Family Unification Program (FUP) Multi-Year NOFO

The Family Unification Program (FUP) Multi-Year NOFO is a federal housing funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The opportunity is listed through Grants.gov under Assistance Listing 14.880 and is designed to support public housing authorities (PHAs) and Indian housing authorities in addressing housing instability connected to child welfare involvement and youth aging out of foster care. The program advances HUD's broader mission of increasing housing stability and preventing homelessness among vulnerable populations by using Housing Choice Voucher assistance as the primary intervention mechanism. The opportunity is forecasted for fiscal year 2026, with HUD estimating approximately 10 awards through a total program allocation of $5,000,000. The program requires eligible PHAs to partner directly with public child welfare agencies (PCWAs). Through this partnership model, vouchers are intended to support two primary populations. The first population includes families whose lack of adequate housing is either causing the imminent placement of children into out-of-home care or delaying reunification and discharge from foster care placements. The second population includes youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who are transitioning out of foster care and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. HUD specifically references transition plans described under Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act as part of youth eligibility requirements. The opportunity is structured to reduce housing instability that contributes to family separation and to improve long-term housing outcomes for foster youth. Funding under the opportunity is delivered through Housing Choice Voucher assistance. Families receiving assistance through FUP are not subject to a time limitation on voucher support. Youth participants, however, are generally limited to 36 months of assistance unless they qualify for additional time under the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities provisions established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. HUD notes that eligible youth may receive extensions of up to an additional 24 months if they satisfy the statutory extension requirements. The notice also clarifies that these FSHO provisions apply to youth who first leased housing after December 27, 2020, including those assisted under this funding cycle. Applicants are therefore expected to understand and implement both standard FUP voucher requirements and the newer FSHO extension framework. The funding opportunity is categorized as a discretionary federal grant under HUD's housing funding portfolio. HUD estimates an award ceiling of $1,700,000, though the minimum award amount is not specified in the forecast notice. No cost sharing or matching requirement applies to this opportunity. The forecast states that electronically submitted applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date. While the forecast notice does not yet provide a complete application package or detailed scoring criteria, applicants should anticipate that the final NOFO will require evidence of formal coordination between the PHA and the PCWA, documentation of program implementation capacity, and operational plans for administering Housing Choice Vouchers to eligible families and youth populations. Eligibility is limited to public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. The notice explicitly excludes individuals, sole proprietorships, and foreign entities from eligibility. Because the program is federal in scope and no state restrictions are identified, eligible PHAs and Indian housing authorities nationwide may potentially compete. HUD forecasts that the official application posting date will occur on August 12, 2026, with applications due by November 10, 2026. HUD also estimates awards will be made by March 31, 2027, with project implementation expected to begin on May 1, 2027. The forecasted status indicates that applicants currently remain in a pre-application planning and partnership development phase pending release of the final NOFO documentation. The notice directs applicants to HUD's Family Unification Program information page for additional program background and implementation guidance. HUD also references the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities implementation notice published at 87 FR 3570 for extension eligibility requirements affecting youth voucher duration. The forecast listing does not currently identify a named program officer or direct telephone contact, but it does reference a Family Unification Program mailbox for future communication. Because this is a forecasted opportunity rather than a released NOFO, applicants should monitor HUD and Grants.gov closely for final application instructions, required forms, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures once the official funding announcement becomes available.

Demonstrate strong coordination between the public housing authority and public child welfare agency and clearly address housing stabilization needs for both eligible families and foster youth populations.