Virtual - zoom
Two updates for focus at Office Hours:
First, we now have an indication of how the administration is going to approach implementing the Ending Crime and Disorder EO as it applies to homelessness service and funding. HUD dropped (yet another) CoC Builds Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which is meant to fund new Permanent Supportive Housing (and which has previously been scored twice, and awards announced to Congress).
Besides the procedural issues in the (re-)issuance of this NOFO, some of the new conditions include:
The proposed project will require program participants to participate in services by contract, occupancy agreement, or lease.
The applicant does not operate “safe consumption sites” or needle exchanges on or off property (NOFO calls harm reduction a “pretext”).
The applicant does not and will not promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate racial preferences or other forms of illegal discrimination.
The applicant does not and will not deny the sex binary in humans or promote the notion that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic
The city, county, or state in which the project is located:
Prohibits public illicit drug use & enforces such prohibition
Prohibits public camping or loitering & enforces such prohibition
Utilizes “standards” that address individuals who are a danger to themselves or others
Maps and checks the location of homeless sex offenders.
Cooperates with Federal immigration enforcement.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is suing HUD over this NOFO and is represented by us (the National Homelessness Law Center) and Democracy Forward (among others). There will be hearing on a Temporary Restraining Order today. I will try to provide another update early next week.
We do expect to see these terms going forward in future homelessness NOFOs, pending any limits the courts may put on such terms via this and other litigation.
Second, we want to make sure FY26 budget negotiations is on everyone’s radar. There is reason to be concerned, especially regarding youth homelessness funding cuts in the House budget. NN4Y has a great write up here, with tips on how to get involved and what to expect.