Basic Center Grant

The objectives of the Basic Center Program are to: 1) provide outreach, shelter, crisis intervention and aftercare; 2) reunite youth with their families , if deemed safe, and encourage the resolution of intra-family problems through counseling and ot

The Basic Center Program (BCP) provides outreach and up to 21 days of emergency shelter and counseling services to youth under age 18 who have run away or left home without permission of their parents or guardians; have been forced to leave their home; cannot live safely with a parent, legal guardian, or relative; have no other safe alternative living arrangement; or who may end up in contact with law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems.

Public and nonprofit entities and combinations of such entities are eligible to apply unless they are part of the juvenile justice system. For profit organizations are not eligible. Private institutions of higher education must be non-profit entities. In selecting applications for award, ACF shall give priority to eligible applicants who have demonstrated experience in providing services to runaway and homeless youth. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards.

Runaway and homeless youth and their families are the beneficiaries. Services can be provided to youth under the age of 18.

Each Basic Center Program is required to provide temporary shelter for up to 21 days; food; clothing; individual, group and family counseling; aftercare and referrals, as appropriate. Basic Center Programs shelters must accommodate no fewer than 4 and no more than 20 youth in a single structure unless a state or local law or regulation requires a higher maximum to comply with licensure requirements for facilities serving child and youth. Some programs also provide part or all of their shelter services through host homes (usually private homes under contract to the centers), with counseling and referrals being provided from a central location. Basic Center Programs offer shelter to youth who are less than 18 years of age and who are at risk of separation from their family. Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to raise capital or obtain contributions are unallowable. Fund raising costs for the purposes of meeting the Federal program objectives are allowable with prior written approval from the Federal awarding agency. (45 CFR §75.442 effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.442) Proposal costs are the costs of preparing bids, proposals, or applications on potential Federal and non-Federal awards or projects, including the development of data necessary to support the non-Federal entity's bids or proposals. Proposal costs of the current accounting period of both successful and unsuccessful bids and proposals normally should be treated as indirect (F & A) costs and allocated currently to all activities of the non-Federal entity. No proposal costs of past accounting periods will be allocable to the current period. (45 CFR §75.460 ; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.460) Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. Costs for renovation of existing structures are authorized but may not exceed 15 percent of the amount awarded. Prospective recipients are advised that entities receiving BCP funds and operating a program to distribute sterile needles or syringes for hypodermic injections of illegal drugs must account for all funds used for such programs separately from any expenditure of BCP funds.

RHY Funds may not be used for Construction, the purchase of of real property, or expenses for Major renovation: Costs for renovation of existing structures may not normally exceed 15% of the federal award. Costs for acquisition is not allowable by statute. Applicants are advised that no funds may be used for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug. HHS funds may not be spent for an abortion.

Awards are made competitively for project periods of three years, with three 12-month budget periods.

The criteria for selecting proposals will be published in the NOFO.

Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process. After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider them when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description section and in the Application Review section of the NOFO. For example, ACF may reserve the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering the geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

See the Notice of Funding Opportunity for application deadlines.

Awards are generally made for 3-year project periods with three 12-month budget periods. Annually, non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with award terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government.

There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. For existing recipients, appeals regarding disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A.