Youth Homelessness NOFO for FY2024 and FY2025

The Youth Homelessness NOFO is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under its community development funding portfolio. HUD is a federal agency responsible for national policies and programs that address housing needs, improve and develop communities, and enforce fair housing laws. This funding opportunity is part of HUD’s broader effort to address homelessness among vulnerable populations, specifically youth aged 24 and under. The program reflects congressional appropriations intended to support comprehensive, community-based responses to youth homelessness and to test innovative approaches that can be replicated nationally. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support communities in developing and implementing coordinated systems that reduce youth homelessness. The NOFO includes two primary funding streams: Youth Homeless System Improvement (YHSI) grants and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grants. YHSI grants focus on building or enhancing local systems to respond to youth homelessness, while YHDP grants fund direct housing and service projects. Both funding streams emphasize comprehensive approaches that integrate housing with supportive services addressing mental health, substance use, employment barriers, and experiences of domestic violence or abuse. Funding under this opportunity may be used for a wide range of activities that address both immediate housing needs and long-term stability for homeless youth. Eligible uses include developing coordinated entry systems, improving service delivery infrastructure, and implementing housing interventions paired with supportive services. Communities are expected to design programs that are responsive to local conditions, including rural challenges where applicable. In addition, recipients may receive technical assistance outside of the grant funding to support implementation and evaluation efforts. The opportunity requires cost sharing or matching contributions, indicating that applicants must demonstrate financial or in-kind commitments to support the proposed activities. While specific matching ratios are not detailed in the provided summary, the requirement signals HUD’s expectation of shared investment in project outcomes. Funding levels vary, with awards ranging from moderate to large-scale investments depending on the scope and needs of the selected communities. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes state and local governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, institutions of higher education, tribal governments and organizations, and special district governments. Faith-based organizations are explicitly eligible and may apply under the same conditions as other entities, with full protections under federal law for religious expression and practices. However, individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible to apply. Applicants must represent communities capable of implementing systemic responses to youth homelessness. Applications are expected to be submitted electronically by the specified deadline. The estimated application due date is July 29, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The opportunity is currently in a forecasted stage, with an anticipated posting date of May 15, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced around September 15, 2026, with project implementation beginning on or around October 1, 2026. HUD anticipates making approximately 76 awards across both funding streams, selecting communities based on their proposed strategies and capacity to implement comprehensive solutions. Evaluation of applications will likely consider the extent to which proposed projects demonstrate a coordinated and effective approach to reducing youth homelessness, the readiness of the community to implement proposed activities, and the integration of services addressing complex needs. Selected communities are expected to participate in HUD-led evaluation activities to assess program effectiveness. This evaluation component underscores the demonstration nature of the program, aiming to identify scalable solutions that can inform national policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness.