final housing mobility plan and will only allow the PHA to move beyond the initial planning period if HUD determines the PHA will be able to successfully implement housing mobility-related services in accordance with the final housing mobility plan. HUD will notify the PHA in writing with the necessary activities that must occur to successfully complete the planning period. PHAs that do not successfully complete the planning period within twelve months may have their award recaptured and/or rescinded. HUD may reallocate recaptured funds to other awardees based on demonstrated need, or to the next highest ranking PHA(s).

Services and Uses of Funds The PHA must provide a minimum set of housing mobility related services. The PHA may elect to offer additional allowable housing mobility-related services as described below or propose additional housing mobility-related services. Families enrolled in the PHA’s housing mobility program must be offered all available services, but the family may not be required to participate in any services. Services should be customized to each individual family based on their needs and preferences. A description of the minimum, allowable, and ineligible housing mobility-related services, as well as required administrative policies, is included below. Funds may only be used for the activities related to the development and implementation of the minimum and allowable housing mobility-related services and administrative policies.

For reference purposes, a table summary of the comprehensive housing mobility-related services being offered through the CCD is provided at the end of this section.

Minimum Housing Mobility-Related Services PHAs must, at a minimum, offer the following housing mobility-related services:

Pre-move services, including:

o Completing a one-on-one meeting with the family to develop an individualized family preparation plan that outlines the family’s goals and housing needs and activities the PHA and family can complete to help the family move to an opportunity area;

o Providing an introduction to opportunity areas and a map of the PHA’s designated opportunity areas, information on schools, the opportunity to tour and meet with school staff, educators, and any necessary educational support services, neighborhood amenities, and the short-term and long-term benefits of moving to an opportunity area to participating families;

o Individualized coaching to help the family remove barriers to moving to an opportunity area;

o Providing outside referrals for no or low-cost financial coaching or legal services, as appropriate to the family’s needs; and o Offering the ability to complete a “soft” credit pull so the program can help identify opportunities to address credit challenges. Families may opt to not consent for the credit pull but the program must offer to pull it for them.

Housing search assistance, including:

o Individualized identification and referral of affordable and available rental units in opportunity areas that meet participant needs;

o Individualized assistance in searching for rental units, including transporting clients directly to view available units, in opportunity areas that meet participant needs;

o An online tool available for families, property owners, and PHA staff to determine if a property is located in an opportunity area. At a minimum, the tool should include the following information:

Where a property is located geographically;

If a property is located in an opportunity area; and What rents are affordable in the area by voucher size and unit bedroom size.

The tool may include additional items such as community features

(grocery stores, schools, transit options, third-party rental site listings, etc.), so families can see where properties are in relation to local resource

Direct outreach to opportunity area landlords, including:

o Proactive landlord outreach;

o Development and maintenance of a listing of available rental units in opportunity areas; and o Landlord education about housing mobility program benefits.

Lease-up assistance, including:

o Assisting with the completion of rental applications and PHA forms;

o Working with HCV program staff to ensure that rent reasonableness is accurate in opportunity areas; and o Expediting the PHA leasing process. PHAs must have processes in place, either as a standard business practice or specifically for the housing mobility program, to expedite the leasing process.

Security deposit assistance for rental units in opportunity areas o The program must offer security deposit assistance for the participating families that lease a rental unit in an opportunity area. The amount of the security deposit assistance may not exceed the actual security deposit required by the owner or the maximum security deposit allowed under applicable state and/or local law. The PHA may pay the security deposit directly to the owner or may pay the assistance to the family on a reimbursement basis, provided the PHA verifies the family paid the security deposit. The PHA should not place conditions on the security deposit assistance, such as requiring the owner or family to return the security deposit assistance to the PHA at the end of the family’s tenancy (less any amounts retained by the owner in accordance with the lease). The funds should be returned to the family in accordance with their lease. PHAs may only provide one security deposit to a participating family and should not require repayment of the security deposit to the PHA.

Flexible family financial assistance o The program must offer flexible family financial assistance to cover certain moving- and transition-related expenses for families. This assistance includes rental unit application fees, administrative fees, bus or train passes, and up to $200 for moving expenses (movers, moving truck, or other short-term vehicle rental to assist in a move). An individual family may receive a maximum of $600 (or a lower amount, as established by the PHA) for flexible family financial assistance over the course of their participation in the program. Funds may only be used for purposes related to searching for or renting units, including maintaining residency, in opportunity areas. PHAs may not require repayment of flexible family financial assistance. In their housing mobility plan, PHAs may propose other uses of flexible family financial assistance. HUD will approve or deny these uses on a case-by-case basis.

Salaries and benefits for qualified staff trained in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, or a similar service delivery framework

HCV program participant engagement o PHAs must substantively engage HCV program participants in the finalization and implementation of the housing mobility plan.

PHAs must also adopt administrative policies, including:

Ensuring adequate payment standards in opportunity areas. If payment standards are not at SAFMR or 110% of FMR currently, the PHA must explain in its application why and how it will ensure payment standards are adequate in opportunity areas;

A minimum voucher search time policy of at least 90 days, with at least one 30-day extension (However, HUD strongly encourages PHAs to provide at least 180 days total search time); and

For PHAs that do not permit non-resident applicant portability pursuant to 24 CFR 982.353(c), the PHA must adopt a policy in its Administrative Plan to exercise regulatory flexibility to allow non-resident applicants participating in the housing mobility-related services offered by the PHA to port. Please see Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook, Moves and Portability, which says, “Initial PHAs may allow portability moves during this 12-month period. The initial PHA may decide to allow portability when the move would respond to a family’s specific need (for example, for employment opportunities) but not allow such moves in other instances. The PHA is required to document the exceptions to the residency requirements in regards to portability in the administrative plan."

Additional Allowable Housing Mobility-Related Services

PHAs may, but are not required to, offer the following additional, allowable housing mobility-related services:

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/HCV_Guidebook_Moves_and_Portability.pdf https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/HCV_Guidebook_Moves_and_Portability.pdf

Neighborhood and unit tours Post-move services, including:

o Post-move check-ins with program participants;

o Post-move home visit(s) with program participants;

o “Open door” policy where families can proactively request assistance and receive support from the PHA for needs like landlord/tenant mitigation strategies;

o Owner post-move check-ins; and o Subsequent move services.

Landlord incentives or other eligible activities described in section 3.b in PIH Notice 2022-18. PHAs may use mobility-related services funds for any allowable, reasonable expenses outlined in section 3.b. of PIH Notice 2022-18. However, these funds may only be used in connection to units in opportunity areas.

Landlord engagement event, landlord symposiums or other events Workshops o PHAs may choose to offer a workshop, or series of workshops, for participants.

Some examples of workshops include: conducting a housing search, first-time renters, and money management. The program may not offer workshops in place of individualized services.

Establishment of a participant expectations form describing the PHA’s and family’s responsibilities for the program

Ineligible Housing Mobility-Related Services and Use of Funds

Please see Section III.F for the ineligible uses of funds.

Administrative Expenses

PHAs may use up to 15 percent of the award for payments of reasonable grant administrative costs related to planning and executing their housing mobility-related services, including the preparation and submission of HUD reports. Administrative costs must be reflected under each appropriate line item (e.g., salaries, fringe, supplies on the Form SF-424A) and a detailed cost element breakdown in the budget narrative must be provided.

The 15 percent cap does not include any in-kind or leveraging resources contributed by the PHA.

There are three categories of administrative costs: implementation planning, direct administrative costs and indirect costs. For the purposes of this grant, all implementation planning, direct administrative and all indirect costs count toward the 15 percent administrative limit.

Implementation Planning o Salaries, wages, fringe benefits, and related costs of the recipient’s staff engaged in planning implementation that can be specifically identified with the grant o Planning implementation…