From: SSVF

Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 8:05 AM

Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday October 11, 2024

This weekly update is targeted towards the SSVF Grantees and shared with valuable partners for awareness.

October 11, 2024

DUE: FY23 and Shallow Subsidy Financial End of Year Closeout Due November 15, 2024

REMINDER: SSVF Monthly National Webinar - Engagement with Unsheltered Veterans or those staying in Encampments October 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET

RESOURCE: SSVF Veteran Families Incentives Flyer

RESOURCE: Homeless Prevention Services Update for FY25

RESOURCE: SSVF Guidance on Administrative Cost Allocation for FY 25

DUE: FY23 and Shallow Subsidy Financial End of Year Closeout Due November 15, 2024

The FY23 and Shallow Subsidy Financial End of Year Closeouts are due by 11/15/24. Please review the End of Year Closeout Webinar with detailed instructions for completion using a new format intended to reduce administrative burden for grantees.

Final Drawdown: Incur expenses by 9/30/24 and complete final drawdown
SF-425 Federal Financial Reports (FFR): Complete, submit, and certify two Final FFRs in the HHS Payment Management System (PMS); one for FY23 account (zzzz-zz-zzz-23) and one for Shallow Subsidy account (zzzz-zz-zzzSS)
Survey Monkey Link: SSVF Program Office emailed adjusted award amount and a survey monkey link for each award. The required submissions include certification questions, grantee report of actual expenditures by category, and variance explanation.

REMINDER: SSVF Monthly National Webinar - Engagement with Unsheltered Veterans or those staying in Encampments October 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET

The SSVF Program Office in collaboration with our technical assistance team will provide information about working with unsheltered Veterans or those staying in encampments across the United States. We will discuss best practices for addressing encampment outreach, information about use of emergency housing assistance (EHA) with Veterans having limited temporary housing options, and the critical collaboration with VA and non-VA partners to quickly address permanent housing needs.

NOTE: The monthly SSVF Program Office webinar date has been moved to October 24, 2024, at 2:00pm ET.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E8m5r9aSSCG4t9AHoXc9xQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

RESOURCE: SSVF Veteran Families Incentives Flyer

The SSVF Program Office is pleased to announce the development of a SSVF Veteran Families Incentives Flyer. SSVF Grantees may use this when engaging landlords for rental units. This flyer provides basic information about SSVF rental assistance and incentives for landlords and Veterans. This flyer is being distributed to other VA Homeless Program Office, but it is also recommended this flyer be provided to your local VAMC partners for awareness of this resource.

NOTE: There is space on the document to add specific contact information for your SSVF grant.

Links to flyer: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/Veteran-Families-Incentives-for-Landlords-Flyer.pdf or https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Veteran_Families_Incentives Flyer.pdf

RESOURCE: Homeless Prevention Services Update for FY25

The SSVF Program Office will be extending the Rapid Rehousing Waiver period to October 1, 2025. This will allow grantees the flexibility to address the needs identified within their service area. Despite the shift, Grantees may still be asked to demonstrate how they will continue to prioritize Veterans experiencing literal homelessness in their service area, to ensure resources are available for this priority group.

SSVF’s Homelessness Prevention (HP) assistance is intended to prevent Veteran families from losing housing resulting in literal homelessness, it is not an eviction prevention program. As Veteran households present for HP support, it will be imperative that grantees conduct intentional Rapid Resolution conversations, as not all who are losing their current housing will result in homeless. It is important to explore other safe and appropriate housing options that may be available while they work on a pathway back to their housing goal. Such Veterans may be enrolled under Stage 1 under Homelessness Prevention and provided Rapid Resolution services and supports that would help them avoid literal homelessness without the need for significant Temporary Financial Assistance. Per the 2021 HP Companion Guide, Veterans may be enrolled under Stage 1 if they indicate they anticipate becoming homeless in the next 30 days and grantees can use Rapid Resolution and services such as legal assistance even if the Veteran household does not qualify for or need more intensive financial supports.

As a reminder, the SSVF Program Office released the updated HP screening tool in September of 2021, HP Screening Tool. The SSVF Program Office will be reviewing HP Threshold scores submitted with your FY25 Resolution to ensure that all grantees have reviewed and adjusted their scores to ensure the needs of the community can be met with this extended waiver.

Contact your Regional Coordinator should you have any questions about this waiver extension.

RESOURCE: SSVF Guidance on Administrative Cost Allocation for FY 25

The SSVF Program Office would like to provide additional information and updates regarding the methods to account for administrative costs. As stated in SSVF regulations eCFR :: 38 CFR 62.70 -- Financial management and administrative costs. a maximum of 10% of your grant award total may be used for administrative costs. Administrative costs are defined as all direct and indirect costs associated with the management of the program. These costs include the administrative costs, both direct and indirect, of subcontractors.

Beginning in FY 25, SSVF will transition to include additional methods to account for administrative costs. The methods to account for administrative costs include:

1. Traditional Administrative

2. De Minimis

3. Indirect Cost Rate (current ICR or negotiate an ICR with VA Homeless Programs)

Each SSVF Grantee must elect on their FY 25 budget resolution which administrative costs method will be used for FY 25. Regardless of the method used, administrative costs must be segregated in the General Ledger (GL) and remain capped at 10 percent. Modified Administrative Cost Approach (MACA) will no longer be an option for administrative costs in FY 25. Further guidance and technical support will be offered to assist with this transition. Please ensure fiscal staff are aware of this updated guidance. If you have any questions please contact your Regional Coordinator or email ssvf@va.gov .