Shifting the CoC NOFA from an annual competition, to a multi-year cycle and bonus points for CoCs that partner with their local Public Housing Agency [PHA] to establish wait list preferences.

“Continuum of Care Notification of Funding Availability [NOFA].—The annual CoC NOFA competition is one of HUD’s most complex, if not the most complex, competition. It provides grant funds to over 7,300 projects serving homeless families and individuals. The process of submitting and reviewing applications requires thousands of hours of staff time from both local CoCs and HUD staff.

While the Committee applauds the Department’s ability to successfully carryout this endeavor every year, the Committee is concerned that given the time consuming effort the annual NOFA requires of local CoCs and HUD staff, that as a result, less time is spent on identifying and implementing efficient and effective solutions to homelessness. Considering the fact that over 90 percent of projects funded through the NOFA competition are for renewal of existing grants, the Committee believes that shifting the NOFA from an annual competition, to a multi-year cycle will enable financial and staff resources to be more effectively utilized to address the goal of ending homelessness.

Therefore, the Committee directs HUD to submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of this act, a report that identifies a plan for conducting a multi-year NOFA, including any necessary legislative changes that would be required to implement this shift.

As part of improvements to the CoC NOFA, the Committee further directs the Office of Special Needs Assistance program to work with the Office of Policy Development and Research to assess the merits or concerns of including bonus points in the CoC NOFA for CoCs that partner with their local Public Housing Agency [PHA] to establish wait list preferences at the PHA for homeless families and individuals. The Department shall submit the results of this assessment to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of this act.”

From pages 133 and 134 – https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FY2020%20THUD%20Appropriations%20Act,%20Report%20116-109.pdf