The Maine Continuum of Care (MCOC) invites interested eligible agencies, including agencies that have not previously received CoC grants, to apply for funding to create housing and related services for those experiencing homelessness in Maine.

This summary provides highlights of some of the important information in the FY 2019 CoC NOFA, but it is not intended to be exhaustive or complete. All potential applicants must read the full NOFA and all HUD and esnaps guidance for additional details.

Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Continuum of Care Program Competition

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6000-N-25

Primary CFDA Number: 14.267

Due Date for Applications: Full CoC Level Application Due 9/30/2019.

All Maine Continuum of Care New and Renewal Project Level Applications are due in esnaps no later than 8/30/2019 to allow time for review, scoring and ranking.

The full NOFA announcement and additional information is available at:

https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/e-snaps/fy-2019-coc-program-nofa-coc-program-competition/#nofa-and-notices

Applicants are required to complete and submit their applicationsvia esnaps. More information about esnaps, including detailed instructions and guidance can be found on the e-snaps page.

Training and Resources: The CoC Program interim rule (24 CFR part 578 published July 31, 2012 at 77 CFR 45422), training materials, detailed instructions, and program resources are available via the HUD Exchange at https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/

The HUD Exchange Ask A Question (AAQ). HUD Exchange AAQ is accessible 24 hours each day at https://www.hudexchange.info/program-support/my-question/  for questions regarding regulatory or programmatic requirements, or access to/functionality of esnaps. Always check the FAQ list first to see if your question has already been addressed.

HUD Homeless Assistance Mailing List: If you have not already done so, we encourage you to subscribe to relevant HUD Mailing Lists by visiting:https://www.hudexchange.info/mailinglist/

For Further Information: Questions regarding Maine CoC specific requirements should be directed to MaineHousing at gro.g1566089298nisuo1566089298henia1566089298m@kse1566089298dpleh1566089298coc1566089298 . This notice and other MCOC related information will be posted on the www.MaineHomelessPlanning.org website. MCOC encourages all interested parties to subscribe to this site to receive notices of any new posts.

Available Funds: HUD is again using the Tier 1, Tier 2 funding methodology but with one minor adjustment for 2019. Tier 1 is now equal to 100% of the Annual Renewal Demand (ARD) amount for the CoC’s first time Renewals and 94% of ARD of all other eligible renewal grants. For Maine, our 2019 total ARD is $12,373,012 and our total Tier 1 amount $11,636,633. Our Tier 2 amount is the difference between the Tier 1 amount and the CoC’s total ARD, $736,379 plus a 5% ARD Bonus of $618,651 for one or more eligible New Projects that meet the project eligibility and threshold requirements established by HUD in the NOFA. In addition, there is a DV Bonus of $566,367 and Planning Grant funding of $371,190 (only the Collaborative Applicant may apply for Planning Grant funds).

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are identified in Section V.A. of the NOFA.

Eligible Costs: 24 CFR 578.37 through 578.63 identify the eligible costs for which funding may be requested under the CoC Program. HUD will reject any requests for ineligible costs.

Local Competition Deadlines: HUD Requires that all Project Applications must be submitted to the CoC no later than 30 days before the CoC Application deadline of September 30, 2019. The CoC must notify all Project Applicants no later than 15 days before the final FY 2019 CoC Application deadline whether their Project Applications will be accepted and ranked, rejected, or reduced as part of the CoC Consolidated Application submission.

For Maine: All project applications (both new and renewal) must be submit in esnaps no later than August 30, 2019.  Applicants will be notified of the MCoC Scoring and Ranking results no later than September 13, 2019.

Please note that MCOC is requiring each Applicant, both New and Renewal, to also submit letters documenting Match Funding commitments and a Self-Certification statement regarding the financial feasibility of the Project. These additional documents are not part of the esnaps application and must be emailed separately to gro.g1566089298nisuo1566089298henia1566089298m@stt1566089298ibbit1566089298s1566089298

MCOC Request for Renewal Project Applications: Renewal Projects will be reviewed based on annual Monitoring results and any new information found in their 2019 Renewal Application.

While the Application is not required to be submitted in esnaps until August 30, 2019, MCOC requests that each Renewal Applicant provide the following information to gro.g1566089298nisuo1566089298henia1566089298m@stt1566089298ibbit1566089298s1566089298 for each eligible Renewal Project listed under their agency on the 2019 Grant Inventory Worksheet (GIW) found at: https://files.hudexchange.info/reports/published/CoC_GIW_CoC_ME-500-2019_ME_2019_20190506.xlsx , no later than 4:00 PM on Tuesday August 6, 2019:

1. Does your agency intend to Renew the Grant(s)?
   1. If NO, will the funds be available for Reallocation?
2. Does your agency intend to Expand the Grant(s)?
   1. If yes, please see the New Project section, below.
3. Does your agency intend to Transition the Grant(s)?
   1. If yes, please see New Project section, below.
4. Does your agency intend to Consolidate 2 or more Grants?
   1. If yes, please indicate which Grants.

MCOC Request for New Project Applications, Expansion Applications, and Transition Applications: New, Expansion, and Transition Project proposals will be reviewed based primarily on their 2019 Project Applications submitted via esnaps no later than August 30, 2019. However, in order to better plan and coordinate resources, MCOC requests that all agencies intending to submit a New, Expansion, or Transition Project Application provide the following information to gro.g1566089298nisuo1566089298henia1566089298m@stt1566089298ibbit1566089298s1566089298 for each Project, no later than 4:00 PM on Tuesday August 6, 2019:

1. Description of the proposed new/expansion/transition activities, services, staffing or capacity. Please include specific figures of current and proposed eligible activities.

2. Description of the community’s need for the proposed activities.

3. Description of the target population to be served.

4. Description of your agency’s understanding of or experience working with the population you are proposing to serve.

5. Description of how the project activities will assist clients to access mainstream resources, increase incomes, rapidly access safe, affordable housing that meets their needs, and maximize their ability to live independently.

6. If the proposal includes development of new housing, describe the type, size, number, and location(s) of the housing units.

CoC Program Implementation. The following list highlights important information and concepts. This is not an exhaustive list of considerations or requirements. All applicants and CoC stakeholders should carefully review 24 CFR part 578, the FY 2019 CoC NOFA, and other HUD instructions and guidance for comprehensive information.

   HUD’s Homeless Policy Priorities

• Ending homelessness for all persons.
• Create a systemic response to homelessness.
• Strategically allocating and using resources.
• Using an Evidence-Based approach.
• Increasing employment.
• Providing Flexibility for Housing First with Service Participation Requirements

1. Performance-Based Decisions: CoCs cannot receive grants for new projects, other than through reallocation, unless the CoC competitively ranks projects based on how they improve system performance; HUD is increasing the share of the CoC score that is based on performance criteria; and HUD will prioritize funding for CoCs that have demonstrated the ability to reallocate resources to higher performing projects.
   1. New Projects: New Projects can be created though Reallocation or CoC Bonus funding. They can be Permanent Housing-Permanent Supportive Housing (PH-PSH), Permanent Housing-Rapid Re-Housing (PH-RRH), Joint Transitional and Permanent Housing – Rapid-Rehousing (TH & PH-RRH), Dedicated HMIS, or Supportive Services Only for Coordinated Entry (SSO-CE).
   1. Domestic Violence (DV) Bonus. In the FY 2019 CoC Program Competition, a CoC may apply for DV Bonus funding for one or more Permanent Housing-Rapid Re-Housing (PH-RRH) projects, Joint Transitional Housing and Permanent Housing – Rapid Re-Housing (TH/PH-RRH) component projects and/or Supportive Services Only for Coordinated Entry (SSO-CE) projects.
   1. Transition Grants. A Transition Grant allows an agency with an eligible renewal grant that is being eliminated through reallocation to apply to transition that grant from one project type to another over the course of a one year term.
   1.  Expansion Project. The process by which an eligible renewal project applicant submits a new project application to expand its current operations by adding units, beds, persons served, services provided to existing program participants, or in the case of HMIS, increase the current HMIS grant activities within the CoC’s geographic area.
   1.  Consolidated Project. Eligible renewal project applicants will have the ability to consolidate two or more eligible renewal projects (but no more than four projects) into one project application during the application process.

Project Application Scoring/Ranking criteria:

Please refer to the “MCOC FY19 Scoring Criteria and Ranking Procedures” document which will be posted on the www.mainehomelessplanning.org website as soon as they are finalized and approved.  

Additional information related to MCOC in general and this NOFA competition in particular will be posted on the www.mainehomelessplanning.org website. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to subscribe to this site in order to receive automatic notifications whenever new information is posted there.

MCOC meets regularly on the third Thursday of each month from 1:00PM to 3:00PM at several group locations and via teleconferencing for those not able to attend at one of the group sites. Please see the Agendas posted prior to each meeting for more details. Meetings are open and we welcome participation by anyone with an interest in helping us work toward ending and preventing homelessness in the state of Maine.  

MCOC also includes a number of committees that focus on particular aspects of the work we do. These include the Project Committee, HMIS & Data Committee, Resource Committee, Youth Action Board, Homeless Veteran’s Action Committee, and many others. If you have an interest in a specific topic or population, please consider joining a committee, even if you are not able to attend the full MCOC meetings.