The quest to tackle homelessness continues as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the opening of its FY 2024-2025 Continuum of Care (CoC) funding opportunity. On July 31, HUD released details of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), a key financial resource purposed to aid programs facilitating the transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Local organizations in Clackamas County have a chance to keenly compete for these funds, with calls for application submissions now underway.
As the competition heats up, Clackamas County's CoC has expressed its intent to ensure an open and transparent process. To robustly broaden the scope of participation, they are reaching out to institutions that haven't previously been recipients of CoC Program funding. Recognizing community contribution as an indispensable force, the CoC is seeking project proposals that could shape the mission to eradicate homelessness in the area. In a recent announcement, Clackamas County declared, "Community insight and new project proposals are vital to the success of our mission to end homelessness in Clackamas County."
Furthermore, the CoC emphasizes the importance of inclusivity by embracing input from individuals with direct experience of homelessness. These individuals are playing an active role not only in sharing their perspectives but also in the critical evaluation of proposed projects. HUD underscores this participatory approach, seeking to intertwine lived experience with policy-making and implementation of homeless prevention and eradication initiatives. Applications, including all necessary accompanying documents, must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, as per Clackamas County
This year's allocation sees a notable increase in funds, with CoC Bonus funds reaching $666,214, a substantial leap from the previous year's figures. Additionally, there are dedicated monies for addressing domestic violence, with $397,607 earmarked. This increase in reserves is to specifically intensify efforts to support and protect those experiencing domestic violence while navigating homelessness. As the funding opportunity amplifies, eligible organizations are poised to make use of these enhancements to forge substantial inroads into addressing the long-standing issue of homelessness.
