5 - 2024 Grant Applications
Section 1: Overview
New Project applications are due by 12 PM on Friday, July 26, 2024. Below is an overview of the layout of the new project application.
Section 2: Housing First Pledge
The Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care (IA BoS CoC) is committed to incorporating Housing First into all programs.
All funded projects will be operated using a Housing First approach to ensure:
Rapid placement into permanent housing,
Removal of barriers to participant entry,
Utilization of participant choice & client-centered service approaches, and
Utilization of program termination only as a last resort.
In order for organizations to apply for a new project they must commit to the Housing First Pledge from the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), which aligns with the priorities of the IA BoS CoC. The pledge includes:
That our organization’s entire staff and board will understand and embrace the Housing First philosophy, because we believe that all people can thrive in housing, regardless of their circumstances.
That we will tailor housing and services to the unique strengths and needs of each household we serve, because this is the most effective way to end homelessness.
That we will consistently analyze our data to measure our commitment to Housing First.
That we will commit to achieving equitable outcomes for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religions, or gender identities, and to monitor our outcomes data to ensure them.
That we will never insist which services a person needs before or after they have been housed, or deny a person a housing opportunity because we assume they will not succeed in it
That we will operationalize our belief in Housing First as part of our philosophy on ending homelessness; as part of our mission statement, policies and procedures, job descriptions, and performance evaluations; and as part of our daily efforts to achieve that mission.
Section 3: Instructions & Resources
As you work through your application please utilize the instructions and resources available:
Answer all questions that appear in the application, be as complete as possible in your responses.
Deadline for submissions: Friday, July 26, 2024, by 12 PM (CST). Any forms submitted after this deadline WILL NOT be accepted and the organization WILL NOT be considered for submitting a full project application for 2024 HUD CoC funds.
This form was built with conditional logic, which hides or shows questions based on user selection. Please ensure you complete all required questions before submitting.
When using Save & Resume files uploaded to the form and signatures executed by the end-user will NOT be saved to the form until the form is submitted to the database. Users should not upload files or sign the forms until they are ready to submit.
If you are utilizing Save and resume, a link will be sent to the primary email contact you provided. Save this link, if you do not have this link you cannot access your saved application and will have to start the application over.
When using Save & Resume, uploaded files and signatures will NOT be saved to the form until the form is submitted to the database. Users should not upload files or sign the form until they are ready to submit.
Resources:
2024 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
2024 New & DV Bonus Scoring Rubric
Section 4: Application- Applicant Name & Information
Note, to be eligible to apply for funding, you must have completed the 2024 Intent To Apply process. As you work through the application, please use the scoring rubric to assist in the detail needed for each question.
Ensure the project type you are applying for is something that aligns with the scope of your project and the need in your community.
Note for CoC-funded projects, you must utilize HMIS or DVIMS for data entry.
Note you must have a physical presence in the IA BoS CoC which can include office locations or shared space with a community partner where participants are ware of your staff being available for support & services.
Provide your organization information including name, registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), address, and primary & secondar contact information.
Select if you serve any entitlement cities (Ames, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, or Waterloo). If your project is in an entitlement city, the HUD-2991 Certification of Consistency form will be required with your e-snaps submission. CoC staff will connect with you to determine the due date as listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Proposed start and end date for your project. (Please be aware, the actual start date of your project will depend upon grant agreement completion with HUD. In planning it may be conducive to have a project start date later in than year.)
Project Name: It is encouraged to include your organization name in the project name.
Coordinated Service Region (CSR) & counties project will provide housing placement in: Please select your CSR and then select the counties within that region where you will provide housing placement.
Funding Amount: Provide your requested funding amount. Note, this must align with your overall budget total and is built with logic to ensure consistency.
Section 5: Application- Thresholds & Housing First
Thresholds: Projects MUST meet ALL of these requirements to be eligible for CoC funding consideration.
The project must ensure that it has removed the following barriers to accessing housing and services and must confirm that each barrier described does NOT exist to be eligible for funding.
Having too little or no income
Having a criminal record with exceptions for state, and/or federal restrictions
Fleeing domestic violence (e.g., lack of a protective order, period of separation from abuser, or law enforcement involvement)
Having (or not having) a previous address within Iowa
Failure to comply with HUD’s 2016 Gender Identify Rule
Failure to comply with Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Requirements including assuring non-discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and familial status and disability.
Housing First: Projects must not terminate participants for any of the following reasons.
Failure to participate in supportive services and/or failure to make progress on a service plan
Loss of income or failure to improve income
Active substance abuse
Any other activity not covered in a lease agreement typically found in the project's geographic area
Section 6: Application- Leveraging Resources
New projects may have partnerships with Healthcare or Housing resources providing leverage. Please use the information below to verify if you will or will not be leveraging housing or healthcare resources.
Projects leveraging housing resources include:
New Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Rapid Re-housing (RRH) projects that utilize housing subsidies or subsidized housing units not funded through the CoC or ESG programs. Housing subsidies or subsidized housing units may be funded through any of the following sources:
Private organizations;
State or local government, including through the use of HOME funding provided through the American Rescue Plan;
Public Housing Agencies, including through the use of a set aside or limited preference;
Faith-based organizations; or
Federal programs other than the CoC or ESG programs.
(i) in the case of a PSH project, provide at least 25 percent of the units included in the project; or
(ii) in the case of a RRH project, serve at least 25 percent of the program participants anticipated to be served by the project.
**Please note, you must upload a letter of commitment to demonstrating the number of subsidies or units being provided to support the project. If your letter of commitment does not provide this information, leverage will not be considered and no points will be given.
Projects leveraging healthcare resources include:
New Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Rapid Re-housing (RRH) projects that utilize healthcare resources to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Sources of health care resources include:
Direct contributions from a public or private health insurance provider to the project (e.g., Medicaid), and
Provision of health care services by a private or public organization (e.g., Ryan White funded organization) tailored to the program participants of the project.
Eligibility for the project must comply with HUD program and fair housing requirements. Eligibility criteria cannot be restricted by the eligibility requirements of the health care service provider.
(i) in the case of a substance abuse treatment or recovery provider, it will provide access to treatment or recovery services for all program participants who qualify and choose those services; or
(ii) the value of assistance being provided is at least an amount that is equivalent to 25 percent of the funding being requested for the project, which will be covered by the healthcare organization.
**Please note, you must upload a letter of commitment demonstrating the value of the commitment and the dates the healthcare resources will be provided. If your letter of commitment does not provide this information, leverage will not be considered and no points will be given.
Section 7: Application- Participation, Engaging People with Lived Experience, & Equity and Diversity
Coordinated Entry (CE): Participation in CE is a requirement for receiving CoC funds. Projects are expected to pull 100% of participants for their program from the Coordinated Entry Prioritization List. If this practice is not currently being utilized, organizations have an opportunity to share how they will adapt to ensure they pull 100% of participants from CE. They also have the opportunity note that they will have maximum participation through attending regional pull meetings and pulling and adding participants to the CE system.
CoC Participation: It is important to attend IA BoS CoC meetings/events and participate in Task Groups as voting members to assist the CoC in preventing and ending homelessness. Projects will be able to show their attendance at the past Board meeting, the 2024 Annual Meeting, and if any representatives from their organization are voting members on any IA BoS CoC Task Groups.
Point in Time (PIT): It is important for projects across the CoC to participate in the PIT count to ensure information from the geographic area is shared and utilized to advocate for ending and preventing homelessness. Projects will have the opportunity to note if they participated in the PIT count or how they will participate in future counts and share strategies to assist those experiencing or with a history of unsheltered homelessness.
People with Lived Experience (PWLE): Engaging PWLE is extremely important and organizations will have an opportunity to share how PWLE have been engaged in creation of their new project which could included engagement in planning, oversight activities, decision-making, revision of policies/procedures for the project to improve effectiveness, or hiring PWLE.
Equity & Diversity: The CoC is focused on identifying, addressing, and preventing inequities in the CoC. Projects will have the opportunity to note the training/experience of front-line staff, resources supporting participants with higher barriers, observations in their service area, and goals for the project.
Section 8: Application- Project Management
Scope of Project: projects are asked to provide a description that address the entire of their proposed project. They must describe the project, the target population(s) to be served, and the plan for addressing the identified needs of the target population(s). Type of housing (scattered site or project based); how the project will pull participants exclusively from Coordinated Entry; strategies to be used in assisting hard-to-serve populations secure housing; scope of services to be provided and specific partners who will provide services; strategies in accessing mainstream resources; timetable for implementing project. Provide information on needs in the community, cite gaps currently experiencing.
Subpopulation: If the project will have a subpopulation focus, this will be the opportunity to note that focus and describe additional outreach activities, partnerships with organizations that serve that population, and a service plan that meets that subpopulation's specific needs.
Agency Experience: This is focused on looking at agency experience in addressing homelessness with a similar project/program, specifically with permanent housing.
Funding: This section will focus on utilization of funds (utilization and leveraging) and the ability of the organization to perform proposed activities. It is also an opportunity to share if any IA BoS CoC funding has not been renewed in the past, and sharing improvement made since that time.
Performance Improvement Plan (PIP): If an organization currently has a PIP, this will be their opportunity to share their progress made and how any issues/concerns have been resolved through this process.
Agency/Project Structure & Financial Staffing/Capacity: These questions provide the opportunity for projects to note their basic organization/management structure and their capacity in running the project financially. It is important to ensure projects have the capacity (organizationally and financially) to meet the requirements set by HUD to receive and carry out funding requirements. There is also the opportunity to share the most recent audit letter.
Homeless Need/Justification: This is the opportunity for applicants to note the need that this project proposes to address and why and how this particular project is likely to reduce or eliminate this need. Applicants are asked to cite available data relevant to the communities to be served and to the identified need and describe any resources currently addressing this need. Applicants must note how this project will be truly “new” in terms of the services provided and the population to be served? For example, if the need addresses a particular subset of those experiencing/at risk of homelessness, (i.e. chronically homeless individuals, those with history of unsheltered homelessness), include information about the number of such individuals in the proposed service area. Indicate the number of units currently available for the population, the existing programs managing any such units and cite waiting lists if they exist. Describe the additional units this project would make available and your agency’s ownership and/or relationship with ownership of the units.
Housing Retention &Coordination with Services: These questions provide the opportunity for applicants to note how participants will obtain and remain in permanent housing and how the applicant will coordinate and integrate with partners to ensure participants have access to any programs/services they may be eligible for.
Supportive Services: Projects must provide the following supportive services for their participants and note in the charts the services, who they are provided by, and the availability of those services.
Transportation assistance will be provided to participants to attend mainstream benefit appointments, employment training, or jobs.
Project has the ability to provide at least semi-annual follow-ups are attempted with participants after project exit to ensure that mainstream benefits are received and renewed (and for RRH projects, to verify that housing stability is maintained) for a period of 2 years.
Project has the ability to provide annual interim reviews with participants that will be completed with 30 days of anniversary date to check on participant well-being and update all relevant data including: income, disability status, health care, etc.
Project participants will have access to SSI/SSDI technical assistance provided by the applicant, a sub-recipient, or partner agency.
Section 9: Application- Proposed Performance Measures & Budget
Funded projects must meet specific performance measures that align with HUD and CoC priorities. This section allows projects to note how they will plan to reach these performance targets with the new project.
Budget: Projects must provide a summary budget for the proposed project. Include the amounts that will be requested in each relevant category, according to HUD’s rules for the particular proposed project. Include the total budget request with a minimum of 25% match and admin costs not to exceed 10%.
Information in the budget section must include the projected number of participants to be served in the new grant period, housing type (single site or scattered site), number of units, number of beds, and number of beds dedicated to chronically homeless. Projects will have the opportunity to select costs for which funding is requested and provide the CoC Request & Applicant Match in the budget layout. There is specific information provided in each requested line item in the application, please read these notes as they include eligible activities and any restrictions.
Please note if rental assistance is a requested line item, projects must note the rental assistance type.
For rental assistance and leasing funding, projects must provide an upload of Fair Market Rent Forms in the upload section of the application.
For each line item selected, projects will have to note the quantity, description, and total requested cost for each applicable item under that requested fund.
There are some restrictions to funding such as:
For Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), there are restrictions on combining funds as follows- Cannot combine grants funds for following costs in a single structure or housing unit-
Leasing and acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction;
Tenant-based rental assistance and acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction;
Short- or medium-term rental assistance and acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction;
Rental assistance and leasing; 5. Rental assistance and operating.
Section 10: Uploads
Files uploaded to the form and signatures executed by the end-user will NOT be saved to the form until the form is submitted to the database. Users should not upload files or sign the forms until they are ready to submit. Applications include the following uploads, dependent upon your project layout:
Leveraged Housing Resources- Upload letter of commitment to demonstrate number of subsidies or units being provided to support the project.
Leveraged Healthcare Resources- Upload letter of commitment to demonstrate the value of the commitment and the dates the healthcare resources will be provided.
IA BoS CoC Monitoring/Performance Improvement Plan- Upload official BoS CoC monitoring/finding report, Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) & the most recent Quarterly Outcome Report, if eligible, & explanation of why findings have not been resolved.
Audit- Upload letter from most recent audit.
Fair Market Rent (FMR) or Leased Units Forms- Upload Fair Market Rent (FMR) or Leased Units forms that align with your laid out budget.