FY 2013 NOFA Planning and Advocacy December 17, 2013 The best way to prepare your NOFA application and ensure you have the biggest impact Presenters: Kelly King Horne Kate Seif Norm Suchar
Lines are muted to facilitate this call. Introductory Logistics Submit Questions! A recording of this webinar will be posted online / emailed in the next few days If you have questions during the webinar, submit them in the question box on your control panel. We will answer as many questions as possible at the end of the webinar.
Agenda Welcome and Introductions Where things stand for FY 2014 and what s next How to use this NOFA to make an impact Key takeaways of the FY 2013 NOFA and best approaches for your applications Community Example: Richmond, VA Questions and Answers
Federal Budget Where Things Stand Conference committee reached a deal on FY 2014 topline number $1 trillion (more than House, less than Senate) Eases sequestration in FY 2014 and FY 2015 by $63 billion Appropriators working on FY 2014 NOW Will need to write new bills process and HUD funding remain unclear Likely to finalize FY 2014 funding by January 15
McKinney-Vento Funding Levels Senate (Appropriations Committee) House (Appropriations Committee) President (Budget Proposal) McKinney (total) $2.26 billion $2.088 billion $2.381 billion ESG (minimum) $336 million $200 million $346 million CoC Renewals Covered presequestration; no new projects Covered postsequestration; no new projects Covered presequestration; new PSH projects
Tier 2 Could result in up to 5% cuts to your CoC These cuts a direct result of sequestration and congressional funding decisions Unfortunately, cuts in this NOFA are here to stay But future cuts CAN be avoided FY 2014 funding bills offer an opportunity for an INCREASE Medicaid expansion: NOFA awards points for health care engagement Cuts in the NOFA
What You Can Do Work to make sure your Members know how detrimental a 5% cut is to your efforts Encourage your Members to provide an INCREASE to McKinney programs in final FY 2014 funding bills Short time period to capitalize on blank slate Engage in state advocacy to encourage Medicaid expansion in your state
What s Next Congress on recess for the holidays until early January Will immediately begin working on funding bills upon their return Likely to finish funding bills by January 15 FY 2014 NOFA will come out shortly after that Medicaid coverage: Ongoing
Contact Information Kate Seif Policy Outreach Coordinator cseif@naeh.org / 202.942.8256 http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/fy-2014- mckinney-campaign
NOFA Overview and Strategies
NOFA Overview Outcomes Chronic Homelessness Rapid Re-Housing HMIS Coordination Governance
Opportunities and Challenges Project Ranking and Tiering Reallocation Prioritizing Admissions
Project Ranking and Tiering It s Much Better to Prioritize Projects and Avoid the Urge To Make Across the Board Cuts Prioritizing is like exercise. It s always easiest not to exercise, and there are a hundred reasons not to exercise (there isn t enough time, it s too difficult, I don t have the right equipment, I don t want to get hurt), but at the end of the day, the right thing to do is to exercise.
Project Ranking and Tiering Contribution to Community Outcomes (Length of Homeless Episodes, Return to Homelessness, Income and Benefits, etc.) Project Type (PSH, RRH) Community Need (Especially Household Configuration)
Reallocation: Issues to Consider Reallocate From Any Project To PSH & RRH PSH for Chronic Homelessness RRH for Families with Children Some Types of Reallocation Provider Changing Program Type From Many Projects to Create a New Project From One Provider to Another Reallocation From Underutilizing Projects For Projects that Consistently Return Funds Timing: Consider a two-year reallocation process. This will help minimize the problems with funding gaps and timing and will provide time for the transition No Take Backs HUD Allows Requesting Less Than FMR
Prioritize Admissions The NOFA Has Incentives For Making Chronic Homelessness a Priority For PSH Units Upon Turnover
Plan Long-Term Year-Round Focus on Outcomes Resource Allocation Strategy System Design Governance
Focus on Outcomes The Columbus Model http://www.endhomelessness.org/library /entry/the-columbus-model-becoming-adata-driven-system
Focus on Outcomes EveryOne Home Measuring Progress Achieving Outcomes http://www.everyonehome.org/measurin g-success.html
Create a Resource Allocation Plan
Model the Impact of Changes Sample Chart from the Performance Improvement Calculator
Good Governance makes the difference between a community that aspires but never moves forward, and one that makes steady progress toward its goals. Strong Competent Staffed Trusted
Greater Richmond Continuum of Care 23
Community Background First CoC application submitted in 1997 Strong providers; good mix Funding does not reflect current realities (target pops and program types) HUD funding in the region HUD CoC $ = approx. 10% of homeless system Performance measurement happens in other ways besides just CoC process 24
Investment in Data We love HMIS for outcomes Community Background Point-in-time counts for demographic, relative % s, and unmet needs Other studies help us set priorities Our goal is system change to end homelessness for our neighbors 25
Performance Measurement & Reallocation Who does performance measurement for HUD process How we do performance measurement Reallocating $ to align with data and outcomes Plans for enhancement 26
Role of Ranking Committee Regional CoC with a lot of providers and 8 jurisdictions Ranking Committee Local government staff with oversight of federal funds Private funders of homeless services Service providers with no history of CoC funding Formerly homeless Some technical expertise, in-depth knowledge of providers 27
Ranking Committee & Performance Measurement Training on performance measurement (Webinar on how to read an APR) Focus on the unique purpose of HUD CoC dollars Exits to permanent housing because we know we can end homelessness Use PIT data to guide right-sizing of system over time (i.e. 30% of HUD funds used to support families who are only 25% of our system) What we look at APR outcomes Length of Stay Who was served (barrier levels) Spend down rates Income and thoroughness of reach 28
Linking Performance to Reallocation Review of data and outcomes and current mix of programs funded Review of regional priorities (Ten Year Plan, other data studies) Review of community funding Remind ourselves that some very good and important programs don t fit in this pool of funding! 29
Capturing unspent funds for new priority programs Reallocation Shift to priority programs types (from TH to RRH) Because RRH is working and costs less Part of an overall community change De-funded programs that may be effective but are not focused on exits to permanent housing Requires knowledgeable committee members Need to advocate for other kinds of funding 30
Just developing CoC governance Where we d like to go More community-based; less reliance solely on Homeward staff Ranking Committee is core of new structure Performance Measurement Committee Incremental change over time Homeward continues to educate funders about range of needs and good outcomes 31
Advocacy Work with the State and our state coalition (Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness) Messages Stats on outcomes more than stories (infographics) Business case Our part of the government is working. We leverage a lot of money. Don t punish success. Relate to state priorities (veterans) Everyone in RVA is now a champion for rapid rehousing 32
Questions
Kelly King Horne kkhorne@homewardva.org Thank you for joining. Kate Seif cseif@naeh.org Norm Suchar A link to the slides will be emailed to all webinar participants and a recording of this webinar will be posted on the Alliance s website soon. nsuchar@naeh.org