VA Grant and Per Diem Capital Grant

    MAY 16, 2006

Speakers:
Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem Program - Roger Casey and Dr. 
Guy Liedke -
Michigan Veterans Foundation - Tyrone Jackson and Tobi Geibig
Maryland Center for Veterans Employment and Training (MCVET) - Roslyn Hannibal-Booker, Col. Charles Williams, Anthony Gibson, Dr. Jack Pierce, Randy Gimbel, and Jeff Kendricks

Roger Casey, VA
- Published material in the NOFA announcement on April 20
- Rules, regulations, and application are all listed in the NOFA
- Important to read NOFA, follow directions/guidelines
- The NOFA can be downloaded at http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3

NOFA Announcement
- Gives basic guidelines, references application, rules
- Due June 14 in office, mailed as one package, in one envelope
- Questions - contact VA office, or NCHV www.nchv.org

Capital Money
- Acquisition, renovation, and construction
- Transitional housing - to expand, create housing
- New programs or expanding programs for veterans-during this cycle they are not 
  funding service centers
- Funds available for vans – for new or old providers that can be used for transportation 
  or outreach

$10 Million available this year
- Read character of homeless vets - part of overall approach - partners to coordinate with
- Life safety has to be met – regulations are listed in the NOFA
- 1 application per tax ID number
- Be prepared to meet regulations in NOFA- including life safety, accounting, 
  inspections

Priorities
- Look in NOFA, include Tribal Governments and Territories of the US
- Aimed at reaching into the gaps in services

Scoring
Once an application is received it will go through a threshold review and the follow with be checked:
- Is the target population eligible?
- Verify activities are allowable under the NOFA
- At least 75% of the population being served are veterans
- All of the forms completed correctly and completely (these are found in the 
  application checklist)

Then all applications are scored according to rules/regulations
- Criteria - Unmet need targeting veterans - identify problem and meet the need
- Use published numbers - VA census, CHALENG, HUD, etc. (Check local VA medical center for   
- data and statistics)
- Applicant must address need in the community and how project will address the 
  needs

Targeting Section
- Identifies ways that the project will serve those in need
- Explains how will you target those in need?

Outreach plan
- Ways your organization will reach those identified in need

Project Plan - 300 points
- Quality of project
- Project design should be clearly spelled out
- Explain goals/objectives and how you will meet them
- Steps to ensure you meet goals - will be the most detailed portion of the proposal
- Measurable/specific goals - way to determine success is laid out in this section

Ability
- Important to make sure organization has demonstrated experience to take on the 
  project
- Staff expertise
- History of organization
- Put in a position description dependent on funding
- If you are a new organization demonstrate that you have the knowledge needed to get 
  program in operation

Collaboration with other programs
- Can't do it alone, need help of other organizations
- Federal, local, faith based, etc.
- Reviewers want to see that the project is planned with other organizations and that 
  once it is up and running this collaboration will continue
- Consider: VA offices, USO, government
- 50 points awarded if you show a commitment from the VA

Site description/design
- Leveraging section is where you discuss financial considerations
- If you have other funding secured you can put it in leveraging section

Innovation
- Read definition carefully – only check this if you feel that your program is innovative 
  and clearly state why you think you are innovative

Remember
- Make sure that you sign the assurances
- Submit application - rate it - then asked for second submission - more building specs, 
  etc.
- Documentation of the 35% match will be requested during the second submission
- Cost affective - cost per bed, will do better if you can show cost per bed is lower

Summary
- Read, read, read NOFA rules/regulations
- Applicant instructions - questions - read sign assurances
- Collaboration is important- look at all aspects of the community
- Project plan is highest scoring and the bulk of your application
- Document need and target those in need
- Ability of organization to pull off project should be well documented

Michigan Veterans Foundation
http://michiganveteransfoundation.org/

Tobi Geibig & Tyrone Chatman
- MVF has a GPD capital grant – and they supplement their funds with HUD - HVRP
- Remember it is important to explore multiple sources of funding
- City pulled funding, but now up and running so it has been a long process, patience is 
  key
- Continuum of care is well represented within the organization- all others - legal -
  life skills - local VA programs
- 104 transitional beds - 6 for females as need arises- adapts as the needs change
- Collaborate - can't be all things to all vets - reach outside of organization to give 
  veterans the services they need most
- Employment - transportation, entrepreneurial, culinary arts, food services training are 
  all available nsite
- On site: multiple service centers - VA medical center, regional VA office and 
  other key agencies
- Communication is key and the foundation for a good working relationship

Some of the services offered include
- Legal aid defenders - free services
- American Legion - benefits, discharge, money management
- Blue Water Center for Independent Living: life skills, basic skills, college courses, 
  veteran employment opportunities, computer training, case management, followup
- Always looking for new partners based on needs: chemical dependence, employment, 
  to bring stability

MCVETS, Baltimore, MD
www.mcvet.org

- Complete continuum of care is offered
- Outreach, emergency program, first step program - stay in 13 weeks - rebuild 
  information - don't want there to be barriers to employment
- 50 beds total, 30 beds under VA service center

Based on HUD grant - then also work with VA program to provide additional services
- VA provides the difference between HUD and what they need
- Provides services to help vets become reintegrated into society
- Getting jobs that pay $12 an hour plus benefits
- People have skills they just need the right management
- All case managers are Masters Degree or higher
- Legal issues can be caught in time with the correct management
- DVOP on station to find jobs as they are ready
- DOL staff whose job is to train and educate clients - make sure the position they 
  are put in they will succeed

Recovery program
- Training program should lead to a career not just a job
- Must report success with measurable goals - and they can leverage other funds

Partnerships
- Several VA medical centers - Baltimore, Perry Point, WV - banks
- Hospitals - U of MD Dental School
- Local community and VA
- HVRP program specialist on site

Meet with GPD liaison three times per week - once vets are identified they are tracked throughout the program

For more information or to download the NOFA visit http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3