VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

The VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is VA's largest transitional housing program for Veterans experiencing homelessness. Since 1994, the GPD Program has awarded grants to community-based organizations to provide transitional h

The GPD Program funds community agencies that provide transitional housing and essential services to Veterans who are experiencing or at immediate risk of homelessness. As funding permits, the GPD offers five different types of grants: Per Diem Only Grants: These grants provide funding in the form of per diem payments to reimburse grantees for the cost of care provided to Veterans in transitional supportive housing. Special Need Grants: These grants target housing and services for specific populations of Veterans, such as women, Veterans with chronic mental illness, frail elderly Veterans, Veterans caring for minor dependents, and terminally ill Veterans. Transition-In-Place (TIP) Grants: These grants offer housing to Veteran residents where supportive services are gradually phased out over time, allowing the resident to retain the unit as their permanent home without the need to move. Case Management Grants: These grants support Veterans who were previously experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, helping them obtain or retain permanent housing. Capital Grants: These grants support the costs of acquiring, renovating, or constructing facilities. They are offered intermittently to improve existing facilities or develop new transitional housing, depending on the needs of the Department and funding availability.

Applicants eligible for grants include public and nonprofit private entities with the capacity to effectively administer a grant; which demonstrate that adequate financial support will be available to carry out the project; and which agree to and demonstrate capacity to meet the applicable criteria and requirements of the grant program.

Veterans, meaning a person who served in the Armed Forces, meaning the active military, naval, air service, or space service, regardless of length of service, and who was discharged or released therefrom excluding anyone who received a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces or was discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces by reason of the sentence of a general court-martial (38 U.S.C. § 2002(b)).

The Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-590) established the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program with permanent authority being given by Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461). The Program allows VA to assist public or non-profit private entities with the costs of creating or improving transitional supportive housing facilities or services centers. In addition, VA also is authorized to fund other types of grants such as grants to support the operating expenses (minus other sources of income) for transitional supportive housing facilities through per diem payments, and grants to support case managers to assist Veterans in attaining or retaining permanent housing.

Length of time limitations are established in the notice of funding opportunity. Reimbursement payments are made to the recipient based on the Federal share of costs incurred.

Generally, this program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Environmental impact information is required in exceptional cases, for example, for capital grants occasionally awarded under this program. As funds are available for the program VA will publish to www.Grants.gov a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) soliciting applications for the grant program. The NOFO will contain the content and form of the application with information on obtaining an application; the date, time, and place for submitting completed applications; the estimated amount and type of funding available; any priorities for or exclusions from funding; and will provide information on additional documents necessary for the application.

As required by 38 CFR part 61, applications are reviewed, rated, and ranked in priority order. Selection criteria include: (a) Project Plan; (b) Outreach; (c) Ability of the applicant to develop and operate a project; (d) Need; (e) Completion Confidence; and (f) Coordination with other programs.

Formal approval of the award of assistance is made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or designee). The program is administered by Veterans Health Administration, Homeless Programs, National Grant and Per Diem Program Office.

Renewals or options for continuation of payment will be addressed by VA in the grant agreement.

If an application would have been selected but for a procedural error committed by VA, VA may reconsider that application in the next funding round. A new application will not be required for this purpose so long as there is no material change in the information.