GPD Special Need Grant | VA GPD SN FY2021

Opportunity Information: Apply for VA GPD SN FY2021

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) GPD Special Need Grant (Funding Opportunity Number: VA GPD SN FY2021; CFDA 64.024) is a discretionary grant opportunity under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program that funds supportive housing for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who fall into specific special need categories. The VA set aside about $5 million per year for three years to support these projects through per diem payments, with the goal of helping providers stabilize housing for higher-need Veteran populations while expanding or sustaining models that better fit local community challenges.

At the center of the opportunity is operational support tied to beds that meet a specific housing standard: supportive housing beds in private rooms with private bathrooms. The VA emphasizes that the funds are intended to cover operating costs, including expenses that would not otherwise exist if the organization were not providing these enhanced accommodations for special need Veterans. In practical terms, this is designed to help organizations operate higher-quality, more clinically appropriate residential settings for Veterans whose needs can make congregate living difficult or unsafe.

The program targets Veterans in one of the defined special need populations, which the NOFO lists as chronically mentally ill, frail elderly, individuals who care for minor dependents, terminally ill, or women. Each application must propose serving one special need population (not multiple), and the definitions for these categories are grounded in VA regulations at 38 CFR part 61, including 38 CFR 61.1. The structure is meant to keep each project focused and tailored, so the housing model, staffing, and supportive services align with the specific barriers faced by that population.

Funding is provided through per diem payments rather than a typical lump-sum grant budget model. Applicants may request the lesser of (1) 100 percent of the daily cost of care for providing services to eligible Veterans or (2) two times the current VA State Home Program per diem rate for domiciliary care. The NOFO notes that, at the time of publication, the reference rate was $49.91 per day, meaning the “two times” cap would be based on that figure (as posted on the GPD website). The per diem calculation framework is referenced at 38 CFR 61.33, and applicants must ensure their requested rate and total request stay within the regulatory limits and their documented cost of care.

The VA anticipated supporting about 135 beds in total through this funding round, spread across an estimated 10 to 15 awards. The award ceiling is $1,100,000 in total costs over the full three-year grant period, and there is also an explicit per-bed cap: no more than $110,000 total costs per bed over the entire three-year period (or the cost of care, whichever is less). These caps are tied to variables such as the average number of beds proposed and the applicable per diem rate limits, so applicants need to align bed counts and operating projections carefully with the maximum allowable totals.

There are also bed-count rules at the application level that shape how projects can be proposed. Each application must include at least five special need beds and no more than 10 special need beds per VA medical facility catchment area, and this limit is applied per applicant Employer Identification Number (EIN). This means an organization cannot simply propose an unlimited number of beds in a single catchment area under one EIN; instead, the VA is spreading resources across communities and providers and keeping individual awards within a defined scale.

Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The funding activity category is Housing, but the program design clearly connects housing to supportive services and stabilization for high-need Veterans, consistent with the GPD model.

The application deadline for this NOFO was firm: applications had to be received by the GPD National Program Office no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 5, 2021. The VA explicitly states that late submissions are ineligible, and it encourages applicants to submit early to avoid last-minute issues like outages or upload delays. Another key procedural point is that applications had to be submitted only through the instructions and process provided on the VA GPD website (www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp). The VA would not accept submissions by other methods, and applications needed to arrive as a complete package; documents sent separately would not be added later and could lead to rejection or non-consideration.

For applicants needing help, the VA points to technical assistance resources available through the same GPD program website. The NOFO also directs applicants to the “Application Documentation Required” sections for the exact checklist of required materials and reiterates that the governing program rules are found in 38 CFR part 61, which applicants are expected to follow when designing the program, calculating per diem, and documenting compliance.

• The Department of Veterans Affairs, Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program in the housing sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GPD Special Need Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 64.024.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 04, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 05, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for VA GPD SN FY2021

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