FY 2024 and FY 2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Renewal or Replacement of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a federally funded initiative designed to address homelessness through a comprehensive community-based approach. The funding opportunity presented in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), titled “Continuum of Care Competition and Renewal or Replacement of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants (FR-6800-N-25),” covers fiscal years 2024 and 2025. It supports the renewal, replacement, and competitive allocation of grants targeting homelessness across various subpopulations, with a particular focus on youth and survivors of domestic violence. The program seeks to support efforts that rapidly rehouse individuals and families, minimize trauma associated with homelessness, and enhance access to mainstream resources and self-sufficiency. This NOFO provides approximately $3.524 billion in funding, including set-aside allocations such as $188 million for the non-competitive renewal and replacement of Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grants and $52 million specifically for Domestic Violence (DV) Bonus projects. Notably, this is a two-year NOFO, an approach authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which allows applicants to apply once for funding that may cover both fiscal years. The application structure accommodates multiple project types including permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, HMIS activities, supportive services, and new reallocation projects. The eligible activities span from direct housing support to capacity-building efforts to improve system performance. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state and local governments, public housing agencies, and tribal entities. For-profit entities are not eligible. All applicants must submit their proposals via HUD's e-snaps portal. CoCs must submit a consolidated application that includes new and renewal project applications, which are subject to HUD’s tiered selection process. The deadline for FY 2024 applications is October 30, 2024, while FY 2025 applications (including reallocation and YHDP replacement projects) must be submitted by February 9, 2026. Projects awarded funding in FY 2024 may be eligible for continuation into FY 2025 without a new submission, provided appropriations are available. Planning and UFA cost projects must be submitted in FY 2024 only and will carry over to FY 2025. A competitive scoring process applies to most projects, with scoring criteria linked to HUD’s strategic priorities. These priorities include advancing racial equity, increasing the supply of affordable housing, improving system performance, applying the Housing First approach, and enhancing coordination with health care and housing agencies. DV Bonus projects and YHDP renewals/replacements have additional specific criteria. Points are also awarded for collaborative efforts with victim service providers and for involving individuals with lived experience in project design and governance. The NOFO also outlines allowable uses and requirements for specialized approaches like transition grants, DV reallocations, and YHDP reallocation or replacement. Applications must comply with eligibility rules under the McKinney-Vento Act and HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 578. Matching funds are required at a minimum of 25% of all costs except leasing. Special exceptions are provided for YHDP projects, which may be exempted from match requirements upon demonstration of maximized resource efforts. Applications must address performance benchmarks, system engagement, and use of Coordinated Entry. Furthermore, certain civil rights and non-discrimination thresholds must be satisfied to be considered for funding. Applicants and CoCs must also ensure registration and compliance through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The application package includes the consolidated CoC application, individual project applications, and a priority listing. Detailed requirements and definitions related to funding tiers, reallocation processes, evaluation criteria, and special population guidelines are thoroughly laid out in the NOFO. Technical assistance and support can be obtained through HUD’s designated contacts as outlined in Section VIII of the full document. Funding selections will be announced following HUD’s review and may involve conditional award notices, with the performance period beginning after award execution.

Emphasize Housing First and racial equity; accurately rank projects; align to performance metrics and GIW data.