§ 17.711 - Rating criteria for applications.

(a) General. Applications will be assigned a rating score and placed in ranked order, based upon the criteria listed in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.

(b) Threshold review. Applicants will undergo a threshold review prior to rating and ranking, to ensure they meet the following:

(1) Forms, time, and adequacy. Applications must be filed in the form prescribed by VA in the application process and within the time established in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

(2) Application eligibility. The applicant and project sponsor, if relevant, must be eligible to apply for the specific program.

(3) Eligible population to be served. The population proposed to be served must be homeless veterans and meet other eligibility requirements of the specific program.

(4) Eligible activities. The activities for which assistance is requested must be eligible for funding under this part (e.g., new programs or new components of existing programs).

(5) Outstanding audit findings. No organization that receives assistance may have an outstanding obligation to VA that is in arrears or for which a payment schedule has not been agreed to, or whose response to an audit is overdue or unsatisfactory.

(c) Rating and ranking of first submission. Applicants that pass the threshold review will then be rated using the eight selection criteria listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(8) of this section. Applicants must receive at least 600 points (out of a possible 1,200) and must receive points under criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. Applicants that are applying as an innovative supportive housing project must achieve points under the innovative quality of the proposal criterion.

(1) Quality of the project—300 points (VA Forms 10-0362A, 10-0362D);

(2) Targeting to persons on streets and in shelters—150 points (VA Form 10-0362C);

(3) Ability of the applicants to develop and operate a project—200 points (VA Form 10-0362E);

(4) Need for the type of project proposed in the area to be served—150 points (VA Form 10-0362B);

(5) Innovative quality of the proposal—50 points (VA Forms 10-0362A, 10-0362D);

(6) Leveraging—50 points (VA Form 10-0362F);

(7) Cost-effectiveness—100 points (VA Form 10-0362A); and

(8) Coordination with other programs—200 points (VA Form 10-0362D-1).

(d) Selection criteria—(1) Quality of the project. VA will award up to 300 points based on the extent to which the application presents a clear, well-conceived and thorough plan for assisting homeless veterans to achieve residential stability, increased skills and/or income, and more influence over decisions that affect their lives. Higher ratings will be assigned to those applications that clearly describe:

(i) How program participants will achieve residential stability, including how available supportive services will help participants reach this goal;

(ii) How program participants will increase their skill level and/or income, including how available supportive services will help participants reach this goal;

(iii) How program participants will be involved in making project decisions that affect their lives, including how they will be involved in selecting supportive services, establishing individuals goals and developing plans to achieve these goals so that they achieve greater self-determination;

(iv) How permanent affordable housing will be identified and made available to participants upon leaving the transitional housing, and how participants will be provided necessary follow-up services to help them achieve stability in the permanent housing;

(v) How the service needs of participants will be assessed on an ongoing basis;

(vi) How the proposed housing, if any, will be managed and operated;

(vii) How participants will be assisted in assimilating into the community through access to neighborhood facilities, activities and services;

(viii) How and when the progress of participants toward meeting their individual goals will be monitored and evaluated;

(ix) How and when the effectiveness of the overall project in achieving its goals will be evaluated and how program modifications will be made based on those evaluations; and

(x) How the proposed project will be implemented in a timely fashion.

(2) Targeting to persons on streets and in shelters. VA will award up to 150 points based on:

(i) The extent to which the project will serve homeless veterans living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation (e.g., streets, parks, abandoned buildings, automobiles, under bridges, in transportation facilities) and those who reside in emergency shelters; and

(ii) The likelihood that proposed plans for outreach and selection of participants will result in these populations being served.

(3) Ability of applicant to develop and operate a project. VA will award up to 200 points based on the extent to which those who will be involved in carrying out the project have experience in activities similar to those proposed in the application. Ratings will be assigned based on the extent to which the application demonstrates experience in the following areas:

(i) Engaging the participation of homeless veterans living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation and in emergency shelters;

(ii) Assessing the housing and relevant supportive service needs of homeless veterans;

(iii) Accessing housing and relevant supportive service resources;

(iv) If applicable, contracting for and/or overseeing the rehabilitation or construction of housing;

(v) If applicable, administering a rental assistance program;

(vi) Providing supportive services for homeless veterans;

(vii) Monitoring and evaluating the progress of persons toward meeting their individual goals; and

(viii) Evaluating the overall effectiveness of a program and using evaluation results to make program improvements.

(4) Need. VA will award up to 150 points based on the applicant's demonstrated understanding of the needs of the specific homeless veteran population proposed to be served in the specified area or community. Ratings will be made based on the extent to which applicants demonstrate:

(i) Substantial unmet needs, particularly among the target population living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation (e.g., streets) and in emergency shelters, based on reliable data from surveys of homeless populations, a Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), or other reports or data gathering mechanisms that directly support claims made;

(ii) An understanding of the homeless population to be served and its unmet housing and supportive service needs.

(5) Innovative quality of the proposal. Applicants who have indicated in their application that they are applying under the innovative supportive housing component must receive points under this criteria to be eligible for award. VA will award up to 50 points based on the innovative quality of the proposal, when compared to other applications and projects; in terms of:

(i) Helping homeless veterans or homeless veterans with disabilities to be served to reach residential stability, increase their skill level and/or income and increase the influence they have over decisions that affect their lives; and

(ii) A clear link between the innovation(s) and its proposed effect(s); and

(iii) Its ability to be used as a model for other projects.

(6) Leveraging. VA will award up to 50 points based on the extent to which resources from other public and private sources, including cash and the value of third party contributions, have been committed to support the project at the time of application. Note: Any applicant who wishes to receive points under this criterion must submit documentation of leveraged resources which meets the requirements stated in the application. This is optional; applicants who cannot, or choose not to, provide firm documentation of resources as part of the application will forego any points for leveraging.

(7) Cost-effectiveness. VA will award up to 100 points for cost-effectiveness. Projects will be rated based on the cost and number of new supportive housing beds made available or the cost, amount and types of supportive services made available, when compared to other transitional housing and supportive services projects, and when adjusted for high-cost areas. Cost-effectiveness may include using excess government properties (local, State, Federal), as well as demonstrating site control at the time of application.

(8) Coordination with other programs. VA will award up to 200 points based on the extent to which applicants demonstrate that they have coordinated with Federal, State, local, private and other entities serving homeless persons in the planning and operation of the project. Such entities may include shelter transitional housing, health care, or social service providers; providers funded through Federal initiatives; local planning coalitions or provider associations; or other programs relevant to the local community. Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have coordinated with the VA medical care facility of jurisdiction and VA Regional Offices of jurisdiction in their area. Higher points will be given to those applicants who can demonstrate that:

(i) They are part of an ongoing community-wide planning process which is designed to share information on available resources and reduce duplication among programs that serve homeless veterans;

(ii) They have consulted directly with other providers regarding coordination of services for project participants. VA will award up to 50 points of the 200 points for this criterion based on the extent to which commitments to provide supportive services are available at the time of application. Applicants who wish to receive points under this optional criterion must submit documentation of supportive service resources.

(Paperwork requirements were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2900-0554.)