CEO Corner: Week of April 27

Hi, everyone. As always – there’s a lot going on! I hope that each of you are able to take a breath, lean on your community, support each other, and take time for self-care as you can.

There are a few updates I’d like to share for this week; while none of them require immediate action, we at the Alliance want to make sure that everyone is in the loop on things to expect in the next few weeks.

HUD Proposes Changes to the Equal Access Rule

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) signaled that the agency would soon release proposed changes to the Equal Access Rule, which allows people to choose shelter options that match their gender identity. According to the press release, HUD plans to adjust the rule to “protect women’s shelters” and replace the prohibition on discrimination against “gender identity” in all Community Planning and Development programs. The proposed rule change is now available on the Federal Register.

At a time when there are already so many existing threats to homelessness programs and affordable housing is increasingly harder to access, the federal government shouldn’t put up any additional barriers for people to receive these services. The Alliance strongly opposes efforts to change the Equal Access Rule or weaken the lifesaving protections it provides for gender-expansive people facing homelessness.

The Alliance is tracking this change closely, along with various national partners, and will provide updates as the rule is published and the public comment period opens.

Learn more about the importance of the Equal Access rule here.

Updates on Litigation and the Continuum of Care Program NOFO for FY2026

Litigation on the FY25 CoC Program NOFO

As a reminder, the Alliance’s litigation on the FY25 Continuum of Care Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (CoC NOFO) remains active. At our request, the Court held a status conference yesterday – a closed meeting with just the attorneys that represent all parties in the case – to address our concerns about ongoing delays with FY25 renewal grants. The Court has ordered weekly status reports from HUD beginning next Monday (5/4). The Alliance will be monitoring these status reports closely, and update the field with any important information.

FY26 CoC Program NOFO Update

Last week, HUD forecasted that it expects to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 29 for Continuum of Care Program funds for FY2026. HUD officials have publicly stated their intention to use major components of the FY2025 NOFO that was published on December 19 for public review for the FY2026 competition.

It makes sense for CoCs and recipients of CoC Program funding to use that NOFO to inform local planning conversations in preparation for the next competition; however, CoCs should keep in mind that a lot could change between now and when the FY2026 NOFO is published. Until more information from HUD is available, the Alliance recommends that CoCs refrain from making final decisions or implementing changes that may or may not be required.

The Importance of Strong Governance

One of the core elements of the CoC Program is governance: it provides the structure, accountability, and strategic direction needed to effectively address homelessness and meet federal requirements. It also ensures transparency, accountability, and clear decision-making processes.

In the chaos of the current moment, it can be easy to forget the basics and why they were put into place to begin with. As Continuums of Care wait for the next competition, now is a good time to review governance charters, make any necessary updates, and ensure all CoC members are informed about key CoC requirements, policies, and procedures. Having good policies and procedures in place, and ensuring they are followed, protects both people being served by the system and providers of those services.

The Alliance’s resources for NOFO applications are a good place to start your review.

As always, thank you for all of your hard work. We will, of course, continue to keep you updated on all the latest information from Washington, as you focus on the local work of getting people housed and helping them maintain that housing.