Grant Competition 2026
2026 U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Program Funding Competition is Open!
HUD has released the 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to open the competition (application period) for its CoC Program funds, CFDA 14.267. Applications can include new projects and renewal projects, as described below. For more information: be sure you are subscribed to the HOME Coalition email mailing list — request to be added by emailing homecoalition@gmail.com. Direct questions should be sent to Sarah Johnson, HOME Coalition Executive Director, at homecoalition@gmail.com.
To access the HUD Continuum of Care Program Notice of Funding Opportunity for 2026:
FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Official announcement of grant competition is on grants.gov. — it is strongly recommended that you review this before starting your application
There are a number of KEY DIFFERENCES in the 2026 NOFO compared to the 2024-5 NOFO! These helpful comparisons explain:
What’s New and Changed in the 2026 NOFO
How Northeast Louisiana’s scoring metrics and priorities have changed for 2026 vs 2024/5 NOFO
To access grant rules and information, links to program requirements, etc.: HUD.gov Continuum of Care Program
To learn more about the types of projects that are supported by these funds, what the funding can be used for, and limitations on funding is available at the federal law covering Continuum of Care funds at 24 CFR 578.1 and following. in Subpart D.
INSTRUCTIONS to prepare and submit an application to the HOME Coalition for inclusion in regional application to be submitted to the national competition are below.
TIMELINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROJECT APPLICATIONS TO THE HOME COALITION is below. Applications will be submitted by email to sjohnson@nelahomecoaltion.org or in HUD’S esnaps online grant system IF AVAILABLE. All grants that meet the minimum requirements to be scored will be compiled into one application from the region and submitted to HUD in Washington D.C. (deadline Aug. 26th) for final selection. The selection of grants for funding is made by HUD in Washington D.C. Please see timeline and detailed info below
June 2: National Competition announced; local competition rules to follow
June 23-25: Board votes to approve proposed score metrics and project priorities
July 13: Post proposed calendar, score metrics and project priorities for public comment to continue through Jl. 17th. [None were submitted.] Q and A about the competition, available funding, etc., may be submitted via email from June 2 to Aug. 12. All Q and A will be posted online so all applicants may access them.
July 14: Forms and instructions for new project applications and instructions for renewal applications posted online
July 17: Optional Zoom Office Hours for Applicants Time: 10 am to noon (for questions, clarifications)
July 20: If needed, Special Board conference call to vote on changes identified via public comment period [no public comments were provided]
July 31, 11: 59 pm: Project applications and required attachments submitted EITHER in PDF form by email or by submission in esnaps for projects scored as renewals and by email for new projects to sjohnson@nelahomecoalition.org (please use a Delivered Receipt and Read Receipt on submission email)
Aug. 3: Applications scored as renewals: preliminary scores provided to applicants (requests for corrections may besubmitted for Board review for 24 hours after receipt of score)
Aug. 4: Applications scored as new projects: preliminary scores provided to applicants (requests for corrections may be submitted for Board review (requests for corrections may be submitted for Board review for 24 hours after receipt of score)
Aug. 6: Board Zoom call to address any requested corrections that could not be resolved by Assessment Committee/Exec, Committee and ranking vote process of project applications including any votes on submission as written, at a reduced amount, or rejected.
Aug, 7: Applicants provided their project’s rank based on Board votes (appeals to rank of applications may be submitted for Board review within 24 hours of receipt of rank)
Aug. 7 to 14: All Project applications open in esnaps for input and corrections identified in the scoring and ranking process
Aug. 14 by 11:59 pm: All Project applications in final form uploaded into esnaps, online grant system (adjustments may be made to this timeline if difficulties arise at the national level with esnaps)
Aug. 19: Board meeting to finalize any matters remaining before full application submitted to the national competition
Aug. 21: CoC Consolidated Application posted online for public comment
Aug. 24: Board vote to consider any issues identified in public comments and vote on final Consolidated Application
Aug. 25 CoC Consolidated Application submitted to HUD
FINAL RANKING WORKSHEET was issued (TBA).
MINUTES from the Ranking Panel Meeting (TBA)
Notice of Final Ranking and Projects Submitted to National Competition, Reduced, and/or Not Submitted (TBA)
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS: Questions and answers may be submitted by email to homecoalition@gmail.com about preparing project applications. All questions and answers will be posted on the FAQ page (link below) and are accessible to all applicants. You do NOT have to participate in the webinar referenced above to submit an application. Again, ALL questions and answers submitted during the webinar or by email will be posted online unless they are pertinent to only one particular applicant and no other organization or project. Those will be answered directly by email to the organization providing the question to the extent possible. No applicant may be assisted to prepare an application other than through info available equally to all applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions about Monroe/Northeast Louisiana applications! TBA
NEW BONUS FUNDS AVAILABLE IN 2026: CoC Bonus funds are up to $500,000. DV Bonus funds are projected as UPDATED AMOUNT $302, 051. Please apply using that amount as the total DV Bonus available. If HUD subsequently announces a different amount, you will be allowed to adjust your total requested and related narrative information accordingly.
RENEWAL PROJECT APPLICATIONS: The HOME Coalition will accept renewal project applications, for existing projects in the amounts specified on the approved FY 2026 LA-505 GIW. A copy of this document has also been provided by email to all organizations with eligible renewal projects.
NEW PROJECT APPLICATIONS: The HOME Coalition can consider for funding one or more new projects (which are called Bonus projects) as shown below. All definitions are as presented in the 2026 CoC Competition NOFO referenced above. A new project application may apply for CoC Bonus funds, DV Bonus funds, to transition a renewal grant to a different component, or an expansion grant which asks for new funds to expand an existing application. Details about what these projects are can be found in the FY 2026 NOFO materials linked above.
TO SUBMIT A NEW PROJECT APPLICATION provide the following:
NEW Esnaps online application system now open! If you prefer, you may skip Step 2 below and instead submit a new project application in the Esnaps online application portal. IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW all instructions as you work your way through an esnaps application form! Log into esnaps. To learn how to use the system, access esnaps online trainings Toolkit 101 and Toolkit 102 for new/returning users. Access FY 2026 esnaps instructions for HUD CoC Competition project applications.
- 2026 Project Eligibility Threshold Checklist – if your project does not meet Eligibility Threshold Criteria, you may contact the HOME Coalition at homecoalition@gmail.com or (318) 547-0407 for more information
2. Provide a written narrative on a Word document with the following information:
- Indicate if your proposed new project is an entirely new stand alone project or if you are proposing a project that is a transition to or expansion of an existing project. If so, what existing project is being transitioned or expanded?
- Please check the HUD Continuum of Care Competition FY 2026 information page for any new fact sheets, FAQ, etc., before you prepare your application.
- Provide a description that addresses the entire scope of the proposed project including what type project you are proposing (TH, RRH, PSH, SSO, SSO-street outreach, or SSO-CE), what target population and geographic areas will you serve, detail your project plan for addressing the identified housing and supportive service needs, describe the anticipated project outcome(s), coordination with other organizations (e.g., federal, state, nonprofit), and how the CoC Program funding will be used. How many persons and households do you anticipate serving in the first operating year? How many units and beds will the project provide in that year?
- If the project is a transition project, provide a detailed description of how the project will transition from the renewal project to the new project. The description must include: (a) how you will reduce activities in the old renewal component as it transitions to the new component, including the plan for ensuring existing program participants do not become homeless, and (b) estimated date the project will be fully operating as the newly awarded component within the one-year grant term
- If the project is an expansion project, how will the proposed new project expand the existing project (serve more persons or households? provide more services? cover more geographic areas? etc.).
- Provide narrative answers to the New Project Threshold questions for the type project you are applying for form the NOFO. Transitional Housing p. 63-64; Supportive Services Only (SSO) p. 64-65; SSO Street Outreach pp 65-66; SSO-Coordinated Entry pp 66-67; Permanent Supportive Housing pp 67-68
3. Complete a proposed budget EITHER on this budget form OR as part of a New Project Application form for this project in esnaps. The attached Excel form does not require a detailed breakdown of supportive costs — that budget line item should be shown in the appropriate category on the Budget Summary sheet. To calculate rental assistance, locate the FMR at HUD’s FMR webpage – if the link won’t work use https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html
4. Applicant information form: only for applicants who have never applied to HOME Coalition LA-505 CoC before: TBA
5. A 2026 Policy Priorities Checklist
6. A copy of the applicant’s latest audit
7. If applicant has never received HUD CoC grants before, also submit a copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the La. Secretary of State website, dated within the last 12 months.
RENEWAL APPLICATIONS: HOW TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING TO THE HOME COALITION: Complete the pertinent application form (in Excel – see form below) and submit the completed form(s) with a copy of your organization’s latest audit to sjohnson@nelahomecoalition.org by Friday July 31st, 11:59 pm. Please note, additional documents may be requested in the application form. Those should be emailed to the same email address by the application deadline. Please use Delivery and Read receipts on all application emails.
TO SUBMIT A RENEWAL PROJECT APPLICATION provide the following:
- Either complete this form Renewal Project Application 2026 OR you may complete a Renewal Project Application form in esnaps. IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW all instructions as you work your way through an esnaps application form! Log into esnaps. To learn how to use the system, access esnaps online trainings Toolkit 101 and Toolkit 102 for new/returning users. Access FY 2026 esnaps instructions for HUD CoC Competition project applications.
- A 2026 Policy Priorities Checklist
- A copy of the applicant’s latest audit
- Confirm the project’s most recent APR is available in Sage.
REALLOCATION PROJECTS: No additional funds were made available through reallocation for the 2026 Competition.
PLANNING GRANT: New project funds of $111,393 are available for Continuum of Care planning and coordination. This grant is available only to the region’s designated Continuum of Care organization, the HOME Coalition.
Additional Forms and Information for the 2026 CoC Program competition for Northeast Louisiana:
Fact Sheet for First-Time Applicants and/or Faith-based Applicants
BOARD MINUTES Special Board to set scoring priorities – TBA
For more info on how applications are scored and ranked, read Section III of the HOME Coalition Policies (starting on p. 10).
2026 SCORE SHEETS AVAILABLE SOON: The HOME Coalition is committed to a transparent and inclusive application process free of conflict of interest for the local competition for CoC Program funds. The score sheets and metrics for 2026 – TBA – these show which factors determine the chance an application will be funded when the regional application moves on to the national part of the competition. A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD for these metrics will held from the day the documents are posted through Dec. 11. All comments should be submitted via email to homecoalition@gmail.com.
The HOME Coalition of Northeast Louisiana (formal name: Northeast Louisiana Housing and Supportive Services Corp.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is a coalition of nonprofits, government agencies, faith-based groups, businesses, individuals, and others concerned with homelessness in NELA. Group members, from the 12 parishes of NELA, coordinate our area’s response to homelessness by providing a system of housing and services for those who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. The group also represents our area’s needs on a statewide and national basis, bringing attention and funding toward our ultimate goal: a NELA free of homelessness where all people feel safe and valued.
