1. Purpose and Summary.
a.
Overview.
The Family Unification Program (FUP) is a program under which housing assistance is provided under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWAs) to two groups:
Families for whom the lack
credit:
of adequate housing is a primary factor in the imminent placement of the family's child, or children, in out-of-home care; or the delay in the discharge of the child, or children, to the family from out-of-home care; and Youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older.
As required by statute, a FUP voucher issued to such a youth may only be used to provide housing assistance for the youth for a maximum of 36 months.
b.
Policy Priorities.
This NOFA adopts the following policy priorities:
1. Increase coordination between the PHA, PCWA, and CoC.
2. Community leveraging of data to strategically allocate and use resources.
3. Strengthen connections to the HUD Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program or similar programs promoting self-sufficiency.
4. Increase access to supportive services.
5. Community accountability through the creation of goals and standards of success.
2. Changes from Previous NOFA.
This Section highlights only the major changes from the previous FUP NOFA.
Applicants should read this entire NOFA carefully to ensure that all threshold and eligibility requirements are met (otherwise the applicant will be ineligible for funding), and that the program requirements listed in this NOFA are followed.
a.
Maximum Award.
This NOFA revises the maximum number of vouchers that may be awarded by PHA voucher size.
b.
Definitions.
This NOFA defines additional terms.
c.
Statement of Need.
This NOFA provides for the streamlining of the Statement of Need.
d.
Rating Factor.
This NOFA introduces a Rating Factor Ceterification.