title
Presentation, discussion, and possible action on awards for the 2025 Community Services Block Grant discretionary fund Reentry Assistance Program
end
RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds are awarded annually to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the Department) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USHHS);
WHEREAS, the Department reserves 90% of the allotment for CSBG eligible entities to provide services/assistance to the low-income population in all 254 counties; up to 5% for state administration expenses; and the remaining amount for state discretionary use;
WHEREAS, at the Board meeting of June 15, 2023, the Department established a set-aside of approximately $1,775,000 for 2024 and 2025 CSBG discretionary (CSBG-D) activities in the 2024-2025 CSBG State Plan, including $400,000 per year towards a Reentry Assistance Program which will allow nonprofit and local government organizations to assist previously incarcerated individuals obtain rental housing through landlord incentives, payment of security deposits and other reentry activities related to housing;
WHEREAS, at the Board meeting of December 12, 2024, the Board authorized the release of a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) seeking applications from organizations interested in administering the Reentry Assistance Program;
WHEREAS, staff received 15 applications and has evaluated the applications and recommends Board approval of four awards totaling $400,000 to four applicants that met the requirements for funding; and
WHEREAS, the four recommended awardees have gone through and satisfied the Previous Participation Review and Approval Process (PPRAP), and are recommended for award with no conditions;
NOW, therefore, it is hereby
RESOLVED, that the Executive Director and his designees, be and each of them hereby are authorized, empowered, and directed, for and on behalf of the Department, to take any and all such actions as they or any of them may deem necessary or advisable to effectuate the awards, as represented herein, of $400,000 for Reentry Assistance Program activities; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the budget for USHHS has not yet been passed by Congress and the Department reserves the right to adjust the term, cancel or adjust the amount of these awards at its sole discretion if insufficient 2025 CSBG funding is received or if funding is delayed.
end
BACKGROUND
At the Board meeting of June 15, 2023, the Board approved an allocation of CSBG discretionary funding in the amount of $400,000 for a Reentry Assistance Program to assist previously incarcerated individuals in obtaining rental housing through landlord incentives, payment of security deposits and other reentry activities related to housing.
At the Board meeting of December 12, 2024, the Board authorized the release of a NOFA encouraging eligible applicant organizations with experience in serving the reentry population to apply for an award to administer the Reentry Assistance Program. The awards provide funding for new or existing projects to assist individuals with an annual income at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and with a history of incarceration to secure stable housing. Three to five awards of $80,000 to $150,000 would be recommended. Only the highest scoring applications, with consideration given to ensure dispersion of awardees in different areas of the state, and which satisfy all minimum requirements as stated in the NOFA would be funded.
In response to the NOFA, staff received 15 applications. Staff first reviewed the applications to determine if they meet threshold criteria per the NOFA. Seven of the 15 applications did not meet threshold criteria and the applicants were sent a termination notice with an opportunity to appeal in accordance with 10 TAC §1.7 Appeals Process. Of the seven not meeting threshold, two filed a timely appeal to the Executive Director to which the Executive Director upheld staff’s decision to terminate the applications. Neither applicant filed an appeal to the Board in response to the Executive Director’s decision to terminate.
The eight applications that met threshold criteria were then evaluated and scored by staff. The four highest scoring applicants are Transcend STEM Education, Youth and Family Alliance, The Salvation Army-Waco, and West Central Texas Regional Foundation and are therefore being recommended for funding. Note that Jail to Jobs scored among the top four applicants but because another applicant from the same area of the state (i.e., Youth and Family Alliance) submitted a higher scoring application, Jail to Jobs is not being recommended for funding in accordance with the geographic location clause described in the NOFA. Please refer to Attachment A for a full list of applicants, their scores, recommended award amounts and geographic vicinity. Scoring notices and appeal rights were sent to each applicant. Two of the scored applicants filed an appeal regarding their disagreement with the scoring; however, one of these appeals was not filed within the seven-day deadline as stated in 10 TAC 1.7 Appeals Process and the other appeal was withdrawn after being made aware by staff that any change in their score would not have resulted in them receiving a high enough score to be recommended an award.
The Previous Participation Rule (10 TAC, Chapter 1, Subchapter C, §1.302) includes a review of CSBG discretionary awards prior to contract execution. This award is subject to this review, the review has been performed, and the four applicants have been recommended through the PPRAP for award with no conditions.
The Department’s anticipated Contract Term for 2025 CSBG-D reentry activities is May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026.
The FFY 2025 budget for USHHS has not yet been passed by Congress, and the Department reserves the right to adjust the term, cancel or adjust the amount of these awards at its sole discretion if insufficient 2025 CSBG funding is received or if funding is delayed.