HUD Continuum of Care Program
Each year, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) solicits grant applications through a community-based process to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness. This process, known as the Continuum of Care Program (CoC), facilitates grants designed to address the problems of homelessness in a comprehensive manner with other federal agencies.
The HUD CoC Program is designed to:
- Promote a community-based solution to ending homelessness;
- Provide funding to nonprofits, States, and local governments to prevent and quickly re-house individual and families experiencing homelessness;
- Minimize the trauma and dislocation that individuals, families, and communities experience as a result of homelessness; and
- Promote the effective utilization of mainstream resources.
Continuum of Care also refers to a community-based group composed of representation from a cross-section of providers, community entities, representatives of mainstream resources, and individuals from one or more localities that have joined together for these purposes. The CoC organization is responsible for developing local community-based solutions to homelessness and applying for HUD funding through a collaborative grant application. The CoC organization in the Richmond area is the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) which includes the following localities: the City of Richmond, and the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, Goochland, New Kent and Charles City. Homeward is the lead agency for GRCoC and manages the annual HUD CoC grant application process.
HUD announces the beginning of the annual grant competition by publishing a Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO). The NOFO provides detailed information about the application process including deadlines, eligible applicants, activities and costs. Anyone interested in applying for HUD funding should become familiar with the federal legislation governing CoC funding, Program Interim Rule Part 578 Continuum of Care Program as well as the NOFO. Applicants should also check this website often as the grant information is updated on a regular basis.
September 20, 2023
The GRCoC Board voted to approve the FY23 Consolidated Application for submission to HUD. The Consolidated Application consists of two parts:
The CoC Application [Application]
The Project Priority Listing [Priority Listing]
The GRCoC’s total funding request to HUD is $6,523,301. Of this, $5,003,030 is renewal funding for existing programs.
This request includes $3,823,886 for Permanent Supportive Housing, $1,843,552 for Rapid Rehousing, $460,230 for Supportive Services-Only projects (including support for federally-required Coordinated Entry), $50,000 for a Homeless Management Information System project (also federal-required), and $345,633 for non-competitive Planning funding for the CoC’s designated Collaborative Applicant.
Most of the requested $6.5M in funding goes to directly support people experiencing homelessness through rental assistance and case management.
HUD makes the final determination on awards and establishes contracts directly with providers.
The GRCoC is grateful for the commitment to end homelessness from each organization that submitted applications for inclusion in the FY23 Consolidated Application.
July 25, 2023 -- FY23 HUD CoC competition documents
By end of day Wednesday, August 24, project applications for the HUD CoC Program NOFO must be submitted through OneDrive and electronic project applications submitted in e-SNAPS. Organizations that have not been previously awarded HUD CoC funding are welcome to apply to this year's competition.
Below are the CoC Competition documents.
- Timeline and Process
- New Project Application Form (WORD)
- Renewal Project Application Form (WORD)
- New Project Application Scoring Form
July 5, 2023 -- HUD Releases CoC NOFO
On Wednesday, July 5th, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the FY23 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
General Funding Resources
- HUD - Program Interim Rule Part 578 Continuum of Care Program
- GRCoC Applicant Threshold Requirements
- GRCoC HMIS Compliance Policy
- GRCoC Reallocation Policy
- GRCoC Appeals Process
- USICH Housing First Checklist
- GRCoC Coordinated Grant Ranking and Review Process
- Federal Funding to Address Homelessness presentation
Three things interested applicants should do:
- Read the NOFO in its entirety
- Review GRCoC’s Coordinated Funding processes & threshold requirements
- Review CoC funding program guidelines & regulations
Questions about the GRCoC Coordinated Funding programs/processes can be sent to mrogers@homewardva.org.
Current Funding Opportunities
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program
The GRCoC is pleased to announce the availability of funding for homeless services in the Richmond region through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD released the Guidelines for the 2024-2026 Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP) statewide competition on February 2, 2024.
The VHSP is a state- and federally funded program to support Continuum of Care (CoC) strategies and homeless service and prevention programs that align with the following goals:
- To reduce the number of individuals/households who become homeless,
- To shorten the length of time an individual or household is homeless, and
- To reduce the number of individuals/households that return to homelessness.
The VHSP is a collaborative funding opportunity. Each project application must meet the GRCoC's Threshold Requirements. Please review those requirements and other important information on GRCoC Coordinated Funding programs at endhomelessnessrva.org/funding in order to be considered by the GRCoC Ranking Committee. The community's collaborative application will be submitted by Homeward on behalf of the GRCoC.
DHCD's due date for the collaborative application is April 5. The Ranking Committee is meeting on February 16 to finalize the timeline and project application materials. Once finalized those documents, along with dates for information sessions and office hours will be communicated through the GRCoC Newsletter.
VHSP Collaborative Application Open for Public Comment
The GRCoC has made available the first draft of the FY25 VHSP community narrative. This draft represents how our network of services is collaboratively addressing homelessness in the Richmond region. Although small edits and additions may be made, the responses provide clear direction to the CoC's approach to each inquiry.
The draft will be open for public comment for until Monday April 1st at 5PM. After the public comment period ends, the draft will be sent to the GRCoC board for review. Once approved by the board, the final version will be submitted to DHCD before Friday, April 5th.
The links below contain the collaborative application as well as the collaborative funding request:
GRCoC FY25 VHSP Coordinated Application DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
GRCoC FY25 VHSP YearOne Funding Request FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
To provide feedback, please email grcoc@homewardva.org.
VHSP Project Applications Open
The GRCoC is now accepting applications for the Virginia Homeless Solutions Program funding competition. Project applications will be accepted for: 1) Emergency Shelter Operations; 2) Rapid Re-Housing; 3) Outreach; and 4) Coordinated Entry. Administrative costs are also eligible and should be included in the project application budget. Administrative costs are limited to a maximum of 5% of submitted budgets.
We anticipate receiving requests for funding that will exceed the funding available. Please note that not all eligible activities will be prioritized for funding and that not receiving funding is not a reflection on need, program quality, or grounds to appeal. Not all eligible programs can be funded through this funding source. Click the link for more information on GRCoC’s 2023-2024 funding priorities.
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will allocate approximately $15 million in state and federal funds through this community-based application process. In FY23, the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) received approximately $1.6M in VHSP funding.
Individual project applications are submitted to the GRCoC through this link by March 11, 2024 at 4:30 to be reviewed and considered for funding. If recommended for funding, projects will be consolidated into a single collaborative application for submission to DHCD. Homeward, the planning and coordinating agency for homeless services in the Richmond area, is the designated collaborative applicant for the GRCoC to develop and submit this collaborative application.
Applicants are responsible for reviewing the 2024-2026 VHSP Program Guidelines which contain detailed information about eligible activities and other requirements.
New applicants and previous grantees are invited to apply. New applicants are encouraged to apply and are asked to contact the CoC Programs Director at mrogers@homewardva.org to discuss their application. Applicants must meet all GRCoC threshold requirements.
The deadline for submission of applications with all attachments is 4:30 pm on MARCH 11, 2024. Please submit the application and attachments as separate PDF documents through this link GRCoC VHSP FY25 Project Applications. Applications received after the deadline will be automatically rejected.
Please join Homeward for a FY25 VHSP How to Apply information session on Thursday, February 22 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m through this link: https://zoom.us/j/4134907155?pwd=NENMZUJVQ2RhVmd5SUxXZzRHSWV5Zz09
Please review the following competition documents:
Competition Timeline and Process
Project Application Instructions
2022-23 Project Performance Measurements
2023-2024 GRCoC Funding Priorities
Coordinated Entry System MoU Letter of Intent
Organizational Certifications and Assurances
HUD CoC Funding Program
Each year, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) solicits grant applications through a community-based process to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness. This process, known as the Continuum of Care Program (CoC), facilitates grants designed to address the problems of homelessness in a comprehensive manner with other federal agencies.
The HUD CoC Program is designed to:
- Promote a community-based solution to ending homelessness;
- Provide funding to nonprofits, States, and local governments to prevent and quickly re-house individual and families experiencing homelessness;
- Minimize the trauma and dislocation that individuals, families, and communities experience as a result of homelessness; and
- Promote the effective utilization of mainstream resources.
Continuum of Care also refers to a community-based group composed of representation from a cross-section of providers, community entities, representatives of mainstream resources, and individuals from one or more localities that have joined together for these purposes. The CoC organization is responsible for developing local community-based solutions to homelessness and applying for HUD funding through a collaborative grant application. The CoC organization in the Richmond area is the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) which includes the following localities: the City of Richmond, and the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, Goochland, New Kent and Charles City. Homeward is the lead agency for GRCoC and manages the annual HUD CoC grant application process.
HUD announces the beginning of the annual grant competition by publishing a Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO). The NOFO provides detailed information about the application process including deadlines, eligible applicants, activities and costs. Anyone interested in applying for HUD funding should become familiar with the federal legislation governing CoC funding, Program Interim Rule Part 578 Continuum of Care Program as well as the NOFO.
Applicants should also check this website often as the grant information is updated on a regular basis.
HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project
The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is designed to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness by supporting selected communities, including rural, suburban, and urban areas across the United States, in the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness.
The Greater Richmond Region was selected as a part of Round 6 of YHDP Funding on October 24th, 2022. YHDP Funding is available under the HUD Continuum of Care Program.
Applicants should also check this website often as the grant information is updated on a regular basis.
City of Richmond Unsheltered NOFO
In fall 2023, The City of Richmond made $1,000,000 in funding to Homeward on behalf of GRCoC to address the needs of individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Eligibility
Current GRCoC member agencies with a signed Coordinated Entry System Memorandum of Understanding. Eligible project types: Housing-focused Case Management Housing, Navigation Emergency, Shelter Operations (Year-round congregate), SOAR Outreach, and GRCoC Access Point Connections Funding: Flexible financial support for clients to access permanent housing.
Applicants should also check this website often as the grant information is updated on a regular basis.