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.




FY2026 HUD CoC Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)


On June 1st, 2026, HUD released the FY2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). You can access the NOFO here


Homeward staff have prepared an overview of this NOFO: Read overview here. A PDF version can be found here.


The GRCoC invites all interested applicants, including nonprofits and faith-based organizations to review the NOFO and consider submitting an application through the GRCoC Local Competition.

The GRCoC local competition will open Monday, June 22nd at 5pm. The competition will close Thursday, July 23rd at 5pm.

WizeHive Application Portal: https://webportalapp.com/sp/grcoc_hudcompetition


Homeward will host the FY26 "How to Apply Webinar" on Tuesday, June 23rd at 10am. Register Here

Slides; Recording.


Office Hours will be hosted June 30th, July 7th, and July 14th. Register for Office Hours here.


Because of the changes to the FY26 competition, all new AND renewing projects will need to submit a letter of intent (LOI) for their FY26 application. Information submitted in this LOI will be used for initial eligibility screening and administrative support for the Ranking Committee. Information submitted in the LOI will NOT be considered in project scoring or ranking.

Letters of Intent are due by Monday, July 6th.

Complete LOI submission here.



Performance data, in accordance with GRCoC Local Competition Policies and Procedures, will be pulled by the HMIS lead for Calendar Year 2025 on Monday July 6th. Renewing, Transitioning, and Consolidating Projects have until that date to correct data errors. DV Applicants who use a comparable database and new applicants without HMIS data for calendar year 2025 should refer to Competition Policies & Procedures: Scoring and Ranking Policies for instructions; data should be submitted by Monday, July 6th.


Competition Links and Resources:

FY26 GRCoC Board Approved Competition Timeline

GRCoC FY26 HUD CoC Program Competition Policies & Procedures

GRCoC FY26 Renewal Project Application Outline

GRCoC FY26 New Project Application Outline

GRCoC FY26 Detailed Scoring Factors [All Project types]


  • Project Application Attachments

    Environmental Review Form (coming soon)

    • An environmental review evaluates a project and its potential environmental impacts to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental requirements. All HUD-assisted projects must undergo an environmental review process to help ensure projects do not negatively affect surrounding communities and that project sites are safe and appropriate for occupants. While the level of review varies by project type, all projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable environmental laws and regulations.

    FY25 Grant Inventory Worksheet

    • HUD requires all CoCs to review and complete the GIW before opening the CoC Competition or executing renewal grants. The GIW identifies all CoC projects eligible to renew funding in a given year and is used by HUD to determine project eligibility, funding amounts, and the CoC’s annual renewal demand. Projects not included in the GIW are not eligible to renew CoC funding.

    HUD 426 Form- Indirect Cost Information for Award Applicant/Recipient 

    • This form is required for organizations receiving HUD grants to provide details about how they calculate and apply indirect costs under federal awards.

    HUD 50070- Certification for a Drug-Free Workplace 

    • This form is required for organizations applying for federal grant funding from the HUD to certify that they will maintain a drug-free work environment. The form ensures compliance with federal regulations and promotes safety, health, and legal accountability in workplaces funded by HUD.

    HUD 2996- Certification for Opportunity Zones Preference Points 

    • This document is used to confirm that a proposed project or activity qualifies for preference points under HUD funding programs. Preference points may be awarded for projects that invest in or develop properties located in designated Opportunity Zones, federally identified communities intended to encourage economic investment and development.
  • General Funding Resources

Questions about the GRCoC Coordinated Funding programs/processes can be sent to fmpugh@homewardva.org


HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project


The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is an exciting new initiative designed to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness. The goal of the YHDP is to support 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.


The Greater Richmond Region was selected as a part of Round 6 of YHDP Funding on October 24th, 2022. YHDP Funding is available under the HUD Continuum of Care Program.


After a 6 month planning process led by the GRCoC Youth Action Board and managed by Homeward, our community developed a Coordinated Community Plan to Address and End Homelessness in the Greater Richmond Region.


FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and YHDP Notice of Funding Opportunity


The 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now available at grants.gov.


Opportunity Listing - FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants NOFO

You can access the full NOFO here: FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants NOFO


YHDP applicants should also review the HUD CoC Program section above. Information regarding the "How to Apply" webinars, office hours, Letter of Intent (LOI) requirements, the Board-approved competition timeline, and other relevant documents apply to both CoC and YHDP applicants.

Questions about the GRCoC Coordinated Funding programs/processes can be sent to fmpugh@homewardva.org


HUD CoC Program Archive