Program Contact
Dollie Herron - Dollie.Herron@ColumbiaSC.gov (Send Email)

Before applications are considered, they must be complete and submitted via ZoomGrants by the February 22, 2021 deadline. A complete application includes ALL requested forms and documentation.

All complete and timely applications that are determined eligible for HOPWA funding and that meet national program objectives under federal regulations will be evaluated using the following criteria:

There is a maximum of 100 points to be awarded:

1. Background Information (5 points)
2. Summary of Application (5 points)
3. Service Provision (65 points)
   1. Justification of Need (10 points). Provider must be able to document the community need that the proposed service is expected to address. Provider must be able to provide agency-level or community-level data to justify need for the service. If there are other available sources of funding for the proposed service, the applicant must be able to demonstrate why there is a need to fund this service.
   2. Description of service (10 points). Provider must clearly define the type of service to be provided and demonstrate the ability to service client needs. Provider must be able to provide a description of the service, define the components covered by this service, and provide a description of steps required for service delivery. If available, attach and discuss policies and procedures that are in place.
   3. Client eligibility requirements (5 points). Provider must have eligibility requirements for clients and must be able to specify the eligibility screening process.
   4. Number of service units to be provided or housing units developed and number of unduplicated clients to be served according to target population (15 points). Provider must clearly define the type of service, the number of units to be provided, the number of unduplicated clients to be served and the population targeted by this service (this may be based on geographic location, gender, race, and/or other characteristics). If applicant was funded in FY 2020 for the proposed service, provider must provide information on service units provided and unduplicated clients served; and, compare this with contractual obligations. Provider must be able to provide justification if performance in FY 2020 did not meet contractual obligations. Provider must also be able to provide explanation for the difference between proposed number of service units and unduplicated clients and FY 2020 performance.
   5. Organizational and staff qualifications (10 points). Provider must offer organizational qualifications for proposed services based on agency experience, availability of necessary facilities, and availability of staff expertise. Provider must be able to offer a description of staff positions needed for direct service provision and the qualifications required for these positions. Also, provider must discuss the agency’s plan/program to continually upgrade staff skills and expertise.
   6. Outcome Objectives and Evaluation Method (15 points). Provider must identify at least one client-level outcome objective as a result of providing the proposed service; specify objective outcome measures; and, indicate the process for outcome measurement. Provider must discuss objectives and outcomes finding in the past year if applicant was funded in FY 2020.
      
4. Continuous Quality Improvement (10 points)

• • Client Satisfaction Survey (5 points). Provider must show that the organization is able to measure client satisfaction with the services they provide; provide information on the process undertaken to gather satisfaction input from clients; and, demonstrate how previous results of client satisfaction surveys impact on service delivery.
    • Quality of current services delivered
  • Grievance Procedure (5 points). Provider must show that the organization has a reasonable and impartial mechanism for receiving client grievance. Provider must also describe the process for assuring that clients are made aware of and understand the grievance procedure.

5. Project Management (10 points)

Provider must show that the organization has capability and capacity to undertake program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

• • Results of previous City monitoring visits with the agency

6. Diversity of Funding Source (5 points)

The organization must demonstrate that it has other funding sources and has diversified funding to supplement or temporarily sustain its services if there was a cut or delay in HOPWA funding.

Funding priorities for fiscal year 2021-2022 are listed below one, two, three and four reflecting the City’s priority order of HOPWA Funding.  Agencies proposals to use HOPWA funding to provide services must give a full description of what is to be funded, and offer clear justification for the use of HOPWA funds. 

Funding Priorities are:

1. Permanent Housing Programs
2. Permanent Housing Vouchers
3. Emergency Housing Assistance
4. Supportive Services

The City of Columbia will enter into a contract as the grantee with the prospective project sponsor to carry out housing assistance services designed to: (1) Provide permanent housing through long-term rental assistance, apartments, SRO dwellings, and community/group residence services, (2) Provide permanent housing vouchers through tenant-based rental assistance which is a subsidy that covers a portion of full rent based on adjusted or gross income, (3) Provide financial assistance to prevent homelessness through temporary or emergency shelter, short-term rent, mortgage, and utility payments, and (4) Provide quality supportive services (case management, to assist clients with achieving and maintaining housing stability that maximize a continuum of care approach for persons living with HIV.

Eligible Service Categories

Below is a comprehensive list of all services that are eligible for funding under HOPWA as described in HUD regulations 24 CFR 574.300 (eligible activities).   

• Housing Development to provide housing services
  
  • Acquisition
  • Rehabilitation
  • Conversion
  • Lease
  • Repairs (requires HUD prior authorization)

• New Housing Construction
  • Single Room Occupancy
  • Community Residences

• Housing Operating Costs (direct housing assistance)
  • Maintenance
  • Security
  • Operation
  • Insurance
  • Utilities
  • Furnishings
  • Equipment
  • Supplies
  • Other Incidental Costs (emergencies)

• Rental Assistance, including shared housing arrangements (direct housing assistance)
  • Tenant-Based Rental Assistance including assistance for shared housing arrangements. Maximum monthly assistance for an eligible person may not exceed HUD approved subsidy standards. The rents shall be established by the Project Sponsor and shall not be more than the published Section 8 fair market rent rates (FMR) for this EMSA. Funds will be paid directly to the project sponsor, not the client.
  • Facility-Based Housing Assistance including master-leased units and project-based rental assistance; operating costs for housing including maintenance, security, operation insurance, utilities, furnishings, equipment, supplies, and other incidental costs; capital funds for the acquisition, rehabilitation, conversion, lease, and repair of facilities to provide housing and services; and capital funds for the new construction of single-room occupancy units or community residences.
• Short-Term Housing Assistance
  • Short term temporary shelter, rent, mortgage, and utility payments to prevent homelessness of the tenant or mortgager of a dwelling. A short term supported housing facility may not provide residence to more than fifty (50) families or individuals at any single time or to any individual for more than sixty (60) days during a six (6) month period. Short-term rent, mortgage and emergency utility payments (STRMU) cannot be applied to cost accruing over a period of more than twenty-one (21) weeks in any fifty-two (52) week period. (Does not include security deposits, first-month rent, food, transportation vouchers, etc.)

• Supportive Services
  • Health (alternative/complementary, HIV test counseling, dental, home health, hospice,
  • medications, partner counseling/referral, primary & specialty care, rehab)
  • Mental Health (Psychiatric, Other Counseling: Peer/Spiritual/Support group)
  • Assessment
  • Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment and Counseling
  • Day Care (respite care, foster care)
  • Personal (buddy/companion, child care, legal, transit, interpreter-translator, emergencies)
  • Nutritional Services (food bank)
  • Intensive Care
  • Government Benefits Access Assistance (job/vocational rehab, insurance/other benefits)

1. Permanent Housing Placement (direct housing assistance)
   • Application fees
   • Credit checks
   • Security deposits
   • 1^st Month rent

1. Housing Information Services to locate, acquires, finance and maintain housing (client advocacy)

• Counseling (e.g., fair housing counseling for eligible persons who encounter discrimination on the basis of race, color religion, sex, age, national origin, familial status, LGBT or handicap.) (non-medical case management)
• Information
• Referral

 (Does not include housing placement services such as security deposits, first-month rent, relocation costs, etc.)

• Resource Identification to establish, coordinate and develop housing resources
  
  • Preliminary research
  • Feasibility study costs

• Technical Assistance to establish and operate a community residence
  • Planning
  • Pre-Construction
  • Community Outreach
  • Community Education

• Administrative Expenses: No more than 7% of funds awarded to sponsor.
  • General Management
  • Staff Training
  • Oversight
  • Coordination
  • Evaluation
  • Activity Reporting