Grant & Per Diem Transitional Program Fact Sheet

State, local and tribal governments and nonprofits receive capital grants and per diem payments to develop and operate transitional housing—including short-stay bridge housing—and/or service centers for Veterans who are homeless.

VA funds an estimated 600 agencies that provide over 14,500 beds for eligible Veterans. Grantees work closely with an assigned liaison from the local VAMC. The VA GPD liaison monitors the services the grantees offer to Veterans and provides direct assistance to them. Grantees also collaborate with community-based organizations to connect Veterans with employment, housing and additional social services to promote housing stability. The maximum stay in this housing is up to 24 months, with the goal of moving Veterans into permanent housing.

Since 1994, the GPD program has provided Veterans who are experiencing homelessness with community-based transitional housing, supportive services such as case management, and more. These services assist Veterans in attaining or retaining permanent residence. Several types of grants are offered under the umbrella of the GPD program. The grants are designed to meet Veterans at various stages as they move to housing stability. The community organizations who receive these grants offer focused housing stability services through a variety of service models. The GPD program plays a vital role in the continuum of homeless services.

Grant & Per Diem Transitional Program Fact Sheet

State, local and tribal governments and nonprofits receive capital grants and per diem payments to develop and operate transitional housing—including short-stay bridge housing—and/or service centers for Veterans who are homeless.

VA funds an estimated 600 agencies that provide over 14,500 beds for eligible Veterans. Grantees work closely with an assigned liaison from the local VAMC. The VA GPD liaison monitors the services the grantees offer to Veterans and provides direct assistance to them. Grantees also collaborate with community-based organizations to connect Veterans with employment, housing and additional social services to promote housing stability. The maximum stay in this housing is up to 24 months, with the goal of moving Veterans into permanent housing.

Grant and Per Diem Program (VA)

GPD Grants & Funding Fact Sheet

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program - Per Diem Only (PDO) Grant

Article: VA transitional housing program to better serve Veterans experiencing homelessness.

VA’s largest transitional housing program — the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program — is transforming so that VA and its community partners can more effectively serve Veterans. The transformation involves implementing a competitive, time-limited grant process that will require currently funded community providers to reapply for funding.

§ 61.2 Supportive Services—General.

(a) Recipients must design supportive services. Such services must provide appropriate assistance, or aid participants in obtaining appropriate assistance, to address the needs of homeless veterans. The following are examples of supportive services: 

(1) Outreach activities; 

(2) Providing food, nutritional advice, counseling, health care, mental health treatment, alcohol and other substance abuse services, case management services; 

(3) Establishing and operating child care services for dependents of homeless veterans; 

(4) Providing supervision and security arrangements necessary for the protection of residents of supportive housing and for homeless veterans using supportive housing or services; 

(5) Assistance in obtaining permanent housing; 

(6) Education, employment counseling and assistance, and job training; 

(7) Assistance in obtaining other Federal, State and local assistance available for such residents including mental health benefits, employment counseling and assistance, veterans' benefits, medical assistance, and income support assistance; and 

(8) Providing housing assistance, legal assistance, advocacy, transportation, and other services essential for achieving and maintaining independent living. 

(b) Supportive services do not include inpatient acute hospital care. 

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 2011, 2012, 2061)

§ 61.13 Capital Grant Application Packages—Rating Criteria.

(a) General.  Applicants that meet the threshold requirements in § 61.12 will be rated using the selection criteria listed in this section. To be eligible for a capital grant, an applicant must receive at least 750 points (out of a possible 1000) and must receive points under each of the following paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section. 

(b) Project plan.  VA will award up to 300 points based on the demonstration and quality of the following: 

(1) The selection of the proposed housing in light of the population to be served. 

(2) The process used for deciding which veterans are appropriate for admission. 

(3) How, when, and by whom the progress of participants toward meeting their individual goals will be monitored, evaluated, and documented. 

(4) The role program participants will have in operating and maintaining the housing. 

(5) The responsibilities the applicant, sponsors, or contractors will have in operating and maintaining the housing. 

(6) The supportive services that will be provided and by whom to help participants achieve residential stability, increase skill level and/or income, and become involved in making life decisions that will increase self-determination. 

(7) The measurable objectives that will be used to determine success of the supportive services. 

(8) How the success of the program will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. 

(9) How the nutritional needs of veterans will be met. 

(10) How the agency will ensure a clean and sober environment. 

(11) How participants will be assisted in assimilating into the community through access to neighborhood facilities, activities, and services. 

(12) How the proposed project will be implemented in a timely fashion. 

(13) How permanent affordable housing will be identified and made known to participants upon leaving the supportive housing. 

(14) How participants will be provided necessary follow-up services. 

(15) The description of program policies regarding participant agreements, rent, and fees. 

(c) Outreach to persons on streets and in shelters.  VA will award up to 100 points based on: 

(1) The agency's outreach plan to serve homeless veterans living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation (e.g., streets, parks, abandoned buildings, automobiles, under bridges, in transportation facilities) and those who reside in emergency shelters; and 

(2) The likelihood that proposed plans for outreach and selection of participants will result in these populations being served. 

(d) Ability of applicant to develop and operate a project.  VA will award up to 200 points based on the extent to which the application demonstrates the necessary staff and organizational experience to complete and operate the proposed project, based on the following: 

(1) Staffing plan for the project that reflects the appropriate professional staff, both administrative and clinical; 

(2) Experience of staff, if staff not yet hired, position descriptions and expectations of time to hire; 

(3) Amount of time each staff position is dedicated to the project, and in what capacity; 

(4) Applicant's previous experience assessing and providing for the housing needs of homeless veterans; 

(5) Applicant's previous experience assessing and providing supportive services for homeless veterans; 

(6) Applicant's previous experience assessing supportive service resources and entitlement benefits; 

(7) Applicant's previous experience with evaluating the progress of both individual participants and overall program effectiveness using quality and performance data to make changes; 

(8) Applicant's previous experience operating housing for homeless individuals; 

(9) Overall agency organizational overview (org. chart); and 

(10) Historical documentation of past performance both with VA and non-VA projects, including those from other Federal, state and local agencies and audits by private or public entities. 

(e) Need.  VA will award up to 150 points based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates: 

(1) Substantial unmet needs, particularly among the target population living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation such as the streets, emergency shelters, based on reliable data from surveys of homeless populations or other reports or data gathering mechanisms that directly support claims made; and 

(2) An understanding of the homeless population to be served and its unmet housing and supportive service needs. 

(f) Completion confidence.  VA will award up to 50 points based on the review panel's confidence that the applicant has effectively demonstrated the supportive housing or service center project will be completed as described in the application. VA may use historical program documents of past performance both VA and non-VA, including those from other Federal, state and local agencies as well as audits by private or public entities in determining confidence scores. 

(g) Coordination with other programs.  VA will award up to 200 points based on the extent to which applicants demonstrate that they have coordinated with Federal, state, local, private and other entities serving homeless persons in the planning and operation of the project. Such entities may include shelter transitional housing, health care, or social service providers; providers funded through Federal initiatives; local planning coalitions or provider associations; or other program providers relevant to the needs of homeless veterans in the local community. Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have coordinated with the VA medical care facility of jurisdiction and/or VA Regional Office of jurisdiction in their area. VA will award up to 50 points of the 200 points based on the extent to which commitments to provide supportive services are documented at the time of application. Up to 150 points of the 200 points will be given to the extent applicants demonstrate that: 

(1) They are part of an ongoing community-wide planning process within the framework described above which is designed to share information on available resources and reduce duplication among programs that serve homeless veterans; 

(2) They have consulted directly with the closest VA Medical Center and other providers within the framework described above regarding coordination of services for project participants; and 

(3) They have coordinated with the closest VA Medical Center their plan to assure access to health care, case management, and other care services. 

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 2011)

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program - Per Diem Only (PDO) Grant

Ending and preventing homelessness among Veterans is a priority for VA. VA Homeless Programs Office constitutes the Nation's largest integrated network of homelessness, housing, prevention and rehabilitation services for Veterans. These programs are designed to help Veterans live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible. The foundation for these programs is based on Housing First principles combined with supportive services to ensure Veterans are able to end the cycle of homelessness.

Per Diem Only (PDO) Award List (October 2023)

Transition in Place

Target Population

Veterans experiencing homelessness who choose a supportive transitional housing environment that provides services prior to entering permanent housing.

Model Overview

Provides transitional housing and a milieu of services that facilitate individual stabilization, increased income and movement of the Veteran to permanent housing in the residence as rapidly as clinically appropriate.

Characteristics & Standards

• The TIP housing model offers Veteran residents housing in which supportive services transition out of the residence over time, rather than the resident. This allows the Veteran to remain in the residence rather than being forced to find other housing while stabilizing.

• It is expected that Veterans will transition in place in approximately 6 to 12 months. Applicants must work closely with Veterans to support timely transitions to permanent housing.

• This model does not support discharge planning that would have the Veteran

transition to Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing (HUDVASH) as the HUD-VASH program targets a Veteran population in need of specialized case management.

• Scope of services:

o Services should incorporate tactics to increase the Veteran’s income through employment and/or benefits and to secure permanent housing in the Veteran’s name.

o Services provided and strategies used by the applicant will vary based on the individualized needs of the Veteran and resources available in the community.

o Housing case management should be flexible in intensity, support client choice, use a strengths-based approach and focus on housing retention and helping the household to develop, enhance or re-engage a network of support that will continue with the Veteran after they finish TIP.

o Case managers are expected to work on tenancy support such as how to resolve conflicts, how to understand a lease, options for working through crises and other skills that will assist the Veteran in retaining housing when they are no longer in TIP.

o Applicants specify the staffing levels and range of services to be provided, which are expected to be rich and multidisciplinary.

• Scope of housing placements:

o Applicants identify or convert existing suitable apartment-style housing where Veteran participants would receive intensive, time-limited, supportive services optimally for a period of 6–12 months as described earlier.

o Upon completion, the Veteran must be able to transition in place by assuming the lease or other long-term agreement which enables the unit in which he or she resides to be considered the Veteran’s permanent

housing.

o Grantees are expected to replace units as they are converted to permanent housing to maintain the number of beds as stated in the

application during the entire grant period.

o Once the Veteran assumes the lease or other long-term agreement, VA will no longer provide funding for the unit under the grant.

For example, each time a Veteran assumes the lease or other long-term agreement for the apartment, the grantee must identify a new unit in which to place another Veteran.

o By design, transition to permanent housing should occur as rapidly as possible and grantees should continually be acquiring and coordinating with VA on the inspection of new units to maintain a steady number of Veterans served.

Transition In Place (TIP) Award List (October 2023)

GPD Case Management

Case management services, as defined in this NOFO and as described in  38 CFR 61.90(b), may be provided to help overcome and troubleshoot barriers to acquiring, reacquiring and maintaining permanent housing. Case management, including housing navigation services, can help Veterans obtain permanent housing based on their unique needs, preferences and financial resources. Case managers may provide supports to address issues that may impede access to housing (such as credit history, arrears and legal issues), may negotiate manageable and appropriate lease agreements with landlords and may make appropriate and time-limited services available. Case managers also may monitor participants' housing stability after securing housing and during project participation, ideally through home visits and communication with landlords and may be available to resolve housing-related crises.

Examples of case management services that grantees can provide using these grant funds include, but are not limited to, the following:

Supporting housing search and placement activities to facilitate transitions for Veterans into permanent housing.

Making home visits by the case manager to monitor housing stability and assess the need for services or other supports.

Providing or coordinating educational activities related to meal planning, tenant responsibilities, the use of public transportation, community resources, financial management and development of natural supports.

Navigating resources provided by the Federal Government and State, local and Tribal governments.

Making referrals to needed services, such as mental health, substance use disorder, medical and employment services.

Case Management Award List (October 2023)

Capital Grant Awards List (Published March 2022)

§ 61.40 Special need grants—general.

(a) VA provides special need grants to public or nonprofit private entities that will create or provide supportive housing and services, which they would not otherwise create or provide, for the following special need homeless veteran populations: 

• (1) Women; 
• (2) Frail elderly; 
• (3) Terminally ill; 
• (4) Chronically mentally ill; or 
• (5) Individuals who have care of minor dependents. 

(b) Applicants must submit an application package for a capital or non-capital grant, which will be processed by the VA National GPD Program in accordance with this part; however, to be eligible for a capital special need grant, an applicant must receive at least 800 points (out of a possible 1000) and must receive points under each of the following paragraphs: (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of § 61.13. Non-capital special need grants are rated in the same manner as non-capital grant applications under § 61.32. 

(c) A recipient of a grant under paragraph (a) of this section may use amounts under the grant to provide services directly to a dependent of a homeless veteran with special needs who is under the care of such homeless veteran while such homeless veteran receives services from the grant recipient under this section. 

(d) The following sections apply to special need grants: §§ 61.61 through 61.67, § 61.80, and § 61.82. 

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 2061)

Special Need Award List (March 2022)