[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-1259] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: January 20, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Office of the Secretary [Docket No. N-94-3690; FR-3628-N-02] Funding Availability for Fiscal Year 1994 for Innovative Project Funding Under the Innovative Homeless Initiatives Demonstration Program AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HUD. ACTION: Notice of waiver. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Notice announces a waiver, granted by the Secretary, of the minimum 30-day application period required under section 102(a) of the HUD Reform Act for the Innovative Homeless Initiatives Demonstration, which was announced in the Federal Register notice on December 21, 1993 (58 FR 67616). DATES: January 20, 1994. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra L. Ransick, Assistant General Counsel for Regulations, room 10276, 451 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 708-3055; TDD (202) 708-3259. (These are not toll-free numbers.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 102(a) of the HUD Reform Act (42 U.S.C. 3545(a)) sets out requirements for notice to the public regarding assistance available from HUD. Section 102(a)(3) requires Federal Register publication of selection criteria not less than 30 days before the deadline for applications or requests for assistance. On December 21, 1993, the Department announced the availability of $25 million in funds under the Innovative Homeless Initiatives Demonstration Program, which was authorized by the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 (Pub.L. 103-120, approved October 27, 1993). (The funds were appropriated by the HUD appropriations act for fiscal year 1994 (Pub.L. 103-124, approved October 28, 1993).) The notice announced that the Department would begin receiving applications during or prior to a three working day period beginning on January 10, 1994. The time period was less than the 30-day minimum application requirement under section 102(a)(3). Section 102(a)(5) of the Reform Act permits the Secretary to waive the minimum 30-day application period ``if the Secretary determines that the waiver is required for appropriate response to an emergency.'' The Secretary is also required to publish, in the Federal Register, his reasons for granting such a waiver. The continuing tragedy of homelessness in our country has reached epidemic proportions. The deaths of Yetta Adams and two other homeless persons in the Washington area in December 1993 provided fresh evidence of how dire the consequences of homelessness can be. Homelessness is too destructive a force to be treated routinely. There is a desperate need for innovative solutions. The availability of new monies for homeless assistance under the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 provided additional resources that could be used to assist homeless persons if HUD was able to act quickly in awarding those funds. Additionally, the extraordinarily high number of applications submitted in response to the most recent Supportive Housing NOFA provided further evidence of how desperately additional funding resources are needed. That only 43 applications out of 1340 submitted could be funded is evidence that HUD should expedite the release of additional monies intended to help homeless persons. The Secretary determined that the continuing tragedy of homelessness, the desperate need for innovative solutions, the availability of new monies, the unprecedented demand for assistance from HUD to fight homelessness, and the harsh weather conditions, when considered in combination, demonstrated that an emergency exists that justifies the granting of a waiver of the 30-day application period required under section 102 of the HUD Reform Act. Dated: January 4, 1994. Henry G. Cisneros, Secretary. [FR Doc. 94-1259 Filed 1-19-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-32-P