I have answers for some recently asked questions.
1. How did CSI initially propose the grants to the co-ops? Did the liaisons present the opportunity at the Council/General Meetings. How early on was Hannan involved?
CSI initially presented the concept of Service Coordination to the Co-ops because they had been hearing that members were aging in place, moving in already in need of services or with services in place, and FCRC members and Presidents were providing services beyond I&R. An Aging in Place survey conducted at the co-ops confirmed this. Hence, CSI presented the concept at General Meetings at each co-op and explained how it could be funded either through Grant Funds (for older co-ops) or through the Budget Process (for newer PRACS). Each co-op then took a General Membership vote about whether they wanted Service Coordination.
CSI did have one meeting with Hannan after this time to ask us more about Service Coordination since they knew we had a program with PVM and they new Tim Wintermute from consulting. We offered our knowledge and also offered to assist if they needed it. Then the HUD grant cycle opened and CSI determined that it needed an agency to assist with the application process, so they contracted with NCR (National Church Residences) to write all of the grant proposals on CSI’s behalf. This is a service that NCR offers. After receiving the verbal confirmation in the late summer of 2011, CSI reconnected with Hannan to discuss contracting with us to provide the Service Coordination program in Michigan (they are contracting with NCR in the three other states). We continued discussions and I met with many of the co-ops to further answer questions by their leadership and, in many cases, the general membership. The grants were then officially awarded in February 2012 and you all were in the co-ops by May!
2. Did CSI or Hannan apply for the SC grants?
NCR applied for the first round of grants on CSI’s behalf. I believe CSI has applied for the second round, plus the budget based co-ops, using the template provided by NCR. Hannan has not been involved until after the grants are awarded and then CSI contracts with us for the service. Hence, CSI is the grant recipient and, for the purposes of HUD, the “go to” agency in terms of current and future communications (other than the logic models and semi annual reports).
3. Do you know if HUD audits all SC sites at some point in time (e.g. within the first 3 years of the grant), or is it randomized?
It is random. Some SCs may be audited that early, but it is not a given. HUD audits are random and infrequent.