Harbor Care leader says HUD funding shift could cut Nashua CoC renewals by 40%

Wendy LeBlanc, director of HIV services at Harbor Care and chairperson of the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care, told the Nashua Human Affairs Committee on June 15 that a new HUD notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) means the CoC is now only guaranteed 60% of its renewal funds and must compete for the remaining 40%.

"This year, we are only guaranteed 60% of our renewal funds," LeBlanc said, warning that the change will likely force communities to shift money away from permanent supportive housing into transitional housing and support services.

Why it matters: the Greater Nashua CoC coordinates applications and services for homeless assistance programs in the Nashua region and helps bring federal funds into the community. LeBlanc said the CoC’s renewal demand is just over $3 million and that matching requirements and HUD priorities could make it difficult to maintain current permanent housing placements.

LeBlanc outlined how the CoC works: it is a network of nonprofits, victim-service organizations, faith-based groups, public housing agencies, school districts and people with lived experience that together prepare the community exhibit and applications HUD scores. She emphasized that the CoC itself is not a grant-funded body but that member agencies receive funds through the CoC process.

LeBlanc described several practical implications of the NOFO changes: HUD will give higher priority to transitional housing and service participation requirements, and it has tightened definitions of disability so that people with active substance use disorder may no longer qualify as disabled for permanent supportive housing. "They're saying we would take somebody from an encampment, put them into transitional housing for a maximum of two years," she said, adding, "Do you think that's realistic? I do not. But that's what the federal government is asking us to do."

LeBlanc said the CoC has been successful in bringing federal money into Nashua — citing Coastwide awards totaling nearly $3 million and a Harbor Care permanent-housing allocation of $2,427,000 in 2025 — but noted that HUD requires matching funds equal to about 25–30% of awards, which can be a barrier for smaller providers.

Committee members asked how the CoC sets priorities, who serves as the collaborative applicant, and how scoring works. LeBlanc said Harbor Care serves as the collaborative applicant and that the planning grant funds a staff role and outside consultant who assist with application writing; she said Harbor Care employs three full-time grant writers. She also described the timeline: the NOFO was released June 1, applications are due Aug. 26, and HUD typically notifies awardees by Dec. 1.

Committee members raised concerns about where people would go if permanent placements are reduced and urged greater city engagement. Alderman Lopez, chair, and others recommended briefing the full Board of Aldermen — either in a special session or before the application deadline — so members understand the potential funding and service impacts.

LeBlanc described a recent CoC strategic planning process funded by the Nashua Rotary that reorganized the CoC into five committees to balance HUD compliance with room for community innovation. She said the CoC is also trying to improve data quality in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) because HUD application scoring is data-driven.

What the committee will do next: members asked staff to share the presentation and the schedule of CoC subcommittee meetings and discussed whether to ask the full Board of Aldermen for a briefing before the Aug. 26 submission deadline. The committee adjourned at 8:09 p.m.

Sources: Meeting presentation and Q&A at the Nashua Human Affairs Committee, June 15, 2026.