Common questions

1. Homelessness Transition Fund - what is it for?
2. How does it work?
3. What are the closing dates for applications?
4. Who can apply?
5. What if I provide services to lots of different types of homeless and / vulnerable people and can’t show that I spend over 50% of our income on single homeless people?
6. What area does the fund cover? 
7. What do you fund?
8. How many rounds will you have and how much are you allocating to each programme?
9. What do you not fund?
10. Are small amounts of capital permissable within an overall grant application?
11. How are applications assessed?
12. When will projects receive funding?
13. Why didn't we get funding? Can I reapply?
14. I was told I was not eligible to apply. Can I submit another eligibility questionnaire?
15. When is the next funding round?
16. Does my local authority have to support my bid?
17. Are joint applications encouraged?
18. The Local Authority area we work in received funding through round 1 of HTF but we help a different sort of client group – can we apply?
19. Who sits on the grants panel?
20. How much does the fund cost to administer?
21. Can we apply for more than one grant?
22. Have the criteria for grants changed?
23. Do we need to meet all of the outcomes for the Main Grants Programme?
24. What do you mean by high levels of rough sleeping and homelessness?
25. Do you take any other factors into account?
26. How do I know if my area is experiencing high levels of homelessness and rough sleeping?
27. Where can I find out more?

 

HOMELESSNESS TRANSITION FUND - WHAT IS IT FOR?

The Fund aims to help protect and enhance essential services for single homeless people, especially those helping rough sleepers and support them in becoming sustainable. The Fund also aims to support the Government's ambition to end rough sleeping by rolling out the No Second Night Out standard and other innovations.

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The £20m Fund was launched in July 2011 and will run until March 2014. All awarded funding must be used by 31 December 2014.

In 2012/13 we plan to distribute £8m through our main and small grants programmes. The main grants programme provides funding to frontline services of up to £200k over 2 years and the small grants programme provides grants of up to £25k for 1 year.

Round 2 of HTF main grants programme will open for applications in April 2012. Round 3 of the main grants programme will open for applications in Autumn 2012 and we anticipate launching a final main grants funding round in April 2013. The small grants programme will operate on a rolling basis from April 2012.

Voluntary sector organisations that provide services to single homeless people can apply for grants if they meet the eligibility criteria.

All applications which meet the eligibility criteria are invited to submit a full application. For round 2 we have introduced an online eligibility questionnaire which is on the HTF website. Once this is submitted the HTF team will review your information and send you a link to the online application form if you are eligible for funding.

Applications are assessed against the published criteria and are considered by an independent grants panel that includes representatives from central and local government as well as the voluntary sector.

The HTF funding criteria for main grants are reviewed before each round to take into account the evolving needs of the homelessness sector.

 

WHAT ARE THE CLOSING DATES FOR APPLICATIONS?

For main grants opening in April 2012, the closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 14th May 2012. Please note that we will not accept applications or supporting information after the deadline.

For main grants opening in Autumn 2012, the closing date will be in October 2012.

There are no deadlines for small grants in 2012, it is a rolling programme.

 

WHO CAN APPLY?

Voluntary organisations and social enterprises that deliver front-line homelessness services and are affected by reductions in public spending can apply to the Fund. Priority is given to organisations that spend more than 50% of their income on addressing single homelessness. Applications are also welcome from consortia of organisations that are led by a homelessness agency.

To apply, an organisation or the lead applicant of a consortium of organisations must be one of the following:

• a registered charity
• a voluntary and community unincorporated charitable association
• a community benefit society registered as an industrial and provident society
• a community interest company
• a social enterprise that reinvests its surpluses for social benefit

To be eligible to apply, organisations:

• must provide services to single homeless people, in particular rough sleepers or those at  risk of rough sleeping
• should spend more than 50% of their income on single homeless people
• must submit their most recent set of signed audited accounts

For round 2 we have introduced an online eligibility questionnaire which is on the HTF website. Once this is submitted the HTF team will review your information and send you a link to the online application form if you are eligible for funding.

 

WHAT IF I PROVIDE TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOMELESS AND / VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND CAN’T SHOW THAT I SPEND OVER 50% OF OUR INCOME ON SINGLE HOMELESS PEOPLE?

We state that organisations ‘Should’ spend over 50% of their income on single homeless people but their activities ‘Must’ focus on rough sleepers or those at risk of rough sleeping. You should explain who your organisation helps and who the project will help in your project summary if you complete the eligibility questionnaire.

 

WHAT AREA DOES THE FUND COVER?

The Fund is available only in England.

Services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland cannot apply for grants.

We are particularly interested in applications from areas that are experiencing high levels of homelessness. We have drawn up a list showing the levels of homelessness in all Local Authority areas using Government data on rough sleeping and statutory homelessness presentations.

 

WHAT DO YOU FUND?

The objective of the Fund is to end rough sleeping and reduce homelessness.

In 2012, we will make £8 million in grants available through two programmes:

Main Grants
‘To support services in the transition to rolling out ‘No Second Night Out’ principles and developing other innovations to end rough sleeping.’ Grants will target areas of high homelessness based on local data and the criteria for funding will be focused on the key principles and pledges of NSNO. Grants of up to £200,000 over two years will be made available in two rounds of funding opening in April 2012 and Autumn 2012.

Small Grants
‘To protect and enhance essential and strategically critical services for single homeless people and support them in the transition to becoming sustainable.’ This programme will support homelessness organisations or services which are at risk of closure, to change the way they work so that critical services can continue to help people off the streets. Grants of up to £25,000 over 1 year will be available – this will be a rolling programme.

Applications that pilot new, creative ways of working to end rough sleeping and reduce homelessness will be considered as will requests for expert support to restructure services to increase effectiveness and efficiency.

 

HOW MANY ROUNDS WILL YOU HAVE AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU ALLOCATING TO EACH PROGRAMME?

Grants Scheme/Round	Type of grants	Initial budget allocated
Round 2 Main Grants (announced July 2012)	Up to £200K over 2 years	£3.5M
Round 3 Main Grants (announced December 2012)	Up to £200K over 2 years	£3.5M
Small Grants (continuous from April 2012)	Up to £25K over 1 year	£500,000

We anticipate launching a further Main Grants Round in April 2013

 

WHAT DO YOU NOT FUND?

We will not fund:

• capital projects
• applications that are more appropriate for the Crisis PRS Access Development Programme http://www.privaterentedsector.org.uk/about-funding.asp
• projects that are looking for an alternative new source of funding for existing work
• services that Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide.
• projects that do not have a clear exit strategy or a focus on becoming sustainable beyond HTF funding

In addition, we do not give out small grants to:
                               • run services (unless the project is piloting a new approach)
                               • academic research

 

Are small amounts of capital permissIble within an overall grant application?

Small amounts of capital spending are permitted within an HTF bid that contains mainly revenue funding.
What we will not fund is large capital items or bids for 100% capital projects.

 

HOW ARE APPLICATIONS ASSESSED?

Each eligible application is assessed against the published criteria by independent assessors and considered on its individual merits by an independent grants panel that includes representatives from central and local government as well as the voluntary sector.

The panel is provided with assessments of:

• whether the application has met the published criteria for the Fund
• whether the area that will benefit from an application is in an area that is experiencing high levels of homelessness or rough sleeping
• whether the area has already received funding from the HTF
• whether the project is likely to reduce rough sleeping and protect critical services.
  The decision of the Grants Panel is final.

 

When will projects receive funding?

Successful applicants agree to a fixed start date for their project. The first payment is provided in advance of this date subject to a signed contract being received. We anticipate Round 2 projects will receive their first payment in October 2012.

 

Why didn't we get funding? Can I reapply?

Demand for funding and the quality of applications is extremely high. If you have made an unsuccessful application in the past and wish to apply again, please email fund@homelesslink.org.uk to request feedback. This may help you decide whether or not to reapply.

We are committed to providing general feedback on common issues within the application process. Information for unsuccessful applicants may be found here:

 

I was told I was not eligible to apply. Can I submit another eligibility questionnaire?

If you have been told you are not eligible to apply under this round the e-mail you received will state why this has happened.
If you are not eligible because your organisation is for profit or does not focus on single homeless people or rough sleepers then your organisation does not meet the basic eligibility criteria for round 2.
If you are told that your project summary does not meet the criteria for the fund then you may submit another eligibility questionnaire with a revised project summary.
You should read the help notes for the type of grant you are applying for before you submit the revised project summary.

 

When is the next funding round?

Both the main and small grants programmes will open for applications at the beginning of April 2012. The deadline for main grants applications is 12 noon on Monday 14th May 2012. Please be aware that late applications and supporting information will not be accepted after the deadline. The small grants programme runs on a rolling basis and has no set deadlines.

 

Does MY LOCAL AUTHORITY HAVE TO SUPPORT MY BID?

We ask all applicants to attach a reference in support of their application. Ideally this should be provided by your local authority however if this is not possible please explain why and provide a reference from another statutory organisation or a funding body that can comment on your strategic relevance and track record. All applications must explain how proposed work relates to relevant local, regional and national strategies to reduce rough sleeping and homelessness.  You must attach the reference to your application at the time of submission.

 

ARE JOINT BIDS ENCOURAGED?

Yes, applications are encouraged that are led by a single homelessness organisation that is working with a wider consortium. We encourage all applicants to communicate and collaborate with other homeless service providers and statutory bodies in their local area, to make sure that projects complement rather than duplicate provision. Applicants should consider working in partnership where possible. If you are submitting a partnership bid you must provide a letter of support signed by all formal partners at the time you submit your application.

 

THE LOCAL AUTHORIY AREA WE WORK IN RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH ROUND 1 OF HTF BUT WE HELP A DIFFERENT SORT OF CLIENT GROUP – CAN WE APPLY?

If the Local Authority area you work in received money through round 1 of HTF you can apply for funding. You should make it clear who your project will support, what has already been funded in your area and where the differences are. You should provide clear evidence of need for the service.

 

WHO SITS ON THE GRANTS PANEL? 

An independent grants panel considers the assessment of applications and makes recommendations for approval of grants. This panel is made up of individuals drawn from central and local government and the voluntary sector.

 

HOW MUCH DOES THE FUND COST TO ADMINISTER?

The administrative cost of the Fund is met by an existing government grant to Homeless Link and does not come from the Homelessness Transition Fund.

 

CAN WE APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE GRANT?

Organisations may submit or lead on a maximum of 2 Main Grant applications for different Local Authority areas. There is no limit on the number of applications an organisation can be a partner in.

Organisations can apply for or be in receipt of only one small grant at a time.

 

HAVE THE CRITERIA FOR GRANTS CHANGED?

We continually seek to improve the grants programmes. Changes since the last funding round include:

• Main Grants which are focused on outcomes which relate to No Second Night Out
• Prioritising applications from areas with high levels of homelessness and rough sleeping
• Introducing a small grants programme for applicants who need help to make critical services sustainable.
• Introducing an on-line eligibility and application process
• Assessments will be based solely on the information submitted in the application form. No additional information will be sought or checked by the independent assessors.

 

DO WE NEED TO MEET ALL OF THE OUTCOMES FOR THE MAIN GRANTS PROGRAMME?

We would like applicants to meet all of the outcomes for the main grants programme however if this is not possible due to the type of service you wish to provide or the client group you will work with this should be explained within your proposal. Applicants should explore whether it is possible to meet all of the outcomes by working in partnership with other organisations. The assessment process considers and scores each of the four outcomes individually.

 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HIGH LEVELS OF ROUGH SLEEPING AND HOMELESSNESS?

We are particularly interested in receiving applications from areas that are experiencing high levels of homelessness. We have drawn up a list showing the levels of homelessness in all Local Authority areas using Government data on rough sleeping and statutory homelessness presentations.

Applications from all areas will be accepted however applications from areas of high homelessness will be given extra weighting when we assess them.

We will only fund projects that meet all of the assessment criteria regardless of the area they work in. We will also consider whether an area has received a Round 1 grant from the Homelessness Transition Fund. 

DO YOU TAKE ANY OTHER FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT?

Applications from all areas will be accepted however applications from areas of high homelessness will be given extra weighting when we assess them.

We will only fund projects that meet all of the assessment criteria regardless of the area they work in. We will also consider whether an area has received a Round 1 grant from the Homelessness Transition Fund.

 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY AREA IS EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF HOMELESSNESS AND ROUGH SLEEPING? 

We are particularly interested in receiving applications from areas that are experiencing high levels of homelessness. We have drawn up a list showing the levels of homelessness in all Local Authority areas using Government data on rough sleeping and statutory homelessness presentations.

Applications from all areas will be accepted however applications from areas of high homelessness will be given extra weighting when we assess them.

We will only fund projects that meet all of the assessment criteria regardless of the area they work in. We will also consider whether an area has received a Round 1 grant from the Homelessness Transition Fund.

Due to the number of applications we expect to receive, and the limited amount of funding available, it is unlikely we will be able to fund projects from areas that are not experiencing high levels of homeless and rough sleeping.

If you think your area is experiencing a high level of homelessness and rough sleeping which is not reflected by Government figures, you must provide evidence in your application. If your project covers several areas, you must demonstrate why your project is needed across all areas and the relationships or flows between the areas for which you wish to apply.

 

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

Click here to register online to sign up for further updates on the Homelessness Transition Fund.

If you have a query you can also email: fund@homeless.org.uk