Today, February 19, 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced an additional $2 billion investment in the Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) program.

The fifth round of HHF funding will be allocated among participating HHF states in two phases of $1 billion each. The first phase will allocate $1 billion using a formula based on current state population and utilization of states' existing allocation to date. The second phase will utilize an application process open to all participating HHF states. Also included in the announcement was an extension of the HHF program to December 31, 2020. The original program deadline was December 31, 2017. Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) originally received $148 million from HHF funds when the program was announced in 2010.
 
The additional investment will allocate $30.1 million to KHC during the first phase. KHC is currently reviewing the information received with this announcement.  

KHC is excited for the opportunity to help more Kentuckians and will be looking at all options once the materials have been reviewed. At this time, no decisions have been made concerning the Unemployment Bridge Program (UBP) application portal. Agencies should continue to work through their existing pipelines.   

For more information about today's announcement, please read Treasury's press release and FAQ's.

On February 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Department's Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 Comprehensive Housing Counseling Grant Program. KHC will open up the application window for agencies wishing to be a KHC sub-grantee. Once finalized, the application information will be available on KHC's website.

HUD's deadline for applications is Monday, April 4, 2016. In order to have enough time to score and decision sub-grantee applications before this deadline, KHC will require applying sub-grantees to complete and submit their documentation to KHC no later than Friday, March 11, 2016.

At minimum, the sub-grantee application will consist of the following requirements:

1. Application packet;
2. Narrative of proposed activities/Work Plan;
3. Detailed budget that includes ALL funding sources (for housing counseling program); and
4. Staffing structure (list of counselors and courses taken in past two years, past experience, certifications, etc.).

As stated earlier, KHC will publish the full application packet and requirements in the next week. Stay tuned for future eGrams for further information.