23 Jun 09 Homeless Housing Assistance Grant (HHAG) Overview

Florida’s Department of Children and Families annually offers Homeless Housing Assistance Grants (HHAG) to assist in the development of transitional housing for the homeless or for permanent housing for the homeless.

The applicant for the grant can only be the designated lead agency for the local homeless Continuum of Care plan, which is Homeless Services Network. HSN  applies on behalf of specific housing sponsors and/or development teams. The grant is distributed in an annual competitive application cycle. While there are no limits on the number of project applications that may be submitted from a community, the state cannot award more than two grants to any given Continuum of Care in a given year.

Homeless Services Network is holding a mandatory technical assistance workshop for anyone who would like to apply for this funding.  The workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., at the Heart of Florida United Way,  1940 Traylor Boulevard, Orlando, FL.

Attendees must R.S.V.P. to HSN at 407-893-0133, x101.The full application is available at the DCF web site.

Maximum funding: $750,000 per project

Total funding available in Florida: $5 million

Permitted uses: new construction for housing units or the rehabilitation of existing housing units (that are not occupied) for homeless persons

Ineligible uses: purchase of land, acquisition of existing property with building improvements, furnishing or personal property, off-site utility systems, project design, impact fees; common kitchen or dining facilities, offices or program areas will only be funded if these costs are incidental to the cost of building residential units.

Restrictions:

• Lien restricting use of the property for TEN years for occupancy by the homeless
• Project must be completed by June 30, 2010

Due dates:

• July 24, 2009 to the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida
• July 30, 2009 HSN submission to the Florida Office on Homelessness

Who receives the funding: HSN, on behalf of the sub-recipient, with whom HSN will contract.

What are the criteria that will be used for selection:

• Cost per unit (bedroom) of construction (the lower the better)
• Leveraging of additional resources to bring the project to completion
• Continuum of Care calculated need
• Floor plan with “units” clearly delineated

What are the criteria that will be used for program evaluation, after selection:

• HMIS participation
• Total number of persons housed
• Number of persons housed for at least seven months in permanent housing
• Number of persons in transitional housing who moved to permanent housing
• Number of persons who left the project with employment income