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Lane County reports FY24 HUD Continuum of Care awards; staff say grant agreements still pending
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Summary
Lane County staff told the Poverty and Homelessness Board that HUD awarded the county $7,000,274 (as transcribed) for fiscal year 2024 Continuum of Care renewals and expansions, but grant agreements have not yet arrived and the federal administration’s review of grants introduces uncertainty.
Amanda Borda, senior program services coordinator with Lane County Human Services Division and Continuum of Care (CoC) staff, told the Poverty and Homelessness Board on Feb. 20 that HUD issued the county’s FY24 Continuum of Care awards on Jan. 17. She reported the CoC received “7,000,274 and $615,” an increase of about $586,000 from the prior HUD fiscal year, and said the awards fund renewals for permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, the youth homelessness demonstration program, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and CoC planning.
Why it matters: Continuum of Care funding supports operations and rental subsidy programs that local providers and the county use to house people exiting homelessness. Board members said the awards are central to the strategic-plan work the PHB is developing and urged continued federal and state advocacy to protect the funding stream.
Details and status: Borda said most of the money reported were renewals and that the CoC did not receive any of the new bonus projects it had sought. The county did receive expansion funding reallocated from a project that elected not to continue (the transcript referenced the “vet lift” project). Borda said local staff typically wait several months for HUD grant agreement paperwork; last year the local HUD field office began outreach in April. She noted the incoming federal administration has publicly stated it is reviewing grants to align them with policy priorities and to reduce fraud, waste and abuse, and that HUD had not yet provided specific guidance to the county staff about any changes to FY24 awards.
Board response and next steps: Board members praised the calm briefing but voiced concern about uncertainty. Commissioner Pat Barr, Board of County Commissioners, urged federal and state advocacy and offered that the PHB could help by sending letters supporting continued funding. Borda advised the board to monitor communications from HUD and said staff will inform the PHB if any material changes occur once HUD transmits grant agreements.
Ending: County staff encouraged members to contact legislators to emphasize the importance of CoC funding and said they would update the PHB if HUD’s review affects local awards. Borda said there was currently “no cause for concern in this very moment.”
