FY 2022 ROSS (Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency) Service Coordinator Program
Overview. The Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) grant program is designed to assist residents of Public and Indian Housing make progress towards economic and housing self-sufficiency by removing the educational, professional and health barriers they face.
Self-sufficiency is defined as a household’s ability to maintain financial, housing, and personal/family stability. To achieve self-sufficiency, individuals in a household move along a continuum towards economic independence and stability; such movement is facilitated by the achievement of educational, professional, and health/mental health and financial empowerment-related goals. For the ROSS program, self-sufficiency is further defined as a resident’s ability to progress along the self-sufficiency continuum through training and the utilization of supportive services. In the case of elderly residents and residents with disabilities, self-sufficiency is further defined as the utilization of supportive services which enable them to age in place or remain living independently for as long as possible.
To help residents make progress towards self-sufficiency, HUD provides ROSS-SC grant funding through a NOFO to eligible applicants to hire a Service Coordinator who assesses the needs of public and Indian housing residents and links them to training and supportive services that will enable participants to move along the self-sufficiency continuum. In the case of elderly residents and residents with disabilities, the service coordinator also links them to congregate and other supportive services which enable them to age/remain in place in addition to providing any desired training and supportive services which are made available to other residents. Through the ROSS-SC grant, HUD also provides funding flexibility to allow grantees to provide direct services to ROSS participants where necessary to further support the work of the ROSS-SC and ultimately, the attainment of self-sufficiency goals of ROSS participants.
This place-based program targets the entire resident community within the project(s) to be served and aims to address the areas of need at both the community and individual level. Resident participation with supportive services is voluntary and cannot be a condition of housing. The ROSS-SC must work with residents, PHA staff, local partners, and other stakeholders to develop local strategies to address the needs of residents and remove barriers so that residents make progress towards achieving economic and housing self-sufficiency.
ROSS-SC funds may only be used for the coordinator's salary and fringe benefits; travel and training expenses; and administrative costs including costs for direct services or for subcontracting for direct services. The ROSS-SC program is a cost-reimbursable grant which means that costs are reimbursed by HUD after they are incurred.
Core Functions of ROSS-SC Program.
1. Resident Needs Assessment: ROSS applicants/grantees must assess the needs of residents in the project(s) to be served to determine the critical needs that residents identify as barriers to achieving self-sufficiency. The Needs Assessment must ensure all residents have meaningful access to participate including persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and persons with disabilities as required by Title VI and Section 504. The results of the needs assessment are a key component of your application. A sample needs assessment is included with this NOFO at Appendix B.
2. Coordination and Direct Service Delivery: The role of each ROSS-SC shall be designed to meet the needs of both individual residents and the local community he/she will serve. The ROSS-SC must build partnerships with local service providers, tribal departments, and/or other organizations to coordinate the delivery of services and to ensure that program participants are linked to the supportive services they need. The ROSS-SC must also assess any gaps in service delivery by existing partners/tribal departments/local service providers and may supplement these through subcontracts with other organizations possessing the expertise to fulfill the unmet needs of active ROSS participants. The ROSS-SC may also coordinate educational and/or community events that help residents achieve economic independence and stability.
3. Case Management/Coaching: The ROSS-SC program must provide general case management to residents which includes intake, assessment, education, and referral to service providers in the local community and/or subcontractors.
4. Resident Engagement: Grantees must find creative ways, including identifying local partners, to engage residents and Resident Associations in activities that help build organizational capacity and leadership; this can include supporting resident-led projects that address the needs of the community. This should include consulting the Resident Association(s) in the project(s) served by the ROSS-SC grant.
5. Evaluation: Grantees must regularly monitor and evaluate the progress of participants, the quality of services delivered by partners and subcontractors, and the overall success of the program. Regular monitoring and evaluation will help grantees make any necessary changes to improve the implementation of their program during the course of the grant.
6. Reporting. Grantees must submit an annual report to HUD. The annual report is due October 30th of each year. Final reports are due 90 days after the grant term ends.
Area of Need(s). Applicants must choose from the areas of need below to indicate which areas their ROSS-SC will focus on. The area(s) of need selected by the applicant must be supported by the results of the resident needs assessment administered in the communities the applicant proposes to serve. Please see Section III.F.11.
- Digital Inclusion
- Education
- Elderly/Persons with Disabilities
- Employment
- Financial Literacy
- Health & Wellness
- Re-Entry
- Substance Use
Available Funds. Funding of approximately $ 35,000,000 is available through this NOFO. HUD expects to make approximately 125 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.
Program Office: Public and Indian Housing
Funding Opportunity Title: Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator Program
Assistance Listing Number: 14.870
FAIN Number: FR-6600-N-05
OMB Approval Numbers: 2577-0229
Estimated Opening Date: May 18, 2022
Estimated Deadline Date: July 18, 2022
ROSS FY22 NOFO Webinar for Applicants