Additional Funds Available for HUD-VASH to Aid Efforts to House Veterans
Applications for new funding initiative, Extraordinary Administrative Fees (EAF), considered on a first-come first-served basis until Nov. 13, 2015
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a unique and timely funding opportunity to support your community efforts to rapidly house veterans as you work toward the national goal of ending all veteran homelessness.
In response to the challenges in assisting veterans with VASH or SSVF resources in locating and moving into a unit, a NEW HUD funding initiative, known as Extraordinary Administrative Fees (EAF), is now available for communities that need additional funds for any necessary, additional or extraordinary expenses to aid current efforts. The utilization of these funds must result in an increase in lease-up rates and/or a decrease in the time it takes for a veteran to locate and move in to a unit.
HUD has set aside $10 million for this purpose. Your PHA may apply for an amount of funding that you determine is adequate to support your community to achieve the goals of this set-aside funding. Applicants are encouraged to be as creative and as innovative as possible.
Examples of eligible expenses include but are not limited to:
- Hosting a Veterans Housing or “VASH Day” to expedite the many steps in the lease up process including a one-stop for intake, issuing provisional vouchers, connecting with landlords for available units; assignment of VASH case managers; among other steps;
- Providing housing search assistance now also known as housing navigation, which may include contracting with community-based organizations to assist with housing search, navigation and other related activities
- Hosting Landlord Recruitment events and other activities to engage landlords to participate in the HUD-VASH program;
- Holding extra and coordinated briefings for HUD-VASH clients;
- Hiring temporary staff including consultants to process Request for Tenancy Approvals (RFTA) forms;
- Hiring temporary staff including consultants to serve as a Portability Coordinator for HUD-VASH clients;
- Funding for pre-inspections for units that HUD-VASH clients are likely to rent; or
- Any other services to ensure that HUD-VASH clients can move into their new homes with a voucher in the shortest time-period possible.
Attached is a letter from HUD directed to all Public Housing Agency Directors that you can use to support a dialogue with your PHA and your community partners to determine how you can put these new funds to work to achieve an end to veteran homelessness. The application process is described in the above letter. Funds will be available on a first-come first-serve basis until all funding is expended; however, no applications will be accepted after 11:59pm EST, Nov. 13, 2015.
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