- Q: There seems to be a discrepancy about what type of entity is eligible to apply for the Housing Is Recovery Pilot Program. On the webinar, and in the NOFO it states that Housing Service Providers are eligible to apply, but in the Program Guide it does not state that. Just want to confirm that Housing Service Providers could apply.
A: Yes, Housing Service Providers can apply. Apologies for any inconsistency in the materials.
- Q: As a first time applicant, do we put an amount on page 3 #45?
A: Yes, the amount you are going to budget for should be reflected on line #45.
- Q: Is the grantee expected to deliver the mental health services? If not, can the grantee refer to our partners?
A: The Grantee will ensure the provision of mental health engagement, recovery support services, and treatment to the participants in this program. The Grantee may provide the engagement and treatment services directly, or they may coordinate the provision of the engagement and treatment services with another provider. If the Grantee does not provide the services directly, they must have a contract/memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a CMHC to provide mental health engagement and treatment services for all participants in this program. In addition If applicant is planning to use a subrecipient, a pdf copy of the subrecipient budget must be submitted as a separate pdf document with the application packet. Subrecipient budgets shall be submitted on GOMBGATU-3002 template as a separate attachment.
- Q: For housing, is this referral based, and case management assisting clients to secure housing and government benefits?
A: Grantees will directly subsidize permanent supportive housing, rather than only providing case management to link clients to other housing resources. The Grantee should secure temporary housing units to provide immediate housing to individuals who are discharging from hospitals or being released from a correctional facility. These temporary housing units may be used for immediate temporary housing, not to exceed 90 days, to prevent individuals from reentering homelessness or unstable housing, or avoiding unnecessary institutionalization. The Grantee will identify and navigate affordable housing stock through relationship-building with landlords and property management companies and assist the participants to secure appropriate housing units.
By building relationships with various settings, including hospitals, county jails, prisons, homeless shelters, and inpatient detoxification facilities, the Grantee will develop a process for identifying eligible individuals before hospital discharge, correctional system release, or other appropriate referral places, including homeless shelters. The Grantee's referral and intake process should facilitate rapid housing to the greatest practical extent possible. DMH can provide the Grantee with technical assistance in building relationships with correctional settings, including the Illinois Department of Corrections. DMH may also facilitate referrals between pilot program grantees where appropriate.
The Grantee will ensure that the participants are enrolled in all benefit programs for which they are eligible, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and other state or federal programs.
The Grant will assist those who do not have income with completing disability benefit applications using the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model. The participants in this program must be offered assistance with SOAR applications within six months of receiving the subsidy.
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Q: Are there any designated counties, zip codes or census tracts we should concentrate on?
A: The Applicant should provide a detailed description of the population they plan to serve, including the geographic region(s) where the Applicant will offer services. Applicants can specify any geographic area within the State of Illinois, but their application should focus on the need in that community. Applications should specifically focus on individuals at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization or high risk of overdose in the identified geographic area, including potential referral sources (such as hospitals, correctional settings, and homeless shelters). DMH also prioritizes programs that address institutionalized inequities and operationalize equity and racial justice.
- Q: While we meet all of the requirements in terms of the demographic base and availability of sub contracting services, I'm curious as to a few specific eligibility requirements:
"The applicant must be certified as a Community Mental Health Center, be a licensed Substance Use Disorder Treatment Provider, or be a Housing Service Provider. In addition, the applicant must also be able to provide mental health or substance use disorder engagement and treatment services and housing services for all participants in this program, either directly or through a contract/MOU with another provider".
We are an RCO (Recovery Community Organization) and while we don't meet the federal qualifications for the first two, I am curious if you can provide information for the definition and requirements for being considered a "Housing Service Provider".
A: A Housing Service Provider is an entity that provides housing search and location services to individuals to promote access to safe and affordable housing that is appropriate to individuals' age, culture, and needs, and that provides tenancy support to ensure that individuals maintain their housing.
DMH invites applications from Recovery Community Organizations who can demonstrate that they meet the other eligibility criteria and who have experience with supporting individuals in obtaining and maintaining housing.
- Q: Is the Target Population for this funding opportunity Individuals with Serious Mental Illness?
A: Eligible program participants are individuals who are homeless (or who will be homeless upon hospital discharge or correctional facility release), at least 21 years of age or aging out of guardianship under DCFS, who are eligible to enroll in, or enrolled in Medicaid, and who are either a person with a serious mental illness who is at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization, as defined in the NOFO, or a person with a substance use disorder who is at high risk of overdose, as defined in the NOFO.
- Q: Can someone apply for this who is only anticipating to work with Substance Use Disorders? (not SMI)
A: Yes, eligible applicants must be able to serve either individuals with serious mental illness or individuals with substance use disorder or both. Applicants may apply if they are only planning to work with individuals with Substance Use Disorders. Applications should clearly indicate which eligible populations the applicant plans to serve.
- Q: Does the person who is homeless and has a Substance Use Disorder, need to meet all four of the below?
Individuals at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization: a person who has a serious mental illness (as defined in 59 Ill. Adm. Code 145.20) who is homeless (or will be homeless upon hospital discharge or correctional facility release) and who has: 1. Had three or more psychiatric inpatient hospital admissions within the most recent 12-month period; 2. Had three or more stays in a State or county correctional facility in the State of Illinois within the most recent 12-month period; 3.Been incarcerated in a State or county correctional facility in Illinois for the most recent 12 consecutive months; or 4. A disability determination due to a serious mental illness and has been incarcerated at least once in a State or county correctional facility in Illinois within the most recent 12 consecutive months.
A: For both the definition of individuals at high risk of homelessness or individuals at high risk of overdose, only one of the four sub-criteria must be met. For a person at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization, that means a person with a serious mental illness who is homeless and has either: three or more psychiatric hospitalizations in the most recent 12 months, three or more correctional stays in the most recent 12 months, continuous incarceration for the most recent 12 months, or a disability determination due to SMI and at least one incarceration in the last 12 months. For a person at high risk of overdose, that means a person with a substance use disorder who is homeless and has either: three or more inpatient or community-based withdrawal management stays for SUD in the last 12 months, three or more correctional stays in the last 12 months, continuous incarceration for the most recent 12 months, or one or more overdoses in the last 12 months.
- Q: Does the "Housing Service Provider" have to be a stand-alone entity (the sole focus of an organization or entity), or can that be within the job description of a Peer Recovery Specialist in order to meet eligibility requirements?
A: An organization does not need to have housing as its sole focus in order to meet eligibility requirements for this grant. However, securing, providing, or supporting housing should be a key component of the organization's expertise.
- Q: We are not a licensed Substance Use Disorder & Treatment Facility, however, the outpatient clinic that is in our area that we have a MOU with is, would that meet the "legibility requirements" in terms of us applying as a partnering Recovery Community Organization?
A: An applicant organization that is proposing to work with individuals at high risk of overdose should have an MOU or contract with a licensed SUD treatment provider to meet the eligibility requirements.
- Q: We just received our first grant cycle this year (July 1st, 2023 - June 30th 2024), would that disqualify us from applying or being considered for this block grant?
A: This is not a block grant. Applicants' other grant funding sources are not relevant to their eligibility to apply for this grant.
- Q: Would grant money be able to be used to hire a program director/facilitator?
A: Applicants' budgets should reflect all direct costs associated with maintaining this program, including direct costs for staff supervising or managing the program. Please clearly indicate the percentage of the individual's time billed to the grant as well as a description of their direct role in program operations.
- Q: Are released female inmates requiring educational, therapeutic and addiction counseling support in order to prepare for a crime-free life and career path toward self-sufficiency eligible clients?
A: For Program 225, your organization can only serve those individuals who meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be at least 21 years of age or aging out of guardianship under DCFS, and eligible to enroll in, or enrolled in, Medicaid
- Must be homeless (or will be homeless upon hospital discharge or correctional facility release)
- Must fall under one of the two eligibility categories listed in the NOFO: 1. At high risk of unnecessary institutionalization: Has a serious mental illness and: Had 3 or more psychiatric inpatient hospital admissions within the most recent 12-month period; Had 3 or more stays in a State or county correctional facility in IL within the most recent 12-month period; Been incarcerated in a State or county correctional facility in IL for the most recent 12 consecutive months; or A disability determination due to a SMI and has been incarcerated at least once in a State or county correctional facility in IL within the most recent 12 consecutive months
- At high risk of overdose: Has a substance use disorder and: Had 3 or more hospital inpatient or inpatient withdrawal management or community-based withdrawal management stays for a SUD within the most recent 12-month period; Had 3 or more stays in a State or county correctional facility in IL within the most recent 12-month period; Been incarcerated in a State or county correctional facility in IL for the most recent 12 consecutive months; or Had 1 or more drug overdoses in the last 12 months.
- Additional eligibility criteria are specified in the Program Guide.
- Q: Does this grant opportunity allow the applicant agency administering the subsidies to charge an administrative fee ? If so what are the caps/limits?
A: The applicant may allocate a reasonable amount of staff time to administer the subsidies. The grant will cover the actual costs and not a "fee".
- Q: Does IDHS plan to sponsor non-competitive renewals for future years of fund?
A: This grant will be funded for its three-year NOFO cycle. Each grant agreement is for one state fiscal year. It is the initial state fiscal year, which in this case is anticipated to be 11 months and there will be two non-competitive renewals in the following fiscal years, assuming funding is ongoing.
- Q: What is the maximum length of time the participant can receive rental assistance?
A: This program is designed to continue operating for as long as the funding exists and clients under the program can be served indefinitely until they're linked to permanent housing, they're no longer Medicaid eligible, or have enough income that they can move into housing Independently.
- Q: Would a community development corporation (CDC) qualify if they partner with a Level I provider? A CDC provides multiple areas of assistance like recovery support services, as well, as access to housing and we already have linkages with scattered sites for landlords For both temporary and permanent housing, but we're not a MHC like a community medical health clinic. Also, one of the criteria on your slide specifically said CMHC, and that's a qualification almost like FHQs but a level 1 treatment center is something that can provide that mental and substance use treatment with the NPI number and all of that and so I wanted to make that clear.
A: We would just ask that you partner with agencies that can provide treatment services for mental health or substance use treatment services. You can do an MOU with a CMHC or substance use treatment provider. Just make sure that there is somewhere to link people to if they do need those resources. I encourage you to apply and if we have questions about that we can address that before contracts are issued. We'll dig into that if we need to.
- Q: Can you clarify the budget?
A: Your budget should include all of your costs associated with running this program, including the cost of personnel, the cost of paying monthly subsidies, landlord incentives, and all of the costs outlined in the Program Guide (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=152287). You can't include costs that would be billed to Medicaid but can include any non-Medicaid billable services that you anticipate offering through this program.
- Q: When will a copy of the monthly participant data report be available to review?
A: The report to the General Assembly will be produced annually as required by legislation. DMH will be collecting monthly data including, but not limited to the following: consumer name, birthdate, RIN #, sex, primary language, start (enrollment) date, referral source, subsidy type (rental assistance or master lease), eligibility type (SMI or SUD), grievance info (date and type), removal (date and reason), and was the consumer accompanied for housing unit, assisted with first time move, supported using transition assistance funds, enrolled in IDHS SRN and/or Section 811 waitlist, applied for permanent housing voucher, received engagment services at least twice during reporting month, received additional wraparound support services, has zero income, given assistance with completing disability benefit appplications, etc.
- Q: To clarify my question regarding the required monthly report on participants: will a template of the excel doc from DMH be accessible to view during the application process? Curious what kind of participant data will be required and if our current EHR systems would need to be updated.
A: We're still finalizing that template. Some data that will be covered is outlined under Other Performance Measures in the NOFO. DMH will be collecting monthly data including, but not limited to the following: consumer name, birthdate, RIN #, sex, primary language, start (enrollment) date, referral source, subsidy type (rental assistance or master lease), eligibility type (SMI or SUD), grievance info (date and type), removal (date and reason), and was the consumer accompanied for housing unit, assisted with first time move, supported using transition assistance funds, enrolled in IDHS SRN and/or Section 811 waitlist, applied for permanent housing voucher, received engagment services at least twice this month, received additional wraparound support services, has zero income, given assistance with completing disability benefit appplications, etc.
- Q: Does the Staffing/program costs get covered and some things we bill to Medicaid?
A: The staffing and program costs are covered as part of this grant opportunity. In the event a service being provided is to an individual who has Medicaid and if the service is Medicaid billable, the costs to perform the service must be excluded from the expenses for this grant. IDHS/DMH is the payor of last resort and no grant funds can be used to supplement the Medicaid rate.
- Q: How will the referral process work? Will DMH provide referrals or will providers develop their own list of eligible participants?
A: Providers should include how they anticipate obtaining referrals as part of their grant application. We're looking for successful grantees to have relationships with hospitals, with treatment settings, with correctional facilities to provide these Services. However, we also anticipate that some referrals may come directly to DMH, and we'll work to connect those folks with providers in this program just like we do with many other DMH programs. We'll also help support connections, particularly on the Corrections side. We have a relationship with the Department of Corrections. We can facilitate connections between grantees and other state partners for those referrals.
- Q: Is an FQHC` eligible?
A: If you have the agreements necessary to provide mental health and substance use to start your services, as outlined in the deliverables, as well as the subsidy administration and housing components of the program, you are certainly eligible to apply. Participants will be scored according to the criteria outlined in the NOFO and that includes some of the relationships that are needed.
- Q: Because these are ARPA funds are applicants required to provide written sustainability or attrition plan beyond the expiration of the ARPA funding deadline and not transition to an alternate state funding source.
A: This is funded through a combination of GRF and ARPA dollars. I believe we have a sustainable funding plan for this program beyond the expiration of the dollars. Grantees will not be required to come up with a sustainability or attrition plan as part of their application.
- Q: If a consumer has an outstanding bill with a utility provider that would prohibit them from getting utilities at a new apartment, can funds be used to pay these bills so they can get utilities?
A: From the Program Guide: Funds may pay for a standard utility deposit, and/or standard connection fees, required by the utility company for all customers of the utility services eligible for Utility Allowances/Payments under this program. Grantees are responsible for ensuring that all program participants complete applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) on an ongoing basis. Utility arrearages are not an eligible cost under Utility Deposits or Utility Allowances/Payments for this program.
- Q: Can you explain how the tenancy support function of engagement is Medicaid billable under the current 140 codes?
A: A lot of tenancy support isn't billable. Unfortunately, the sort of housing education probably is not billable although with the potential 1115 waiver that may be coming through in the near future, it might be billable under one of those waiver programs, but some of the case management care coordination type functions of the engagement specialists could be available. We just ask that you look at the activities you're providing under this program and bill what's billable and then the rest can be charged to the grant.
- Q: What are the requirements to be able to provide HQS inspections?
A: That's outlined on the HUD website - what's involved in delivering an HQS inspection. At this time, we're not requiring certification for HQS inspectors, but you do need to be able to provide those inspections, and we'd recommend that you have staff involved in that process to go through the appropriate training.
- Q: So the inspections are not third party and case managers can inspect?
A: You have case managers who are trained in conducting the HUD Housing Quality Standards inspections. Yes, they could be done internally. Grantees can also choose to contract those inspections to a third party entity. That is your choice, but please include how you plan to accomplish that in your grant application.
- Q: Are there requirements for the transitional housing? Are hotels eligible?
A: The requirements for the temporary transitional housing meet the HQS standards. Hotels may be eligible. You can include that in your grant application, and we can discuss it if we think your initial plan will work. We can discuss all alternatives that would qualify. SROs would qualify if they meet HQS standards. Hotels may meet HQS standards if they offer the required amenities.
- Q: In the technical assistance session it was said that SRO's are acceptable units. However, would this be for both temporary and more long term housing?
A: SROs would only be acceptable as temporary housing, if absolutely necessary, not as permanent housing. Permanent housing options should be independent apartments.
- Q: In the technical assistance session it was said that both permanent and temporary housing must meet the HUD standards. However, the standards do mention waivers. For SRO units must there be a bathroom in each SRO unit or can there be shared bathrooms. Also must there be a separate kitchen in each unit if each unit has a refrigerator and microwave?
A: There are specific HQS standards for SROs in 24 CFR 982.605. SRO housing units must meet those requirements, which do allow for shared bathrooms, and a separate kitchen is not required if the unit contains a microwave and refrigerator.
- Q: I understand that homelessness is a requirement for the grant subsidy, but could someone in an SRO who can't afford a market rent apartment and doesn't have another subsidy be eligible?
A: Unfortunately, this program is targeted specifically towards individuals who are homeless, or will be homeless upon discharged from hospital or a correctional setting. That's a requirement under the legislation, so we can't change that. We recognize that there is still a broad gap of people who aren't homeless, but also are inadequately housed. Unfortunately, this program's not going to be able to address that.
- Q: The eligibility criteria makes it seem like the individual needs to meet every one, is that right or is it on or the other?
A: In each of the categories for the mental health side or the substance use side, there are 4 sub criteria. The program participants only need to meet 1 of those 4.
- Q: If an organization isn't currently certified as a CHMC is there a grace period to achieve that status or is it required at the time of application.
A: Applicants must be certified as a CMHC, be a licensed Substance Use Disorder Treatment Provider, or be a Housing Service Provider. Applicants must meet these eligibility criteria at the time of application.
- Q: Can an agency own the housing unit(s) and also receive grant funds related to being a property manager?
A: Grantees may assist clients with housing placement into housing units that are owned by the grantee with prior permission from the DMH Program Contact. Placements in grantee-owned units must be at a reasonable market rate and landlord incentives may not be paid by the grantee to the grantee.
- Q: Are providers required to accept referrals on a no-decline basis. For example, if an individual is referred upon exit from incarceration and the individual has a history of creating substantial damage to past rental housing, is a provider allowed to decline entry into this program?
A: This is a Housing First approach, which means that It should be provided without preconditions such as clinical engagement. This is not a no decline program; however, depending on who you're entering into referral relationships with, they may have an expectation that it's a no decline arrangement. So, that's really going to depend on the referral source that you're partnering with. The performance standard # 8 indicates that the 90% of consumers referred to the Housing is Recovery pilot program should be enrolled.
- Q: Is there an expected minimum number of individuals to be served by each grantee? Just trying to understand how we should scale the budget.
A: We don't have a set minimum of individuals. We ask that you include that as part of your grant application, which is part of the criteria we will be scoring on. We ask you to be realistic in your estimation of how many folks you can reasonably serve, given all the staffing that everyone is challenged with and so forth.
- Q: Is this grant funded yearly? If so, have you ever seen an Adult Drug Court or Mental Health Court involved in a project? Any suggestions for one of these courts to be involved?
A: This grant will be funded for it's three-year NOFO cycle. Each grant agreement is for one state fiscal year. It is the initial state fiscal year, which in this case is anticipated to be 11 months and there will be two non-competitive renewals in the following fiscal years, assuming funding is ongoing. This is our first time offering this program, so this is a brand new program to offer In terms of engagement with adult drug court or mental health court. We would love to see that. I think that is absolutely fantastic. I'm sure there are many diversion and alternate court programs that would love to see a resource like this available for individuals who are referred to those programs. We would love to see applicants to propose connections and have connections with those types of programs in their application.
- Q: Can portions of grant funds be used to upgrade units damaged by tenants enrolled in the program?
A: Grant funds can certainly be used to restore units that are damaged by tenants in the program as part of landlord mitigation if it's going to enable that unit to be used by someone to remain in the program. However, upgrades are a different story. Grant funds cannot be used to upgrade.
- Q: How many anticipated awards will be provided?
A: We don't have a set number. It's really going to depend on the applications that we receive, we'll make that determination once we see what applications come in, how they score, and what budgets look like.
- Q: Is it permissible for budget to include client assistance funds to pay for bed bug remediation or other major cleaning that may be needed to help the individual remain housed?
A: Yes, please include that in your budget if you think it's going to be necessary. There are some acceptable landlord incentives outlined in the Program Guide we recommend you to look at. Yes, cleaning, bed bugs remediation, and things like that are definitely allowable.
- Q: If an applicant provides inpatient detoxification services can they use their own detox facility as a referral source?
A: Yes, self referrals are fine. We would encourage to seek out relationships with other providers too. Make sure that this is a resource that serves the entire community, but self referrals are acceptable.
- Q: Can funds be used to purchase a van?
A: If the program would benefit the use of a van, then two options are available. The first option would be to lease the van for use. The second option would be for the Grantee to actually purchase the van with non-grant funds and then depreciate the van against the grant based on your own depreciation schedule.
- Q: While funds for an initial security deposit are covered, are there funds available for another security deposit at a new residence if the individual is being evicted from first residence in the program?
A: Yes, that would be an acceptable use of funds under the program. Anything you can do to avoid having clients evicted under this program would be great. That's the purpose of some of the landlord incentives, encouraging landlords to allow clients to break their lease rather than going through the eviction process and making clients life easier where possible.
- Q: Under scope of services, it states that the subsidy holder must apply, or agree to apply to permanent rental assistance through appropriate PHA within 6 months of a Housing is Recovery rental subsidy. The requirement is to apply, not to necessarily to have secured stable housing in six months, correct?
A: Yes, if you're able to secure permanent housing in 6 months, fantastic, but that is unlikely. Even getting on a PHA waitlist may not be possible within 6 months depending on where the person lives. The requirement is just that the person apply as soon as they are able to.
- Q: How does this program work with Williams or Colbert class members? Is there a way to check that someone is or isn't a class member?
A: This program is not designed for Williams or Colbert class members. It's not designed for folks who are transitioning out of long term care facilities and have access to an entirely different pot of state funds and very similar subsidy programs. If there is a question about whether someone might have access to that program, please reach out to the DMH program contact, they can check that pretty easily.
- Q: The homelessness definition is not clear. can you restate it?
A: For this program, "homeless" is defined in 59 Ill. Adm. Code 145.20. An individual or family meeting the definition used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in Section 330(h)(5)(A) of the Public Health Services Act (42 U.S.C. 254(b)). A homeless individual under this definition is an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing. This includes individuals who are doubled up with other households [405 ILCS 125/3]. This definition is reflected in the administrative rule for this program as effective on May 15, 2023.
- Q: Is there a limit on the duration for eligibility? Or when a client would be discharged from the program? Is it when they achieve permanent housing?
A: This program is designed to continue operating for as long as the funding exists and clients under the program can be served indefinitely until they're linked to permanent housing, or until they're no longer Medicaid eligible or have enough income that they can move into an independent housing.
- Q: Did you say a client can remain in the program until PSH is obtained?
A: Yes, clients can remain in this program indefinitely as long as they are actively seeking permanent housing funding.
- Q: Can you please let us know again what the deadline date is?
A: Applications are due on June 13, 2023 at 12:00 PM noon, Central time. Please do not wait until the last moment to send it in. We don't want you to miss the deadline by a minute or two. We encourage you to submit the application early.
- Q: How do we close the client.
A: That's a conversation to have with the Program contact when you think you may need to close the client out of the program for a reason other than they're graduating out to a permanent housing. There is a mechanism for reporting that in the monthly participant data report. We can probably address those on more case by case basis once the program is up and running.
- Q: I see that the award range is for $300,000 to $2,000,000. Can you tell me if that is just for the provider(s) or if that award amount includes the subsidies that would be administered by them?
A: The total award amount includes subsidies administered by grantees as well as all other costs associated with meeting the contract deliverables.
- Q: The NOFO says that the grant period would begin no sooner than August 1, 2023. From that date, how quickly do you expect providers to be delivering service? In other words, what amount of ramp up time does the Division anticipate with these grants?
A: Grantees should include any ramp-up time in their grant application; we expect that services will begin being delivered as close to August 1 as possible.
- Q: Is the minimum request of $300,000 set in stone? We're a fairly small supportive housing provider, and scaling up our housing program by $300,000 would be a big stretch.
A: The award range is only an estimate. You should budget for what your agency would need to run the program.
- Q: The application format was not discussed - is there an online application form to be completed?
A: Yes, please click this for the grant application, which is available on this website.
- Q: It was my understanding that applications are for either a high risk of unnecessary institutionalization or a high risk of overdose - but one application would not cover both populations. Is that correct?
A: Applicants may apply to serve individuals with mental illness who are at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization, individuals with substance use disorder who are at high risk of overdose, or both. Applicants should clearly indicate which population(s) they are planning to serve in the "Community Identification and Need" section of their application narrative.
- Q: Can you provide clarification regarding the requirement which indicates that subsidy holders are responsible for contributing 30% of their income toward the cost of rent? Can a portion of the grant funding be used to cover hotel rooms in order to immediately provide hotel-placed housing and safety as a pipeline to subsidized apartments and recovery supports?
A: If individuals have income, they are expected to contribute 30% of it towards their housing costs, whether they are in immediate temporary housing or in a permanent housing unit.
- Q: Can grant funds be used to cover the 30% of the tenant's rent portion?
A: Grant funds should not be used to offset the tenant's 30% rent portion.
- Q: Would you be able to describe the expectations around how we budget the timing of expenses in this first year, and how that would be prorated for the award amount for subsequent years? Specifically we are thinking about the Rental Assistance/Leasing costs. For example, if we are going to target "x" # of participants housed, in this initial year it would make sense to budget those rent payments to begin in a staggered manner as we enroll people into the program, rather than budget them as if they are all going to be housed on 08/01/2023. However, for Year 2 we would of course need sufficient funding to pay 12 months' worth of rent for all "x" participants. The same goes for staffing. We likely don't need to budget all staff as of 08/01/2023 for the initial year, but we will need the funds in Year 2 to fund them all for 12 months.
A: DMH recognizes that not all staff will be hired on August 1 and that participants will enter and exit the program over the course of the year. However, grantee budgets should include the total personnel costs and subsidies for the anticipated number of participants. Budgets for the second and third years of this grant cycle will be based on performance and expenditures during the first year.
- Q: Does DMH expect that we budget only exactly what we think is needed for this initial year, or does DMH want the Year 1 Award to be calculated so that it could be directly prorated from 11 months to 12 months for Years 2/3 (for example $100,000 in Year 1 would be directly prorated to $109,090 in Year 2 [$100,000 / 11 months x 12 months])?
A: Applicants' budgets should reflect all costs associated with maintaining this program. We are only asking that applicants budget for the initial state fiscal year.
- Q: I am inquiring if there is a form to be used for the program narrative to apply for the Housing is Recovery Grant?
A: This information is location in NOFO Section D 2 Required Format and Section E:Program Narrative Criteria of the NOFO.
- Q: Our entity does not have enough structures available for rent for the number of folks who live here. Our folks are competing for vacant rentals against those with no criminal histories, no previous evictions, and steady income; what we really need in my community is acquisition/construction/rehabilitation funding. Is there any flexibility in this grant to shift from rental assistance to agencies purchasing properties, fixing them up, then renting to clients?
A: This program is only intended to subsidize rental housing, either directly or through a master lease model. While DMH recognizes that there is a shortage of affordable housing across much of the State, this grant is not intended to fund the purchase or development of property.
- Q: We would be a subcontractor for this grant. We have a behavioral health outreach team that provides wraparound services to individuals and access to recovery care. We refer to them often and therefore, they would be the desired partner to provide wraparound recovery services to the eligible participants of this grant. However, we do not bill Medicaid for these services. Would this grant still allow them to be a subcontractor?
A: If a grantee or subcontractor is delivering services to Medicaid enrollees that are Medicaid-reimbursable, these services should not be billed to the grant. In the circumstance described in this question, we would recommend linking consumers to a provider that would bill Medicaid for these services.
- Q: Would the subcontractor behavioral health case manager then have a percentage of their position reimbursable to the grant and the other percentage is expected to be billed to Medicaid, like typical Medicaid reimbursement?
A: Yes, that is accurate.
- Q: Is it allowable to budget for the rental of a two-bedroom apartment to serve as the immediate temporary housing unit?
A: If the notion is to place two unrelated individuals into a two-bedroom temporary unit, that would not be ideal, since the program is designed to provide private housing for individuals. However, DMH would be open to considering this proposal if it were included in a grant application.
- Q: Is the client pool limited to single individuals without children? Or are we allowed to house households with children in the Housing is Recovery program?
A: From the program guide: "This program is open to single-person households, except for participants with a medically necessary live-in aide."
