On July 13, HUD released a new notice that discusses changes to the Continuum of Care application process for 2009. These are changes being determined and implemented by HUD - this year's application process is not being impacted by the newly passed HEARTH Act. The notice is important; all CoC administrators and grantees should be sure to review it carefully.
Read the notice here.
Key points in the notice include:
* Reflecting the trend of growing family homelessness by turning the Samaritan Bonus for permanent supportive housing to end long term single adult homelessness into a broader Permanent Housing Bonus to provide permanent housing for homeless individuals or families with a disabled head of household. This is a positive, if incomplete, move towards greater local flexibility in the use of McKinney-Vento funds.
* Making Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program renewal awards soon after applications are reviewed, rather than later in the year along with funds for new programs. As a result of this decision, housing emphasis scores will be calculated based on new programs only, further encouraging a trend towards new programs focusing on housing as opposed to supportive services. This new proposal would likely reduce local flexibility.
* Requiring CoC's to coordinate with HUD Recovery Act or "stimulus package" grants such as Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) or Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds.
More details on these and other new 2009 proposals will be provided by HUD when the NOFA is released. The release date is not publicly known, but it is expected to be soon.