HUD PUBLISHES FIRST PART OF FISCAL YEAR 2006 FUNDING NOTICE TO HELP GRANT APPLICANTS GET A HEAD START ON FUNDING REQUESTS
Presidential initiative toward e-government improves access to funding

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today unveiled the first part of HUD's Fiscal Year 2006 "SuperNOFA," a notice that will make available approximately $2.1 billion in grants through 40 individual programs (see attached list). By publishing the General Section of the Fiscal Year 2006 Notice of Funding Availability early, HUD hopes to give prospective applicants a jump start in preparing this year's applications and to promote early electronic registration. HUD anticipates publication of the remainder of the SuperNOFA within the next few weeks.

This is the first year that HUD is publishing the General Section in advance of the individual program NOFAs and represents one of several steps HUD is taking to improve the funding process for its grantee community. Releasing the General Section early allows applicants the opportunity to become familiar with the general requirements of the FY2006 SuperNOFA and to ask HUD staff questions about General Section requirements.

"Today, we take another step toward making government work better," said Jackson. "Publishing part of our funding notice early will give our partners the opportunity to get a head start on preparing their applications and to become more familiar with the registration process. If last year taught us anything, early registration can make all the difference as we continue to move toward e-government."

Early publication of the General Section serves as a reminder to applicants to register for electronic grant application submission. Like last year, HUD will require all applicants, with the exception of those applying for funding through HUD's Continuum of Care homeless assistance programs, to submit their funding requests electronically through www.grants.gov. HUD staff is prepared to answer questions and make the electronic grant application process easier and simpler for applicants to access HUD funding opportunities.

The electronic submission process is part of the President's management agenda and will significantly improve access to funding opportunities for states, local governments and nonprofit grassroots organizations that house and serve lower income families living in their communities.

Last year, HUD successfully migrated from paper applications for the majority of its funding opportunities to electronic applications. The transition was largely successful with more than 5,400 applicants successfully submitting their applications electronically. While the majority of HUD's applicants were able to make this transition, a small minority had difficulty with the submission process, primarily because applicants waited to register. In speaking with applicants, HUD has taken several steps to provide early technical assistance and information so that every applicant can successfully meet this year's electronic submission requirements.

For example, HUD published an easy step-by-step registration guide as well as instructions for new applicants as well as for those who have previously registered. The renewal instructions are simple and easy to follow but require applicants to renew their registrations before they expire. Failure to update their registration will require an applicant to go through the entire registration process again. To read the Department's step-by-step registration guide, visit HUD's website.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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The General Section of HUD's Fiscal Year 2006 Notice of Funding Availability provides important information about the following grant opportunities:

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

• Community Development Technical Assistance Programs
  • HOME TA
  • CHDO (HOME) TA
  • McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs TA
  • HOPWA TA
  • Youthbuild TA
• Indian Community Development Block Grant Program (ICDBG)
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program (HBCU)
• Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Program (HSIAC)
• Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities Program (AN/NHIAC)
• Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)
• Fair Housing Initiative Programs
  • Fair Housing - Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI)
  • Fair Housing Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI)
• Housing Counseling Program
  • Local Housing Counseling Agencies (LHCA)
  • National and Regional Intermediaries
  • Housing Counseling - State Housing Finance Agencies (SHFA)

HEALTHY HOMES AND LEAD HAZARD CONTROL PROGRAMS

• Lead Hazard NOFA
  • Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program
  • Operation Lead Elimination Action Program (LEAP)
  • Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program
• Technical Studies NOFA
  • Lead-Technical Studies
  • Healthy Homes Technical Studies
  • Lead Outreach Grant Program
  • Healthy Homes Demonstration Program

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

• Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
• Youthbuild
• Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Coordinators
• Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency
• Rural Housing & Economic Development (RHED)
• HOPE VI Main Street Program
• ROSS Elderly/Persons with Disabilities
• ROSS Family-Homeownership
• Public Housing Neighborhood Networks

TARGETED AND ASSISTED HOUSING

• Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
• Housing Opportunities for Person with AIDS (HOPWA)
• Assisted-Living Conversion Program for Eligible Multifamily Projects
• Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing
• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
• Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
• Continuum of Care
  • Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
  • Shelter Plus Care (S+C)
  • Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program for Homeless Individuals