Humboldt officials warn HUD funding changes could cut permanent supportive housing
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Summary
County housing staff told the Board of Supervisors that a recent HUD notice of funding opportunity could force a shift from permanent supportive housing to short-term models and put roughly 60–70% of current permanent-support funding at risk, prompting calls for local coordination and advocacy.
Robert Ward, the county’s housing and assistance coordinator, told the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 that a recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) would sharply reduce the share of funds that can be used for permanent supportive housing.
Ward said the NOFO proposes a roughly 30% cap on funding for permanent housing in eligible applications, down from a local portfolio that is “at 91% right now.” He added: “We could lose up to 70% of our funding.” That would require local providers to convert many permanent-supportive units to transitional models with 24-month time limits, he said, with a transition window extending to Oct. 1, 2027.
Why it matters: Humboldt County’s homeless-response system relies heavily on long-term supportive projects that combine housing with case management and clinical services for people with chronic housing instability and behavioral-health needs. Shifting federal priorities toward transitional models, Ward said, creates a significant affordability and continuity problem: many residents rely on SSI/SSDI and cannot bridge market rents if a permanent-support project transitions to time-limited stays.
Local response: Supervisors and community partners urged coordination. Supervisor Arroyo and others said the county’s ad hoc group on compassionate assistance should engage nonprofits, behavioral health, the sheriff’s office and community organizations. Nessey Wade and Carly Robbins of Food for People told the board that changes to SNAP-like benefits and related federal actions are already producing higher immediate demand for food assistance and will compound housing instability if housing funding is cut.
On federal policy, Chair Mike Wilson framed the changes as making local response harder: “Our local heroes have been carrying an enormous burden, and now the federal government is making it exponentially heavier by cutting both the roof over people's heads and the food on their tables,” he said.
What staff said next: Ward flagged additional NOFO provisions that could penalize jurisdictions for harm-reduction practices tied to Housing First approaches, and said some jurisdictions or providers could be preferred in awards based on scoring factors. He urged the board to track state and federal timelines and plan for advocacy and contingency steps.
What happens next: Board members asked staff to continue monitoring the NOFO, to share details with partner agencies and to use the county’s ad hoc group to coordinate responses and local advocacy. No binding county action to reallocate local funds was taken at the meeting.
Provenance: topic introduced at SEG 656 (staff warning about NOFO) and last discussed at SEG 1039 (board response and local next steps).
