SUBJECT:
Title
Request Approval to Submit the Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Execute Form 2991 Certificate of Consistency with Marion County’s Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2024-2028) (Budget Impact - Neutral; grant request for $143,307)
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Cheryl Butler, Director |
Community Services |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
Marion County serves as the Collaborative Applicant for Continuum of Care (CoC) FL-514, the Ocala/Marion County Joint Office. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the FY2026 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on June 1, 2026. As part of the HUD annual application process, the CoC staff is required to notify the CoC participants of the NOFO and form a rank and review committee to evaluate and recommend interested applications for submittal for HUD’s review. In addition, the CoC is required to request that the County certify that all CoC project applications are consistent with the County's Consolidated Plan by executing HUD Form 2991.
HUD has announced the availability of $1.5 million to Marion County for homeless initiatives. It is the collaborative applicant’s responsibility to submit the selected project applications to HUD, on behalf of the CoC. HUD awards funding through a highly competitive national competition. Typically, awards through the competition to Marion County have averaged $325,000 annually. The CoC held a local application due to the delay in HUD posting the application in esnaps, HUD’s application portal. HUD determines final award amounts for new and renewal projects and will contract directly with each awarded recipient.
The CoC Rank and Review Committee independently evaluated applications on July 24, 2026. The following projects were selected for submission to HUD:
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New Projects |
Renewal Projects |
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Volunteers of America |
City of Ocala HMIS |
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Ocala Housing Authority |
Mercy Village |
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City of Ocala Street Outreach |
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Recovery RX |
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Lotus Marion |
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Separately, HUD also makes available a CoC planning grant, which funds administrative and planning costs for the CoC. Once HUD grants access to the esnaps application portal, Marion County will also learn the actual funding amount for the planning grant. Historically, Marion County has received approximately $143,307 in planning grant. If no local projects are awarded through HUD, Marion County will not receive planning grant funding. All application materials, including a signed HUD Form 2991 for each project, must be submitted to HUD. Attached are the 2991 forms along with the planning grant and HUD agreement sample.
As a result of the court order on Friday, August 7, 2026 there is no longer a deadline for this application. Permission is also being requested for the BOCC to allow the County Administrator signing authority and approval once the new HUD guidance is in. This will alleviate the need to return to the Board if HUD’s delay in direction is only a few weeks in duration. This request will be brought back to the board if HUD releases significant changes.
Staff requests authorization for the County Administrator to execute the required HUD Certification of Consistency (Form 2991) and any related HUD agreements necessary to complete the FY2026 CoC NOFO submission.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
Neutral; Planning Grant Request for $143,307.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Motion to approve submission of FY2026 NOFO for the CoC and authorize the County Administrator to execute the HUD Certification of Consistency Forms 2991 and associated HUD agreement(s) associated with the NOFO and all necessary documents.
end