Older_Adults_Home_Modification_FR-6800-N-69.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program

FR-6800-N-69

11/19/2024

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

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:

Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Funding Opportunity Title:

Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6800-N-69

Assistance Listing Number:

14.921 Due Date for Applications:

11/19/2024

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, ineligible, 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 announcement of the selection of recipients 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 who 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 the applicable OMB control number, unless the collection of information is excluded from these requirements under 5 CFR Part 1320.

OMB Control Number(s):

2501-0044, 2539-0015

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

The overall purpose of the Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP) is to assist experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modifications, repairs and renovations to meet the needs of low-income seniors. The goal of the home modification program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through 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 low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications to reduce older seniors’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and to improve their functional abilities in their home. This will enable seniors to remain in their homes, that is, to “age in place,” rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities.

HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes is making available grant funds and training resources to non-federal entities. Under this NOFO, experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities will deliver home modification services to qualified beneficiaries. As required by the appropriation laws that fund the grants under this NOFO, at least one third of funding under this NOFO will be made available to grantees that serve communities with substantial rural populations, as defined below.

The NOFO establishes a program model that incorporates two core concepts: first, as people age, their needs change, and they may need adaptations to their physical environment to live safely at home; second, for any intervention to have the highest impact, the individual’s personal goals and needs must be a driver in determining the actual intervention.

The OAHMP model focuses on low-cost, high-impact home modifications. Examples of these home modifications include installation of grab bars, railings, and lever-handled doorknobs and faucets, as well as the installation of adaptive equipment, such as temporary ramp, tub/shower transfer bench, handheld shower head, raised toilet seat, risers for chairs and sofas, and non-slip strips for tub/shower or stairs. The OAHMP model primarily relies on the expertise of a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) to ensure that the home modification addresses the client’s specific goals and needs and promotes their full participation in daily life activities. The OT is trained to evaluate clients’ functional abilities and the home environment and has knowledge of the range of low-cost, high-impact environmental modifications and adaptive equipment used to optimize the home environment and increase independence. To help maximize the breadth of the program, the OAHMP also supports using licensed OT Assistants and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists whose work under the grant is overseen by licensed OTs. The OAHMP model also encourages a person-centered approach that motivates and supports older adults as they identify their goals and learn to function safely in their home.

Services made available under this NOFO must be for the benefit of eligible low-income senior homeowners and renters who are at least 62 years old for work within their primary residence.

Because of the vulnerable nature of the persons served, awardees of an OAHMP grant are highly encouraged to ensure that the processes employed to qualify projects for home modifications avoid the potential for project implementation delays. One example of potential delay is enrolling a beneficiary whose home requires modifications beyond what HUD defines as maintenance. Proposed projects involving repair or rehabilitation above the maintenance level require an environmental review, either by the grant recipient (if a state or unit of general local government), a non-recipient Responsible Entity (state or unit of general local government), or by HUD. That environmental review includes consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and compliance with other federal environmental requirements listed at 24 CFR §58.5 or §50.4. Where the recipient is not a Responsible Entity, project implementation may be delayed 45+ days, pending completion of the environmental review, and approval by HUD, should no non-recipient Responsible Entity be willing/able to assume environmental review responsibilities

(see Section VI.B. for additional details). To the greatest extent feasible, awardees of OAHMP should select the home modifications identified in the “maintenance” column of the table in Appendix B, Home Modifications/Repairs. Proposed projects that meet the definition of maintenance will not require an environmental review or approval by HUD, and the grantee may proceed with implementation; see Section VI.B. Additional guidance will be provided by HUD, post-award.

Background Research has demonstrated that, under certain conditions, home modification can significantly reduce the risk of falling among community-dwelling elderly persons (i.e., adults not living in institutional settings). Pighills, A. et al. (British Journal of Occupational Therapy 79(3).

November 2, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022615600181) conducted a systematic literature review and concluded that the research demonstrated that high intensity environmental assessment and home modification was clinically effective in preventing falls when conducted with high-risk elderly persons. The authors defined “high intensity” as an assessment that is delivered by an occupational therapist (OT) and “high risk” as adults aged 65 and older with one or more of the following risk factors: one or more falls in the previous year, a recent hospital admission, a chronic health condition, or visual impairment. The authors indicated that the OT-led interventions were likely effective because of the OT’s focus on the impact of the environment on an individual’s function and their consideration of personal, environmental, and activity-related fall risk factors. Effective fall prevention was not demonstrated from protocols that did not use an OT to conduct the assessment and/or that did not limit the interventions to high-risk adults.

In addition, research has also demonstrated that professional assessment and home modification can significantly decrease disability among community-dwelling elderly persons. The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing developed a program called Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living in Elders (CAPABLE) that uses a team that includes an OT, a registered nurse, and a home modifier (i.e., handyman) to conduct an assessment and home modification to improve the functional ability of clients. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial with 300 adults aged 65 and older with no cognitive impairment who self-reported difficulty with physical functioning (i.e., activities of daily living (ADL) such as dressing, bathing, walking) or two or more instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (e.g., shopping, managing medications). Up to 10 home visits were conducted over a 5-month period in the intervention group compared to the control group that received a similar number of social visits by research team members. The OT evaluated a client’s functional disability, identified and addressed functional goals, assessed home safety risks, and oversaw communication with the primary practitioner. The registered nurse assessed a client’s pain, depressive symptoms, medication use, strength, and balance. A goal of the intervention was to address functional goals (identified through client interview) by enhancing the client’s capacity through use of adaptive equipment and home modification. The intervention group experienced a significant reduction in disability compared to the control group based on improvements in an ADL and/or IADL scoring tool. (See: Szanton, SL, et al. JAMA Internal Medicine. 179(2):204-211. January 7, 2019.https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6026.)

Applicants to this NOFO should take note of characteristics of the effective home modifications https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022615600181 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6026 discussed above. Both models used OTs to conduct a person-focused assessment of how the client interacted with his/her environment, and CAPABLE identified the client’s goals for improved functioning. An important reason that the interventions were found to be effective is also, likely, the focus on high-risk adults.

2. HUD and Program-Specific Goals and Objectives

HUD’s Strategic Plan sets the direction and focus of our programs and staff to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all. 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.

HUD will pursue two overarching priorities focused on increasing equity and improving customer experience across all HUD programs. Five strategic goals and several objectives undergird the Plan; however the following goals are applicable to this NOFO.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

The goal of the Older Adults Home Modification Program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications and reduce exposure to health risks, environmental hazards, and substandard housing, especially for low-income households and communities of color. This helps enable older adults to remain in https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas their homes, that is, to “age in place,” rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities. The program contributes to HUD’s implementation of its Strategic Objective to Promote Environmental Justice.

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

• Applicants requesting over the maximum award amount will be reduced to the maximum award amount.

• The maximum has increased to $2,000,000 from $1,250,000 and the minimum has increased to $1,000,000 from $500,000.

• If you received OAHMP grant funding under the FY 2023 grant program or funding under this program that was announced on April 9, 2024, you are not eligible to apply under this program.

• Under the previous NOFO, the application process was a two-step process. Under this NOFO, the complete application process is a single-step process. Rating factors have been adjusted to be similar to the applicant scoring for full 2023 applications.

• Equity Provisions. Responses are required under Rating Factor 4 with points awarded to each.

• Compliance with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act procurement requirements.

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 https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/GC/documents/Build%20America,%20Buy%20America%20Act%20Provisions.pdf 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 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 individual associated with the applicant organization who is responsible for the administration and management of award activities for the applicant 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 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 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 environmental laws and policies in a manner that advances 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 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.

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 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

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. § 1061(2));

(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(b)(3));

(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(b)(6));

(6) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)); or

(7) a Native American-serving nontribal institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059f(b)(2)).

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.

Promise Zones (PZs) are high poverty areas in select urban, rural and tribal communities designated from 2014-2016 where the Federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, reduce violent crime, enhance public health and address other priorities identified by the community.

See Promise Zones.

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.

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.

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 https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/field_policy_mgt/fieldpolicymgtpz

Resilience is a community’s ability to minimize damage and recover quickly from natural disasters, extreme weather events, and other changing climate conditions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) means the identifier assigned by SAM to uniquely identify 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.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) also referred to as accessory apartments, second units, or granny flats, are additional living quarters on single-family lots that are independent of the primary dwelling unit. The separate living spaces are equipped with kitchen and bathroom facilities and can be either attached or detached from the main residence. For more information visit www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/adu.pdf.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are basic self-care tasks that include for example bathing, dressing, eating, transferring [e.g., getting in and out of chairs], grooming, using the toilet, and 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 file:///C:/Adata/%60Grants/NOFAs/0/OLHCHH/Home%20Mod/Drafting/www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/adu.pdf walking. This list is not exhaustive.

Adaptive equipment is any assistive device or everyday item that enables individuals with functional limitations and special needs to perform Activities of Daily Living and to reduce the risk of falling. The term also means items that do not require puncturing the floor, walls, or ceiling of the home to install and therefore can be installed by an Occupational Therapist or other individual and does not need to be work performed by a licensed, bonded, and insured maintenance/repair person. Examples include shower chairs, non-slip tape, and stick-on motion sensor lights.

Assessment is a method for a skilled professional to gather data to use in an evaluation. In this program, assessments of home modification need, and clients’ functional capacity are conducted by Occupational Therapists, or licensed OT Assistants and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists whose work under the grant is overseen by licensed OTs, using standardized assessment tools.

Other clinical personnel such as a registered nurse may perform additional assessments.

Beneficiary is the individual receiving direct services from the grantee. Also referred to as client. Beneficiaries must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in Section III.G of this

NOFO.

Client: see beneficiary.

Caregiver is the primary person(s) helping to care for the beneficiary in the primary residence.

The caregiver may be a professional providing services for a fee or wage, or they may be an informal caregiver, such as a family member or friend.

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to competing in the home modifications for the aging-in-place segment of the residential remodeling industry. Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists are trained in the unique needs of the older adult population and about, aging-in-place home modifications, common remodeling projects and solutions to common barriers. The credential is offered through the National Association of Home Builders.

Environmental modification or environmental accessibility adaptation are terms used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and others to refer to physical adaptations to an individual’s primary home or vehicle that enable them to function with greater independence and avoid placement in a nursing home, or reasonably assure their health and welfare. (See, e.g., https://downloads.cms.gov/cmsgov/archived-downloads/SMDL/downloads/smd072500b.pdf, and http://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/OAAS/quarterlySCandprovidermeetings/Assessing-for-EAA- 2016.pdf.)

Functional Abilities refer to the client’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). See Definitions.

Grant and grantee, mean, for this program, the OAHMP cooperative agreement and the OAHMP awardee, respectively.

https://downloads.cms.gov/cmsgov/archived-downloads/SMDL/downloads/smd072500b.pdf http://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/OAAS/quarterlySCandprovidermeetings/Assessing-for-EAA-2016.pdf http://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/OAAS/quarterlySCandprovidermeetings/Assessing-for-EAA-2016.pdf

High Cost Unit is a client residence in which, the scope of work exceeds the $5,000 cap for unit modification.

Home Modification is a holistic approach to assisting low income elderly persons to “age in place” by supporting their ability to live independently. The process includes an assessment in the home; identification and prioritization of necessary changes to the home environment to make tasks easier and reduce accidents; professional installation and implementation of solutions, including adding special features or removing hazards; and follow-up visits and evaluation.

Homeowner is a person living in their primary residence who owns and occupies their residence (owner occupied).

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) are skills related to independent living which include (but are not limited to) meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping for food, clothing, and other essential items, performing essential household chores, communicating by phone or other media, and traveling around and participating in the community.

Intervention means the home modification services provided to a beneficiary within a certain defined scope and time period as determined by the grantee.

Landlord/Lessor is a person who rents a building or residence to a tenant on a contractual basis (Tenant- occupied).

Low-Income has the same meaning provided in section 3(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(A)) [i.e., income does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for an area, as determined by the Secretary].

Manufactured home means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, having the characteristics specified in 24 CFR 3280.2 Definitions (https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?n=se24.5.3280_12).

Mobile home is the term used for homes built in a manufacturing plant prior to June 15, 1976, or, an informal term referring to a dwelling structure built on a steel chassis and fitted with wheels that is intended to be hauled to a usually permanent site (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mobile%20home), but not necessarily conforming to the HUD Code nor a state or local code.

Modular home is any home factory-built to a state or local state code, which may be the same or different from the HUD Code. A modular home can be built as an “on-frame” or “off-frame” modular. The on-frame modular home will be built on a permanent chassis, whereas the off-frame modular home will be built with removal of the chassis frame in mind.

Motivational interviewing is a person-centered coaching method that focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence and centers on motivational processes within the individual to facilitate behavioral change. The intention is to empower clients to make positive behavioral changes to https://www.law.cornell.edu/topn/low-rent_housing_act https://www.law.cornell.edu/topn/low-rent_housing_act https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1437a https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?n=se24.5.3280_12 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?n=se24.5.3280_12 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mobile%20home http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mobile%20home support their goals.

Occupational Therapist (OT) is a licensed clinical practitioner who provides client-focused interventions to adapt the environment in order to increase independence, promote health, and prevent further decline or injury. An OT assesses a person’s ability to do the things he or she wants and needs to do, and provides personalized recommendations to increase safety, ease, and ability now and in the future. The OT works with the individual to ensure that the recommended changes to the home are consistent with the client’s wants and needs, skills, and environment.

For the purposes of the OAHMP, to help maximize the breadth of the program, licensed OT Assistants who undertake work to implement the findings of a licensed OT under the licensed OT’s oversight, may be used where a provision of the NOFO specifies a requirement to be performed by an OT. (See https://www.aota.org/)

Person-centered means that the client’s values and preferences guide all aspects of the home modification intervention. Program staff must take the time to understand the client’s values and preferences and must allow the client to choose which modifications he or she wants.

Primary Residence means a detached dwelling, townhouse, duplex, triplex, or fourplex, condominium unit, cooperative housing, mobile home, manufactured home, modular home, or accessory dwelling unit, where the senior lives most of the time and which is not rented out (except to the senior in the case the residence is landlord-owned) during the period from enrollment of the unit through completion of the home modification work in the unit. (For purposes of this program, for a unit to be treated as owner/tenant occupied, the housing unit in a condominium (“condo”) or cooperative housing (“coop”) must be the primary residence of the senior owner/renter/shareholder.)

Renter/Tenant is a person living in their primary residence who leases and occupies their primary residence (Landlord- owned).

Reasonable Accommodation is a change, modification, exception, alteration, or adaptation to a rule, policy, procedure, practice, program, service, or activity that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use or enjoy a dwelling, including public and common use areas, or to participate in, or benefit from, a program, service or activity, or to otherwise avoid discrimination against an individual or class of individuals on the basis of disability. Under Section 504, this includes a provider providing and paying for a structural modification as reasonable accommodation. For purposes of this NOFO, this may include a modification or adjustment to an environment or typical routine that will enable a person with a disability to have full enjoyment of the premises.

Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Senior Occupant is an adult over age 62 that occupies a residence primarily.

Social Worker means an individual who possesses a master's or doctor's degree in social work, has performed at least 2 years of supervised clinical social work, and is either licensed or certified as a clinical social worker by the State in which the services are performed, or, if the State does not provide for licensure or certification, has completed at least 2 years or 3,000 hours of post-master's degree supervised clinical social work practice under the supervision of a https://www.aota.org/ master's level social worker in an appropriate setting.

Standardized assessment is a set of structured questions that elicit client information. The term “standardized” means that the tool has been developed empirically, has adequate norms, definite instructions for administration, and evidence of reliability and validity.

Structural modifications are physical changes to the primary residence requiring puncturing walls, ceilings, floors—such as adding grab bars or railings—or involving exterior modifications such as adding ramps. All structural modifications must be performed by a licensed, bonded, and insured residential contractor, or in accordance with your local and state regulations. For purposes of this NOFO, functional home modifications may also include structural modifications.

Substantial Rural Community is, for this NOFO, the same as a community with a substantial rural population, and is a Census-defined county, county subdivision, or place that is outside of a Census-defined urbanized area for the 2020 Census; see the definition of “urbanized area.” For the purpose of this NOFO, a substantial rural community could include an urban cluster, as designated by the Census.

Urbanized area is, “[f]or the 2020 Census, a statistical geographic entity consisting of a densely settled core created from census tracts or blocks and contiguous qualifying territory that together have a minimum population of at least 50,000 persons.” (Bureau of the Census. Urban Area Criteria for the 2020 Census. 76 Federal Register 53029-53043 at 53043.

www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-21647.) The 2020 urbanized areas are listed on Census’ https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ua/2020_Census_ua_st_list_all.xlsx (The quoted wording and more information is available through the https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.htmlwebpage.) In determining this designation, applicants must use the Urbanized / Substantially Rural Designation of Areas Tool developed by HUD (see Appendix A).

B. Authority Authority and funding for this program is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42, approved March 9, 2024) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022).

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds Funding of approximately $30,000,000 is available through this NOFO. Subject to appropriations, HUD reserves the right to award fiscal year 2025 funds based on this NOFO competition.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFO consistent with 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.

http://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-21647 https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ua/2020_Census_ua_st_list_all.xlsx https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html

B. Number of Awards HUD expects to make approximately 15 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

The precise number of awards will depend on the number of eligible proposals received and the estimated need for home modification services based on demographic information in the applicant's proposed target areas.

$10,000,000 of the $30,000,000 under this NOFO shall go to meeting the needs in communities with substantial rural populations. A minimum score of 75 points is required for consideration for award.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information Estimated Total Funding:

$30,000,000 Minimum Award Amount:

$1,000,000 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

$2,000,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance Estimated Project Start Date:

01/15/2025 Estimated Project End Date:

01/14/2028 Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period and budget period

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

N/A

E. Type of Funding Instrument Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Awards will be made as cooperative agreements. Anticipated substantial involvement by HUD staff for cooperative agreements may include but will not be limited to:

1. Review and suggestion of amendments to the program design, including: selection of, and guidance in the use of, partners to encourage awareness of the program and enrollment in it by eligible families and contractors; techniques for addressing needs of older adults in urbanized areas and in rural communities; planning for and implementing collection and analysis of data on the benefits, if any, of the program for the older adults served by the program; collaboration with

HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) and any HUD research on the program.

2. Review and provision of recommendations in response to quarterly progress reports and other information provided by the grantee or otherwise obtained by HUD, such as recommending amendments to the grantee’s program design and/or implementation based on preliminary results.

3. Review and provision of technical recommendations on the interim and final reports on the benefits, if any, of the program for the older adults served by the program.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants 00 (State governments)

01 (County governments)

02 (City or township governments)

04 (Special district governments)

08 (Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities)

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

Additional Information on Eligibility Eligible applicants include experienced nonprofit organizations, states and local governments, and public housing authorities that have at least 3 years of experience in providing services to elderly adults. Nonprofit organizations are Internal Revenue Service recognized 501(c)(3) organizations. Applicants must satisfy the threshold requirements contained in Section III for their application to be considered.

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 part 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€, 42 U.S.C. § 12113(d), and the Weldon Amendment, among others.

Religious accommodations may also be sought under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws, particularly under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

(3) A faith-based organization may not use direct financial assistance from HUD to support or engage in any explicitly religious activities except where…