Let’s collaborate on funding
Our community will soon begin our collaborative application for the annual grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is our chance to grow our homelessness response and add housing!
Current projects can seek renewal funding, and HUD typically offers bonus opportunities that if selected, become part of the base that can continue year to year. The Anchorage Continuum of Care Advisory Council oversees the process.
We expect the Notice of Funding Opportunity, or NOFO, to drop in early July, and we will open the application period about two weeks later. We will post key information on our website and share the opportunity and timeline by email. You can sign up for email updates here.
We also are seeking community members, particularly those who have recently experienced homelessness, to participate in the scoring of project applications. The Rank & Review Committee requires a commitment of about eight hours over 10 days. Those who are applying for a grant cannot take part. Interested in serving? Email the advisory council.
In the past, HUD has offered two kinds of bonus opportunities for new projects. One category includes permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing and transitional housing with a rapid rehousing component. The other is for projects that benefit domestic violence survivors.
While the scoring system is still being developed, HUD priorities are: ending homelessness for all, using Housing First, reducing unsheltered homelessness, improving system performance, growing partnerships, centering on racial equity, improving assistance to LGBTQ+ individuals, including people with lived experience and increasing the supply of affordable housing.
For the fiscal year 2023 NOFO, the Anchorage Continuum of Care was awarded almost $4.4 million split among 15 projects. In addition to housing and supportive services for more than 200 people who have experienced homelessness, the COC grant supports the Coalition’s planning work, Coordinated Entry — a no-wrong-door approach to assess individual housing needs, and the Homelessness Management Information System.