Continuum of Care Program

The Continuum of Care Program Competition is a federally funded homelessness assistance initiative administered locally by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services through its Continuum of Care system. The program is designed to promote a coordinated, community-wide response to homelessness by supporting housing and service interventions that help individuals and families achieve long-term stability. Funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but applicants must compete through a local Request for Proposals process managed by the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition, which evaluates and ranks projects before submitting a consolidated application to HUD. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that rapidly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness, minimize the trauma associated with housing instability, and improve access to mainstream services such as healthcare, employment, and income support programs. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, including housing retention, increased income, and participant engagement in supportive services. A significant policy shift in this funding cycle prioritizes Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Only projects, reflecting a broader federal strategy to rebalance housing interventions and strengthen pathways to self-sufficiency. Funding available through this competition includes approximately 4.9 million dollars in renewal funding, along with additional sources such as Continuum of Care Bonus funding, Domestic Violence Bonus funding, and reallocated funds from existing projects. While exact amounts for new project funding streams have not yet been finalized, these funds are expected to support new Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Only projects, particularly those serving vulnerable populations such as survivors of domestic violence. Administrative costs are limited to a percentage of the project budget, and all funded projects must comply with federal cost principles and program regulations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local and state governments, tribal entities, public housing authorities, and public institutions of higher education. Organizations that are new to the Continuum of Care program are encouraged to apply but must first register with the federal System for Award Management to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and consult with the Continuum of Care Coordinator to confirm eligibility. All applicants must meet HUD threshold and quality criteria, demonstrate organizational capacity, and align proposed projects with local and federal priorities, including service participation requirements and outcome-based performance measures. The application process requires submission through HUD’s e-snaps system, along with supplemental materials such as financial audits, eligibility documentation, and project quality assessments. New applicants must also participate in a mandatory bidder conference and are encouraged to attend technical assistance sessions to better understand application requirements. Applications are reviewed locally by a designated evaluation workgroup and ranked by the Homeless Coalition Board before being submitted to HUD for final funding decisions. The timeline for this competition begins with the release of the funding notice in early June, followed by key milestones including a bidder conference, technical assistance sessions, and a final application deadline in late July. After submission, applications undergo local review and revision before final submission to HUD in August. Funding decisions are expected to be announced by December. The program operates on an annual cycle, and applicants should anticipate recurring opportunities with evolving priorities based on federal policy changes and local system needs.

Prioritize Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Only projects; demonstrate measurable housing and income outcomes; align with treatment and recovery priorities; ensure strong service participation framework; submit early to avoid e-snaps delays