Jobs Plus NOFO for Fiscal Year 2025

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through its Office of Public and Indian Housing, is soliciting applications for the Jobs Plus program under the Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), reference number FR-6900-N-14. This discretionary federal grant program provides competitive awards to eligible public housing authorities (PHAs) to develop and implement comprehensive employment-related services aimed at increasing the economic self-sufficiency of public housing residents. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on October 27, 2025. Anticipated award announcements are expected by December 30, 2025, with performance periods beginning January 1, 2026 and extending through July 1, 2030, covering a 54-month program cycle. The Jobs Plus initiative combines three core components: employment-related services, financial rent incentives, and community support for work. PHAs must coordinate with local partners such as workforce boards, job centers, educational institutions, and supportive service providers to enhance participant access to job training, skill building, financial literacy, and direct job placements. All adult residents of targeted public housing sites aged 18 to 64 must be contacted during the first year to ensure broad awareness of program opportunities. The program emphasizes community-wide interventions designed to empower residents to sustain long-term employment outcomes beyond the duration of the grant. HUD identifies key outcomes as improvements in employment rates, increases in earned income, and measurable gains in resident self-reliance. HUD has allocated approximately $21.6 million to support this NOFO, consisting of $15 million from FY 2025 appropriations and $6.6 million carried over from FY 2024 funds. Individual award amounts vary according to the size of the target public housing project, ranging from a maximum of $1.6 million for sites with 100 to 199 non-elderly households up to $3.7 million for sites with more than 600 non-elderly households. HUD anticipates making approximately 15 awards. Eligible expenditures include staffing for program coordinators and case managers, provision of employment-related services, digital access, and administrative costs. Funds may not be used for construction, routine public housing operations, or indirect costs. Eligibility for this program is limited to public housing authorities that operate one or more eligible public housing projects meeting HUD’s criteria. Federally recognized tribes and tribally designated housing entities are not eligible for this funding opportunity. PHAs that previously received Jobs Plus grants remain eligible to apply, though they may not target the same sites that were funded under earlier awards. Non-performing PHAs, defined as troubled or substandard performers under HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System, may apply if HUD determines they can responsibly manage the award. Matching funds are mandatory, with a requirement for applicants to commit resources equal to at least 25 percent of the grant request. Match contributions may be cash or in-kind and must align with Jobs Plus program goals. At least three key workforce-related partnerships must be established, including with local Workforce Development Boards or American Job Centers, which is a statutory requirement. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with required registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov active and up to date before submission. Required components include standard forms such as SF-424, assurances, certifications, narratives addressing rating factors, budget forms HUD-50144, and detailed program schedules. HUD emphasizes that incomplete submissions or failure to provide mandatory documents such as Memoranda of Understanding with workforce boards will render applications ineligible. Applications will be evaluated on capacity, demonstrated need, soundness of approach, match and leverage, and eligibility for preference points. A total of 104 points are possible, with soundness of approach weighted most heavily at 60 points. Applicants must achieve minimum thresholds across all scoring categories to advance. HUD will monitor compliance post-award, requiring timely implementation of services, hiring of key staff, and ongoing resident needs assessments. Annual reporting on outcomes such as employment rates, income gains, and participant engagement will be required. The Jobs Plus program is intended to promote long-term, place-based strategies that help residents overcome employment barriers and achieve financial independence. Questions regarding this NOFO may be directed to HUD at JobsPlus@hud.gov. This program remains a critical investment in workforce development and self-sufficiency for residents of public housing communities across the United States.

Ensure registrations complete; align match with program goals; contact 100% of residents in first year