In late December, HUD opened the Calendar Year 2022 Service Coordinator in Multifamily Housing Program and Congregate Housing Services Program renewals in GrantSolutions. Grantees have until February 7, 2022 to submit renewal documentation. The grant funding is available for the annual renewal of existing grants only, not for the establishment of new Service Coordinator programs.

HUD Grant Processing

Despite the December renewal launch, HUD’s Service Coordinator grant processing generally takes several months to complete under the following process:

• Application Submission Period
• Application Review
• Funding Recommendation Review
• Obligating Funds
• Grantee Acceptance Period
• Disbursement Processing 

Following notification of the award, grantees have 30 days to accept the award in GrantSolutions. Funds are disbursed by HUD from drawdown through eLOCCS roughly 2-3 weeks following award acceptance.

Anticipated Delays

While later than usual, HUD has opened the renewal process more than 2 months earlier than in Calendar Year 2021, where the Service Coordinator program saw major HUD processing delays that resulted in payments for the annual calendar year program first reaching owners in September. LeadingAge had urged HUD to avoid significant delays in 2022 by making a number of critical changes to system processing. 

In addition, HUD has not yet received full-year funding through the congressional appropriations process, complicating the administration of the year-long grant funding awards. HUD told LeadingAge that agency staff will provide an update on the grant disbursement timing early in 2022. 

In the meantime, LeadingAge expects HUD to split the grant award process into two stages, with the first stage encompassing funds already appropriated to the agency by Congress through Continuing Resolutions. Under this approach, grantees could see their first funds availability for voucher in mid-Spring, and a second round in late summer or early fall. 

HUD-Applied Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Grantees with previously processed awards are eligible to apply for their renewal by submitting the one-year budget form, HUD91186-A (the streamlined approach applied by HUD last Calendar Year to allow grant renewals without submitting the budget form is no longer being utilized). In addition, grantees under new ownership need to undergo the full renewal process in GrantSolutions.  

A 5.9% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has been applied by HUD; the annual increase is applied to the salary, fringe benefits, quality assurance and indirect cost budget line items.

While the percentage increase is larger than in previous years, it falls in line with the Social Security benefits increase for the year and is a welcome change during a period of rising costs. If a grantee can justify a higher than 5.9% increase, a request can be submitted to HUD to raise a given line items above the standard COLA.

Lack of Service Coordinator Programs throughout HUD-Assisted Housing

Service Coordinators are critical in supporting healthy aging in community. Service Coordinators in HUD-assisted housing are funded either through grants, as described above, or through a property’s regular operating budget. Throughout both funding mechanisms, less than half of Section 202 properties have a Service Coordinator on site. LeadingAge has been working with HUD and with housing providers to increase Service Coordinators throughout the portfolio.

HUD recently received a $25 million increase from Congress in their Service Coordinator appropriations, allowing the agency to release a NOFA for new grant-funded Service Coordinators for the first time in several years. The timing of the NOFA has fallen behind schedule due to the lack of a full-year appropriations package in FY21 and FY22 and due to staffing issues at HUD. The NOFA is expected to be released this year as a combined funding award for both Fiscal Years.

Aside from grant-funded Resident Service Coordinators (RSC), Section 202 housing providers can add an RSC program to their community through a budget-based rent increase request. For example, by submitting a services plan and a projected RSC budget to HUD, PRAC properties can request increased rents to cover the cost of a Service Coordinator (projects must receive approval from HUD to add a Service Coordinator program to their property, even if funded through non-HUD sources). 

Resources and Advocacy

The Calendar Year 2022 Service Coordinator grant renewal guide is available here. HUD has made sample Service Coordinator budgets and forms available on the HUD exchange here. In 2021, HUD also released a new guide on virtual Service Coordination due to pandemic conditions. 

LeadingAge members can assist LeadingAge in our work to increase Service Coordination in senior housing. To join the monthly Services and Service Coordination workgroup or for assistance requesting HUD approval for a Service Coordination program at your property, email Juliana jbilowich@leadingage.org.