HVRP SGA

Note: Questions that were unable to be answered during the conference call are currently being addressed and will be included in the post-conference notes as they are answered.

Speakers:

U.S. Department of Labor--Veterans’ Employment and Training Service – Mike Palumbo

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans – Melanie Lilliston

Melanie Lilliston, NCHV

-  Welcome

-    Introduction of Mike Palumbo

-    Question and Answer session will follow presentation

-    Questions not addressed during call may be sent to nchv5@nchv.org or 
202-546-1969

Mike Palumbo, DOL-VETS

-    HVRP SGA posted on www.dol.gov, www.grants.gov, and www.nchv.org

-    This year’s application submittal is being done electronically through Grants.gov, movement by agency to do everything electronically

-    Organizations are encouraged to understand electronic submission requirements before waiting until the last minute; address problems/issues ahead of time

-    Application deadline on May 14 at 11:59 p.m. is rigid

-    This year’s funding is direct result of remaining funds available after DOL awarded second and third year renewing grants  

-    Do not know the exact amount of funding available this year, but anticipating 15-20 awards to be given

Question and Answer Session

Q: What items are not included in the application 75-page limit?

Palumbo – Cover letter, Executive Summary, audit, MOUs, and letters of recommendation. Blank pages may be put in between sections and will not be counted towards 75-page limit.

Q: Are follow-up activities covered in first year of budget?

Palumbo – Yes. Funds used for follow-up must be obligated by end of fourth quarter, June 30. The expectation is that funds will be held in reserve for follow-up, to be deducted from first year funds.

Q: In application, do EG tab dividers have to be used?

Palumbo – Placing a blank page between sections is sufficient, will not count towards 75-page limit.

Q: Regarding locating homeless veterans, what are ways to determine this demographic in area? How can we locate homeless veterans?

Palumbo – Part of technical proposal is what organization wants to propose to DOL; combination of outreach and networking; relationships within community; getting referrals and access to homeless veterans living in community to participate in program.

Melanie – The CHALENG Report provides accurate numbers of homeless veterans and their needs by VISN. The report may be downloaded from www.va.gov, under Homeless Veterans Program. Census data also contains information about homeless veterans.

Q: Regarding Urban and Non-Urban awards, how are awards distributed?

Palumbo – DOL tries to use methodology of having cross-section of urban and non-urban grantees. At this time, do not know how grants will be distributed.

Q: May more than one page be included in PDF file attachments?

Palumbo – If they are in the category of countable, you can submit them as multiple pages on one page, but they will be counted by the multiple.  

Q: How many current awardees are there? How many are bidding for funds this year?

Palumbo – DOL does not know how many are bidding. There are 88 grants as of this year (97 with VWIP). At least 67 are up for renewal. There is no differentiation for new grantees in this competition. New grantees are always encouraged to apply.

Q: What is the frequency of draw downs? Quarterly? Monthly?

Palumbo – Reported quarterly, funds can be drawn as they occur.

Q: Are civil legal services (assistance with public assistance applications, SSD/SSI, housing matters, family law matters) within the scope of the grant?

Palumbo – Those services are considered under Continuum of Care expectation of grantee, very critical in terms of providing network and outreach for grantees. But real emphasis of funds is ability of grantee to help homeless veterans get and retain jobs.

Q: Does organization identify leveraged resources on 424a #15?

Palumbo – Instead of #15, it’s really #16. There is no requirement for matching funds, but it is positive to have them.

Q: #19: “Has this grant application been selected for review?”  

Palumbo – It’s not, no.

Q: Does performance report attachment count towards 75-page limit?

Palumbo – No.

Q: Does the cost proposal need to be in 12 point font?

Palumbo – No.

Q: The Executive Summary, single or double spaced?

Palumbo – Since it’s not in the count, it’s up to you.

Q: Time of deadline?

Palumbo – Must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 14.

Q: Are awardees mandated to host Stand Down events?

Palumbo – There is no requirement to participate in Stand Down, but participation is encouraged. Awardees may be participants or originators of Stand Down events. $7,000 is allocated in budget for one-day Stand Down, $10,000 for two- or more day event. These funds are part of proposal and must be included in budget.

Q: If grantee contracts with another organization, may funding be allotted for contract within budget? What is the limit?

Palumbo – Yes, funding may be allotted for contracting. Under, the Urban and Non-Urban Grants, there is no specified percentage of expenditures to any lead agency. 

Q: Is there a line item for maintaining a building or space rentals?

Palumbo – I don’t believe so unless it is considered within indirect cost structure. Direct funds from grant should not be used for that.  

Q: Are there examples of successful HVRP best practices?

Melanie – HVRP Best Practices Project publication gives examples of 34 successful programs throughout the United States; what they do and how they work with veterans. It may be downloaded from www.nchv.org.

Q: Does Common Measures Planned Technical Performance Goal form count against the 75-page limit?

Palumbo – No, but it must be there.

Q: Is mental health counseling included under Continuum of Care for this grant?

Palumbo – Absolutely.

Closing

Melanie Lilliston, NCHV

- Thank you

-    Questions not addressed during call may be sent to nchv5@nchv.org or 
202-546-1969