Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) Program Fiscal Year 2025

The Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) program is a funding initiative offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), specifically under its Office of Public and Indian Housing. The program aims to help residents of public and Indian housing communities overcome barriers to economic and housing self-sufficiency through service coordination and access to local supportive services. Through a place-based strategy, the ROSS-SC program empowers residents by linking them with tailored resources in employment, education, financial literacy, health, and social services. This FY25 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), identified as FR-6900-N-05, outlines HUD’s strategy to promote upward mobility, particularly among low-income individuals and families residing in public housing and related federally assisted housing units. The primary purpose of the ROSS-SC program is to fund the hiring or retention of service coordinators who act as critical connectors between residents and local service providers. Service coordinators work directly with residents to assess their needs, develop personalized self-sufficiency plans, and facilitate connections to resources. The program also extends specific support to elderly residents and persons with disabilities to assist them in aging in place and maintaining housing stability. Through a required Community Needs Assessment (CNA), applicants must evaluate at least 20% of households in their proposed service area to identify key barriers and align their program offerings. Focus areas may include digital access, reentry services, education, employment, health and wellness, substance use recovery, and financial literacy. Selected focus areas are tied to measurable key performance indicators that grantees must track throughout the 36-month grant period. ROSS-SC grants are awarded competitively to a range of eligible entities, including public housing authorities (PHAs), tribally-designated housing entities (TDHEs), Indian tribes, multifamily owners, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and resident associations (RAs). All applicants must serve housing units that meet strict eligibility criteria, including prior service under a ROSS-SC or former public housing status under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. The number of ROSS-SC positions a grantee may request depends on both applicant type and the number of eligible occupied units to be served, with up to three positions allowed. Grantees must demonstrate community need, organizational capacity, and partnerships with local service providers in their applications. Applications from certain entities, such as RAs or troubled PHAs, require a contract administrator with documented capacity in federal grants management. The funding opportunity provides up to $40 million in total grant funding, with individual awards ranging from $272,250 to $816,750, depending on unit counts and the number of ROSS-SC positions. Funds may be used for service coordinator salary and fringe benefits, limited training and travel, and up to 10% for administrative and direct service costs. All applicants must provide a 25% match in cash or in-kind contributions, which must be documented through detailed letters of commitment. Federal funds such as Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) or ROSS funds themselves may not be used to meet the match requirement. Applications lacking the required match will be deemed ineligible without the opportunity to cure the deficiency. The application process requires registration with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, with submissions due electronically no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on January 20, 2026. The anticipated award date is April 30, 2026, and the estimated project start date is June 1, 2026. The project period is 36 months. Applicants must submit a standard suite of federal forms (including the SF-424, HUD-52768, and HUD-2880), as well as a ROSS narrative, budget, match certification, and supporting documents such as letters of support and HAP contracts if applicable. Evaluation criteria include applicant capacity, strength of approach, alignment with community needs, and integration with local partnerships. Points are also awarded for clear resident-focused strategies and strong reporting and evaluation mechanisms. Grantees must submit annual performance reports and a final report within 120 days of the grant term’s end. Strict monitoring requirements ensure timely expenditure of funds, with benchmarks set at 33% spent by Year 1, 66% by Year 2, and full drawdown by the end of the grant term. Coordination with other HUD programs, including Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services, is strongly encouraged. This grant represents a vital opportunity for eligible housing organizations to invest in human capital and support economic mobility among vulnerable populations, while leveraging partnerships and local infrastructure to deliver measurable, sustainable outcomes.

Align match contributions with resident needs; complete CNA covering ≥20% of households; ensure all required letters are submitted to avoid ineligibility.