2018 HUD NOFA Local Project Rating & Rankings Released

The Alliance Rating & Ranking Committee is pleased to announce the funding recommendations for the HUD CoC Program Competition for FY 2018. A total of 19 projects applied for $2,613,885 in funding. The Rating & Ranking Committee carefully reviewed each application and ranked them in order of priority.

2018 Rating & Ranking Scoring Summary

The Collaborative Application will be posted on the Alliance website a minimum of 2 days before the HUD submission deadline. A notice will be sent to the listserv once posted. Appeals to the Rating and Ranking for FY 2018 are due by September 7, 2018 at 5:00 pm. For information on how to file an appeal or other important competition information, please to https://www.kthomelessalliance.org/coc-program/.

FY2018 CoC Program NOFA

The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition has been posted to the FY2018 CoC Program Competition: Funding Availability Page on the HUD Exchange.

The Alliance is specifically seeking new applicants to pursue funding through this opportunity. All applications must be submitted by Tuesday, September 18, 2018. Please review the NOFA and familiarize yourself with the requirements and regulations.

Alliance Seeking Stakeholder Feedback for HUD NOFA Project Selection & Ranking Process

The Alliance is asking for community stakeholders to review the Project Selection and Ranking Process and provide feedback no later than July 23, 2018 at 5:00pm to msmith@kthomelessalliance.org.

FY2018 Project Selection and Ranking Process

As a part of the 2018 HUD Continuum of Care Program Competition, all projects must be scored and ranked prior to submission to HUD. All complete, timely, and eligible applications will be scored by the Alliance Rating and Ranking Committee, using the Application Selection and Ranking Process. Scores will determine each project's rank in the Alliance's application to HUD, and rank will be the primary determinant of placement into Tier 1 and Tier 2. Scores may also be used to reject applications or to reduce budgets for low-scoring projects.

Project Homeless Connect in need of donations, volunteers

Project Homeless Connect is quickly approaching and organizers are in need of the community's support to serve the more than 1,000 people who will participate.

The one-day event provides people experiencing homelessness a board range of services, connections and basic necessities including housing, employment, health and dental care, mental health care, veterans' and social services benefits, legal services, haircuts, hot meals and clothing.

Events will be held in Tulare and Kings counties from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 and 26.

"The overarching goal of Project Homeless Connect is to provide a welcoming environment where people experiencing homelessness can access services efficiently," said Machael Smith, executive director of the Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance. "Navigating services without a steady home can often take months and require multiple trips across the bi-county region."

There are more than 660 homeless people in Tulare County — at least 400 live in Visalia, officials said.

However, Smith believes there could be more — as many as three times more.

"By centralizing access to resources, we are reducing some of the barriers to accessing housing, employment and other supportive services," she said.

Organizers are asking for cash and in-kind donations. Items needed include:

Sleeping bags

Tarps

Blankets

Backpacks

Ponchos

Socks

Underwear

Hygiene kits

Flashlights

Beanies, gloves and scarves

Dog food

In 2016, Visalia Police Department saw a 53 percent increase in calls for service related to transient activity from the previous year.

Additionally, "chronic homelessness" in Visalia has increased by 67 percent since last year, Smith said.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Office defines "chronic homelessness," in two ways: A person with a disabling condition who has experienced homelessness for a year or more; or a person with a disabling condition that has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

Donations can be dropped off at locations in Hanford, Porterville, Tulare and Visalia. Volunteers are also needed. For more information on how to become a volunteer click here.

How to attend:

Jan. 25

First Baptist Church, 469 N. Cherry Street, Tulare

Visalia Rescue Mission Community Center, 741 Northeast 1st Ave., Visalia

Jan. 26

1st United Methodist Church, 344 E. Morton Ave., Porterville

Alliance FY2017 HUD CoC Program Collaborative Application & Priority Listing Released

In accordance with HUD CoC Program 2017 NOFA Guidelines, the Alliance FY2017 HUD CoC Program Collaborative Application and Priority Listing are now available. The Collaborative Applciaiton and Priority Listing will be submitted to HUD no later than Thursday, September 28, 2017 by 4:59 PM PT.