LAST UPDATED: Friday, July 21st, 2023

In this page: Description | Considerations For Funding | Terms For Funding | Policy & Priorities | HUD Threshold Requirements | New Projects |  Bonus Funding | Instructions | Support Documents

View 2023 Competition Press Release

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Description

MS Balance of State CoC is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Continuum of Care funding cycle. This funding will renew/fund projects that have end dates in 2024 and continue through 2025.

MS Balance of State CoC will conduct an analysis of new and renewal projects to determine the extent to which each project addresses the goals of:

• Addressing Individual Unsheltered Homelessness
• Addressing homelessness in geographical regions of MS Balance of State CoC with the highest populations of homelessness
• Addressing Chronic Homelessness

MS Balance of State CoC may reduce and/or eliminate funds for renewal projects to develop new projects through the reallocation of those funds. Projects that are underperforming, obsolete, or ineffective may be reduced or eliminated. Projects applying for funding are subject to a review that will be conducted which may include surveying community partners and/or site visits.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR FUNDING

To be considered for funding, applicants must have at least 1 year of data in the MS Balance of State AWARDS HMIS, OR if providing services to victims of domestic violence applicants must participate in a comparable database. If an applicant does not have a year of data in HMIS or a comparable database, they must meet HUD’s project capacity threshold. Also, all CoC application submissions must be in conformity with the CoC’s system-wide written program standards (click to view the standards).

POLICY PRIORITIES

MS Balance of State CoC will follow HUD’s policy priorities for the FY2023 Program Competition, currently found in the FY2023 NOFO:

1. Ending homelessness for all persons. To end homelessness, CoCs should identify, engage, and effectively serve all persons experiencing homelessness. CoCs should measure their performance based on local data that consider the challenges faced by all subpopulations experiencing homelessness in the geographic area. CoCs should partner with housing, health care, and supportive services providers to expand housing options, such as permanent supportive housing, housing subsidies, and rapid rehousing. Additionally, CoCs should use local data to determine the characteristics of individuals and families with the highest needs and longest experiences of homelessness to develop housing and supportive services tailored to their needs.
2. Use a Housing First Approach. CoC Program funded projects should help individuals and families move quickly into permanent housing, and CoCs should measure and help projects reduce the length of time people experience homelessness. Additionally, CoCs should engage landlords and property owners to identify housing units available for rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing participants, remove barriers to entry, and adopt client-centered service methods. HUD encourages CoCs to assess how well Housing First approaches are being implemented in their communities.
3. Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness. CoCs should explore all available resources, including CoC and ESG-funded assistance, housing subsidies, and supportive services to provide permanent housing options for people who are unsheltered. CoCs should work with law enforcement and their state and local governments to eliminate policies and practices that criminalize homelessness.
4. Improving System Performance. CoCs should be using system performance measures to determine how effectively they are serving people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, CoCs should use their Coordinated Entry process to promote participant choice, coordinate homeless assistance and mainstream housing, and services to ensure people experiencing homelessness receive assistance quickly, and make homelessness assistance open, inclusive, and transparent. CoCs should review all projects eligible for renewal in FY 2023 to determine their effectiveness in serving people experiencing homelessness, including cost-effectiveness. CoCs should also look for opportunities to implement continuous quality improvement and other process improvement strategies.
5. Partnering with Housing, Health and Service Agencies. Using cost performance and outcome data, CoCs should improve how all available resources are utilized to end homelessness. HUD encourages CoCs to maximize the use of mainstream and other community-based resources when serving persons experiencing homelessness and should:
   • Work closely with public and private healthcare organizations and assist program participants to receive primary care, receive housing related services, and obtain medical insurance to address healthcare needs. 
   • Partner closely with PHAs and state and local housing organizations to utilize coordinated entry, develop housing units, and provide housing subsidies to people experiencing homelessness. 
   • Partner with local workforce development centers to improve employment opportunities. 
   • Work with Tribal organizations to ensure that Tribal members can access CoC funded assistance when a CoC’s geographic area borders a Tribal area. 
6. Racial Equity. CoCs should review local policies, procedures, and processes with attention to identifying barriers that result in racial disparities and taking steps to eliminate barriers to improve racial equity and to address disparities.
7. Improving Assistance to LGBTQ+ individuals. CoCs should address the needs LGBTQ+, transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals and families in their planning processes. Additionally, when considering which projects to select in their local competition to be included in their application to HUD, CoCs should ensure privacy, respect, safety, and access regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation in projects. CoCs should also consider partnering with organizations with expertise in serving LGBTQ+ populations. 
8. Persons with Lived Experience. HUD expects CoCs to include people with lived homeless expertise and experience in their local planning and decision-making process. CoC leaders and stakeholders should prioritize hiring people who have experienced homelessness in areas where their expertise is needed. 
9. Increasing Affordable Housing Supply. CoCs should be communicating with jurisdiction leaders about the harmful effects of the lack of affordable housing, and they should engage local leaders about steps such as zoning and land use reform that would increase the supply of affordable housing. This FY 2023 CoC NOFO awards points to CoCs that take steps to engage local leaders about increasing affordable housing supply.

HUD THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS

1. Applicant has active System for Award Management (SAM) registration with current information. To register for SAM, see instructions here.
2. Applicant has valid Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number in application. To apply for a DUNS number, see instructions here.
3. Applicant has no outstanding delinquent Federal debts– it is HUD policy, consistent with the purposes and intent of 31 USC 3720B and 28 USC 3201(e), that applicants with outstanding delinquent federal debt will not be eligible to receive an award of funds unless: (a) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and the repayment schedule is not delinquent, or (b) other arrangements satisfactory to HUD are made before the award of funds by HUD.
4. Applicant has no Debarment and/or Suspensions from doing business with the Federal Government.
5. Disclosed any violations of Federal criminal law.
6. Submitted the required certifications as specified in the FY23 Competition NOFO
7. Demonstrated the population to be served meets program eligibility requirements as described in the Act, and project application clearly established eligibility of project applicants. This includes any additional eligibility criteria for certain types of projects contained in  the FY23 Competition NOFO.
8. Agreed to participate in the Continuum of Care’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
9.  (If renewal project application) Met HUD expectations, including: (a) applicant performance met the plans and goals established in the initial application,(b) the applicant demonstrated timeliness standards for grant being renewed and expenditure of grant funds, (c) the applicants performance in assisting program participants to achieve and maintain independence living and records of success
10. Met financial expectations as set forth by HUD including (a) Registering for the electronic Line of Credit Control System (eLOCCS – see registration instruction here) (b) Having Accounting Software (c) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (c) Annual A-133 audits (d) and other requirements as set forth by HUD
11. Demonstrate Project is Consistent with Jurisdictional Consolidated Plan(s). The Balance of State CoC’s coverage area be viewed here: https://msbos.org/coverage/ 

NEW PROJECTS

New projects can only be:

• New permanent supportive housing projects that will serve 100% chronically homeless families and individuals (Dedicated PLUS)
• New rapid re-housing projects that will serve homeless individuals and families coming directly from the streets or emergency shelters, and includes persons fleeing domestic violence situations and other persons meeting the criteria of paragraph (4) of the definition of homelessness. This includes unaccompanied youth.
• Joint transitional housing (TH) and permanent housing-rapid rehousing (PH-RRH) component projects that will serve homeless individuals and families including those fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (see NOFO for further details).
• Dedicated HMIS project (for the HMIS Lead only)
• Supportive Services project to develop or operate a centralized or coordinated assessment system. Only one SSO-CE project can funded within a competition year.

BONUS FUNDING

REGULAR BONUS FUNDING: HUD has also made funds available through a bonus for new projects. The CoC is eligible to apply for up to 7 percent of its Final Pro Rata Need (FPRN). The CoC may create one of the following type of new projects:

• PH-PSH;
• PH-RRH;
• Joint TH and PH-RRH;
• HMIS (dedicated) and;
• SSO-CE

DV FUNDING BONUS: HUD has made funds available through a Domestic Violence bonus for new projects. There is 10% of PPRN available for up to 3 new projects in this grant cycle. This includes funds for rapid re-housing projects and supportive service projects providing coordinated entry and for eligible activities that the Secretary determines are critical in order to assist survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The CoC may create up to 3 of the following type of new projects:

• PH-RRH projects,
• Joint TH and PH-RRH component projects,
• or SSO projects for coordinated entry (SSO-CE)

INSTRUCTIONS

All project applications (new, renewals, and reallocations) must be completed in e-snaps, the electronic grants management system used by HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS). If you are new to the system, click the links below to access and register for e-snaps.

• e-snaps – Homepage
• If you do not have an e-snaps user account, select “Create a Profile” from the e-snaps log-in page.

A separate application must be completed in the system for each project submission, with the following attachments:

• Most recent APR (if applicable)
• Most recent A-133 Audit or certified Financial Statements
• Copy of 501© (3) documentation
• Copy of BoS Membership Certificate indicating HMIS compliance (apply here)
• Copy of Agency Code of Conduct

NOTE: This application is to only ensure that projects meet the minimal threshold requirements of the CoC. If the application meets the minimal requirement the applicant will be included in the CoC Competition for rating and review. Applicants will receive written notice that their project has been accepted and will be ranked as part of the CoC Consolidated Application, or that their application has been denied and the reason for denial.

The letter of intent deadline is Monday, August 7th, 2023. Application deadline is Friday, August 25th, 2023 at 11:59PM. Questions about the CoC’s Application process can be directed to the CoC Director Hannah Maharrey (hmaharrey@msbos.org).

Support Documents

• CoC Written Program Standards (rev. 12-2022)
• Continuum of Care Interim Rule , Federal Register Vol. 77, No. 147, 24 CFR Part 578 (Published July 31, 2012)
• FY 2023 CoC Program NOFO
• CoC Application Appeals Process
• e-snaps – Homepage
• How to Register for System for Award Management (SAM)
• Applying for a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number
• Electronic Line of Credit Control System (eLOCCS) Registration Guide

Competition timeline

Date	Event
Friday, July 21st, 2023	Public Notification of the FY2023 NOFO and Funding Competition
Monday, August 7th, 2023	Deadline for Letters of Intent to Apply for Competition [due by 11:59pm]
Monday, August 14th, 2023	FY2023 Funding Competition Office Hours (Online)
Monday, August 21st, 2023	FY2023 Funding Competition Office Hours (Online)
Friday, August 25th, 2023	Deadline for FY2023 Project Application in eSnaps [due by 11:59pm]
Thursday, September 7th, 2023	FY2023 CoC Funding Competition Rank and Review
Wednesday, September 13th, 2023	Notification of Applicant Rejection/Reduction, and/or Ranking
Thursday, September, 28th, 2023	Continuum of Care Application Due