[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23912-23914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11274]
[[Page 23911]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Department of Housing and Urban Development
_______________________________________________________________________
Funding Availability (NOFA) for Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program
Coordinators for the Section 8 Rental Certificate and Rental Voucher
Programs; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 84 / Thursday, May 1, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 23912]]
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-4195-N-01]
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Family Self-Sufficiency
(FSS) Program Coordinators for the Section 8 Rental Certificate and
Rental Voucher Programs
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 for
Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinators.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the availability of up to $15 million in
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 to fund Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
program coordinators. Public housing agencies and Indian housing
authorities (HAs) eligible to receive funding are only those which
administer FSS programs of at least 25 mandatory FSS slots. HAs with
FSS programs of fewer than 25 slots also may receive funding under this
NOFA, if they previously applied jointly and were awarded FSS
coordinator funding with other eligible HAs, so that between or among
the HAs they administer at least 25 FSS slots. Due to limited funding,
HUD has decided to award funds available in FY 1997 only to HAs that
previously received Federal FY 1995 or FY 1996 funding for an FSS
program coordinator, to allow them to continue paying an FSS
coordinator, in amounts not to exceed $44,000 per HA. In order to
receive funding under this NOFA, an eligible HA must certify to the HUD
State or Area Office or to the HUD Office of Native American Programs
(hereinafter ``HUD Office''), that the HA has hired an FSS program
coordinator with funding previously awarded for that purpose and has
made progress in implementing the FSS program.
DATES: The HA certification required for FY 1997 funding is due in the
HUD Office no later than 3 local time on June 2, 1997. This
certification deadline is firm as to date and hour.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald J. Benoit, Director, Operations
Division, Office of Rental Assistance, Office of Public and Indian
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, room 4220, 451
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410-8000, telephone number (202)
708-0477. Hearing or speech impaired individuals may call HUD's TTY
number (202) 708-4594. (These numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The information collection requirements contained in this notice
were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520) and have been assigned OMB control number 2577-0198. An agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to,
a collection of information unless the collection displays a valid
control number.
Promoting Comprehensive Approaches to Housing and Community Development
HUD is interested in promoting comprehensive, coordinated
approaches to housing and community development. Economic development,
community development, public housing revitalization, homeownership,
assisted housing for special needs populations, supportive services,
and welfare-to-work initiatives can work better if linked at the local
level. Toward this end, the Department in recent years has developed
the Consolidated Planning process designed to help communities
undertake such approaches.
In this spirit, it may be helpful for applicants under this NOFA to
be aware of other related HUD NOFAs that have recently been published
or are expected to be published in the near future. By reviewing these
NOFAs with respect to their program purposes and the eligibility of
applicants and activities, applicants may be able to relate the
activities proposed for funding under this NOFA to the recent and
upcoming NOFAs and to the community's Consolidated Plan.
The other NOFA published with respect to welfare-to-work
initiatives was the Moving to Work Demonstration NOFA published in the
Federal Register on December 18, 1996 (61 FR 66856).
To foster comprehensive, coordinated approaches by communities, the
Department intends for the remainder of FY 1997 to continue to alert
applicants to upcoming and recent NOFAs as each NOFA is published. In
addition, a complete schedule of NOFAs to be published during the
fiscal year and those already published appears under the HUD Homepage
on the Internet, which can be accessed at http://www.hud.gov/
nofas.html. Additional steps on NOFA coordination may be considered for
FY 1998.
For help in obtaining a copy of your community's Consolidated Plan,
please contact the community development office of your municipal
government.
I. Purpose and Substantive Description
In recent years, HUD provided funding for FSS program coordinators
to HAs with Section 8 programs of fewer than 1,000 units. The FY 1994
and FY 1995 funds were awarded to these HAs based on a request for
funding and all complete applications were funded. The FY 1996 funds
were awarded based on a competitive NOFA. In FY 1996, state and
regional HAs that administer more than 1,000 rental vouchers and
certificates, but fewer than 1,000 mandatory FSS slots, were also
eligible to apply and some received funding. HUD is allocating FY 1997
funds for FSS program coordinators to allow HAs that were previously
funded to continue paying an FSS coordinator. Since funding for FSS
program coordinators is limited, applications from HAs that were not
previously funded will not be accepted.
The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban
Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Pub. L.
No. 104-204) allows funding for program coordinators under the Section
8 FSS program. As a result, HUD determined to make a sufficient amount
available under this NOFA to enable the previously funded smaller HAs
(i.e., those with programs of fewer than 1,000 total rental vouchers
and certificates) with FSS programs of at least 25 mandatory FSS slots,
and previously funded state and regional HAs, to hire up to one FSS
program coordinator for one year at a reasonable cost, as determined by
the HA and HUD, based on salaries for similar positions in the
locality. Each eligible HA is limited to an award of $44,000 under this
NOFA.
HUD is allocating funds as follows:
1. All HAs funded in FY 1996 that have made progress in the FSS
program will receive a 3 percent increase in FY 1996 funding;
2. All HAs funded in FY 1995 that did not receive additional
funding in FY 1996 that have made progress in the FSS program will
receive a 6 percent increase in the amount funded in FY 1995.
These funds will be awarded contingent upon the HUD Office receipt
of an HA certification, subject to HUD verification, that the HA has
hired an FSS program coordinator with funding previously awarded for
that purpose and that the HA has made progress in implementing the FSS
program.
[[Page 23913]]
(1) Eligible Activity
Funds are available under this NOFA to employ or otherwise retain
the services of up to one FSS program coordinator for one year. A part-
time FSS program coordinator may be retained where appropriate. Under
the FSS program, HAs are required to use Section 8 rental assistance
together with public and private resources to provide supportive
services to enable participating families to achieve economic
independence and self-sufficiency. Effective delivery of supportive
services is a critical element in a successful program.
(a) Program Coordinator Role
HAs administering the FSS program use program coordinating
committees (PCCs) to assist them to secure resources for and implement
the FSS program. The PCC is made up of representatives of local
government, job training and employment agencies, local welfare
agencies, educational institutions, child care providers, nonprofit
service providers, and businesses.
An FSS program coordinator works with the PCC, and with local
service providers to assure that program participants are linked to the
supportive services they need to achieve self-sufficiency. The FSS
program coordinator may ensure, through case management, that the
services included in participants' contracts of participation are
provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis, and that
participants are fulfilling their responsibilities under the contracts.
(b) Staffing Guidelines
Under normal circumstances, a full-time FSS program coordinator
should be able to serve approximately 50 FSS participants, depending on
the coordinator's case management functions.
(c) Eligibility of HAs
All HAs that received FY 1995 and FY 1996 funding for FSS program
coordinators will be funded in FY 1997, provided the HA certifies,
subject to HUD verification, that it has hired an FSS program
coordinator with funding previously awarded for that purpose and has
made progress in implementing the FSS program. The HAs funded in FY
1996 will receive a 3 percent increase in funding. The HAs funded in FY
1995 but not funded in FY 1996 will receive a 6 percent increase in
funding. The HUD Office may not provide FY 1997 funding to any HA that
has not used its prior allocation of FSS program coordinator funding to
hire an FSS coordinator, or that has failed to make progress in its FSS
program.
(2) HUD Corrections to Rating and Ranking of FY 1996 Applications
Seventeen HA applications submitted under the FY 1996 NOFA were not
funded due to a HUD Headquarters error in failing to fund the
approvable applications processed in the HUD Colorado State Office. HUD
believes that this error must be corrected; therefore, HUD will, prior
to funding any FY 1997 applications, fund those eligible FY 1996
applications that were rated high enough to be funded in FY 1996. Of
the available $15 million, $557,290 will be used for this purpose.
(3) Eligible HAs With HUD Approved Exceptions to Mandatory Minimum Size
If HUD has approved either a full or partial exception to
implementing an FSS program of the mandatory minimum size for an
eligible HA, solely because of a lack of funds for reasonable
administrative costs, the approval of the exception is hereby rescinded
after funding for an FSS program coordinator is awarded under this
NOFA.
II. Allocation Amounts
For FY 1997, $15 million is available for HA administrative fees
for Section 8 FSS program coordinators. This is the fourth fiscal year
of funding for FSS program coordinators.
III. Required Certification
All HAs that received funding for FSS program coordinators under
the FY 1995 and FY 1996 NOFAs and that wish to receive funding under
this NOFA, must complete a certification in the format shown below and
submit it to the HUD Office by the due date. Funding under this NOFA
will be automatic for FY 1996 funded HAs and for FY 1995 HAs that did
not receive FSS program coordinator funding in FY 1996, provided the HA
certifies as follows and the HUD Office determines that the HA has made
progress in implementation of the FSS program:
Required Certification Format for FSS Program Coordinator Funds
Dear Director, Office of Public Housing (or Administrator, Office of
Native American Programs):
In connection with the FY 1997 NOFA for FSS program
coordinators, I hereby certify for the ____________________ (enter
name) HA that:
(1) The HA has hired an FSS program coordinator using HUD funds
provided for that purpose on ________________________ (enter the ACC
effective dates of all previous FSS program coordinator funding
increments), and
(2) The HA has (check all that apply):
(a) Formed and convened an FSS program coordinating committee
________________,
(b) Developed an FSS action plan and submitted it to HUD for
approval ________________,
(c) Executed contracts of participation with FSS participants
________________.
(3) The HA has an FSS minimum program size of ________ (enter
number) mandatory FSS slots. The HA has ________ (enter number)
Section 8 families currently enrolled in the FSS program.
Sincerely,
Executive Director
IV. Other Matters
(a) Environmental Impact
This NOFA does not direct, provide for assistance or loan and
mortgage insurance for, or otherwise govern or regulate property
acquisition, disposition, lease, rehabilitation, alteration,
demolition, or new construction, or set out or provide for standards
for construction or construction materials, manufactured housing, or
occupancy. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(1), this NOFA is
categorically excluded from environmental review under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 USC 4321).
(b) Executive Order 12612, Federalism
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a)
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the
provisions of this NOFA do not have ``federalism implications'' within
the meaning of the Order. The NOFA makes funds available for HAs to
employ or otherwise retain the services of up to one FSS program
coordinator for one year. As such, there are no direct implications on
the relationship between the national government and the states or on
the distribution of power and responsibilities among various levels of
government.
(c) Executive Order 12606, The Family
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive
Order 12606, The Family, has determined that the policies announced in
this notice would not have a significant impact on the formation,
maintenance, and general well-being of families except indirectly to
the extent of the social and other benefits expected from this program
of assistance.
(d) Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities
The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the
prohibitions of section 319 of the Department of Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1990 (31 USC 1352) (the
``Byrd Amendment'') and the implementing regulations at 24 CFR part
[[Page 23914]]
87. These authorities prohibit recipients of Federal contracts, grants,
or loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying the executive or
legislative branches of the Federal Government in connection with a
specific contract, grant, or loan. Indian Housing Authorities (IHAs)
established by an Indian tribe as a result of the exercise of the
tribe's sovereign power are excluded from coverage of the Byrd
Amendment, but IHAs established under State law are not excluded from
the statute's coverage.
Dated: April 23, 1997.
Kevin E. Marchman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 97-11274 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P
