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VT Balance of State �(VT BoS)�Continuum of Care (CoC)�New Project �Information Session��October 28, 2025��

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Agenda

  • Background
  • Steps in Application Process
  • Project Types
  • Eligible Applicants
  • Letters of Interest
  • Explaining Match
  • Reminders & Questions

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Background

    • Each year VT Balance of State Continuum of Care (VT BoS CoC) competes with other CoCs for US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding to end homelessness.
    • VT BoS is requesting letters of interest for the 2025 CoC competition.
    • Applicants who have never applied before are encouraged to apply.
    • Further clarity will be announced once HUD releases the 2025 Continuum of Care Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
    • VT BoS can provide technical assistance to any applicant who may need help.

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Steps in Application Process

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*Email mshimko@helpingtohousevt.org

Nov 3

Early Nov

Interested organizations receive more information re: applications

Once NOFO is released

Organization submits letter of interest to CoC Program Director*

Scoring & Ranking Committee reviews letters

Scoring & Ranking Committee scores and ranks

Selected organizations notified - submit project application to HUD

Organization submits a project application in E-Snaps

Interested organizations asked to provide more info

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Eligible New Project Types

SSO-Street Outreach, Transitional Housing, TH-RRH

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SSO-Street Outreach

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Funding Availability: Reallocation

Overview

Service-only component type. Funds non-facility based interventions with unsheltered individuals and families. The primary goal is to connect unsheltered households to interim and/or permanent housing.

Other Information

  • Eligible population: Category 1 households living in places not fit for human habitation
  • Integrate with Coordinated Entry so that unsheltered households are connected to housing
  • Peers who have been unhoused in the past can be excellent street outreach workers, establishing community and trusted relationships. See https://www.sos-richmond.org/ as an example.
  • Letter of interest should address organization’s interest and capacity in making connections to a) healthcare (primary or specialized), b) recovery support (accessing 12 step or other recovery-oriented meetings, getting MAT, getting into rehab, etc.), c) behavioral health interventions, d) benefits application support, and e) employment support. For each type of connection, indicate the organization’s experience in connecting clients to these types of supports.

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Joint Transitional Housing/Rapid Rehousing (TH-RRH)

Funding Availability: Reallocation

Overview

Joint TH/RRH projects can provide participants with access to short-term crisis housing for those who would otherwise be literally homeless along with the option of moving to permanent housing using the rapid rehousing approach. Participants in ‘Joint’ projects must be able to choose between short-term and permanent housing and those choosing TH are assisted in moving to permanent housing as soon as is practicable. Total assistance under either or both components cannot exceed 24 months

Other Information

  • TH housing can only be funded with leasing or operations costs; RRH component can only be funded with tenant-based rental assistance
  • Demonstrate interest and capacity to serve people fleeing domestic violence; youth and young adults (18-24); individuals in any stage of recovery seeking a sober living environment; or other target population.
  • Demonstrate interest and capacity in working successfully with landlords to accept vouchers.
  • Likely eligible populations: Category 1, 2 and 4

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Transitional Housing (TH)

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Funding Availability: Reallocation

Overview

Allows for up to 2 year intervention, generally but not always facility-based. TH's effectiveness is most pronounced as a targeted, time-limited intervention where a "bridge" to long-term stability is a clinical or developmental necessity.

Other Information

  • Demonstrate interest and capacity to serve people fleeing domestic violence; youth and young adults (18-24); individuals in any stage of recovery seeking a sober living environment; aging or medically vulnerable individuals; or other target population.
  • Indicate the type of setting in which the organization is considering offering its TH program. Could be single-site facility, leasing all or part of an apartment building, or scattered-site.
  • Indicate the organization’s interest and experience in offering housing navigation services.
  • Describe the likely exit pathways for program participants and how the organization would rely on existing partnerships and/or build new ones to facilitate connections to housing, assisted living, nursing homes, and other appropriate settings for the target population.
  • Likely eligible populations: Categories 1, 2 and 4

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Eligible Applicants

    • Nonprofit organizations
    • States and local governments
    • Instrumentalities of state and local governments
    • Public Housing Authorities

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ALL letters of interest should indicate

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  1. Project type the organization is interested in administering with a potential CoC grant: TH-RRH, TH, or SSO-SO
  2. Past and/or current experience operating a similar project type (does not need to be federally funded)
  3. Past history of spenddown of state grants - indicate your spenddown rate for the past two grant cycles for any relevant state grants
  4. Describe the interested organization’s current system or method of accounting, noting federal standards laid out in 2 CFR 200.302.
  5. Geography the organization is interested in serving with a potential CoC grant
  6. Describe the interested organization’s experience connecting people experiencing homelessness with employment services, indicating how it measures success and what its successes have been
  7. Describe the interested organization’s experience in addressing people’s substance use treatment needs. Be specific about the organization’s existing referral networks and average length of time for clients (who want treatment) to get into treatment
  8. Describe the interested organization’s existing relationships with local law enforcement, highlighting positive relationships that have resulted in unsheltered people getting connected to homeless services and other supports
  9. Describe the interested organization’s work with landlords, housing navigation, and housing case management supports.

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Match: Required for all Projects

  • Match = 25% of total grant amount, excluding leasing budget line item
  • Cash or In-Kind are eligible match types - cash is recommended (but not required) due to onerous documentation requirements for in-kind.
  • Examples of eligible match:
    • In-kind: Recipient/sub-recipient staff provide case management funded by a designated Mental Health agency
    • Cash: Building utilities not covered by CoC grant are paid by recipient agency & funded via private sources
    • In-Kind: Board member provides legal services at no cost
    • In-Kind: FQHC provides outpatient health services to participants
  • All match must be used on eligible CoC Program costs
      • Not limited to approved budget line items for project, e.g. even if project does not have supportive services in its CoC budget, may use matching funds to support case management services for project participants

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Reminders

  • Letter of Interest Due Date: Nov 3, 2025
  • Have questions? Reach out to us:

VT BoS CoC Program Director: Molly Shimko

mshimko@helpingtohousevt.org

Abby Miller, Housing Innovations Associate

abbymillerconsulting@gmail.com

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Useful resources

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