Hi Team,
This is the latest program update. Please review it in detail.
Thanks so much!
Adrienne
Adrienne Nash Melendez, MLD
Regional Coordinator
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
267-683-2386
-----Original Message-----
From: SSVF Program Office [mailto:
mail@grantapplication.com]
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2017 10:37 AM
To:
pattis@ccsww.orgSubject: [EXTERNAL] SSVF Program Update Friday March 24, 2017
Topics:
1. Updated Guidance: SSVF Legal Services Regarding Discharge Upgrades for Enrolled Veterans
2. Updated Guidance: Clarification on Participant Survey Requirements for HUD-VASH SSVF RRH Referral Packet
3. Save the Date: SSVF National Webinar on April 27, 2017 at 2PM EDT
4. Reminder and Clarification Regarding Mandatory Return of SSVF Grant Funds
5. Resource: Community Integration Specialist (CIS) Training
Updated Guidance: SSVF Legal Services Regarding Discharge Upgrades for Enrolled Veterans
The October 2016 SSVF Program Guide, Section IV, C, e: Connection to Legal Services, states that Discharge Upgrades are not an allowable cost. The Program Office amends this guidance to include discharge upgrades as a legal service covered by SSVF. As with any supportive service, discharge upgrade assistance may only be offered to Veterans enrolled in the SSVF Program when the upgrade is directly connected to the Housing Stability Plan.
Updated Guidance: Clarification on Participant Survey Requirements for HUD-VASH SSVF RRH Referral Packet
The SSVF Program Office appreciates the hard work SSVF grantees have done in implementing the HUD-VASH SSVF RRH Referral Packet and also with increasing the number of Veterans registered for the Participant Survey. Given that SSVF staff will have no contact with the HUD-VASH Veterans enrolled as part of the Referral Packet, grantees are not required to register the HUD-VASH Veterans to participate in the M. Davis Participant Survey. Veterans exiting the SSVF Program to HUD-VASH, following a Progressive Engagement model towards permanent housing, are considered primary SSVF households and are required to be registered for the Participant Survey.
Save the Date: SSVF National Webinar on April 27, 2017 at 2PM EDT (Note: Rescheduled from April 13, 2017)
The SSVF National Webinar, originally scheduled for April 13, will now be on April 27, 2017.
This webinar will be a presentation by the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Registration link to follow.
Reminder and Clarification Regarding Mandatory Return of SSVF Grant Funds
During FY 2017, the SSVF Program Office is implementing the mandatory return of unspent grant funds. Per the grant agreement between VA and SSVF grantees, the SSVF Program Office will recoup funds from grantees who are not meeting the minimum expenditure rates. This is the first year mandatory returns will be implemented. The grant agreement (MOA) describes that, after each quarter, grantees are required to have a minimum percentage of funds drawn from the HHS Payment Management System; 1st quarter – 15% or more; 2nd quarter – 40% or more; 3rd quarter – 65% or more. Please review your grant expenditures and your projected spending for the remainder of the grant year.
On April 3rd (first business day after the end of the 2nd quarter) drawdown data will be reviewed by the SSVF Program Office to determine which grants are below the required 40% draw down level through the second quarter. The Program Office will identify the amount of funds to recoup from grantees by utilizing the following calculation. A grantee's draw down percentage on April 3rd will be subtracted from 40%. That percentage will be deducted from each subaccount balance, The goal is to better position a grantee to meet the 3rd quarter requirement of being 65% drawn down while, at the same time, avoiding a reduction in the amount of grant funds that would impact grantee operations.
Example: SSVF grantee received an award of $1,000,000. On April 3, 2017, the amount of funds drawn down in HHS are 25%. This is 15% below the 40% requirement and will result in a reduction of $150,000 (15% from each subaccount), changing the total funding amount to $850,000. The draw down percentage, after the recoup of unspent funds, is 29.4%, and grantee is better positioned to meet the 65% draw down requirement after third quarter.
*For comparison: If the mandatory return calculation resulted in the grantee draw down percentage being at 40%, the reduction calculation would be $250,000/.4 = $675,000, thus requiring a reduction of the initial award by $325,000.
Resource: Community Integration Specialist (CIS) Training
The National Center on Homelessness among Veterans (the Center) and the University of South Florida (USF), Florida Mental Health Institute developed a course specifically for Veteran peer specialists working in VA Homeless Programs.
The 20-hour training offers a detailed focus on issues of homelessness and housing and is designed to both increase the knowledge of Veterans already serving in peer support positions in homelessness programs and provide a basis for new employees to work as Community Integration Specialists. The course is hosted by USF and constructed in an online modular design that is available and useful in VA and non-VA systems. Completion of the course will provide a mechanism for Veteran peer specialists to become certified in Community Integration by the University of South Florida. The modules combine video, lectures, interviews, and discussions by subject matter experts from VA, the university, community and national leaders, and Veterans. Many of the modules or classes also include other related resources that may be helpful to the participant. Each module includes a quiz and a glossary.
Upon successful completion, the student will receive a certificate from the University of South Florida certifying they are trained as a Community Integration Specialist.
For more information on the CIS training, contact Roger Casey, Director of Education, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans:
roger.casey@va.gov
Thank you,
SSVF Program Office
NOTE: If you are receiving this email in error, please disregard. We request your patience as the SSVF Program Office continues to address system issues with the grants management database.