Continuum of Care Supplemental to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness (Special NOFO)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a first-of-its-kind package of resources to address unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments, including funds set aside specifically to address homelessness in rural communities.

The $486 million made available under this NOFO will enhance communities’ capacity to humanely and effectively address unsheltered homelessness by connecting vulnerable individuals and families to housing, healthcare, and supportive services. This Special NOFO strongly promotes partnerships with healthcare organizations, public housing authorities and mainstream housing providers, and people with lived expertise of homelessness.

Overview

Through this Special NOFO, HUD awarded funding to communities to implement coordinated approaches -- grounded in Housing First and public health principles -- to reduce the prevalence of unsheltered homelessness, and improve services, health outcomes, and housing stability among highly vulnerable unsheltered individuals and families. HUD expects communities to partner with health and housing agencies to leverage mainstream housing and healthcare resources.

In addition, HUD invited 139 Public Housing Authorities who partnered with grantee communities to accept approximately 3,300 Stability Vouchers to provide rental assistance to people experiencing or at at-risk of homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or human trafficking.

Special CoC NOFO Available Funding Opportunities

CoCs had the opportunity to submit projects for two funding opportunities through this Special NOFO: (1) Unsheltered Homelessness Set Aside and (2) Rural Set Aside. CoCs could apply for projects under one or both funding opportunities as follows:

Unsheltered Homelessness Set Aside. Projects included in this funding opportunity may serve any geographic area within the CoC and must meet all eligibility and quality threshold requirements established in this Special NOFO. A CoC’s maximum award amount for this funding opportunity is described in Section III.J of the NOFO.
Rural Set Aside. Projects included in this funding opportunity must serve geographic areas that meet the definition of “rural area” as defined in Section III.C.2.k of the NOFO and meet all eligibility and quality threshold requirements established in this Special NOFO. CoCs whose geographic areas do not include any rural areas are not eligible for funding under this funding opportunity. A CoC’s maximum award amount for this funding opportunity is described in Section III.J of the NOFO.

Read HUD’s Continuum of Care Supplemental to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness (Special NOFO)

Review Competition Resources

Review Information About the Awards

Map of Special NOFO Recipients

I Want To

Review Special NOFO competition debriefing information – May 9, 2023
- Recording
- Additional Scoring information (without Bonus):
  - Average CoC application score: 58
  - Median CoC application score: 61.17
  - Unsheltered Set Aside Lowest Awarded CoC Application Score: 76.91
  - Rural Project Lowest Score: 57.82
- Bonus Points:
  - 31 CoCs received 10 Bonus Points
  - 5 CoCs received 20 Bonus Points
  - 1 CoC received 30 Bonus Points
Review Special NOFO Start Up Sessions
- Session 1: Getting to Grant Agreement
- Session 2: Grant Administration Basics
- Session 3: Data Systems
- Session 4: Grant Administration and Management
- Session 5: Coordinated Entry

Ask a question: email SpecialCoCNOFO@hud.gov

Content current as of March 13, 2024.