Maryland Department ofHousing and Community Development

Maryland Housing Counseling FundGrant Application

for Housing Counseling and Financial Capability Services

Calendar Year 2020

Due Date: July 26, 2019

Division of Neighborhood Revitalization7800 Harkins Road

Lanham, Maryland 20706301-429-7525

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development pledges to foster the letter and spirit of the law for achieving equal housing opportunity in Maryland

LARRY HOGAN BOYD K. RUTHERFORD GOVERNOR LT. GOVERNOR

KENNETH HOLT SECRETARY

GRANT APPLICATION FOR COUNSELING AGENCIESAPPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Introduction

The Housing Counseling and Foreclosure Mediation Fund, also known as the Maryland Housing Counseling Fund (the “Fund”), was established pursuant to Section 7-105.1 of the Real Property Article and Section 4-507 of the Housing and Community Development Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Fund’s purpose is to support non-profit and governmental organizations that provide professional housing counseling, financial counseling and legal services to Maryland consumers.

Since 2008, the Department of Housing and Community Development has coordinated the investment of State and federal funding to develop and sustain a statewide network of local, non-profit housing counseling and legal services organizations available to assist Maryland homeowners and tenants. The Department seeks proposals to further build and enhance that network.

As Maryland’s housing market improves, the Department of Housing and Community Development is focused on increasing and sustaining homeownership statewide. Preparing prospective buyers for homeownership and helping consumers improve their financial capability are critical components of this goal.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to experienced non-profit organizations and local government entities. Final awards are dependent upon the number of applications received and available funding. If your organization is currently funded by this program, your 2020 request should not exceed your total 2019 award.

Eligible Applicants and Activities

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or government entity. This Request for Proposals (RFP) invites proposals for providing counseling services to improve the well-being and financial stability of Maryland homeowners and tenants, including programs that:

Provide homebuyer education, pre-purchase counseling, post-purchase counseling, and/or financial coaching to existing and prospective homeowners;

Provide loss mitigation assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure; Assist tenants affected by landlord foreclosures; Utilize innovative approaches to improve housing stability for low- and moderate-income

households, including but not limited to, education and counseling for eviction prevention, homelessness prevention, or emergency preparedness and disaster recovery;

Coordinate with housing counseling agencies and legal services organizations to assist homeowners and tenants;

Assist homeowners and prospective home buyers with accessing services that improve their financial stability;

Improve the well-being and financial stability of vulnerable homeowners and tenants.

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Criteria for Determining Awards

In evaluating proposals, the Department will consider the following criteria: Areas of Service and Populations Served (10 Points) Experience and Expertise (25 points) Program Capacity (25 Points) Program Impact (25 points) Partnership, Marketing & Outreach (15 points)

Point values for each question are listed at the end of the question. Provide a complete response to each question.

Application Submission Procedures

Applications are due to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Applications and attachments must be typed and legible. Please do not include documentation that was not requested (i.e. annual reports, letters of support, etc.)

Submit your organization’s application by email to hopecounselors.dhcd@maryland.gov with the subject line, “MHCF 2020 Application – [Your Agency’s Name]”.

Contact Angela Fraser, Program Officer at pangela.fraser@maryland.gov or 301-429-7516 if your organization lacks the capacity to scan and email documents.

Application Sections

Section 1 – General InformationSection 2 – Proposal InformationSection 3 – Required Documentation

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Section 1. General Information Applicant Information

Applicant Organization’s Legal Name:

Applicant Organization’s Business Name (if different):

Year Incorporated/Founded: Name of Executive Director:

Address:

City: State: ZIP Code:

Contact Person: Title:

Phone: Fax: Email:

Federal Tax Identification Number:

Affiliated Organizations:

Is the Organization HUD-Approved to provide housing counseling services? Yes: No:

Are housing counseling services provided by a HUD Certified Housing Counselor(s) that is employed with the organization? Yes: No: Five (5) bonus points will be added to an applicant’s final score if the organization currently employs a HUD Certified Housing Counselor to provide housing counseling services. The organization’s housing counselor(s) must have taken and passed the HUD Certification Exam by July 26, 2019. Please provide documentation in Section 3 of this application to confirm certification.

Which Client Management System does the organization plan to utilize during the 2020 grant term (January 1 – December 31, 2020)?

Name of Program Director/Manager:

Phone: Email:

Name of Reporting Contact:

Phone: Email:

Name of Finance Contact:

Phone: Email:

Staff Contacts – Email Addresses (to receive the DHCD e-newsletter)

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Applicant Certifications

The undersigned applicant hereby makes application to the Department of Housing and Community Development (the “Department”) for a:

CY20 Counseling Services Grant in the amount of: $________________________

The applicant agrees it will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability or age in any aspect of the project and to comply with all applicable federal, State and local laws regarding discrimination and equal opportunity in employment, housing and credit practices, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and regulations pursuant thereto, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, and the Governor’s Code of Fair Practices, as amended, and will comply with the Department’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program, as applicable. Copies of the MBE Program Guidelines are available to the applicant upon request.

In accordance with Executive Order 01.01.1983.18, the Department advises you that certain personal information requested by the Department is necessary in determining your eligibility for Housing Counseling Assistance Grant Program (the “Program”) funds. Your failure to disclose this information may result in the denial of grant funds under the Program. Availability of this information for public inspection is governed by the provisions of the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article, Sections 10-611 et seq. of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This information will be disclosed to appropriate staff of the Department, the Office of the Attorney General, or public officials, for purposes directly connected with administration of the Program for which its use is intended. Such information is not routinely shared with State, federal or local government agencies. You have the right to inspect, amend, or correct personal records in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act.

The undersigned hereby certifies that the information set forth in this application and any attachments in support hereof, are true, correct and complete to the best of this applicant’s knowledge and belief.

In witness whereof, the applicant has caused this document to be duly executed in its name on this ___________ day of ________________, 2019.

____________________________________(Full Legal Name of Applicant)

By: ____________________________________ (Signature)

Name: ____________________________________

Title: ____________________________________

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Section 2. Part 1. Proposal Information

Areas of Service and Populations Served (10 Points)

A. List the Maryland jurisdictions you propose to serve. (1 Point)

B. Describe the demographics of the client base you served through this program in CY19. If this is a new program, describe the demographics of the client base you anticipate serving through this program. (3 Points)

C. Are you proposing to serve households with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)? If so, describe your experience and current capacity for doing so. (3 Points)

D. Are you proposing to serve populations with special needs such as the elderly, veterans or persons with disabilities? If so, describe your experience and current capacity for doing so. (3 Points)

Experience and Expertise (25 points)

A. Describe your organization’s mission, experience and major accomplishments. (10 Points)

B. Describe major accomplishments of your organization’s housing counseling program, specifically, those that relate to homebuyer education, financial capability counseling, foreclosure prevention and other relevant consumer issues. (10 Points)

C. List the key leadership, program staff and volunteers that will be engaged in the proposed program including a brief summary of their experience, education and training. If applicable, include documentation showing that housing counselor(s) have taken and passed the HUD Certification Exam. Attach resumes and certifications for these key staff as Exhibit 2E. (5 Points)

Program Capacity (25 Points)

A. Describe the activities for which you are seeking funding, including the counseling services or consumer assistance you plan to offer. Program activities may include, but are not limited to, homebuyer education, pre-purchase counseling, foreclosure prevention counseling, financial capability counseling, education and/or counseling for eviction prevention, homelessness prevention, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery. (5 Points)

B. Indicate the number of program staff involved in the activities described above and the primary focus of each staff member. (5 points) Example: Two full-time counselors and one intake staff providing homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling services.

C. If this is a renewal or expansion of the program you are conducting in CY19, describe the outputs (activities) and the outcomes (impact) achieved to date. (5 Points)

D. What organizational assets do you have in place that will support a successful program (i.e. technology, board leadership, volunteer networks, etc.)? (5 Points)

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E. How will the grant you are requesting be leveraged with funds from other sources? (5 Points)

Program Impact (25 points)

A. Clearly and succinctly list your program goals, including specific and realistic annual outputs (activities) and outcomes (impact) that you anticipate your program will accomplish between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, based on the grant you are requesting. (10 Points)

B. How does this compare to what you project to accomplish in CY19? Your answer should specifically address how many people you project to serve in CY19 and how many you are proposing to serve in CY20, including what kinds of outcomes these clients achieved as a result of your organization’s services. (5 Points)

C. Other than full funding, what are the key challenges to achieving these goals and how will you address those challenges? (5 Points)

D. Complete the chart below: (5 Points)

Annual Outputs & Outcomes CY19 Projected

Goals

CY20 Proposed

GoalsNumber of Homebuyer Education Workshops HeldPeople Completed Homebuyer Education WorkshopsPeople Completed Online EducationPeople Completed One-on-One CounselingPeople Received Down Payment Assistance (DPA)People Purchased a HomeForeclosure Clients ServedBrought Mortgage CurrentMortgages RefinancedMortgages ModifiedForbearance / Extension / Repayment PlanShort SaleCash-for-Keys, Pre-Foreclosure Sale, Alternative Housing SolutionPeople that Improved their Financial Capability

Partnership, Marketing & Outreach (15 points)

A. Describe the marketing tools and outreach methods utilized to promote your organization’s housing counseling program. Provide examples that illustrate the effectiveness of these methods. (5 Points)

B. Describe the populations that are the focus of your organization’s marketing and outreach efforts. (5 Points)

C. Describe how your organization utilizes partnerships to expand the reach and impact of your services. (5 Points)

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Section 2. Part 2. Program Budget and Narrative

The program budget is your program investment strategy and should clearly depict all sources and uses of funding for your housing counseling program. Using the budget template provided by the Department, indicate sources and uses for calendar years 2019 and 2020. For CY20 funds, indicate whether sources are Pending (P), Committed (C), or Received (R). Up to five (5) bonus points will be awarded for proposals that show that MHCF funds will be effectively leveraged with other sources of funds.

Applicants may include up to $5,000 in their CY 20 program budget for referrals to the SUN Program. Payment will be based on the number of referrals that are approved to negotiate by the Repurchase Team (i.e. Boston Community Capital).

Provide a narrative explanation for budget line items over $10,000.

Attach the program budget and narrative as “Exhibit 2C”.

Contact Angela Fraser, Program Officer at pangela.fraser@maryland.gov or 301-429-7516 for an electronic copy the budget template.

Section 3. Required Documentation

Label exhibits as indicated below and submit them by email with your application to hopecounselors.dhcd@maryland.gov .

_______Exhibit 2A: IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter

_______Exhibit 2B: List of Current Board of Directors with Affiliations and Addresses

_______Exhibit 2C: Program Budget and Narrative

_______Exhibit 2D: Operating Budget for Current and Prior Fiscal Year

_______Exhibit 2E: Resumes and Certifications of Key Staff (include documentation showing that your organization’s housing counselor(s) have taken and passed the HUD Certification Exam as of July 26, 2019.)

_______Exhibit 2F: Audits for Last Two Years

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