The 2015 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is anticipated to be released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in late May 2015, with the application cycle to follow soon thereafter. In preparation, Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), is opening the 2015 CoC Intent to Apply process for new and renewal projects.  

 

KHC is requesting all renewals with grant terms expiring in 2016 to submit the 2015 Renewal Intent to Apply form, indicating whether or not your agency plans to renew in the 2015 CoC application cycle. All Renewal Intent to Apply forms must be submitted via email to Lynn Chrisman at lchrisman@kyhousing.org by Friday, May 8, 2015. KHC would like current CoC grantees to examine how your programs are structured and operated, including expenditure rates. If your program has consistently been unable to spend down the full award, it would be prudent to consider asking for less funding in the 2015 CoC renewal application. Additionally, KHC would like to encourage current CoC grantees to review and discuss options for changing current programs -- either in response to the 2015 NOFA or to also seek an amendment to your soon-to-be-under-contract 2014 awards.  

 

As was discussed at the recent Annual Statewide CoC meeting, HUD's priorities are focusing on permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing with less transitional housing and support service-only projects. HUD has stated that permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs are the most effective in ending homelessness, as well as being less costly than transitional or support service programs. We will not know specifics about other opportunities to amend current programs until the CoC NOFA is released. However, prior to the NOFA release, KHC is strongly encouraging agencies to review your current program and determining if changes are needed. 

 

The 2015 New Project Intent to Apply is also open for submissions. We anticipate HUD will offer the opportunity for reallocation projects to be proposed in the 2015 CoC application for new permanent supportive housing programs for chronically homeless and new rapid rehousing programs for families with children. If your agency is interested in applying for a new program in either of these areas, please complete the Intent to Apply for new projects. All New Project Intent to Apply forms must be submitted via email to Lynn Chrisman at lchrisman@kyhousing.org by Friday, May 8, 2015. We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying for new funding to read, in its entirety, the CoC Interim Rule prior to pursuing these funds, especially at it relates to program specifics and match requirements. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Chrisman at 270-519-4422 or email lchrisman@kyhousing.org. 

KHC and HUD are taking steps to end veteran homelessness in Kentucky by the end of 2015. The KHC Board of Directors approved dedicated housing assistance for 100 homeless Kentucky veterans to be available immediately through the new Veterans Emerging Towards Transition (VETT) Program. This effort supports the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, announced by First Lady Michelle Obama in June 2014.

 

Through the VETT Program, KHC will designate a preference for 100 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) for qualified homeless veterans in the 87 counties KHC serves under the HCV Program. This special assistance will help qualified veterans pay for housing and, ultimately, reduce the number of homeless veterans in Kentucky. Through KHC, local service providers will coordinate the completion of certification checklists to be used as referral tools to qualify homeless veterans for the housing assistance.

 

The VETT Program referral process is as follows:

• Agencies or local elected officials can nominate a veteran for the program. You will need to work with the veteran to complete the Homeless Veteran Certification, as well as the KHC Tenant Assistance Programs Preapplication.
• Agencies should check the list of committed Mayors and/or County Judge Executives to identify if your local leader has committed to the challenge. If so, ask them to complete the Challenge To End Veteran Homelessness VETT Voucher Designation Form. This form allows them to delegate authority so you may submit the necessary paperwork to KHC. If they prefer to make the reference themselves, you can help them complete the necessary Homeless Veteran Certification form, as well as the KHC Tenant Assistance Programs Pre-application. 

 

The completed forms should be submitted by mail to Waiting List, Kentucky Housing Corporation, 1231 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40601; fax to the attention of Waiting List at 502-564-9964; or email to khcrentalwaitinglist@kyhousing.org.

    

For more information on the VETT Vouchers, please visit KHC's website, under Specialized Housing, under Programs Available.     

 

Veterans in need of housing assistance in areas without mayor or county judge participation should contact HUD's Thomas Ryan at 502-618-8167.  

The HUD Kentucky Office released a new Homeless Veteran Housing Resource Guide, available on HUD's website. This resource guide outlines, by county, the different types of housing assistance available, as well as information on accessing that assistance.

The resource guide is in support of the Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness by the end of 2015.

"No veteran who has served our country should ultimately be homeless, jobless, or without medical assistance," said HUD Kentucky Field Office Director Christopher Taylor. "This resource guide is offered to help all homeless veterans and their service providers help them find safe, decent, and affordable housing."

To date, more than 225 local elected officials in Kentucky have pledged their support for the Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. For more information on housing homeless veterans, please contact the HUD Kentucky Field Office at 502-582-5251, and press '0'.

The Kentucky BoS CoC will conduct a series of regional CoC meetings in May 2015. HUD Louisville Field Office Director, Christopher Taylor, will be a featured guest at the Regional CoC meetings to discuss the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. The Spring Regional CoC Meeting Agenda is available on KHC's website, under Specialized Housing, Continuum of Care.

The meetings will take place as follows:

 

Region 1

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Pennyroyal Mental Health Center Regional Office

3999 Fort Campbell Blvd.
Hopkinsville, KY  42240
10 a.m., CT         

Region 2

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 

Economic Justice Institute

2109 Old Louisville Road
Bowling Green, KY  42101 

10 a.m., CT       

Region 3

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Northern Kentucky Area Development District

22 Spiral Drive
Florence, KY  41042 

10 a.m., ET    

Region 4

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 

Public Library Conference Room

175 Beacon Hill Drive
Morehead, KY  40351 

10 a.m., ET
(Region 4 hosts will serve lunch.)  

Region 5

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Shiloh's Roadhouse Restaurant

218 Russell Dyche Memorial Highway 

London, KY  40741
10 a.m., ET     

Region 6

Thursday, May 7, 2015 

Liberty Place Recovery Center
218 Lake Street
Richmond, KY  40475
10 a.m., ET 

 

If you have any questions about the training, please contact Lynn Chrisman at 270-519-4422 or email lchrisman@kyhousing.org. 

A series of seven training videos are now available as either a refresher or new user training. These videos total approximately two hours of content, including details on how to remain compliant with HUD's 2014 Data Standards when entering client data into KYHMIS. The playlist for these videos can be found on KHC's YouTube training channel.

KHC is implementing a new process for completing annual continuing education requirements for KYHMIS. Formerly, existing KYHMIS users were required to attend at least one refresher training session per year to comply with the standard. However, in order to better serve our agency partners, the new process will save staff and travel time, and be more efficient and cost-effective.

 

Now, existing users must simply watch all seven training videos, mentioned above, then complete and submit a survey. Once KHC receives the completed survey, the user will receive credit for completing the annual continuing education requirement.

 

KHC will not offer KYHMIS refresher training sessions, but will continue to focus on training new users. Users must ensure that this continuing education requirement is done annually to maintain a KYHMIS license, as per the KYHMIS External Policies and Procedures.