On July 19, 2024, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The CoC Builds NOFO targets efforts within CoC geographic areas to address and reduce persons experiencing homelessness by adding new units of permanent supportive housing (PSH) through new construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation through one-time CoC Builds awards under the CoC Program.

Through the CoC Builds NOFO, HUD is encouraging CoCs to leverage funds provided for construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation of new PSH units with other funding sources to maximize the amount of housing that can be directed to meet the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. PSH is permanent housing in which supportive services are provided to assist individuals with a disability and families where at least one household member has a disability and is experiencing homelessness to live independently.

No more than 20 percent of each award may be used for other eligible CoC Program activities associated with the PSH project (e.g., supportive services, operating costs) – see Section IV.G.3 of this NOFO – and no more than 10 percent of each award may be used for project administration.

Only CoC designated Collaborative Applicants can submit. The DuPage County Community Services serves as the DuPage County Continuum of Care designated Collaborative Applicant and is responsible for submitting the final CoC Builds application. The final application must include a CoC letter of support signed by a designated representative of the CoC Leadership Committee. The designated representative cannot be an applicant in the local competition for CoC Builds funding.

In addition to this letter of support, the NOFO requires a narrative and number of attachments which the applicant will submit. The applicant will ensure the narrative application is limited to 25 pages, excluding forms, certifications, and attachments. The final application will include the following required attachments:

  • SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance.
  • HUD-424-B: Applicant and Recipient Assurances and Certifications.
  • HUD-2880: Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/Update Report.
  • SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable).
  • Detailed Budget Worksheet: Financial plan outline.
  • HUD-2991: Certification of Consistency with the Consolidated Plan.

Review and Selection Policy

The DuPage Continuum of Care will review all project applications submitted to  [email protected] on October 24, 2024. The application must include a clear capital cost budget, align with HUD’s goals, and meet eligibility and threshold criteria outlined below.

Eligible Activities:

  • Must include capital costs for new construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation of PSH units.
  • Up to 20% of the award can be used for other eligible CoC Program activities, such as supportive services and operating costs.
  • Up to 10% of the award can be used for project administration.

Threshold Requirements

  • Eligibility – Only eligible applicants under HUD’s regulations will be reviewed.
  • Certification – Compliance with federal regulations required.
  • Resolution of Civil Rights Matters – Must resolve any outstanding civil rights issues before the deadline.
  • Timely Submission – Applications must be on time.
  • Leveraging Other Resources – Project demonstrates leverage beyond the required match. Sources and amounts of leveraged resources must be documented.
  • Match Requirement – 25% of the total grant must be matched through cash or in-kind contributions (except leasing).

Review Committee

The application narrative will be reviewed by a CoC team, involving CoC staff and members from the CoC Rank & Review Committee. The review team will not include a voting member that is an applicant for the local competition for CoC Builds funding. The review team will, in addition to ensuring the application includes eligible activities and meets threshold requirements, use the scoring matrix HUD encourages CoCs to use for review in the NOFO.

Recommendation & Selection

The review team will use review matrix scores to inform the formal recommendation they will make to the DuPage CoC Leadership Committee for approval. The review team’s recommendation will be based upon their review of application and informed sense that the submitted project will have the most local impact for the CoC.

Upon making a decision, DuPage CoC Leadership will provide the applicant with a letter of support for the project that includes:

  • CoC Number and Name
  • Applicant Organization Name
  • Project Name
  • Requested Funding Amount

Local Competition Timeline

July 14: HUD opened Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). DuPage County CoC encourages applicants to read the NOFO in its entirety.

October 4: Publicly post how the CoC will review and approve an application on the DuPage CoC Builds webpage.

October 24: Project applications are due by 5:00 PM CST via email to [email protected].

November 12: No later than November 12, the CoC and selected Rank & Review member/s will review the project application and make a formal recommendation to the CoC Leadership Committee.

November 15: Target date by which the CoC Collaborative Applicant, DuPage County Community Services, will submit the complete CoC Builds Application to HUD based on their recommendation to submit the recommended application at least 48 hours before the deadline.

November 21: CoC Builds NOFO closes at 8:00 PM EDT.

Grievance and Appeals Process

The DuPage County CoC Leadership Committee will consider any grievances.

Grievances must be submitted in writing to the DuPage County CoC by emailing [email protected]  within 24 hours of the project applicants’ formal notification of the funding recommendation. The grievance must include the nature of the grievance, including an explanation of how the organization perceived it was unfairly treated. The grievance should also include a reasonable and fair proposed solution to address the grievance. The DuPage CoC Leadership Committee will provide a written response to the appeal within two business days, beginning on the first business day after the grievance was submitted.

Project applicants whose project was rejected may appeal the local CoC competition decision to HUD if the project applicant believes it was denied the opportunity to participate in the local CoC planning process in a reasonable manner by submitting a Solo Applicant project application directly to HUD prior to the application deadline. The CoC’s notification of rejection of the project in the local competition must be attached to the Solo Application. Additionally, for HUD to consider its solo application, a solo applicant must also meet all the requirements outlined in the NOFO.