Disaster Assistance for State Units on Aging (SUAs) and Tribal Organizations

The Disaster Assistance for State Units on Aging and Tribal Organizations in Major Disasters Declared by the President is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Administration on Aging. This program is designed to provide reimbursement and assistance funding to support the aging services network following federally declared major disasters. It aligns with national priorities to ensure that older adults can continue to live independently and safely in their communities, even after disruptive events such as natural disasters. The program also contributes to broader health and aging initiatives by emphasizing whole person health, caregiver support, and community resilience. The primary purpose of this grant is to provide financial assistance to State Units on Aging and federally recognized Tribal Organizations that are already receiving funding under Titles III and VI of the Older Americans Act and are located in areas impacted by a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. Funding is only made available when such a declaration occurs, and it is restricted to designated disaster areas. The program supports recovery and restoration of services disrupted by disasters, with a focus on ensuring continuity of essential aging services and addressing unmet needs that cannot be covered by other disaster funding sources. Funds may be used for a wide range of allowable activities tied to recovery efforts. These include outreach, information and assistance, counseling, case management, advocacy, and staff overtime. Additionally, direct goods and services such as food, supplies, home delivered meals, transportation, emergency medications, and home safety or cleanup may be supported. However, there are clear restrictions: funds cannot be used for construction, major rehabilitation, or basic research, and they must not duplicate other available disaster funding. Program activities must also comply with federal regulations and align with statutory requirements and agency policies. Eligibility is limited to specific entities. Only State Units on Aging currently receiving Title III funding and federally recognized Tribal Organizations receiving Title VI funding under the Older Americans Act may apply, and only if they are located within areas affected by a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. Individuals, foreign entities, and organizations outside these categories are not eligible. There is no cost sharing requirement for this program, meaning applicants are not required to contribute matching funds, although voluntary contributions may be included but are not considered in the review process. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov, with applicants needing active registrations in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov systems. Required application components include a project narrative, budget narrative, and standard federal forms such as the SF 424 and SF 424A. The project narrative must describe the disaster impact, proposed interventions, goals, measurable outcomes, and evaluation methods. Applications are evaluated through a merit review process based on criteria including project relevance, approach, impact, organizational capability, and budget justification. An independent panel scores applications, and final funding decisions consider both merit and alignment with agency priorities. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is September 1, 2026, with an optional notice of intent due August 30, 2026. Awards are expected to be issued by September 30, 2026, with project activities beginning shortly thereafter. The period of performance is typically one year, with funding structured in a single 12 month budget period. Because this program is tied to disaster declarations, it operates on a rolling basis contingent on future disaster events rather than a fixed annual cycle. Applicants can direct questions to program and grants management contacts provided by the Administration for Community Living, including a program contact email and phone number. Following award, recipients must comply with federal reporting requirements, including financial and performance reporting, and adhere to all applicable regulations under the Uniform Guidance and HHS Grants Policy Statement. Overall, this grant program serves as a critical mechanism to stabilize and restore essential services for older adults in disaster affected communities.

Focus on clearly documenting disaster impact measurable outcomes and alignment with Older Americans Act services as scoring heavily weights relevance and outcomes