Louisiana Emergency Shelter Grants Program

PUBLIC NOTICE

SOLICITATION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

Louisiana Emergency Shelter Grants Program

St. Tammany Parish President, Kevin Davis announces that the St. Tammany Parish Office of Social Services, Department of Community Action has been issued an application package for the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESGP) administered by the Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS). Funding available under the Emergency Shelter Grants Program is dedicated for the rehabilitation, renovation, or conversion of buildings for use as shelters for the homeless, and for payment of certain operating costs and social services expenses relating to homeless emergency shelter. The Program also allows funding for use in homeless prevention activities as an adjunct to other eligible activities.

Applicants for grants under the State ESG Program are limited to units of local government which may distribute all or part of their grant amounts to private nonprofit organizations for use in eligible Program activities. Nonprofit organizations interested in developing a project proposal for possible inclusion in an ESGP funding application under consideration by the Department of Community Action may request a copy of the proposal materials by contacting St. Tammany Parish Department of Community Action at (985) 646-2090.

To qualify for funding participation, a private nonprofit organization as defined by Program regulations must be one which is exempt from taxation under subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code, has an accounting system and a voluntary board, and practices nondiscrimination in the provision of assistance. Matching funds (including in-kind contributions) equal to the amount of grants funds must be provided except under special circumstances when an exemption can be allowed. Program rules require that ESGP recipients involve, to the maximum extent practicable, homeless individuals and families in ESG funded activities, including constructing, renovating, maintaining, and operating facilities assisted under the ESG Program, and in providing services for occupants of these facilities.

No funding obligations shall be implied based on the information in this solicitation of ESGP project proposals. The St. Tammany Parish Department of Community Action reserves the right to accept any proposal or reject any and all proposals on such a basis as may be deemed to be in its best interest. The deadline for receipt and consideration of a proposal is 4:30 PM, March 20, 2009.