Encampment Resolution Funding Program,
Round 3, Rolling Application
(ERF-3-R)
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
November 27, 2023
Table of Contents
I. GRANT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................. 1 A. Authority ............................................................................................................. 1 B. Background ....................................................................................................... 1 C. Objective ........................................................................................................... 2 D. Available Funds ................................................................................................. 3 E. Eligible Applicants ............................................................................................. 3 F. Eligible Population to Serve .............................................................................. 3 G. Key Dates ........................................................................................................... 4 H. Applicant Conference...................................................................................... 6 II. REQUIRED APPLICATION ELEMENTS, EVALUATION CRITERIA, AND PRIORITIZED FACTORS ................................................................................................................ 6 A. Required Application Elements........................................................................ 6 B. Evaluation Criteria ............................................................................................. 6 C. Prioritized Factors ............................................................................................... 7 III. ELIGIBLE USES ......................................................................................................... 7 A. Eligible Uses......................................................................................................... 7 B. Budgets............................................................................................................... 8 IV. APPLICATION ......................................................................................................... 9 V. APPLICATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS........................................................ 11 VI. REVIEW, SCORING, AND AWARD........................................................................ 12 A. Review .............................................................................................................. 12 B. Scoring.............................................................................................................. 13 C. Award ............................................................................................................... 16 D. Appeals ............................................................................................................ 17 VII. PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING ....................................................................... 17 A. Performance.................................................................................................... 17 B. Reporting.......................................................................................................... 17 VIII.Appendices......................................................................................................... 18 A. Definitions: ........................................................................................................ 18 1 DATE: November 27, 2023
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
FROM: Meghan Marshall, Executive Officer
California Interagency Council on Homelessness
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA)
Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF-3-R)
I. GRANT OVERVIEW
The California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) is pleased to announce the availability of Round 3 of the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program.
California appropriated $400 million to fund ERF-3. ERF-3's initial disbursement (ERF-3-L) was allocated to jurisdictions that applied for ERF-2-R, met all the program requirements, but were unable to receive awards under Round 2 due to insufficient funds. This NOFA makes the remaining $298,747,574.33 available for awards through a rolling application process (ERF-3-R). Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 30, 2024, or until funds are depleted, whichever occurs first. Up to 50 percent of the $400 million appropriated will be prioritized for proposals that serve people living in encampments on state right of way.
A. Authority
ERF-3 was authorized in 2022 through Senate Bill 197 (Chapter 70, Statutes of 2022), enacted under Chapter 7 of Part 1 of Division 31 of the California Health and Safety Code (HSC) (sections 50250 et seq.). The $400 million for this third round was appropriated by SB 101 (Chapter 12, Statute of 2023). ERF was established to increase collaboration between Cal ICH, Local Jurisdictions, and Continuumsof Care (CoCs) for the following purposes:
• Assist Local Jurisdictions in ensuring the safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness in encampments.
• Provide grants to Local Jurisdictions and CoCs to resolve critical encampment concerns and transition individuals into safe and stable housing.
• Encourage a data-informed, coordinated approach to address encampment concerns.
B. Background
Cal ICH was created in 2017 to oversee the implementation of Housing First policies, guidelines, and regulations to reduce the prevalence and duration of 2 homelessness in California. Cal ICH’s mission is to develop policies and to identify and coordinate resources, benefits, and services to prevent and work toward ending homelessness in California.
The ERF Program is a four-year grant program that includes three rounds of funding as described below:
Funding
Round &
Allocation
Authorizing bill(s) Disbursements
ERF 1
$50 M • AB 140
(Chapter 111,
Statutes of
2021)
$48 million was awarded to 19
applicants
ERF 2
$300 M • SB 197 (Chapter
70, Statutes of
2022)
• AB 178
(Chapter 45,
Statutes of
2022)
ERF-2-L*: $47,698,261.81 was awarded
to eight applicants that applied for
ERF-1, met all applicable program
requirements, but did not receive
awards under ERF-1 due to lack of
available funds.
ERF-2-R**: $237,301,738.19 was
awarded to 30 applicants
ERF 3
$400 M • SB 197 (Chapter
70, Statutes of
2022)
• SB 101 (Chapter
12, Statute of
2023)
ERF-3-L*: $81,252,425.67 was awarded
to 12 applicants that applied for ERF-2-
R, met all applicable program
requirements, but did not receive
awards under ERF-2-R due to lack of
available funds
ERF-3-R**: $298,747,574.33 is made
available through this NOFA
* L indicates a lookback to unfunded applications in the preceding round. ** R indicates a rolling application process
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact additional legislation to transfer the grant administration work of Cal ICH to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in FY 2024-25.
C. Objective
The ERF program will fund actionable, person-centered local proposals that resolve the experience of unsheltered homelessness for people residing in 3 encampments. Resolving these experiences of homelessness will necessarily address the safety and wellness of people within encampments, resolve critical encampment concerns, and transition individuals into interim shelter with clear pathways to permanent housing or directly into permanent housing, using data-informed, non-punitive, low-barrier, person-centered, Housing First, and coordinated approaches.
Proposals may bolster existing, successful models and/or support new approaches that provide safe stable, and ultimately permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness in encampments.
D. Available Funds
Up to $298,747,574.33 is available for award through ERF-3-R. Pursuant to the Budget Act of 2023 (SB 101 (Chapter 12, statute of 2023), up to 50 percent of the funds authorized for ERF-3 shall be prioritized for Local Jurisdictions with proposals that address encampments on state right of way and that meet priority criteria established by Cal ICH in consultation with the Department of Transportation.
E. Eligible Applicants
• Local Jurisdiction – means a city, including a charter city, a county, including a charter county, or a city and county, including a charter city and county.
• Continuum of Care (CoC) – as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Per SB 101 (Chapter 12, statute of 2023), Local Jurisdictions have priority to apply for ERF programs on state right of way, over CoC applicants, until a date specified by Cal ICH. If a CoC applies for an ERF proposal located on a state right of way before May 1, 2024, the CoC must provide a Letter of Local Acknowledgment from each overlapping Local Jurisdiction that: (1) identifies the prioritized encampment; (2) confirms that the CoC has communicated with each Local Jurisdiction about the CoC’s intent to apply; and (3) that no Local Jurisdiction intends to apply for ERF-3-R funds for the prioritized encampment.
F. Eligible Population to Serve
ERF-3-R funds may only be used for proposals that connect people experiencing homelessness in encampments to interim shelter with clear pathways to permanent housing or place people directly into permanent housing.
“Encampment” is not defined in the authorizing legislation for ERF, but 4 research published the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides the following guidance:
An encampment typically includes the following:
• A group of people sleeping outside in the same location for a sustained period.
• The presence of some type of physical structures (e.g., tents, tarps, lean- tos).
• The presence of personal belongings (e.g., coolers, bicycles, mattresses, clothes).
• The existence of social support or a sense of community for residents Unsheltered Homelessness and Homeless Encampments in 2019 (huduser.gov) Furthermore, ERF authorizing legislation requires funding be used for “prioritized” encampments. Applicants must provide a justification for the prioritization of the specific encampment proposed to be served. ERF is not intended to be used to fund a community-wide encampment resolution program. However, in very small communities it may be possible to justify prioritizing all of a small number of encampments for resolution using this fund source. Therefore, in completing this application, applicants must identify and describe the specific encampment that will be prioritized for resolution.
If an applicant proposes to prioritize a large, noncontiguous, or multiple site(s), the encampments may only be addressed through a single application if: (a) the justification for prioritizing the encampments is the same, and (b) the demographics and service needs of the residents of the encampments is sufficiently similar, and (c) that the same set of services, and service providers, including outreach, interim and permanent housing programs, will be used to resolve the identified people's experience of homelessness in encampments.
Applicant must prepare a separate application for each encampment that does not meet the requirements of (a) – (c).
G. Key Dates
The rolling application will open upon the release of this NOFA and the accompanying ERF-3-R application, and will remain open until June 30, 2024, or until all program funds have been exhausted, whichever comes first.
Applications will be reviewed in batches as illustrated in the table and diagram on the following page.
5 Application Window and Review
2023 2024
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Application
Window 1
Review of
Window 1 Apps
Application
Window 2
Review of
Window 2 Apps
Application
Window 3
Review of
Window 3 Apps
Table, ERF-3-R Events Responsible
Party
Date(s)
NOFA Release Date Cal ICH 11/27/2023
Application Release Date Cal ICH 11/27/2023
Application Window #1 Applicant 11/27/23 - 01/31/24
Review and Award Window #1
Applications
Cal ICH 02/01/24 - 03/31/24
Application Window #2 Applicant 02/01/24 - 04/30/24
Review and Award Window #2
Applications
Cal ICH 05/01/24-06/30/24
Application Window #3 Applicant 05/01/24-06/30/24
Review and Award Window #3
Applications
Cal ICH 07/01/24 - 08/31/24
Deadline to Expend 50% of Allocation Applicant 06/30/2025 Deadline to Obligate 100% of Allocation Applicant 06/30/2025 Deadline to Expend 100% of Allocation Applicant 06/30/2027 6 H. Applicant Conference
General questions may be submitted by email to [email protected], with a subject line “ERF-3-R” for the duration of the rolling application period.
Please know that Cal ICH will likely respond to any inquiries through official channels that are directed to the entire eligible applicant pool (i.e., Applicant Conference, FAQ, or if necessary, an addendum to this NOFA). The non- mandatory Applicant Conference is a space for Cal ICH to walk through the NOFA, respond to previously submitted questions, and answer live questions as time permits. This conference will last an hour and is for informational purposes only. Attendance is voluntary and the conference will be recorded and posted on Cal ICH’s website for viewing as your schedule permits.
To have your question answered in the Applicant Conference, please email questions to [email protected] with subject line: ERF-3-R by 5pm 12/01/2023.
Conference date and time: 12/07/2023 @ 10:00 – 11:00 AM Pacific Time Registration is required to attend. Register in advance using the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Eib-_GQGTOSL86Rki6qSQg Applicant Conference Agenda:
• Welcome and Introduction
• NOFA Overview
• Answer Questions Submitted to Cal ICH
• Live Questions (as time permits)
II. REQUIRED APPLICATION ELEMENTS, EVALUATION CRITERIA, AND PRIORITIZED
FACTORS
A. Required Application Elements
Eligible applicants must submit an Application in a form and manner specified by Cal ICH; the Application must include minimum elements as described in HSC section 50252.1(c)(4). The Application made available through the Cognito Submission Portal
(https://www.cognitoforms.com/californiainteragencycouncilonhomelessness /erf3rapplication) includes all the minimum elements.
B. Evaluation Criteria
In determining which Applications to fund, Cal ICH shall evaluate and score proposals based on specific criteria as described in HSC section 50251(c)(2).
These specific criteria are operationalized through and located in the ERF-3-R Scoring Matrix at Section VI.A and B of this NOFA.
7 C. Prioritized Factors
In accordance with HSC section 50252.1(c)(5), in awarding grants, funding shall be prioritized for both of the following:
• Applications that demonstrate cross-systems collaboration, including collaborations with state and federal entities, and innovative efforts to resolve encampment issues, while focusing on protecting the health and well-being of the individuals living in those encampments. • Applications that represent the diversity of communities across the state, including, but not limited to, rural, urban, and suburban communities.
• Additionally, up to 50 percent of the available funds will be prioritized for ERF projects that address encampments on state right of way.
III. ELIGIBLE USES
A. Eligible Uses
Applicant’s program design and objective and their proposed eligible uses must advance ERF-3-R’s objective, which is set forth at Section I.C of this NOFA. Proposal design may include any combination of the following ten Eligible Use categories:
Eligible Use
Category
Non-Exhaustive List of Eligible Activities Applied to the EligiblePopulation
Rapid Rehousing
Rapid rehousing, including housing identification
services, rental subsidies, security deposits, incentives to landlords, and holding fees for eligible persons,
housing search assistance, case management and
facilitating access to other community-based
services.
Operating
Subsidies
Operating subsidies in new and existing affordable
or supportive housing units, emergency shelters, and
navigation centers. Operating subsidies may include
operating reserves.
Street Outreach
Street outreach to assist eligible persons to access
crisis services, interim housing options, and
permanent housing and services.
Services
Coordination
Services coordination, which may include access to
workforce, education, and training programs, or
other services needed to improve and promote
housing stability for eligible persons, as well as direct case management services being provided to
persons.
8 Systems Support
Systems support for activities that improve,
strengthen, augment, complement, and/or are
necessary to create regional partnerships and a
homeless services and housing delivery system that
resolves persons’ experiences of unsheltered
homelessness.
Delivery of
Permanent Housing
Delivery of permanent housing and innovative
housing solutions, such as unit conversions that are
well suited for eligible persons.
Prevention and
Shelter Diversion
Prevention and shelter diversion to permanent
housing, including flexible forms of financial
assistance, problem solving assistance, and other
services to prevent people that have been placed
into permanent housing from losing their housing
and falling back into unsheltered homelessness. This
category is only available to serve people who were
formerly residing in the prioritized ERF encampment
site.
Interim Housing
Interim housing, limited to newly developed clinically
enhanced congregate shelters, new or existing non-
congregate shelters, and operations of existing
navigation centers and shelters based on
demonstrated need that are well suited for eligible
persons.
Improvements to
Existing Emergency
Shelters
Improvements to existing emergency shelters to
lower barriers, increase privacy, better address the
needs of eligible persons, and improve outcomes
and exits to permanent housing.
Administrative
Costs
Administrative costs incurred by the city, county,
continuum of care, to administer its program
allocation. Up to 5% of grant funds may be applied
to administrative costs.
Site restoration is not a permitted Eligible Use for ERF-3-R funds.
B. Budgets
Applicants must use the standardized budget template available at Box.com:
(https://dca.box.com/s/xayuey1lcrgnve0e6l3ut5tkov0rtu3). Where necessary, applicants may modify the budget template.
These budgets will be submitted through the application submission portal:
(https://www.cognitoforms.com/CaliforniaInteragencyCouncilOnHomelessne ss/ERF3RApplication).
9 Applicants must demonstrate a reasonable effort to correctly categorize their budgets into the appropriate Eligible Uses. Additionally, if one larger proposal may fall within two or more Eligible Use categories, applicants should split up the line item so that Cal ICH staff can track and better understand proposal components.
IV. APPLICATION
The ERF-3-R application is a questionnaire style survey and has three required parts: administrative information, proposal overview, and implementation. A submitted application that deviates from the following requirements will be considered nonresponsive and will be disqualified from the evaluation. • Part 1: Administrative Information
Requires the applicant to provide information pertaining to jurisdiction type, implementing organization, contracting information, and contacts. • Part 2: Proposal Overview
Requires the applicant to provide information on:
a) Proposal Summary: including an overview of all key components and/or phases of the project that will be funded in whole or in part with ERF-3-R resources.
b) People Served: including metrics on how many people are living in the prioritized encampment and how many people are proposed to be served.
c) Encampment Information: including a description of the people living in the prioritized encampment, the physical characteristics of the encampment, whythe site and the people residing there are being prioritized, and whether the encampment is located entirely or partially on a state right of way. This includes:
• Attachment, Map: Applicants must submit a map of the encampment site proposed to be served with ERF-3-R funds.
• Attachment, Caltrans Letter of Support (if applicable): Projects entirely or partially on a state right of way must include a Letter of Support from Caltrans.
o This letter must include confirmation from Caltrans that they are aware of and in support of the ERF project, including the projected timeline, and that they will only take action on that encampment 10 site in collaboration with and with at least two weeks-notice to the ERF grantee, unless critical circumstances exist when an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety, or infrastructure and must be immediately addressed.
o This letter should be signed by the local Caltrans Deputy District Director of Maintenance (DDDM) or their designee.
o This letter may also include Caltrans role in the proposal and what Caltrans resources are being leveraged.
d) Proposal’s Outcomes: including a description of the proposal’s planned outcomes, activities to support meeting these outcomes, and how the applicantwill measure their progress.
e) Centering People: including:
i. data, evidence, and other information that informed the proposal’s design;
ii. how input from people with lived experience of homelessness was meaningfully incorporated into the proposal;
iii. the proposal’s adherence to Housing First;
iv. the proposal’s delivery of trauma informed housing services and supports; and
v. how the proposal will prioritize the dignity, health, and safety of people experiencing homelessness in the encampment.
• Part 3: Implementation
Requires the applicant to provide details around proposal implementation in four key areas:
a) Core Service Delivery and Housing Strategies: including the proposed outreach strategies and/or service coordination for the persons experiencing homelessness while they continue to reside in the encampment, the proposed living situations immediately following the encampment, displacement mitigation strategies, ability to deliver permanent housing, pathways to permanent housing, and strategies to mitigate returns to unsheltered homelessness.
b) Budget and Resource Plan: including the total amount of ERF-3-R funds requested, the amount and description of non-ERF resources that will support the proposal, and an explanation for how the requested amount was determined based on the number of people served and the housing options provided. Identifies non-ERF-3-R resources that will be leveraged to support proposal implementation including coordination of resources from other systems that would increase services and housing 11 options. This includes prior ERF awards, HUD unsheltered NOFO, and other federal, state, and local funding sources.
• Attachment, Standardized Budget: Applicants must use the standardized budget template available at Box.com:
(https://dca.box.com/s/xayuey1lcrgnve0e6l3ut5tkov0rtu3). Where necessary, applicants may modify the budget template. For guidance on Eligible Uses and categorization, see Eligible Uses in Section III.A. c) Key Entities and Staff: including the experience and qualifications for the implementing organization and key partners, evidence of collaboration between Local Jurisdiction(s) and the CoC, as well as identification of the primary parties with rights to and/or control of the property upon which the encampment resides (Caltrans, Union Pacific, private landowner, etc.) and their shared understanding of and commitment to the implementation of the proposal. For proposals on state right of way, in addition to the Caltrans letter of support, applicants must describe how they collaborated with Caltrans on their program design, implementation plans, and projected timeline.
d) Accelerated Timeline: including how your community will act urgently and efficiently while prioritizing the dignity, safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness within the encampment site and proposal milestones. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide incremental milestones for achieving the interim shelter and permanent housing goals set out in the proposal. For projects that include interim shelter and/or permanent housing development, the timeline should include major development milestones.
V. APPLICATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants will utilize the Cognito application submission portal:
(https://www.cognitoforms.com/CaliforniaInteragencyCouncilOnHomelessne ss/ERF3RApplication).
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning on November 27, 2023, until June 30, 2024, or until all funds have been exhausted, whichever occurs first. As detailed above in the Key Dates table, this rolling application period will span three possible application submission windows. Complete applications submitted and received by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the corresponding application window, will be reviewed and evaluated as a batch for that window. Applications received after 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the application window will be reviewed and evaluated during the following application window.
12 Because Cal ICH does not have control over the platform’s timing apparatus and uploading speed, and to mitigate for unforeseen occurrences, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit by noon on the last day of the corresponding application window. For example, applications submitted during application window #1 for the period of November 27, 2023, through January 31, 2024, must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2024, and applicants are encouraged to submit by noon on that day to mitigate any unforeseen occurrences in the Cognito application portal.
Applicants are permitted to submit a “test” submission at a time of their choosing to familiarize themselves with the application and the Cognito platform. To ensure your application is reviewed, please make sure that your final submission is not marked as a “test” submittal. The Cognito platform will instruct applicants on how to navigate this process.
VI. REVIEW, SCORING, AND AWARD
A. Review
Phase 1 – Administrative Review: Applications will be reviewed and evaluated for completeness of NOFA specifications, including checking that the application was submitted on behalf of an eligible applicant. In this review stage, reviewers will evaluate the contents of each application to ensure that all required items are populated and / or received. Cal ICH will reach out to applicants and allow them to resolve small discrepancies, but applications that are not complete or do not contain all the required items and attachments will be considered non-responsive and will be disqualified from the evaluation.
Phase 2 – Scoring Review: Cal ICH and/or its designee will convene an evaluation panel of three qualified individuals who have knowledge and experience of the state grantmaking process and subject matter of the Program. The evaluation panel will review and score applications in accordance with the ERF Scoring Matrix below. This panel will produce an application’s average score. Applications eligible for funding must score an average of at least 70 of the possible 100 points total. In addition to receiving an average total score of at least 70, all applicants must average no less than the minimum scoring threshold for each of the following sections:
1. People Served and Encampment Information (must receive 3 out of the 5 possible points)
2. Proposal’s Outcomes (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points)
3. Centering People (must receive 16 out of the 20 possible points)
4. Core Service Delivery and Housing Strategies (must receive 11 out of the 15 possible points)
5. Budget and Resource Plan (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points)
13 6. Key Entities and Staff (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points)
7. Accelerated Timeline (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points) B. Scoring
The Evaluation Panel will review and consider the totality of the information in the application when determining whether the application satisfies the minimum scoring threshold. However, applicants should respond to each application criteria in the proper application section to ensure all requirements are met.
ERF-3-R Scoring Matrix
Proposal Overview Factors that satisfy minimum scoring threshold:
People Served and
Encampment
Information
(Must receive 3 out of
the 5 possible points)
o Clearly describes the characteristics and
demographics of the people living in the
prioritized encampment and the physical
aspects of the encampment including
location, size of area, types of structures
onsite, and vehicles present.
o Makes a logical and compelling case for why
the identified encampment site is being
prioritized.
Proposal’sOutcomes
(Must receive 10 out
of the 15 possible
points)
o Proposal’s outcomes meaningfully align with
ERF-3-R’s objectives (set forth at Section I.C of
this NOFA).
o Outcomes are specific, measurable, realistic,
and time-based.
o Logically describes how progress will be
measured and outcomes achieved.
o Applicant demonstrates an above average
likelihood of achieving the proposal’s outcomes.
Centering People
(Must receive 16 out
of the possible 20
points)
o Uses well-informed analyses or the
perspectives of people with lived experience
of homelessness to inform the proposal’s
decisions, processes, and actions which
should advance the wellbeing of people
experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the
identified encampment.
o Aligns with and exemplifies Housing First
approaches.
o Provides trauma informed services and
supports, operationalizes harm reduction, and
14 centers an individual’s choice and
preferences.
o Prioritizes the dignity, health, and safety of
people experiencing homelessness in the
encampment.
o Details the controls in place to not “penalize
homelessness.”
Implementation Factors that satisfy minimum scoring threshold:
Core Service Delivery
and Housing
Strategies
(Must receive 11 out
of the possible 15
points)
o Includes a comprehensive outreach and
engagement strategyincluding case
management and service coordination for
people currently residing in the encampment.
o Details identify interim and permanent
housing options and includes a description of
how many individuals are projected to be
served with each interim and permanent
housing solution.
o Includes compelling evidence of an
applicant’s demonstrated ability and
commitment to deliver permanent housing for
people residing in the prioritized
encampment. Compelling evidence may
include identification, creation, availability,
and prioritization of permanent housing
resources as well as examples of prior
successes in permanently housing people
experiencing homelessness.
o Describes how the proposed service delivery
model is tailored to meet the needs and
preferences of the people residing in the
encampment site.
o Uses data and input from people with lived
experience of homelessness to inform housing
and service needs, preferences, and the
availability of resources to meet those needs
and preferences.
o Details strategies likely to prevent
displacement from the prioritized
encampment to another unsheltered location
and to prevent returns to unsheltered
homelessness.
15 o Details operable plans to support individuals
with the storage of their property and care of
their pets, while living in the encampment as
well as after they have moved into interim or
permanent housing.
Budget and Resource
Plan
(Must receive 10 out
of the possible 15
points)
o Demonstrates a sustainable, prudent, and
effective use of requested funding.
o Budget aligns with achieving the proposal's
outcomes, services and housing options, and
number of people served.
o Identifies non-ERF-3-R resources that will be
leveraged to support proposal
implementation including coordination of
resources from other systems that would
increase services and housing options. This
includes prior ERF awards, HUD unsheltered
NOFO, and other federal, state, and local
funding sources.
* Applications will be evaluated with the
understanding that communities vary significantly with
respect to the current availability of other fund sources that can be used as leverage for their proposed
projects and to sustain the projects beyond the grant
term. In the absence of currently available resources,
Applicants are encouraged to provide a specific plan
for obtaining the funding necessary to sustain their
project beyond the grant term if the project is
intended to continue.
Key Entities and Staff
(Must receive 10 out
of the possible 15
points)
o Includes a detailed description of the lead
entity that will oversee the implementation of
activities in the proposal. Describe lead
entity’s mission, goals, values, geographic
service area and existing efforts related to
serving persons living in encampments.
o Demonstrates the ability to recruit and deploy
personnel with experience and expertise
needed to support the success of the
proposal.
o Demonstrates commitment to cross-systems
collaboration with descriptions of key
contributions of each organization and local
community partners including their
experience and expertise in serving persons
experiencing unsheltered homelessness with a
16 range of service needs.
o Demonstrates collaboration between Local
Jurisdiction(s) and the CoC for this proposal.
o Demonstrates capacity to carry out the
proposal.
o Identifies the primary parties with rights to
and/or control of the property upon which
the encampment resides and their shared
understanding of and commitment to the
implementation of the proposal.
o If the encampment is on a state right of way,
the proposal describes how the applicant
collaborated with Caltrans on their program
design, implementation plan, and projected
timeline.
Accelerated Timeline
(Must receive 10 out
of the possible 15
points)
o Demonstrates how the community will act
urgently and efficiently while prioritizing the
dignity, safety and wellness of people
experiencing homelessness within the
encampment site.
o Demonstrates the likelihood of meeting
proposal milestones and objectives.
C. Award
After each application window has closed and all applications received during the window have been reviewed and scored, a Notice of Intent to Award shall be posted on the Cal ICH website and shall be sent by email to the proposed awardees.
Once awards have been determined by Cal ICH, a contract packet including the Standard Agreement and Request for Funds Form (RFF) form will be prepared and sent to the grantee. The grantee will return the signed Standard Agreement and RFF. Funds will be disbursed to the grantee upon receipt, review and approval of the completed Standard Agreement and RFF by Cal ICH. The RFF must include the total amount of funds proposed for expenditure. Grant funds will be disbursed via mailed check once the RFF has been processed through the Department of General Services and received by the State Controller’s Office. Checks will be mailed to the address and contact name listed on the RFF.
Applications that are denied funding will be provided evaluation panel feedback. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate this feedback and reapply in the next available application window.
17 D. Appeals
Pursuant to HSC Section 50251(c)(1), Cal ICH’s decision to approve or deny an application and the determination of the amount of funding to be provided shall be final and is not subject to appeal.
VII. PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING
A. Performance
Performance shall start no later than 30 days, or on the express date set by Cal ICH and the grantees, after all approvals have been obtained and the Standard Agreement is fully executed. Should the grantee fail to commence work at the agreed upon time, Cal ICH, upon five (5) days written notice to the grantee, reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. All performance under the Agreement shall be completed on or before the termination date of the Agreement.
ERF-3-R grantees must expend at least 50 percent obligate 100 percent of their allocation by 6/30/2025. All ERF-3-R funds must be expended by 6/30/27.
ERF-3-R funds not expended by the 6/30/27 deadline shall be returned to Cal ICH and will revert to the fund of origin.
B. Reporting
The grantee shall submit quarterly reports to Cal ICH with fiscal and programmatic data reflecting the progress of their ERF program in a format provided by Cal ICH. In addition to these quarterly reports, grantees shall adopt a specific project setup in their local HMIS that allows Cal ICH to identify all the served clients from the designated encampment by ERF-funded services and activities. The detailed instructions for establishing projects within HMIS will be furnished upon receipt of an award.
Once an application is submitted and approved, no substantive changes to the program design are allowed unless grantees (1) inform Cal ICH of the change to the program design; (2) explain the impacts of the program design change; and (3) receive written approval from Cal ICH to proceed. If enforcement action is taken or the encampment is otherwise disbursed, the grantee must notify Cal ICH immediately.
Grantees may also receive ad hoc requests for information from Cal ICH or its contractors in support of program monitoring, research, and evaluation.
Grantees with projects on state right of way may also be required to provide programmatic data to Caltrans.
18 At the end of the grant period, or upon request by Cal ICH, all grantees shall provide information and products developed with grant funds on service delivery models including any materials that may be necessary to study the program or replicate it for implementation across the state.
C. Public Records Act Requests
Applicants are hereby informed that all documents and correspondence related to their ERF-3-R application are subject to Public Records Act (PRA) requests.
VIII. Appendices
A. Definitions:
The following terms are defined in accordance with HSC section 50250:
(a) “Additional funding round moneys” means moneys appropriated for the program in or after fiscal year 2022–23.
(b) “Agency” means the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. (c) “Applicant” means a continuum of care or local jurisdiction (d) “Continuum of care” has the same meaning as in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(e) “Council” means the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, previously known as the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council created pursuant to Section 8257 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (f) “County” includes, but is not limited to, a city and county. (g) “Funding round 1 moneys” means moneys appropriated for the program in fiscal year 2021–22.
(h) “Homeless” has the same meaning as in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(i) “Local jurisdiction” means a city, including a charter city, a county, including a charter county, or a city and county, including a charter city and county.
19 (j) “Program” means the Encampment Resolution Funding program established pursuant to this chapter.
(k) “Recipient” means an applicant that receives grant funds from the council for the purposes of the program.
(l) “State right of way” means real property held in title by the State of California. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 70, Sec. 3. (SB 197) Effective June 30, 2022.)
Additional Definitions
(m) “Authorized Representative” should be the individual with authority to contract on behalf of the awardee.
(n) “Encampments” An encampment typically includes the following:
• A group of people sleeping outside in the same location for a sustained period.
• The presence of some type of physical structures (e.g., tents, tarps, lean- tos).
• The presence of personal belongings (e.g., coolers, bicycles, mattresses, clothes).
• The existence of social support or a sense of community for residents. (o) “Expend” means all ERF-3-R funds obligated under contract or subcontract have been fully paid and receipted, and no invoices remain outstanding.
(p) “Obligate” means that the Grantee has placed orders, awarded contracts, received services, or entered into similar transactions that require payment using ERF-3-R funding.