Notice of Funding Opportunity:

Housing Stability Counseling Program

June 2021

Funding Purpose: 

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) into law, appropriating $100 million to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, doing business as NeighborWorks® America (NeighborWorks), to fund the Housing Stability Counseling Program (HSCP). These funds are for housing counseling services, defined as (i) housing counseling provided directly to households facing housing instability, such as eviction, default, foreclosure, loss of income, or homelessness; (ii) education, outreach, training, technology upgrades, and other program related support; and (iii) operational oversight funding for grantees and sub-grantees.

Please Read Carefully: Virginia Housing is evaluating the need of the HUD Housing Counseling Network in Virginia to utilize these funds. In order for Virginia Housing to complete an application to NeighborWorks we will need to have a sufficient level of interest from the network. This Funding Opportunity will allow Virginia Housing to gather the necessary data to make that decision.

Timeline for making application decision

Timeline for Application (If applicable)

NeighborWorks anticipates making grant awards by end of August. We would continue to communicate with eligible sub-grantees once notification is received

Eligibility Criteria:

HUD Approved Local Housing Counseling Agencies or HUD Approved Participating Housing Counseling Agencies

• Local Housing Counseling Agencies must have their designation in place prior to the release of this NOFO.
• Participating Housing Counseling Agencies must have their designation in place prior to the release of this NOFO.

Program Parameters:

Approved agencies must comply with NeighborWorks HSCP Funding Opportunity and any future guidance and requirements.

The period of performance for this funding opportunity is anticipated to be September 1, 2021-February 28, 2023.

Application Process:

Agencies seeking funding should apply to Virginia Housing’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) using Virginia Housing’s Grants Management System at https://vhdagrants.com/.  For questions regarding this funding opportunity, or assistance with application submission, contact grants@virginiahousing.com

Application Requirements:

NeighborWorks has created a tiered structure for counseling services in which the client facing housing instability receives intake, triage and assessment, counseling services and follow-up. Applicants must provide all levels of counseling in their application and are expected to make best efforts to provide all levels of counseling to each client.

Client Files must meet requirements set forth in the NeighborWorks HSCP Funding Opportunity. Please read pages 11-16 in order to make accurate projections. Files that do not meet these requirements will not be eligible for funding

Sub-grantees will receive Program Related Support (PRS) funds valued at 30% of their Counseling award. PRS funds shall be used to increase housing stability program efficiencies.

Approval:

Funds will be awarded based on an assessment of the agency’s application and the availability of HCSP funds.

Selected agencies will receive a Grant Award Notification (GAN) and a Sub-grantee Agreement if approved for funds under the award. Agencies must return the Sub-grantee Agreement to Virginia Housing with signature by an authorized representative.

All applicants have the option to submit a request at Grants@VirginiaHousing.com for a debriefing within thirty (30) days of approval or denial.