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.
FY24-25 Competition
The HUD FY24-25 Competition was released by HUD on July 31, 2024. The GRCoC opens it's local competition on August 9th, 2024. This competition will close 31 day later, on Monday, September 9th at 2pm.
How to Apply:
- Only eligible, on-time, and complete applications will be considered. Please read the NOFO and local policies and procedures in their entirety. For questions about this federal funding source, please contact Director of Coordinated Funding, Frances-Marie Pugh (fmpugh@homewardva.org)
- Detailed Instructions will be provided at the GRCoC How to Apply Webinar
- Register Here: Tuesday, August 13th 2:30-3:30pm
- Slides; Recording
- Office Hours:
- 8/20; 8/27: 2-3:30PM. Zoom Meeting Link.
- All applications must be submitted via WizeHive by 2pm, September 9th 2024.
- You will need to create an organizational profile to access this application. Only one applicant per-organization may complete the application.
- There is conditional logic built into this application, please answer questions in the order they are provided to make sure all questions are answered.
- https://webportalapp.com/sp/grcoc_hudcompetition
- Applications will be scored using these scoring factors
- GRCoC Detailed Scoring Factors FY24-25
- New Applicants:
- Are encouraged to submit a letter of intent by Monday, August 19th
- Letter of Intent for New Project Applications
- Will need to complete the following templates to reflect the FMR levels for the project's housing type
- PSH
- RRH
- TH/RRH
- GRCoC Competition Timeline and Process
- Optional E-SNAPs Office Hours Tuesday 10/1, 1-2:30 Click to join
- All interested applicants are encouraged to read the following documents in their entirety
- FY24 GRCoC Local Competition Policies and Procedures
- Notice of Funding Opportunity: FY2024 and FY2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Renewal or Replacement of Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants
The GRCoC Board Approved the FY24 HUD CoC Priority Listing on October 15th, 2024
FY24 Final Approved Priority Listing
The GRCoC Board Approved the FY24 HUD CoC Consolidated Application on October 25th, 2024
FY24 Approved Consolidated Application
FY24 Approved Priority Listing
The Collaborative Applicant reserves permission from the CoC Board to modify language and content, as necessary, for clarity and consistency.
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 fmpugh@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.
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.
GRCoC Coordinated Community Plan to Address Youth Homelessness
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.