[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27538-27545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12729]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. N-95-3918; FR-3907-N-01]
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing
Commissioner; FY 1995 Funding Availability for HUD--Approved Housing
Counseling Agencies
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing
Commissioner, HUD.
ACTION: Fiscal Year 1995 notice of funding availability for HUD-
approved housing counseling agencies.
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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY)
1995 funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to provide housing
counseling to homebuyers, homeowners, and renters. HUD anticipates that
a maximum of $9.5 million dollars will be available through this Notice
of Funding Availability (NOFA). All housing counseling agencies
approved by HUD as of the publication date of this NOFA may apply for
FY 1995 funding. This includes: (1) Multi-State, regional, or national
intermediary organizations, and (2) local housing counseling agencies
that do not elect to affiliate with a HUD-approved intermediary
organization.
This NOFA contains additional information on the purpose and
background of the NOFA and funding levels available to local counseling
agencies and intermediary organizations respectively; eligible
activities and funding criteria; and application requirements and
procedures.
DATES: Completed applications must be submitted no later than 4 p.m.
E.S.T. on June 23, 1995. As further described below, any completed
application must be physically received by this deadline date and hour
at the appropriate local HUD office (for local applicants) or at the
Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th
Street, SW, Room 9282, Washington D.C. 20410 (for national, regional or
multi-State applicants). In the interest of fairness to all applicants,
late applications will be treated as ineligible for consideration.
Applicants should take this requirement into account and make early
submission of their applications to avoid loss of eligibility brought
about by any unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems.
It is not sufficient for an application to be postmarked within the
deadline. Applications sent by facsimile (FAX) will not be accepted.
HUD will not waive this submission deadline for any reason.
ADDRESSES: For local housing counseling agency applicants: An original
and two copies of the completed application must be submitted to the
local HUD office having jurisdiction over the locality or area in which
the proposed program is located. These copies should be sent to the
attention of the Single Family Division Director, and the envelope
should be clearly marked, ``FY 1995 Counseling Application''. A list of
Single Family Division Directors and local HUD Offices appears at the
end of this NOFA. Failure to submit an application to the correct
office in accordance with the above procedures will result in
disqualification of the application.
For national, regional and multi-State housing counseling agencies:
An original and two copies of the completed application must be
submitted to the person listed below in HUD Headquarters. The envelope
should be clearly marked, ``FY 1995 Counseling Application.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marion F. Connell, Program Advisor,
Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th
Street, SW, Room 9282, Washington D.C. 20410; telephone (202) 708-0614,
extension 2315 (voice), or (202) 708-4594 (TDD number). (These are not
toll-free numbers.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The information collection requirements contained in this NOFA have
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget, under section
3504(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520),
and assigned OMB control number 2502-0261.
I. Purpose and Substantive Description
A. Authority and Purpose
HUD's housing counseling program is authorized under section 106 of
the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x). The
purpose of the program is to promote and protect the interests of
housing consumers participating in HUD and other housing programs, as
well as to help protect the interests of HUD and mortgage lenders. The
Housing Counseling program is generally governed by HUD Handbook
7610.1, REV-3, which is currently under revision.
The new version of the Handbook is expected to be in effect by the
time funding under this NOFA is provided. The new Handbook will differ
from the current Handbook in that national, regional, and multi-State
housing counseling intermediaries may be approved as counseling
agencies and reimbursement will no longer be made on a ``counseling
unit'' basis. Procedures for the approval of housing counseling
intermediaries were published on April 25, 1995 (60 FR 20360). New
reimbursement procedures are explained in the grant application kit for
this NOFA. To the extent that this NOFA and its accompanying
application kit are inconsistent with the current Handbook, the
Handbook is superseded.
Section 106 authorizes HUD to provide counseling and advice to
tenants and homeowners with respect to property maintenance, financial
management, and such other matters as may be appropriate to assist
tenants and homeowners in improving their housing conditions and in
meeting the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership. In addition,
HUD-approved counseling agencies are permitted and encouraged by HUD to
conduct community outreach activities and provide counseling to
individuals with the objective of increasing awareness of homeownership
opportunities and improving access of low and moderate income
households to sources of mortgage credit. HUD believes that this
activity is key to the revitalization and stabilization of low income
and minority neighborhoods. (See the recently published notice inviting
the application by national, multi-State and regional organizations for
housing counseling agency approval, described above.)
Under the housing counseling program, HUD contracts with qualified
public or private nonprofit organizations to provide the services
authorized by the statute. When Congress appropriates funds for this
[[Page 27539]] purpose, HUD announces the availability of such funds,
and invites applications from eligible agencies, through a notice
published in the Federal Register. Currently there are 661 HUD-approved
housing counseling agencies, serving over 1,000 locations. Annually,
all HUD-approved agencies are eligible to apply for housing counseling
grants. However, an agency that is approved by HUD does not
automatically receive HUD funding, and HUD expects that all counseling
agencies will continually work to develop other funding resources. In
FY '94, 431 HUD-approved agencies received housing counseling funding
from HUD.
B. Allocation Amounts
Approximately $12 million has been appropriated for FY 1995. Of
this amount, $9.5 million is being made available under this NOFA for
lump-sum, performance-based grants, as defined at 24 CFR part 84,
subpart E. Approximately $3.5 million is being set aside to fund
national, regional and multi-State organizations that apply for funding
under this NOFA. No national, regional, or multi-State agency may
receive more than $1 million. Approximately $6 million has been made
available for grants to local HUD approved housing counseling agencies,
and it has been allocated to each of the 10 HUD geographical areas
(formerly Regions) by a formula that gives equal weight to the
percentage of HUD insured single family mortgage defaults within each
geographical area as of January 31, 1995, compared to the nationwide
total the percentage of first-time homebuyers that were approved for
FHA-insured mortgages by geographical area during 1994 compared to the
nationwide total for those periods. This formula reflects the increased
emphasis that HUD is placing on the expansion of homeownership
opportunities for first-time homebuyers. For FY 1995, no individual
local housing counseling agency may be awarded more than $100,000.
Amounts allocated for use in local agency programs, by HUD
geographical area, are as follows:
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Default data First-time homebuyer data
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Geographical areas Percent of Allocation Percent of Total
No. of nat'l amount No. of 1st nat'l 1st Allocation allocation
defaults defaults timers timers amount
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New England.......... 3,052 1.95 58,623 13,720 2.99 89,589 148,213
NY/NJ................ 13,145 8.42 252,491 27,593 6.01 180,178 432,669
Mid-Atlantic......... 17,453 11.17 335,239 52,515 11.43 342,915 678,154
SE/Caribbean......... 38,973 24.95 748,598 89,713 19.53 585,812 1,334,410
Midwest.............. 25,174 16.12 483,545 86,977 18.93 567,946 1,051,491
Southwest............ 22,486 14.40 431,914 50,966 11.09 332,800 764,714
Great Plains......... 4,040 2.59 77,601 17,613 3.83 115,010 192,611
Rocky Mts............ 4,125 2.64 79,233 26,062 5.67 170,181 249,414
Pac/Hawaii........... 25,020 16.02 480,587 74,670 16.25 487,584 968,171
NW/Alaska............ 2,716 1.74 52,169 19,600 4.27 127,985 180,154
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Totals........... 156,184 100 3,000,000 459,429 100 3,000,000 6,000,000
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Allocations of program funding already made are: $650,000
specifically to provide training and technical assistance to Home
Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) counselors and to develop HECM
distance learning and outreach materials; $500,000 to establish a
Housing Counseling Clearinghouse as recommended by the National
Homeownership Strategy; $400,000 to develop software for HUD-approved
counseling agencies to computerize record-keeping and create a
communications network; and $250,000 to extend the toll-free 800 number
(800/569-4287) housing counseling referral service for public use.
If funds remain after HUD has funded all approvable grant
applications in a HUD geographical area, or if any funds become
available due to deobligation, that amount shall be reallocated and
used in keeping with the statute and in a manner that will improve the
delivery of housing counseling service nationwide. Any balance will be
used to fund training for counselors from HUD approved agencies as
provided by the Appropriations Act and requested by program users. HUD
already has earmarked a minimum of $500,000 for this purpose.
C. Eligible Applicants
1. General
There are two types of HUD-approved organizations that are eligible
to submit applications pursuant to this NOFA: (1) National, regional,
or multi-State housing counseling organizations (also known as
``intermediaries'' or ``umbrella groups''); and (2) local housing
counseling agencies.
National, regional, and multi-State nonprofit, intermediary
organizations must identify all their proposed affiliates in their
application. These intermediaries must assure that their proposed
affiliates are unique to their team and will not undertake a separate
application for funds either as an affiliate of another intermediary or
directly as a HUD-approved local counseling agency. Should any
duplication occur, both the intermediary organization and the local
agency involved will automatically be ineligible for further
consideration to receive FY 1995 housing counseling funds. In addition,
an intermediary-applicant must also assure that it has executed a sub-
agreement with its affiliates that clearly delineates their mutual
responsibilities for program management, incorporating appropriate
timeframes for reporting results to HUD.
Once funded, the national, regional, and multi-State intermediaries
will be given broad discretion in implementing their housing counseling
programs. On behalf of HUD, the intermediaries will act as managers in
the housing counseling process and, as such, may determine funding
levels and counseling activity for each of their affiliates, except
that no single affiliate may receive more than $100,000. HUD will hold
the intermediary organization accountable for the performance of its
affiliates.
Local counseling agencies may apply either directly to HUD for
funding, or as a part of an affiliated intermediary network. Since HUD
is not requesting a continuation of funding for housing counseling
activities as a separate and discrete program for FY 1996 and
thereafter, it encourages local agencies to consider affiliating with a
larger entity as one avenue of possible future [[Page 27540]] funding
and support for local programs. Local housing counseling agencies that
are not currently HUD-approved may receive FY 1995 funding only as an
affiliate of a HUD-approved national, regional, or multi-State
intermediary's application for FY 1995 funds. In this instance, the
intermediary organization must certify that the quality of services
provided will meet, or exceed, standards for local HUD-approved
agencies.
2. Civil Rights Prerequisites
Applicants that fall into any one of the following categories will
be ineligible for funding under this NOFA:
a. The Department of Justice has brought a civil rights suit
against the applicant and the suit is pending;
b. There has been an adjudication of a civil rights violation in a
civil action brought against the applicant by a private individual,
unless the applicant is operating in compliance with a court order, or
implementing a HUD-approved compliance agreement designed to correct
the areas of noncompliance;
c. There are outstanding findings of noncompliance with civil
rights statutes, Executive Orders or regulations as a result of formal
administrative proceedings, or the Secretary has issued a charge
against the applicant under the Fair Housing Act, unless the applicant
is operating under a conciliation or compliance agreement designed to
correct the areas of noncompliance; or
d. HUD has deferred application processing by HUD under one of the
following authorities:
i. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the implementing
guidelines of the Attorney General (28 CFR 50.3) and the HUD
regulations (24 CFR 1.8);
ii. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the HUD
section 504 regulations (24 CFR 8.57);
iii. Executive Order 11063, as amended by Executive Order 12892 and
HUD regulations (24 CFR Part 107);
iv. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and
applicable regulations (28 CFR Part 36); or
v. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101-6107) and
implementing regulations (24 CFR Part 146).
3. Requirements Applicable to Religious Organizations
Where the applicant is, or proposes to contract with, a primarily
religious organization, or a wholly secular organization established by
a primarily religious organization, to provide, manage, or operate a
housing counseling program, the organization must undertake its
responsibilities under the counseling program in accordance with the
following principles:
a. It will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for
employment under the program on the basis of religion and will not
limit employment or give preference in employment to persons on the
basis of religion;
b. It will not discriminate against any person applying for
counseling under the program on the basis of religion and will not
limit such assistance or give preference to persons on the basis of
religion; and
c. It will provide no religious instruction or religious
counseling, conduct no religious services or worship, engage in no
religious proselytizing, and exert no other religious influence in the
provision of assistance under the housing counseling program.
D. Eligible Activities
Eligible activities will vary depending upon whether the applicant
is a HUD-approved local counseling agency or a HUD-approved national,
regional, or multi-State housing counseling intermediary.
1. Local Housing Counseling Agencies
Local housing counseling agencies funded under this NOFA may use
HUD funds to deliver comprehensive housing counseling or to specialize
in the delivery of particular housing counseling services according to
the housing needs they identified for their target area in the plan
that was previously approved by HUD. HUD recognizes that local housing
counseling agencies may offer a wide range of services, including:
a. Renter assistance, including information about rent subsidy
programs, rights and responsibilities of tenants, lease and rental
agreements, etc.;
b. Outreach initiatives, including providing general information
about housing opportunities within the community and providing
appropriate information to persons with disabilities;
c. Pre-purchase homeownership counseling, covering such issues as
purchase procedures, mortgage financing, downpayment/closing cost fund
accumulation, accessibility requirements of the property--if
appropriate, credit improvement, debt consolidation, etc.;
d. Post-purchase counseling, including such issues as property
maintenance, personal money management, home equity conversion
mortgages, etc.; or
e. Mortgage delinquency and default resolution, including
restructuring debt, arrangement of reinstatement plans, loan
forbearance, assignment of mortgage to HUD, etc.
HUD-funded local counseling agencies may elect to offer their
services to a wide range of clients or may elect to serve a more
limited audience. Potential clients include: renters; potential
homebuyers; homeowners eligible for and applying for HUD-related, VA,
FmHA, State, local, or conventionally financed housing or housing
assistance; or persons who occupy such housing and seek the assistance
of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency to resolve a housing need
(including the need of a person with a disability for accessible
housing) or problem. Local housing counseling agencies may elect to
offer this assistance in conjunction with any HUD housing program but
must be familiar with FHA's single family and multifamily housing
programs.
2. National, Regional, or Multi-State Counseling Intermediaries
The primary activity of national, regional, or multi-State
nonprofit housing counseling intermediaries will be to manage the use
of HUD housing counseling funds, including the distribution of
counseling funding to affiliated local housing counseling
organizations. Local affiliates of the selected national, regional, or
multi-State counseling intermediaries are eligible to undertake any or
all of the housing counseling activities outlined above for the HUD-
approved local housing counseling agencies. The local affiliates
receiving funding through intermediaries do not need to be HUD-approved
in order to receive these funds from the intermediary. However, the
national, regional, or multi-State intermediary organization must be
HUD-approved as of the NOFA publication date.
E. Selection Process
1. Local Housing Counseling Agencies
All applications meeting the requirements of this NOFA will be
selected for funding, if sufficient funds are available within the HUD
geographic allocation area for local housing counseling agency
applicants.
a. Criteria/Ranking Factors
All applications will be rated and ranked by staff in the
appropriate local HUD office using the following criteria:
i. Capability of the applicant as determined by HUD, including
competent delivery of counseling services and timely drawdown of any
HUD funds awarded in the prior Fiscal Year--up to 50 points;
[[Page 27541]]
ii. Adequacy of the activities proposed by the applicant in
response to housing needs identified in the applicant's housing
counseling plan as previously approved by HUD--up to 25 points;
iii. Evidence of private funding sources contributing to the
applicant's operating budget over the past calendar year--up to 15
points; and
iv. Evidence of current funding support from units of government
located within the target area which the applicant intends to serve--up
to 10 points.
b. Selection Procedure
National, regional, and multi-State applications will be ranked in
Headquarters and selected for funding, in rank order, until all funds
for such agencies are depleted. Local agency applications will be
reviewed by the Field Office and assigned points under the selection
criteria. Then the Field Office will submit its recommendations for
funding to HUD Headquarters for final review, to ensure appropriate
geographical distribution of program funds and consistent application
of the criteria described above. HUD Headquarters will then rank the
local agency applications within the geographical areas and select for
funding, in rank order, all acceptable applications to the point at
which all funds are depleted.
i. Breaking a Tie
If two or more applications receive the same number of points and
sufficient funds are not available to fund all such applications, first
the application or applications requesting the smallest grants will be
selected, if a sufficient amount remains to fund them. If two or more
tied applications request the same amount and sufficient funds are not
available to fund all such applications, the following system will be
used to break the ties:
A. If the tied applications are for programs to be carried out in
different jurisdictions, applications with the highest number of points
for the rating criterion a. ii. (adequacy of activities) stated above
will be selected, if sufficient funds remain.
B. If the tied applications are to be carried out in the same
jurisdiction, applications with the highest number of points for the
rating criterion a. i. (capability) stated above will be selected, if
sufficient funds remain.
ii. Reallocations
Funds remaining after applying the procedures described in
paragraph E.1.b. will be reallocated to fund the highest ranking
remaining applications without regard to their location.
iii. Procedural Errors
Procedural errors by HUD discovered after initial ratings, but
before notification to Congress of selected applicants, will be
corrected and rankings will be revised.
iv. Reductions
HUD will approve an application for an amount lower than the amount
requested or adjust line items in the proposed budget within the amount
requested (or both) if it determines that:
A. The amount requested for one or more eligible activities is
unreasonable, unnecessary, or unjustified;
B. An activity proposed for funding does not qualify as an eligible
activity;
C. The applicant is not able to carry out all the activities
requested; or
D. Insufficient amounts remain in that funding round to fund the
full amount requested in the application.
v. Limitation of Geographic Scope
HUD may reduce the geographic scope of the proposed program if it
determines that:
A. Two or more fundable applications substantially overlap; or
B. The proposed geographic scope is overly large given the capacity
of the organization.
2. National, Regional, and Multi-State Counseling Organizations
If more applications are submitted to HUD Headquarters from
national, regional, and multi-State organizations that meet all the
requirements of this NOFA than can be funded with the amount allocated
for this purpose, they will be rated by staff in HUD Headquarters using
the above ranking criteria stated in paragraph 1. a., and the top-rated
applicants will be selected. Paragraphs 1. c. iii., iv., and v., above
also apply to the selection of national, regional, and multi-State
counseling organizations.
3. Notification of Approval or Disapproval
After completion of the selection process, but no later than six
months after the deadline date for submission of the applications, as
stated in this NOFA, HUD will notify, in writing, the applicants that
have been selected and the applicants that have not been selected.
F. Funding Levels
Funding levels will be based on the amount authorized by the
Congress, geographical distribution as described above, the performance
record of each counseling agency as determined by HUD's analysis of
prior year counseling workload and results of the most recent biennial
performance review, competent delivery of counseling services and
timely drawdown of funds awarded, and the agency's needs, as specified
in the application according to its housing counseling plan previously
approved by HUD. In addition, applicants that can demonstrate
successful efforts to obtain non-HUD funding in their applications will
receive extra consideration in HUD's rating and ranking process. HUD
funding provided must be less than the total actual cost of the
agency's housing counseling program.
1. Local Housing Counseling Agencies
HUD will fund local agencies according to the budget submitted with
the application, in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Amounts requested
by local housing counseling agencies should reflect anticipated
operating needs for housing counseling activities, based upon
counseling experience during the last year and existing agency
capacity. To the maximum extent possible, local counseling agencies
also must seek other private and public sources of funding to
supplement HUD funding. HUD never intends for its counseling grant
funds to cover all costs incurred by an agency participating in the
program.
Local housing counseling agencies may use the HUD grant to
undertake any of the eligible counseling activities described in this
NOFA and included in their HUD-approved plan. FY 1995 housing
counseling grant funds also may be used for ``capacity building'' as
defined in this NOFA. Up to $4,000 of the grant amount may be used to:
purchase computer equipment that meets, or exceeds, HUD specifications;
enhance existing telephone service, such as purchasing a
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) to serve persons with
hearing impairments (as an alternative to using TDD relay service); and
install FAX machines. The Department will require that all funded
grantees that do not currently have adequate computer systems use all
or a portion of their $4,000 capacity building portion of the grant to
purchase computer hardware according to HUD specifications. Computer
training for one staff person also may be paid from the $4,000 set-
aside, as may training on how to use a TDD. Title to equipment acquired
by a recipient with program funds shall vest in the recipient, subject
to the provisions of 24 CFR part 84, subpart E. [[Page 27542]]
2. National, Regional, or Multi-State Counseling Intermediaries
The intermediary organization will distribute the majority of funds
awarded to their proposed local housing counseling affiliates.
Intermediaries should budget an amount which reflects their best
estimate of cost to oversee and fund these counseling efforts, as well
as the funding needs of their affiliates. Note that HUD housing
counseling funding is not intended to fully fund either the
intermediary's housing counseling program or the housing counseling
programs of the local affiliates. To the maximum extent possible,
intermediaries and their local affiliates are expected to seek other
private and public sources of funding for housing counseling to
supplement HUD funding.
An intermediary may use up to $5,000 of its total grant amount for
capacity building expenses such as: purchasing computer equipment;
enhancing telephone service, such as purchasing a Telecommunications
Device for the Deaf (TDD) to serve persons with hearing impairments (as
an alternative to using TDD relay service); installing FAX machines;
and preparing or publishing counseling materials. If the intermediary
does not have an adequate computer system, the Department will require
that the $5,000 capacity building portion of the grant be used to
purchase necessary equipment meeting HUD specifications. Title to
equipment acquired by a recipient with program funds shall vest in the
recipient, subject to the provisions of 24 CFR part 84, subpart E.
HUD will give the selected nonprofit intermediaries wide discretion
to implement the housing counseling program with their affiliates. The
intermediary may decide how to allocate funding among its affiliates
and may determine funding levels at or below $100,000 for individual
affiliates with the understanding that a written record will be kept of
how this determination is made. This record shall be made available to
the agencies affiliated with the intermediary.
III. Checklist of Application Submission Requirements
A. General
Contents of an application will differ somewhat for local housing
counseling agencies and for national, regional, or multi-State
intermediaries; however, all applicants are expected to submit:
1. Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance.
2. Standard Form 424B, Assurances-Non-construction Programs.
3. Certification of a Drug Free Workplace, in accordance with the
Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, and HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part
24, subpart F.
4. Anti-lobbying certification in accordance with section 319 of
the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 1990 (31 U.S.C. 1352), and the regulations at 24 CFR part
87.
5. Form HUD-2880, Applicant/Recipient Disclosure Update Report, as
required under subpart C of 24 CFR part 12, Accountability in the
Provision of HUD Assistance.
6. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities on SF-LLL must be used to
disclose lobbying with other than Federal funds at the time of
application.
7. HUD Form 9902-Housing Counseling Agency Fiscal Year Activity
Report for 1994. Where an applicant did not participate in HUD's
Housing Counseling Program during FY 1994, this report should be
completed to reflect the agency's counseling workload during that
period in any case. This form must be fully completed and submitted by
every applicant for FY 1995 HUD funding. HUD will reject any
application that does not include this form.
8. Assurance that, if funded, it will administer its housing
counseling program in keeping with the provisions of HUD Handbook
7610.1, as revised.
9. A description of the counseling services to be offered in
response to housing needs in the agency's target area, according to the
plan previously approved by HUD, with any modifications necessitated by
changing housing market conditions in the agency's target area(s).
10. A realistic, proposed budget for use of HUD funds if awarded.
This should be broken down into two categories: direct counseling costs
and capacity building costs. Note that the budget submitted by a local
agency may not exceed a total of $100,000. Capacity building costs for
local agencies may not exceed $4,000. National, regional and multi-
state organizations may submit a proposed budget up to $1 million.
Capacity building costs for these organizations may not exceed $5,000.
B. National, Regional, and Multi-State Intermediaries
National, regional, and multi-State intermediaries must submit an
application which covers both their network organization and their
affiliated agencies. This application must include:
1. Description of affiliated agencies. For each, list the following
information:
a. Organization name
b. Address
c. Director and contact person (if different)
d. Phone/FAX numbers (including TDD, if appropriate)
e. Federal tax identification number
f. ZIP code service areas
g. Number of staff providing counseling
h. Type of services offered (defined by renter assistance, outreach
initiatives, pre-purchase counseling, post-purchase counseling, and
mortgage default and delinquency counseling)
i. Number of years of housing counseling experience
2. Relationship with affiliates. Briefly describe the
intermediary's relationship with affiliates (i.e. membership
organization, field or branch offices, subsidiary organizations, etc.).
3. Oversight system. Describe the process that will be used for
determining affiliate funding levels, distributing funds, and
monitoring affiliate performance.
IV. Corrections to Deficient Applications
After the submission deadline, applicants may cure only non-
substantial, technical deficiencies that surface during HUD screening
of their application. Applicants will have a ``cure period'' to correct
such deficiencies that are not integral to HUD's review of the
application. Applicants have 14 calendar days from the date HUD
notifies them of any problem to submit the appropriate information to
HUD. Notification of a technical deficiency may be in writing or by
telephone. If the HUD notification is by telephone, a written
confirmation will be transmitted by HUD to the applicant. Where HUD
determines that an application as initially submitted is fundamentally
incomplete, or would require substantial revisions, it will not
consider the application further. Note: HUD will not inform applicants
regarding application deficiencies other than as described in this
section.
V. Other Matters
Environmental Impact
A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment
was made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50 that
implement section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332, in connection with the Notice of Funding
Availability published in connection with the Housing Counseling
program on March 21, 1994 (59 FR 13366). That Finding is applicable to
this NOFA and is available [[Page 27543]] for public inspection during
business hours in the Office of the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of
General Counsel, room 10276, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410.
Federalism Impact
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a)
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that this NOFA
does not have ``federalism implications'' because it does not have
substantial direct effects on the States (including their political
subdivisions), or on the distribution of power and responsibilities
among the various levels of government. This NOFA only affects
nonprofit or public organizations who seek funding for their housing
counseling activities.
Impact on the Family
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive
Order 12606, the Family, has determined that this NOFA has potential
significant impact on family formation, maintenance, and general well-
being only to the extent that the entities who qualify for
participation in HUD's housing counseling program under this notice
will provide families with the counseling and advice they need to avoid
rent delinquencies or mortgage defaults, and to develop competence and
responsibility in meeting their housing needs. Since the potential
impact on the family is considered beneficial, no further review under
the Order is necessary.
Documentation and Public Access Requirements: HUD Reform Act
HUD will ensure that documentation and other information regarding
each application submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to
indicate the basis upon which assistance was provided or denied. This
material, including any letters of support, will be made available for
public inspection for a five-year period beginning not less than 30
days after the award of the assistance. Material will be made available
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and
HUD's implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. In addition, HUD will
include the recipients of assistance pursuant to this NOFA in its
Federal Register notice of all recipients of HUD assistance awarded on
a competitive basis. (See 24 CFR 12.14(a) and 12.16(b).)
Prohibition Against Advance Information on Funding Decisions: HUD
Reform Act
HUD's regulation implementing section 103 of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3537a), 24
CFR part 4, applies to the funding competition announced today. The
requirements of the rule continue to apply until the announcement of
the selection of successful applicants.
HUD employees involved in the review of applications and in the
making of funding decisions are restrained by part 4 from providing
advance information to any person (other than an authorized employee of
HUD) concerning funding decisions, or from otherwise giving any
applicant an unfair competitive advantage. Persons who apply for
assistance in this competition should confine their inquiries to the
subject areas permitted under 24 CFR part 4.
Applicants who have questions should contact the HUD Office of
Ethics (202) 708-3815 (voice) or (202) 708-1112 (TDD). (These are not
toll-free numbers.) The Office of Ethics can provide information of a
general nature to HUD employees, as well. However, a HUD employee who
has specific program questions, such as whether particular subject
matter can be discussed with persons outside the Department, should
contact his or her Assistant General Counsel or Headquarters counsel
for the program to which the question pertains.
Influence on Awards: HUD Reform Act
Section 112 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act
(42 U.S.C. 3537b) contains two provisions dealing with efforts to
influence HUD's decisions with respect to financial assistance. The
first imposes disclosure requirements on those who are typically
involved in these efforts--those who pay others to influence the award
of assistance or the taking of a management action by the Department
and those who are paid to provide the influence the award of HUD
assistance, if the fees are tied to the amount of assistance received,
or if they are contingent upon the receipt of assistance. See 24 CFR
part 86.
Any questions about these requirements should be directed to the
Office of Ethics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20410-0500. Telephone: (202)
708-3815 (voice); (202) 708-1112 (TDD). (These are not toll-free
numbers.) Forms necessary for compliance with the rule may be obtained
from the local HUD office.
Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities
The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the
disclosure requirements and prohibitions of 24 CFR part 87. That
regulation prohibits 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. The prohibition also covers the awarding of
contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or loans unless the
recipient has made an acceptable certification regarding lobbying.
Under 24 CFR part 87, applicants, recipients, and subrecipients of
assistance exceeding $100,000 must certify that no federal funds have
been or will be spent on lobbying activities in connection with the
assistance.
Catalog
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number is
14.169.
Dated: May 12, 1995.
Jeanne K. Engel,
General Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing
Commissioner.
Appendix A--HUD Offices
Note: The title of all those listed is: Director, Single Family
Division, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Telephone numbers are not toll-free.
Applicants within the Oklahoma State/Southwest Area who would
have submitted applications to the HUD Oklahoma State Office in
Oklahoma City, should send their applications to the Tulsa, Oklahoma
Area Office.
HUD--New England Area
Connecticut State Office
Mr. Ronald T. Black, First Floor, 330 Main Street, Hartford, CT
06106-1860, (203) 240-4569.
Massachusetts State Office
Mr. Edward T. Bernard, Room 375, Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal
Building, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02222-1092, (617) 565-5101.
New Hampshire State Office
Mr. Loren Cole, Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street,
Manchester, NH 03101-2487, (603) 666-7755.
Rhode Island State Office
Mr. Michael Dziok, Sixth Floor, 10 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI
02903-2808, (401) 528-5351.
HUD--New York, New Jersey Area
New Jersey State Office
Ms. Encarnacion Loukatos, Thirteenth Floor, One Newark Center,
Newark, NJ 07102-5260, (201) 622-7900 X3400. [[Page 27544]]
New York State Office
Mr. Juan Baustista, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0068, (212)
264-0777 X3746.
Albany Area Office
Mr. Robert S. Scofield, Jr., 52 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY 12203-
5121, (518) 464-4204.
Buffalo Area Office
Mr. Glenn Ruggles, Fifth Floor, Lafayette Court, 465 Main Street,
Buffalo, NY 14203-1780, (716) 846-5732.
Camden Area Office
Mr. Philip Caulfield, Second Floor, Hudson Building, 800 Hudson
Square, Camden, NJ 08102-1156, (609) 757-5083.
HUD--Midatlantic Area
District of Columbia Office
Ms. Carole Catineau, 820 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002-
4502, (202) 275-9200 X3055.
Maryland State Office
Ms. Candace Simms, Fifth Floor, City Crescent Building, 10 South
Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2505, (410) 962-2520 X3094.
Pennsylvania State Office
Mr. Mike Perretta, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East,
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3380, (215) 656-0507.
Virginia State Office
Ms. Rheba G. Gwaltney, The 3600 Centre, 3600 West Broad Street, P.O.
Box 90331, Richmond, VA 23230-0331, (804) 278-4512.
West Virginia State Office
Mr. Peter Minter, Kanawha Valley Building, Suite 708, 405 Capitol
Street, Charleston, WV 25301-1795, (304) 347-7064.
Pittsburgh Area Office
Mr. Richard Nemoytin, 412 Old Post Office Courthouse, 7th Avenue and
Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1906, (412) 644-6940.
HUD--Southeast/Caribbean Area
Alabama State Office
Ms. Martha Andrus, Suite 300, Beacon Ridge Tower, 600 Beacon
Parkway, West, Birmingham, AL 35209-3144, (205) 290-7648.
Caribbean Office
Ms. Margarita Delgado, New San Juan Office Building, 159 Carlos
Chardon Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918-1804, (809) 766-5402.
Georgia State Office
Ms. Janice Cooper, Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Spring
Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-3388, (404) 331-4801.
Kentucky State Office
Mr. David A. Powell, 601 West Broadway, P.O. Box 1044, Louisville,
KY 40201-1044, (502) 582-6167.
Mississippi State Office
Mr. Jerry F. Perkins, Suite 910, Doctor A.H. McCoy Federal Building,
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1016, (601) 965-4930.
North Carolina State Office
Mr. Robert Dennis, Koger Building, 2306 West Meadowview Road,
Greensboro, NC 27407-3707, (910) 547-4053.
South Carolina State Office
Mr. David L. Ball, Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly
Street, Columbia, SC 29201-2480, (803) 765-5593.
Coral Gables Area Office
Ms. Sara D. Warren, Gables 1 Tower, 1320 South Dixie Highway, Coral
Gables, FL 33146-2911, (305) 662-4527.
Jacksonville Area Office
Ms. Martha A. Littlefield, Suite 2200, Southern Bell Tower, 301 West
Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202-5121, (904) 232-2811.
Knoxville Area Office
Mr. John Robbins, Third Floor, John J. Duncan Federal Building, 710
Locust Street, Knoxville, TN 37902-2526, (615) 545-4377.
Memphis Area Office
Ms. Bonnie G. Johnson, Suite 1200, One Memphis Place, 200 Jefferson
Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103-2335, (901) 544-3403.
Tennessee State Office
Mr. Ed M. Phillips, Suite 200, 251 Cumberland Bend Drive, Nashville,
TN 37228-1803, (615) 736-7154.
Orlando Area Office
Mr. Robert K. Osterman, Suite 270, Langley Building, 3751 Maguire
Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32803-3032, (407) 648-6441.
Tampa Area Office
Ms. Nikki A. Spitzer, Suite 700, Timberlake Federal Building Annex,
501 East Polk Street, Tampa, FL 33602-3945, (813) 228-2504.
HUD--Midwest Area
Illinois State Office
Ms. Debra F. Robinson, Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604-3507, (312) 886-9043.
Indiana State Office
Ms. Brenda Laroche, 151 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN
46204-2526, (317) 226-7034.
Michigan State Office
Mr. John Frelich, Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan
Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226-2592, (313) 226-6885.
Minnesota State Office
Mr. John E. Buenger, 220 Second Street, South, Minneapolis, MN
55401-2195, (612) 370-3053.
Ohio State Office
Mr. Verlon Shannon, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2499,
(614) 469-5536.
Wisconsin State Office
Mr. Larry Milewski, Suite 1380, Henry S. Reuss Federal Plaza, 310
West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203-2289, (414) 297-3156.
Cincinnati Area Office
Ms. Louistine Tuck, 525 Vine St., Suite 700, Cincinnati, OH 45202-
3253, (513) 684-2233.
Cleveland Area Office
Mr. Kendel King, Fifth Floor, Renaissance Building, 1350 Euclid
Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1815, (216) 522-2784.
Flint Area Office
Mr. Gary Levine, Room 200, 605 North Saginaw Street, Flint, MI
48502-1953, (810) 766-5107.
Grand Rapids Area Office
Ms. Shirley Bryant, 2922 Fuller Avenue, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-
3499, (616) 456-2146.
HUD--Southwest Area
Arkansas State Office
Ms. Susan E. Finister, Suite 900, TCBY Tower, 425 West Capitol
Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-3488, (501) 324-5961.
Louisiana State Office
Mr. Byron D. Duplantier, 9th Floor, Hale Boggs Federal Building, 501
Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130-3099, (504) 589-6833.
New Mexico State Office
Ms. Carol G. Johnson, 625 Truman Street, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110-
6443, (505) 262-6269.
Texas State Office
Mr. Louis Ybarra, 1600 Throckmorton Street, P.O. Box 2905, Fort
Worth, TX 76113-2905, (817) 885-6255.
Houston Area Office
Mr. Henry Hadnot, Suite 200, Norfolk Tower, 2211 Norfolk, Houston,
TX 77098-4096, (713) 834-3289.
Lubbock Area Office
Mr. Miguel Rincon (Acting), Federal Office Building, 1205 Texas
Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79401-4093, (806) 743-7262.
San Antonio Area Office
Mr. Antonio C. Cabral, Washington Square, 800 Dolorosa Street, San
Antonio, TX 78207-4563, (210) 229-6898.
Shreveport Area Office
Ms. Martha Sakre, Suite 1510, 401 Edwards Street, Shreveport, LA
71101-3107, (318) 676-3387.
Tulsa Area Office
Ms. Jeanne King, 50 East 15th Street, Suite 110, Tulsa, OK 74119-
4032, (918) 581-7442.
HUD--Great Plains
Iowa State Office
Mr. Patrick Liao, Room 239, Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des
Moines, IA 50309-2155, (515) 284-4804.
[[Page 27545]]
Kansas/Missouri State Office
Mr. Deryll Sellmeyer, Room 200, Gateway Tower II, 400 State Avenue,
Kansas City, KS 66101-2406, (913) 551-6820.
Nebraska State Office
Ms. Nancy Sheets, Executive Tower Centre, 10909 Mill Valley Road,
Omaha, NE 68154-3955, (402) 492-3135.
Saint Louis Area Field Office Mr. Art Pearrow, Third Floor, Robert A.
Young Federal Building, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-2836,
(314) 539-6388.
HUD--Rocky Mountains Area
Colorado State Office
Ms. Sheryl S. Miller, First Interstate Tower North, 633 17th Street,
Denver, CO 80202-3607, (303) 672-5343.
Montana State Office
Mr. Gerald Boone, Room 340, Federal Office Building, Drawer 10095,
301 S. Park, Helena, MT 59626-0095, (406) 449-5205.
Utah State Office
Mr. Richard P. Bell, Suite 550, 257 Tower, 257 East, 200 South, Salt
Lake City, UT 84111-2048, (801) 524-5241.
HUD--Pacific/Hawaii Area
Arizona State Office
Ms. Bernice Campbell, Suite 1600, Two Arizona Center, 400 North 5th
Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2361, (602) 379-6704.
California State Office
Mr. Keith Axtell (Acting), Philip Burton Federal Building and U.S.
Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, P.O. Box 36003, San Francisco,
CA 94102-3448, (415) 556-0796.
Hawaii State Office
Ms. Jill B. Hurt, 7 Waterfront Plaza (Suite 500), 500 Ala Moana
Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813-4918, (808) 522-8190.
Nevada State Office
Mr. Benjamin F. Davis, Suite 700, Atrium Building, 333 No. Rancho
Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89106-3714, (702) 388-6500.
Fresno Area Office
Ms. Yvielle Edwards-Lee, Suite 138, 1630 E. Shaw Avenue, Fresno, CA
93710-8193, (209) 487-5032.
Los Angeles Area Office
Mr. Malcolm Findley, 1615 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
90015-3801, (213) 251-7217.
Reno Area Office
Mr. William Fattic, Suite 114, 1575 Delucchi Lane, Reno, NV 89502-
6581, (702) 784-5388.
Sacramento Area Office
Mr. Ron M. Johnson (Acting), Suite 200, 777 12th Avenue, Sacramento,
CA 95814-1997, (916) 498-5254.
San Diego Area Office
Mr. Danny E. Mendez, Mission City Corporate Center, 2365 Northside
drive (Suite 300), San Diego, CA 92108-2712, (619) 557-2608.
Santa Ana Area Office
Mr. David A. Westerfield, Suite 500, 3 Hutton Centre, Santa Ana, CA
92707-5764, (714) 957-7352.
Tucson Area Office
Ms. Sharon K. Atwell, Suite 700, Security Pacific Bank Plaza, 33
North Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701-1467, (520) 670-6000.
HUD--Northwest/Alaska Area
Alaska State Office
Mr. Paul O. Johnson, Suite 401, University Plaza Building, 949 East
36th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99508-4399, (907) 271-4610.
Idaho State Office
Mr. Gary L. Gillespie, Suite 220, Plaza IV, 800 Park Boulevard,
Boise, ID 83712-7743, (208) 334-1991.
Oregon State Office
Ms. Pamela D. West, 520 S.W. 6th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204-1596,
(503) 326-2684.
Washington State Office
Mr. David L. Rodgers, Suite 200, Seattle Federal Office Building,
909 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-1000, (206) 220-5200 X3252.
[FR Doc. 95-12729 Filed 5-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-27-P
