83C Attachment-7 (NOFA)

Summary of Changes Made in FY 2018 Housing Counseling NOFA

10/24/2017

General

• There is no longer a General Section to the NOFA. The Grants Management Office (GMO) provided a template to drafters with standardized language that is required content in every NOFA. In the redlined version, the template language is in gray shaded text.

• LHCA and Intermediary/SHFA/MSOs will now have separate sets of application forms.

  • The LHCA set, HUD-9906-L, is entitled, “Local Housing Counseling Agency (LHCA) Application.” Charts for LHCA applicants are now designated A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, and G1.

  • The Intermediary/SHFA/MSO set, HUD-9906-P, is entitled, “Intermediary, State Housing Finance Agency, and Multi-State Organization Application.” Charts for Intermediary/SHFA/MSO applicants are now designated A2, B2, C2, D2, E2, F2, and G2. Mandatory excel spreadsheets must be submitted with Charts A2 and D2.

• Updated dates to reflect grant period.

Preference Points

• There are no longer Preference Points for Preferred Sustainability Status Communities (PSSC).

• New for FY 2018: Applicants will have the opportunity to earn preference points for emergency preparedness and/or disaster recovery. Promise Zone preference points are still available.

Rating Factor 1

• HUD-9906 Chart A, Field N: replaced with new language so that applicants may indicate whether they have any HUD-certified housing counselors on staff.

Rating Factor 2

• Changed “geographically isolated agency” language to “Sole Agency Providing Housing Counseling Services in Target Area” because applicants may have misunderstood or misinterpreted “geographically isolated” to mean “rural.”

Rating Factor 5

• Adjusted point value of Program Evaluation on Chart A. Decreased to 5 points (from 6 points). Moved extra point to Grant Expenditure History (below).

• Adjusted point value of Grant Expenditure History. Increased to 3 points (from 2 points). Applicants will earn points based on amount of funds expended during performance period.

Reporting Requirements

• Section VI.C.6: Added new paragraph “Reporting Changes in Composition and/or Number of Network of Sub-grantees and Funded Branches.” By including this paragraph, HUD reserves the right to adjust the award amount granted through the NOFA should the size of the network change significantly from that proposed in the grant application.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing

• Other Program and Grant Agreement Requirements and Obligations –See Section III.E.2.l. Added information from HUD AFFH website to clarify definition of AFFH.

• Consulted with FHEO staff and it was agreed the NOFA should retain current AFFH language until AFFH guidance is finalized.

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