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Committee hears shelter-cost analysis and HUD NOFO legal uncertainty that could threaten CoC funding
Summary
Committee received a THA shelter analysis showing case management can reduce length of stay and save local dollars, and heard that HUD’s 2025 NOFO and subsequent lawsuits have caused CoCs to pause applications; Tompkins risks losing an estimated $800,000 of HUD supportive-housing funding under the new priority structure.
Tompkins County’s Human Services Committee received an extended briefing Dec. 15 on shelter costs, case management and federal Continuum-of-Care (CoC) funding uncertainty following recent HUD changes.
A shelter analysis reviewed nine months of 2025 data (Jan–Sept) and reported an average length of stay for adults of about 81 days. Presenters estimated that local costs for a senior caseworker are roughly $54,000 and argued that reducing length of stay (for example, from 80 to 70 days) through case management produces net savings that can exceed the cost of the caseworker by allowing faster exits to housing and reducing hotel per-diem spending. The presenters cautioned that savings depend on availability of housing stock and that moving someone into housing typically requires follow-up case management to ensure long-term housing stability.
Separately, Homeless Services Coalition (HSC) staff (Cindy) updated the committee on sweeping federal changes from HUD and litigation tied to a 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Cindy said HUD issued a NOFO that significantly changed priorities, shortened timelines and capped supportive-housing funding at 30% — jeopardizing the predominately supportive-housing-focused funding portfolio for Tompkins County’s CoC. She estimated the county could lose about $800,000 of roughly $1.5 million in HUD funding under the new priorities. Two lawsuits (state attorneys general coalition and the National Alliance to End Homelessness and partners) challenged the NOFO; HUD withdrew the NOFO shortly before a hearing and many CoCs, including Tompkins, have paused applications pending legal outcomes.
HSC is conducting contingency planning, soliciting summary information from potential applicants, and strategizing alternatives to preserve valued services. Cindy said the next legal action was scheduled for Dec. 19 and that the situation remains fluid. Committee members asked for additional data to inform planning and for the HSC to continue coordination with the COC, housing providers and county departments.
The briefing was informational; no committee action was taken during the meeting.
