IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE 2026 HUD COC NOFO!

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit granted HUD an emergency stay pending appeal of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island’s ruling to vacate HUD’s FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants NOFO (FY26 CoC NOFO) in the related cases State of Washington, et al. v. HUD, et al., 1:26-cv-00439 (D.R.I.), and National Alliance to End Homelessness, et al. v. HUD, et al., 1:26-cv-00436 (D.R.I.). The First Circuit’s order notes that “HUD has made a strong showing that it is likely to succeed on the merits” of its appeal and that “it would be unable to implement the NOFO in a timely manner -- thereby creating funding gaps -- unless a stay enters.”

On Friday, HUD reopened its FY26 CoC NOFO  to accept applications with a new deadline for CoC’s to submit their Consolidated Applications and Priority Listing of September 30, 2026 at 8:00PM ET.  The NOFO is unchanged except for the new deadline and the technical correction in the first bullet below. The additional 12 days will allow CoCs to finalize and submit their applications.

• CoCs that have not yet notified project applicants whether they were selected for the Priority Listing may do so now. HUD has made a technical correction to the NOFO to reduce the 15-day notification requirement to 7 days.

• Additionally, HUD has published a waiver of 24 CFR 578.51(b) to permit private nonprofit applicants, recipients, and subrecipients of funds awarded under the FY 2026 CoC NOFO to administer rental assistance. The waiver can be found here: Waiver for Nonprofits to Administer Rental Assistance for FY26 CoC NOFO.

• HUD reminds CoCs of the eligibility guidance available here: https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/CPD/documents/CoC/PH-to-TH-guidance.pdf

• The e-snaps portal is now loaded for CoC Applications. Detailed instructions are available here: CoC Application Detailed Instructions.  Project Applications and the CoC Priority Listing are also reopened. Access e-snaps here: Electronic Special Needs Assistance Program System (e-snaps) Login Portal

• FY 2026 Competition Resources and Detailed Instructions are available at https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/coc-program-competition

WHAT THIS MEANS LOCALLY FOR GRANTEES AND NEW PROJECT APPLICANTS:

ALL PROJECT APPLICATIONS ARE DUE INTO E-SNAPS BY 5PM ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24! 

This includes Renewal Project Applications, YHDP Renewal and Replacement Applications, New Project Applications and DV Bonus Applications.

Additionally, with the extremely short turnaround CoC staff WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REVIEW YOUR E-SNAPS PROJECT APPLICATIONS! Therefore, please be attentive to the detailed instructions (link above) as you complete your applications. Renewal Projects, YHDP Renewal and YHDP Replacement Projects - remember your budget MUST MATCH THE GIW (attached). For New Projects, your budget cannot exceed the amount designated in your selection email sent on August 6, 2026.