Yes. There are available grants to consider when looking to start a group home in the United States. The truth is that starting a group home as a business can be quite costly and daunting.
However, by leveraging the wide range of grants available for these businesses, you can start up this business and enjoy a rewarding experience.
By taking the time to research grants, understanding your eligibility, and putting out a viable grant application, you can obtain the resources you need to start your group home and offer top-class care for residents in your group home.
There are quite a number of grants available to aid you with starting a group home in the United States. Aside from government grants, there are also private grants for group homes that require financial assistance for their operations.
Most often, businesses in this line require money to cover construction and renovation projects, equipment purchases, and labor and administrative costs.
There are grants available to cover the total project costs; however, some programs necessitate those recipients will cater to some of the expenses with outside funding. Nevertheless, below are the top options to consider.
Best Grant to Start a Group Home
-
Shelter Plus Care Grant
Shelter Plus Care Grant is no doubt one of the popular grants that is available to entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a group home, or who already have a group home but need funding for its operations.
In the United States, the Shelter Plus Care program is fully sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services and is awarded to state and local government agencies as well as public housing authorities to make available rental assistance and supportive services to homeless substance abusers and individuals with disabilities.
Requirements:
You must be accommodating and taking care of homeless substance abusers and individuals with disabilities.
Application Process:
The fact that the Shelter Plus Care Grant is a federal grant, it means that no paper-format applications will be needed. Applicants will only have to apply online at www.grants.gov
-
Community Development Block Grant
Another grant that the owner of a group home or a social entrepreneur who wants to start a group home can access is the Community Development Block Grant.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over the years has sponsored the Community Development Block Grant program. Interestingly, these Grants are routed via state and local government agencies to fund capital projects and to bolster the living and economic conditions of communities.
Most often, these projects will encompass land purchases, acquiring, constructing, or renovating public facilities such as group home facility neighborhood centers, and other non-residential buildings.
Requirements
To qualify for this grant, your group home must be in
- Principal cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)
- Other metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000
- Qualified urban counties with populations of at least 200,000 (excluding the population of entitled cities)
How to Apply
Reach out to your state Department of Housing and Urban Development to obtain and fill out the required application form.
-
Treatment and Prevention Services for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Grants
Treatment and Prevention Services for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Grants is yet another grant that is available to group homes in the United States of America.
Interestingly, both the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offer numerous forms of grants to assist group homes with adults recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Please note that these grants range in funding for two years maximum, depending on the level of care required in the group home.
Also note that these grants are awarded yearly, and can be shared in different amounts each year, but for no more than two consecutive years.
Requirements:
Your group home must be working with adults recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Application Process
Please note that this is a federal grant, hence no paper-format applications are accepted. Applicants will have to apply online through www.grants.gov or contact the NIDA or NIAAA directly with questions.
-
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Grants
Another grant that group homes in the United States can access is the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Grant. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is known to offer various categories of grants to group homes to research various aspects of aging and care for the adults at these homes.
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), this type of research will involve “mechanisms of aging, the processes of aging, aging and the nervous system, aging in relation to health and disease.”
Please note that this grant is designed for group homes that are fitted with research facilities such as a hospital, clinic, university, or similar organization. These grants come in varying awards, depending on the type of care required for the level of elderly care being conducted.
Requirements:
The group home must be involved in researching various aspects of aging and care for the adults
Application Process
If you are interested in this grant, you can start the process by visiting NIA at:
www.nia.nih.gov/GrantsAndTraining/GrantProcess/ or National Institute on Aging Building 31, Room 5C27 31 Center Drive, MSC 2292 Bethesda, MD 20892 Phone: 301-496-1752 TTY: 1-800-222-4225 Fax: 301-496-1072.
-
Community Facilities Grant Program
This is another option to consider especially since the United States Department of Agriculture awards grants via its Community Facilities Grant Program to rural areas.
The essence of these funds is to support the construction, expansion, and renovation of essential facilities utilized for community, public safety, healthcare, and public services such as group homes.
Requirements:
Please note that Cities, towns, and districts with less than 20,000 residents are qualified to apply for grants. Places with the lowest population and income levels obtain higher priorities for funding.
How to Apply
Visit your state department of agriculture
-
Developing Center Grants
Another grant opportunity that is available to group homes in the United States is the Developing Center Grant. As a matter of fact, the available report shows that this federal grant is aimed at group homes that are focused on helping adults with mental disabilities.
Interestingly, Developing Center Grant can be given out in various amounts, depending on the level of research going on at the facility, and can be used to help the group home in catering for the adults at the home. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also sponsors and awards this grant yearly.
Requirements:
Your group home must be focused on helping adults with mental disabilities
Application Process
Please note that since this is a federal grant, no paper applications are required. Applicants will have to apply online at www.grants.gov.
-
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Child and Adult Care Food Program is yet another grant opportunity that group homes can leverage. Keep in mind that this program is federally funded but distributed by the state.
Those interested can apply to be reimbursed for nutritious meals and snacks that they make available to residents who come from low-income families. The sole aim is to ensure proper health and development for those who need it the most.
Requirements
The group home must be Non-Profit
How to Apply
Visit the CACFP web page and fill out the necessary forms.
-
The U.S. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
If your intention is to start a group home that can revolutionize the group home industry, then the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) has grants you should look into.
Via a competitive awards-based program, SBIR makes it possible for small businesses to explore their technological potential and make available the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
Requirements
To be eligible for funding through the SBIR, you will need to first register your business on their website. You will as well have to be classified as a Small Business Concern (SBC). An SBC will also need to be at least 50 percent American-owned by at least one or more individuals who are permanent residents of the United States.
How to Apply
Register with SBA in the Company Registry Database at SBIR.gov and send in a certification with its SBIR application to the SBIR agency.
-
U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
This is another valid option to consider if you are looking to start a group home in the United States. The MBDA is a Washington, DC-based organization established in 1969 by President Richard Nixon.
The sole intention of this grant is to boost more minority-owned businesses in the United States. This organization over the years has offered numerous programs either to boost your existing business or to help you in starting and managing one.
Requirements
To be eligible, you will need to be “at least 51 percent owned and operated by an individual that is at least 25 percent African American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American” per Fundbox. To obtain funding, your daycare center will also have to be certified by the Small Business Association.
How to Apply
- Register your business to apply for an MBDA grant
- Understand the Grant Announcement
- Attend a pre-application teleconference to learn more about the grant and requirements
- Understand the evaluation process
- Prepare and Submit the Application.
-
Maternity Group Homes for Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program (MGH)
Maternity Group Homes for Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program (MGH) is yet another grant opportunity that is available to group homes in the United States.
Maternity Group Homes for Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program (MGH) is fully sponsored by the FYSB within the ACF, and they offer extensive support for homeless pregnant and/or parenting youths between the ages of 16 and 22, as well as their dependent children.
Please keep in mind that this grant program provides similar services to TLP, as well as services that incorporate positive youth development and teach parenting skills, child development, family budgeting, and health and nutrition.
Requirements:
Your group home must be offering extensive support for homeless pregnant and/or parenting youths between the ages of 16 and 22, as well as their dependent children.
Application Process
Maternity Group Homes for Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program (MGH) is a federal grant; hence no paper format applications are accepted. Applicants must have to apply online.