Allison (Speaker 9) updated the Homelessness Planning Council on recent federal developments and a Metro Council request for contingency planning.

She said a preliminary injunction in ongoing litigation left the 2024 HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) framework operative, which effectively preserves a two‑year NOFO that allows many projects awarded in 2024 to renew with limited local competition. "HUD announced that... projects that were awarded in 2024... will renew," Allison told the council, adding that HUD announced a process via its online portal ESNAPS for projects to indicate they want renewal without substantive program changes.

Allison cautioned that she is not a lawyer and that future court action could change the picture, but she described HUD’s recent communications as likely to allow quick renewals and said agencies should expect awards to be turned around soon — Allison cited a possible timeline for awards in March. She also emphasized that contingency planning remains important and that OHS and the HPC should continue weekly contingency meetings and prepare a report to Metro Council in early March as requested by the resolution.

Council members pressed for clarity about how OHS and the HPC will collaborate on the requested report and whether funding flexibility could be used to prioritize keeping people housed rather than only housing new clients. Allison said the council’s emphasis was on retaining housing for clients currently enrolled in programs and noted that the resolution did not require reallocating funds strictly to COC agencies; it asked for a report on coordination and planning in case of funding disruption.

Allison also credited Metro Legal and Wally Dietz for work supporting the community’s legal response to NOFO changes. "I would be remiss if I did not give a lot of credit to Wally Dietz and his team at Legal," she said.

No formal action was taken at this meeting on reallocations or programmatic changes; Allison said the PEC is expected to meet soon to coordinate next steps.