0620 Q&A - Housing Bridge Subsidy Administrators (200)

Q: [Agency] noticed that section A5 seems to have the performance standards associated with the MH Juvenile Justice grant rather than this grant. Are there different performance measurements for this grant?
A: Section A5 Performance Standards should state:
1. 100% of consumers referred for PSH meet certification requirements.
2. 100% of first Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections completed.
3. 100% completed within 4 days.
4. 100% of HQS re-inspections completed.
5. 100% of annual HQS inspections completed.
6. 100% of agreements met FMR/HUD.
7. 100% of BHAP contracts executed on behalf of the consumer.
8. 100% of rental subsidies paid by the prescribed due date, as calculated based on the consumer paying his/her portion.
Q: Is this grant regionalized?
A: Yes, this funding opportunity is not limited to those who currently have an award. This funding opportunity is limited to Mental Health agencies located in Chicago and collar counties.
Q: Do you anticipate any variables in the Housing Bridge Subsidy Administrators (200) for SY22 - such as additional clients which would need to be included for additional rents - or should the budget be the same as SY21?
A: There are no indications to suggest an increase of transition numbers especially with pandemic and other variants still looming and may continue to influence transition numbers. Hence, DMH suggests for current grantees to budget the same as SFY21 with anticipation of a few more transitions. For applicants that are not already grantees budgets should be reflective of the amount anticipated in order to provide the services outlined in the NOFO.
Q: Is it allowable to submit a letter(s) of support?
A: It is allowable to submit a letter(s) of support.
Q: To confirm: a PDF copy of the budget should not be submitted (unless the applicant is submitting a sub recipient budget, which is only a mandatory form if applicable- correct)?
A: That is correct, a PDF copy of the applicant's agency's budget should not be submitted with their application package; the applicant's budget must be done in the CSA System. It is mandatory for the applicant to submit a PDF budget for any subrecipients they may have.
Q: For Section D-5 - Budget requirements D-5(a) indicates that the pdf of the budget template can be used as a tool but should not be included in the application packet. Then on H-5 Mandatory forms H-5(c) lists the budget template as a mandatory form which D-5(a) indicates not to send with application packet. I did look at the template and it is just like the GATA budget in the CSA tracking system. I am unclear as to why we would need to use this template if we are now able to roll forward the GATA budget in the CSA system and whether this needs to be a part of the applications packet or not. It seems very duplicative of completing the GATA budget in CSA, but I may be missing something in this and we definitely want to be sure to get you everything that you need.
A: Per the NOFO, Section D3c, states: "i. All subrecipient budget(s) with narrative must be included with the application package. ii. Subrecipient budgets shall be submitted on the DHS/DMH Budget template (GOMBGATU-3002-(R-02-17)". This is distinguishing that a PDF budget must be submitted for only sub recipients you may have, with your application package rather than your agency's budget which is submitted in the CSA System. The reference to the PDF budget again is found at the end of the NOFO under Mandatory Forms. Number 3 states "Subrecipient Budget(s) Template GOMBGATU-3002-(R-02-17)". Again this is listed separately in order to distinguish between your sub recipients and your agency's budget. Therefore, applicants are not required to use the PDF version of the budget template unless they have a sub recipient in their CSA budget.
Q: Is this NOFO just for housing location for people referred to the bridge subsidy? OR, does it also pay for services for people in this subsidy program?
A: It only pays for operational expenses (direct and indirect cost) to pay rent to all units subsidized with bridge subsidy and properly administer the full scope of subsidy administration similar to public housing authorities. This include HQS inspection, annual recertification, etc.
Q: If the NOFO does not cover services is there a separate NOFO out or coming out soon to cover that?
A: We don't expect our subsidy administrators to service the mental health class population.
Q: What is the referral process for people at-risk of institutionalization/hospitalization? Many of our providers serve people who have a mental illness and are at-risk of institutionalization or frequently go into emergency rooms.
A: Not sure other than people who are admitted to the hospital with mental Illness are screened for nursing home eligibility recommended by a clinical psychologist.
Q: I have a question about the HBSA application. I noticed the following in the NOFO: Applicants must submit a program plan which supports the level of funding (See NOFO Summary Information above) and detailed service delivery and deliverables (See Section A). Is the Program Plan different than the 10-page Program Proposal (as in- an additional document that needs to be submitted along with the program proposal)?
A: The program plan referenced in Section B is the same as the 10-page Program Proposal. This reference is stating that the information must be included in the Program Proposal. An additional document is not needed.