Title
Resolution Calling on Congress to Require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to Award Eligible Continuum of Care Program Renewals for 12 Months and Supporting the National Alliance to End Homelessness
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor is committed to preventing and ending homelessness in our community and recognizes the critical role that Continuum of Care (CoC) Program funding plays in supporting housing stability, homeless prevention, and life-saving services. Over 600 previously homeless individuals (including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities) are currently receiving a rent subsidy and services in Washtenaw County through the CoC program, many of whom live in properties owned by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, Avalon Housing and Michigan Ability Partners.
The federal government shutdown has jeopardized essential housing and services nationwide, including delays in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) release of the FY2025 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Approximately one-third of all current CoC Program grants across the country are scheduled to expire between January and June 2026, and without timely renewal for a full 12-month term, previously homeless households who are currently housed with CoC rental assistance will face unpaid rent, reduced services due to staff lay-offs, and an increase in homelessness as programs run out of funds. Washtenaw County and non-profit organizations receive over $7.2 Million annually in CoC funding.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness has urged Congress to include a provision requiring HUD to award eligible CoC Program renewals for 12 months to ensure service continuity and prevent catastrophic funding gaps. Despite strong advocacy from communities nationwide, the short-term Continuing Resolution passed by the U.S. Senate on November 11, 2025 did not include the necessary renewal provision, leaving CoCs vulnerable to deep and harmful disruptions.
In addition, HUD changed its funding process, including caps on permanent housing funding, penalties for agencies not aligned with current administrative priorities, reductions to program renewal funding known as Tier 1, and sweeping changes to scoring criteria, pose additional risks to communities working to maintain housing stability. Current estimates for the financial impact of proposed CoC funding changes total approximately $3.4 million for the Washtenaw County homelessness response system.
The Washtenaw County CoC (of which the City of Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission are board members), local service providers, and community organizations rely on federal CoC dollars to sustain Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Re-Housing, street outreach, and supportive services, all of which are essential to maintaining public safety, stabilizing vulnerable residents, and reducing homelessness. Failure by Congress to require HUD to award 12-month renewals would undermine years of local investment, jeopardize lives, and place increased pressure on local governments to fill funding gaps they are not equipped to absorb.
The City of Ann Arbor strongly supports the advocacy efforts of the National Alliance to End Homelessness and partners across the country who are calling for immediate Congressional action to protect CoC programs and ensure that the federal homelessness response system can continue to operate without interruption. The City of Ann Arbor’s Members of Congress, United States Representative Debbie Dingell and United States Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin have strong records of supporting effective homelessness response policy and funding as aforementioned in this resolution language.
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners passed a similar resolution on November 19, 2025.
Staff
Prepared by: Jennifer Hall, Executive Director, Ann Arbor Housing Commission
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is committed to preventing and ending homelessness in our community and recognizes the critical role that Continuum of Care (CoC) Program funding plays in supporting housing stability, homeless prevention, and life-saving services;
Whereas, The federal government shutdown has jeopardized essential housing and services nationwide, including delays in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) release of and significant changes to the FY2025 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO); and
Whereas, These changes will have a local impact of approximately $3.4 million in lost funding for over 300 people, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, who are currently housed and receiving rental subsidies and services through Continuum of Care funding;
RESOLVED, Ann Arbor City Council urges the United States Congress to immediately include language requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to award all eligible Continuum of Care Program renewals for a full 12-month term;
RESOLVED, Ann Arbor City Council calls on Congress and HUD to prioritize the stability of local homelessness response systems, minimize funding disruptions, and ensure that federal actions do not increase homelessness in local communities; and
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Michigan Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Governor of Michigan, and relevant state legislative leadership.
Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor and Councilmembers Watson, Ghazi Edwin, Akmon, Cornell, Radina, Eyer, Harrison and Disch