16b. Programmatic Description of the Support Services for Elderly Households Demonstration Project
Eligible Activities
Eligible program costs vary by whether the property is assigned to the Treatment or Control Group. Please refer to the following sections for details regarding each group:
- All developments selected for the Treatment Group are expected to implement the core components of the supportive services model that include an onsite fulltime Enhanced Service Coordinator and/or a part-time Wellness Nurse within 120 days after the date of the cooperative agreement letter and collaborative with the evaluation of the Demonstration. The services and activities related to the purpose of the Enhanced Service Coordinator and/or the Wellness Nurse positions are considered the program’s eligible activities.
- All developments selected for the Control Group are expected to collaborate with the evaluation of the Support Services for Elderly Households Demonstration.
What Costs May Properties Assigned to the Treatment Group Use HUD Funds to Cover?
(1) One-time only start-up costs:
- Acquisition, leasing, rehabilitation or conversion of an existing space to a confidential on-site office space(s) for the Enhanced Service Coordinator and Wellness Nurse. Costs should not exceed $10,000. Expected completion time to acquire, rehabilitate or convert the space must not impact the start of the Demonstration. Selected applicants will be required to submit three bids to support the requested amount. HUD will review the request for reasonableness and reserves the right to reduce the requested amount. The office space must be accessible to people with disabilities and meet all applicable federal accessibility requirements. HUD staff must approve both the proposed costs and activity and must perform an environmental review under 24 CFR part 50 on such proposed work prior to grant award. Please refer to the United States Access Board website for more information.
- Additional staff time to enroll all interested residents and complete initial assessments of their needs. This staff time must not exceed 20 hours per month for the initial four months of the Demonstration and the hourly rate must be reasonable.
- Other start-up costs deemed necessary for the implementation and sustainment of this program may include, but are not limited to, costs for office furniture, computer tablet, computer hardware/software, etc.
(2) Program Cost. Equipment, office supplies, direct and indirect program expenses, travel, training, stipends to representatives of the partnership between housing, health care, and service provider agencies to attend monthly meeting with the Enhanced Service Coordinator and Wellness Nurse, and/or other cost as determined necessary by HUD.
(3) Provision of Supportive Service Cost. No more than $27 per unit per month for supportive service costs. (Note: Services must be appropriate to the needs of residents.)
(4) Staffing Costs:
- Funds may be used to cover an Enhanced Service Coordinator’s salary, fringe benefits, and/or, Salary cost for a part-time Wellness Nurse.
Note: Owners must contract out to a third-party provider the selection and employment of a Wellness Nurse. The third-party agencies should be a Medicare Certified Home Health Provider or similar agency or organization. - Costs related to the Enhanced Service Coordinator and Wellness Nurse must be supported by evidence of comparable salaries in your area.
(5) Augment Existing Program. Funds may be used to augment a current Service Coordinator program, by increasing the salary and hours of a currently employed Service Coordinator, as long as he or she meets the qualifications for this position and agrees to the job responsibilities, functions, and administrative requirements of this demonstration.
(Note: Grantees may not use funds available through this NOFA to replace currently available funding from other sources. All proposed costs must be considered reasonable. "Reasonable costs" mean that costs are consistent with salaries and administrative costs of similar programs in your local Field Office's jurisdiction.)
What Costs May Properties Assigned to the Control Group Use HUD Funds to Cover?
Properties that are assigned to the Control Group will sign a cooperative agreement and will be offered an incentive fee to participate in the study. The incentive fee will cover the cost of staff time to support researchers’ data collection efforts. The incentive fee will be set at an amount not to exceed $5,000 per property enrolled in the Control Group.