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Douglas County accepts $156,864 in HUD CoC funds to support leases for 12 chronically homeless households
Summary
The county authorized the administrator to sign a FY2025 HUD Continuum of Care grant for $156,864 to cover leases for 12 chronically homeless households; the award is restricted to lease costs and will offset local backstop funding already budgeted by the county.
Douglas County commissioners on May 20 authorized the county administrator to sign a FY2025 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) grant agreement that awards $156,864 to the county for leases supporting 12 chronically homeless households.
County staff explained that Douglas County applied for a renewal grant for $321,322 but HUD awarded $156,864; the HUD award is limited to lease costs. Staff said the county previously budgeted local backstop funding in 2026 to ensure those households remained housed while HUD’s award amount was uncertain.
The grant will be administered to maintain housing for 12 households, almost all located in Lawrence, Kansas. Staff said HUD requires documentation that participants meet the ‘chronically homeless’ definition for this funding and that the program’s outcomes (housing retention, connection to services and income supports) are reported through the homelessness-management information system (HMIS).
Commissioners asked how the HUD award affects the county’s previously budgeted contribution and whether the smaller award could be used to expand services. Staff said re-estimates will show the FY2026 remainder and that decisions about program expansion or reallocation will be made in the 2027 budget process.
A motion to authorize the county administrator to sign the HUD CoC grant agreement was moved, seconded and passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will reestimate 2026 budget impacts, monitor program outcomes and include any decisions about program size in the next budget cycle.
