Overview
The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Safe Haven Low Barrier Shelters.
Click here to download the NOFA.
Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to Apply. Letters of Intent are due Friday, November 15, 2019, by 4 PM CST.
The deadline for submitting applications to LHC is Friday, December 13, 2019, by 4 PM CST.
Details
Purpose of the NOFA
The NOFA will fund “the development and operation of a low barrier shelter with supportive services and whose mission includes serving people experiencing homelessness […] The intent of this NOFA is to address the need for shelter in [East Baton Rouge Parish] due to an increased number of people experiencing homelessness.”
In the LA BOSCOC, this NOFA is restricted to funding activities in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Amount of funding
LHC will award up to $3,700,000 under this NOFA.
Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
Non-profit organization with a mission that includes people experiencing homelessness in East Baton Rouge Parish;
Must have at least three years of demonstrated experience serving people experiencing homelessness and demonstrated capacity to coordinate supportive services from external agencies;
Must have the capacity to partner with construction firms/development organizations for the purposes of this NOFA;
Must submit, as part of the application, written certification from the CoC stating that the project is an integral, strategic component of the CoC’s resource system;
For more information about applicant eligibility, refer to section III.B of the NOFA.
Eligible activities
Requirements
All projects must:
Be located in a facility;
Target primarily people experiencing chronic homelessness in an unsheltered location;
Provide 24-hour residence for an unspecified duration to eligible participants;
Provide private or semi-private accommodations to participants;
Serve no more than 50 participants;
Provide supportive services and service referrals to participants;
Prohibit the use of illegal drugs in the facility.
Projects may also provide for the common use of kitchen facilities, dining rooms, and bathrooms.
Eligible activities include:
Supportive services: supportive services, including case management, for up to 18 months to people experiencing chronic homelessness;
Acquisition: acquisition of property to be used for the project;
Construction; construction of property to be used for the project;
Rehabilitation and demolition; rehab/demolition of site to be used for the project;
Renovation: labor, materials, tools, and other costs for renovation, including major rehabilitation or conversation of a building into a Safe Haven shelter facility;
Shelter operations: maintenance, security, equipment, utilities, food, furnishings, and supplies necessary to operate the facility;
HMIS: the costs of contributing data to the LA BOSCOC’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), including hardware, equipment, technical support, data entry and analysis, monitoring, training, and reporting;
For more information about eligible activities, particularly details about acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation, refer to section III.C and III.D of the NOFA.
Good Standing
Overview
“Good Standing” is a qualification that the LA BOSCOC awards to organizations that have consistently participated in the CoC’s operations and self-governance.
Click here to learn more about the requirements and benefits of Good Standing.
Organizations in Good Standing
Click here to view the list of organizations currently in Good Standing. (The relevant information is on the “Membership” tab under Column E.)
Waivers of Good Standing
Organizations not currently in Good Standing can request a waiver for this NOFA. A waiver will allow that organization to receive written certification from the CoC even if they aren’t currently in Good Standing.
To apply for a waiver, submit a waiver request to Gordon Levine, Continuum of Care Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov. The request must:
Organizations who have belonged to the CoC for fewer than 12 months (i.e. whose first semiannual meeting was in 2019) will receive a waiver if they state that in their written request.
Timeline for waivers of Good Standing
Written requests for waivers of Good Standing must be submitted by Friday, November 22, at 4 PM.
Written Certification for this NOFA
Overview
To successfully apply for this NOFA, organizations must submit written certification from the LA BOSCOC stating that the project is an integral, strategic component of the CoC’s resource system.
To apply for written certification, submit a request to Gordon Levine, Continuum of Care Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov. The request must:
Be on organization letterhead signed by someone with signature authority;
Include detailed information about the project, including where it will be located, its target population, how many people on a given night and in a year it will serve, availability of supportive services, and any other information the CoC might find valuable to making a determination.
Timeline for written certifications for this NOFA
Written requests for certification must be submitted by Friday, November 29, at 4 PM.
Questions?
Questions about this NOFA can be submitted to LHC at wconnor@lhc.la.gov.
Questions about the LA BOSCOC’s interaction with this NOFA can be submitted to Gordon Levine, Continuum of Care Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov.
