Special Voucher Assistance Fund

The Special Voucher Assistance Fund assists Georgia voucher-administering housing authorities with funds for financial assistance for special purpose voucher holders. 

Eligible special purpose holders include:

• Stability Vouchers
• Mainstream Vouchers
• Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers
• Foster Youth to Independence Vouchers
• Family Unification Vouchers
• Other special vouchers created and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 

Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to voucher-administering housing authorities who demonstrate eligibility and meet requirements on a rolling basis.

Applicant Requirements

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a voucher-administering housing authority in Georgia.
• Demonstrate special purpose voucher allocations, or a commitment to apply for special purpose vouchers if deposit assistance is a condition of a federal competitive award.
• Demonstrate that the voucher allocations are not yet leased or provide a justification for why funding is needed for leased households (notice to vacate, participant exits, etc.). Approval will be provided by the State Housing Trust Fund if leased vouchers are applicable.
• Have a policy to accept referrals and issue vouchers from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ (DBHDD) Georgia Housing Voucher Program (GHVP). However, DBHDD GHVPs are not eligible for special purpose vouchers under this funding announcement.
• Provide a summary of the internal process for providing non-rent service fees, to include:
  • Payments to landlords processed in no more than twenty-one (21) days from request
  • Quarterly Independent review (audit) of Special Voucher Assistance Fund allocations, and fee usage policy to ensure leases allow for recoup of deposit service fees for participants, and
  • Process to recoup deposit service fees from participating landlords.
• Provide a procurement summary and contract details on how the duties above are performed if they have been contracted through a third- party for the voucher- administering housing authority.

Application Procedure 

Voucher-administering housing authorities must provide: 

• A total count of special purpose vouchers for which service fees are requested, along with documentation from HUD confirming these vouchers or a formal commitment letter to apply for them.
  • Acceptable confirmation includes a HUD award letter for special purpose vouchers, Voucher Management System utilization data, or a formal commitment letter requesting voucher and administrative funding. 
  • A total amount requested for special purpose voucher holders, including justification for amount requested. 
• Narrative documentation to confirm eligibility, including organizational summary of who is responsible for the service fees, an internal process overview for disbursing and recouping the service fees, and an outline of what internal controls are in place to ensure appropriate use and stewardship of state funds. 
• Applicants must submit the following required documents. These documents will be requested during application submission: 
  • W-9 
  • Supplier Change Request Form 
  • Language Access Plan Acknowledgement 
  • Third Party Agreement (if applicable) 
  • Administrative Cost Documentation (if applicable)