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Presentation, discussion, and possible action on awards for the 2026 Community Services Block Grant discretionary fund Reentry Assistance Program
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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 12, 2025, the Department established a set-aside of approximately $1,850,000 for 2026 and 2027 CSBG discretionary (CSBG-D) activities in the 2026-2027 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 November 6, 2025, 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 14 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 had the highest scores; 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 2026 CSBG funding is received or if funding is delayed.
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BACKGROUND
At the Board meeting of June 12, 2025, 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 November 6, 2025, 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. Four awards of $100,000 each 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 14 applications. Staff first reviewed the applications to determine if they met threshold criteria per the NOFA. Eight of the 14 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. Six of the eight applicants not meeting threshold filed a timely appeal to the Executive Director to which the Executive Director granted their appeals allowing those six applications to be scored and remain in competition for an award.
The twelve viable applications were then evaluated and scored by staff. The four highest scoring applicants are Blanco River Regional Recovery Team, City of Laredo Housing Authority, Haven for Hope of Bexar County, and West Central Texas Regional Foundation and are being recommended for an award. Please refer to Attachment A for a full list of applicants, their scores, recommended award amounts and geographic area served. Scoring notices were sent to each applicant and no appeals of scores were received by the Department.
The Previous Participation Rule (10 TAC, Chapter 1, Subchapter C, §1.302) requires a review of CSBG discretionary awards prior to contract execution. These awards are 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 2026 CSBG-D reentry activities is May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027.