71 Local Elected Officials Sign to Protect Funding to Address Homelessness

Thank you to the 71 local elected officials from across the Puget Sound region who signed the letter to thank Senator Murray for her leadership and highlighting the importance of protecting critical funding for homelessness services in local communities through the federal Continuum of Care (CoC). As expected when the government reopened, the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program was released on November 13 with a troubling 30% cap on permanent housing (see page 15 of NOFO). You can learn more about the changes outlined in this Politico article, this NPR article as well this New York Times article. We are keeping a close eye on this and will share updates as available. 

Mayors – Sign on to US Conference of Mayors' letter urging Congress to take immediate legislative action to stop destabilizing policy changes to Continuum of Care funding to address homelessness. The deadline to sign is Monday, December 8, at 6pm EST.

Watch Executive Director Josh Brown's interview on King 5 regarding Continuum of Care funding. 

National Alliance to End Homelessness Summary of FY 2025 NOFO Changes

More on the local impact of the changes from The Seattle Times. 

Read Senator Murray's news release calling for a halt on plans to make drastic changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program.

Final Signed Support Letter

Dear Senator Murray:   

Thank you for your steadfast leadership on housing and homelessness and your efforts to require HUD to renew all existing Continuum of Care grants for 2026.

We are local elected officials from the Puget Sound region writing to express our grave concern about sweeping changes to Continuum of Care Funding being proposed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Local governments are at the front line of addressing homelessness and these proposed changes, compounded by the coming changes to Medicaid and SNAP, will be devastating for communities across Washington.

The impacts of the changes to Continuum of Care funding would be far-reaching and devastating for our communities. Capping the funds that communities can use to keep individuals and families permanently housed would result in the loss of homes for more than 170,000 people nationwide, including older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and families with children. This is of particular concern for our region, as Continuum of Care funding is used to operate and provide services in permanent supportive housing buildings. The impact would be catastrophic and result in thousands of people who are currently stably housed to return to homelessness.

In July, HUD announced a new competition for FY 2025 Continuum of Care funds, however, the new Notice of Funding Opportunity has not been released and will not until the government reopens. Significant delays in funding will prevent homeless services providers from being able to serve the people who rely on these services. Organizations will be unable to make rent payments to landlords, cover operating costs or make payroll, which will put program participants at the risk of homelessness. Therefore, we urge the release of the Continuum of Care funding without delay.

We support your advocacy for Continuum of Care funding thus far and we deeply appreciate your efforts on behalf of our communities.

Sincerely,