To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Departmental
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Presentation on Housing and Homelessness
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and file a presentation on housing and homelessness funding.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that funding is administered on the local level by Continuums of Care. The Humboldt Housing & Homelessness Coalition (HHHC) is Humboldt’s Continuum of Care, and Humboldt County, through the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), is the administrative entity for the HHHC. DHHS will present updates on housing funding and homelessness related to HUD funding.
In this presentation your board will hear updates regarding recent HUD efforts to reform federal homelessness programs and other changes that relate to the Housing and Homeless programs in Humboldt County, including Care Court and SB43.
On Nov. 13, 2025, HUD released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that would have capped permanent housing projects at 30% of total funding, down from 91% locally, in favor of new transitional housing projects with a two-year limit on length of stay that would include substantial work and/or service participation requirements as condition of continued occupancy in the housing.
HUD said in a press release at the time that the program change “restores accountability to homelessness programs and promotes self-sufficiency among vulnerable Americans. It redirects the majority of funding to transitional housing and supportive services, ending the status quo that perpetuated homelessness through a self-sustaining slush fund.”
On Nov. 25, 2025, a coalition of 19 attorneys general and two governors sued the Trump administration over the policy changes. On Dec. 8, 2025, about 90 minutes before a court hearing, HUD withdrew the NOFO.
On Dec. 23, 2025, a federal court issued a written preliminary injunction that ordered HUD to pause its decision to cancel the 2024-25 Continuum of Care and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program NOFO. The court also stopped HUD from moving forward with the new FY 2025 Continuum of Care NOFO and from enforcing new conditions or deadlines tied to that NOFO. This order is preliminary and will remain in effect until the court rules on the case. HUD is required to take steps to process eligible renewal projects for FY 2025 using the FY 2024-25 NOFO rules. Specifically, the court ordered HUD to file a report that sets forth any steps necessary to process eligible renewals for FY 2025 Continuum of Care funding under the FY2024-25 NOFO and HUD’s expected timeline by December 30th. HUD filed a report on December 30th that said they expected to “reopen” the 2024-25 NOFO, that it would require all renewal applicants to reapply, and that it anticipated completing review by May 1, 2026.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
1160-520 HOME
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no funding impact to this presentation other than staff time to prepare and deliver the presentation. All funding received for projects related to homelessness come before the Board, and the financial impact is reflected on the agenda item.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no staffing impact to his presentation other than staff time to prepare and deliver the presentation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt Housing and Homelessness Coalition
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose to not receive the presentation. This option is not recommended, as the intent of the presentation is to assist your Board in being informed in areas related to housing and homelessness funding and activities.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A