STARTER SCRIPT

“Hi, this is [YOUR NAME] calling from [STATE/DISTRICT/ORGANIZATION]. I’m calling about an urgent issue: HUD again delayed CoC grant applications, and if they don’t award by December 1, which is the legal deadline, homeless assistance programs across the country will lose funding. People will lose their housing (explain how this will impact your community).  

I am asking [Senator/Representative] [LAST NAME] to support contingency language in the CR to protect existing programs if HUD misses the deadline.” 

And one more thing: “Will you also ask [Senator/Representative] [LAST NAME] to contact the Chair or Ranking Member of the House or Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development? They need to hear directly from members in their party that protecting Continuum of Care funding is critical.” 

COMMON RESPONSES

They say: “We’re monitoring the situation.” 
You say: “Thank you for monitoring but we need action now. We need [Senator/Representative LAST NAME] to actively back this CR provision. HUD has historically missed timelines, we need to ensure this trend does not continue to disrupt critical housing solutions.”   

They say: “We support homeless assistance.” 
You say: “Thank you for your support! We need [Senator/Representative LAST NAME] to actively back this CR provision. HUD has historically missed timelines, we need to ensure this trend does not continue to disrupt critical housing solutions. Will [Senator/Representative LAST NAME] support the CR provision?”   

They say: “We’ll look into it.” 
You say: “Thank you. Who is the right person in the office who works on this issue? Can I have their email? I would appreciate an opportunity to communicate the following in writing: I want [Senator/Representative LAST NAME] to support contingency language in the upcoming Continuing Resolution providing that, if HUD is unable to make lawful FY 2026 CoC Program Awards by December 1, 2026, HUD should make noncompetitive renewal awards to all eligible renewal projects at their previously awarded funding levels.  

I’ll send an email with this language today and will follow up in [x] days to confirm that [Senator/ Representative] [LAST NAME] will support this. Thank you for your support.” 

BEFORE YOU SEND, include local data and potential impact for your immediate community. Some examples include:  

• Local impact: [Number] nonprofits in [DISTRICT/STATE] will be affected; [specific programs/organizations if you know them] 

• Regional specifics: [Which CoCs are in your district? Any recent homelessness crisis?] 

• People with lived experience: [Are you or have you met homeless or formerly homeless neighbors? If so, what was your/their experience? Uplift the human impact]   

• Party affiliation & leadership: Is your Member in the majority or minority party? If majority, they should contact the Chair of the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee. If minority, they should contact the Ranking Member. Know which leader to reference before you send. 

EMAIL CONTENT:

Subject: CoC Funding Crisis [Your Name/ Organization] 

Dear [Senator/Representative] [LAST NAME], 

I wanted to respectfully request your assistance to ensure that homeless assistance funding continues uninterrupted if the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is unable to lawfully issue Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program awards before the statutory deadline of December 1, established by Congress in the FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act.   

As you know, the CoC Program provides the primary source of targeted  federal funding for homelessness assistance grants, which help thousands of people each year across the country secure stable housing, improve health and safety, and avoid repeated episodes of homelessness. On June 1, HUD issued a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY2026 funds, as directed by Congress. However, HUD has not been timely in providing the necessary forms, applications, and instructions to allow organizations to apply.      

In addition to HUD’s own delays, two new lawsuits were filed in July to address the drastic and unlawful changes to the FY 2026 NOFO as well as the ongoing delays of FY 2025 renewal grant funding. On Friday of last week, a federal judge issued a summary judgment that nullifies the FY 2026 NOFO itself and its deadlines.  This decision by the court found that, once again, HUD did not think through the impact the FY26 NOFO would have on communities, programs, and people, and found that it had not been legally enacted.  While the court left it up to HUD to rectify its inadequate process, we are very concerned that HUD will be unable to award and obligate funds by the statutory deadline.  Without congressional intervention, this could delay grant renewals, disrupt local planning, create uncertainty for housing providers, jeopardize staffing, and ultimately place vulnerable households at risk of losing housing or essential services.  

The thousands of organizations working to end homelessness across the country—and more importantly, the people they serve—should not bear the consequences of circumstances beyond their control. Accordingly, we respectfully request that Congress include contingency language in the upcoming Continuing Resolution providing that, if HUD is unable to make lawful FY2026 CoC Program awards by December 1, 2026, HUD shall make noncompetitive renewal awards to eligible renewal projects at their previously authorized funding levels.   

Such language would:  

• Protect existing permanent housing and homeless assistance programs from unnecessary disruption.  

• Preserve housing stability for vulnerable households.  

• Provide certainty to nonprofit providers, local governments, and Continuums of Care.  

• Ensure continuity of federal investments while respecting the judicial process.  

We appreciate your leadership on homelessness and respectfully ask that you support inclusion of this provision in the upcoming Continuing Resolution. We appreciate your leadership on homelessness and respectfully ask that you support inclusion of this provision in the upcoming Continuing Resolution. We also urge you to contact the Chair or Ranking Member of the House or Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development to underscore the critical importance of protecting Continuum of Care funding in this process. 

Thank you for your consideration. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this request further.  

Thank you, 

[YOUR NAME] 
[YOUR CITY/ORGANIZATION CONTEXT] 
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER] 

PART 1: REQUEST FOR IN-DISTRICT BRIEFING 

Subject: CoC Funding Crisis Briefing — In-District Meeting Request 

Dear [Senator/Representative] [LAST NAME], 

Homelessness assistance funding is in crisis. HUD has delayed 2026 Continuum of Care grant awards. Without congressional action by December 1, [NUMBER] nonprofits in [DISTRICT/STATE] will lose funding. 

We’re organizing an in-district briefing with local housing providers, CoC leaders, and people with lived experience to show you exactly what’s at stake in [DISTRICT]. 

We’re requesting [DATE/WEEK] for a 45-minute meeting. You’ll hear directly from advocates and the people in your district about how this crisis affects them. 

This meeting matters. Will you commit to attending? 

Thank you, 

[YOUR NAME] 
[YOUR CITY/ORGANIZATION CONTEXT] 
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER] 

 

PART 2: IN-DISTRICT MEETING PREP 

Setup: 

• 6-8 people maximum ( 2-3 CoC/ nonprofit leaders, 1-2 people with lived experience, 1 success story speaker if possible) 

• Bring one-pager with local data 

Run of Show: 

To ensure it goes as smoothly as possible, assign roles and responsibilities and rehearse before the meeting. Steps to follow:  

1. Run the meeting/action 

•  Prepare a 1-page leave-behind for meetings. 

•  Assign roles (lead, storyteller, data person, note taker/follow-up). 

•  Identify the relevant staffers in DC and district to follow-up and relationship-building.  

• Practice the meeting (10–15 minute roleplay). 

2. Follow up & track 

•  Send tailored follow-up emails within 24–48 hours. 

• Establish consistent communications with the staffers.   

• Track wins (briefs published, commitments made, votes, funding) and areas for growth. 

Meeting Script: 

OPENING: 

“Thank you for making time for this. We’re here because December 1st is four months away, and HUD’s delays threaten homelessness programs in [DISTRICT]. You’re about to hear from the people doing this work and the people it serves. We need your support for contingency language in the CR.” 

 INTRODUCE THE CRISIS: 

“In [DISTRICT], we have [NUMBER] nonprofits, [NUMBER] CoCs, and thousands of people depending on CoC funding. Right now, that funding is at risk because HUD can’t meet the December 1st deadline. If HUD doesn’t award by then, existing programs lose funding immediately. That means [SPECIFIC IMPACT: housing programs close, staff are laid off, people lose their homes].” 

 SPEAKER 1: NONPROFIT LEADER  

Talk about: 

• Your organization/what you do 

• How many people you serve (be specific) 
• What happens if funding gets cut 

Create space for specific populations: 

• Veterans 
• Families with children 
• Youth aging out of foster care 
• People with disabilities 
• Chronically homeless individuals 

Example: We serve 200 veterans. If funding gets cut, we lose 40 beds. Veterans on our waiting list go back to the street. 

 SPEAKER 2: LIVED EXPERIENCE / SUCCESS STORY  

Talk about: 

• Your experience before housing 

• How this program changed your life 

• What you’re worried about losing 

Create Space to highlight: 

• Parent who got housing, kids stayed in same school 
• Veteran who got stable housing, got treatment 
• Young person who transitioned from foster care into housing 
• Person with chronic illness who needed supportive housing 
• Older adults who are the fastest growing homeless population  

 SPEAKER 3: SUCCESS STORY   

Talk about: 

• Where you were 

• Where you are now 

• What stable housing made possible 

THE ASK: 

“[Senator/Representative] [LAST NAME], you’ve heard from people on the ground. We need Congress to include contingency language in the Continuing Resolution that allows HUD to continue funding existing CoC programs at their current levels if the December 1st deadline is missed.  

If HUD is unable to make lawful FY2026 CoC Program awards by December 1, 2026, HUD shall make noncompetitive renewal awards to eligible renewal projects at their previously authorized funding levels. This protects the programs you just heard about. It protects the people you just met. Can we count on your support? 

We’re also asking you to personally contact the Chair or Ranking Member of the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee. They need to hear from you that protecting Continuum of Care funding is essential. Will you commit to doing that?”