Helpful Advice for SuperNOFA Application Process

In case you didn't know, it's time again for the annual HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grant ("SuperNOFA"). Rumor has it that the Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) may be published in the Federal Register as early as February!

Given all the work involved, getting geared up for this grant requires a fair amount of motivation. This year, many Texas communities will have an even harder time getting motivated given what happened in 2000. Did you know that in the last funding round Texas received 27% less than what it received in 1999? Some communities suffered even greater cuts of over 50%! For these communities, the thought of putting together another application may hardly seem worth the effort.

2000 was indeed a difficult year for most Texas communities in terms of funding under the HUD Continuum of Care grant. But there were some hard lessons we had to learn. If we pay attention to these, communities should do better in 2001. Here is what some of us have been hearing about why Texas got less funding:

"Housing is our First Name" This is HUD's new credo, especially when it comes to the Continuum of Care grant. Communities that did well in 1999 had housing projects at the top of their priority list. Even though supportive services are eligible under the Continuum of Care grant, HUD likes housing projects.

More Permanent Housing
The only thing better than having housing as a top priority is having a permanent housing project at the top of your list. HUD is required to spend at least 30% of its Continuum of Care funds on permanent housing. Permanent housing projects include Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities under the Supportive Housing Program (SHP), Shelter Plus Care and Section 8 SRO projects. Texas communities need to do a better job at helping HUD meet it's permanent housing requirement.

Leverage
This is not a new concept, but one that HUD is taking more seriously. Last year HUD became more restrictive when it only allowed applicants to list leveraged funds for which they had a written commitment. While it may be difficult get a written commitment on new projects, applicants need to be more resourceful in securing leveraged funds.

Pay Attention to Project Applications
It used to be that writing a good Continuum of Care Narrative (Exhibit One) was pretty much all you needed to get funding. With increased competition for funding, however, this is no longer the case! . Exhibit One is still very important, but HUD is now looking much more carefully at project applications. Applicants should take care to be sure that their project and the population they are proposing to serve are eligible for funding under the HUD regulations.

These are the primary comments that we have been hearing in recent months. If your community has other tips and recommendations, the Texas Homeless Network would love to hear from you! Please send a note to THN, or contact us via our website.

And, good luck with this years' application!

FISCAL YEAR 2000
CONTINUUM OF CARE COMPETITION
HOMELESS ASSISTANCE AWARDS REPORT