First, the Daily Hampshire Gazette provided front page coverage (kudos to reporter Alex MacDougall) on the impact of HUD’s proposed policy changes on Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties. Big thanks to Shaundell Diaz, Three County CoC Director, for bringing home so powerfully what’s at stake.
Secondly, great news from the Rhode Island District Court’s written decision yesterday. The National Low Income Housing Coalition provides a succinct summary below.
For now, our region, our state and our country get a breather on this terrible threat to our most vulnerable residents. A holiday gift for us all.
From the National Low Income Housing Coalition on December 22:
Today, Judge Mary S. McElroy of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a written order granting a preliminary injunction following the verbal order granted during the December 19 hearing. Read the Court Order here.
This is an important step forward for the stability and the integrity of the Continuum of Care (CoC) program. While the litigation is ongoing, today’s order puts clear limits on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) actions and affirms the urgency of the concerns we raised.
Here’s what you should know:
- As of now, the Court has temporarily paused HUD’s rescission of the FY24 – 25 NOFO.
- The Court has also temporarily paused HUD from moving forward on a new FY25 NOFO.
- The Court has further ordered that HUD must preserve the “status quo ante” that existed under the FY24-25 NOFO, in part by taking steps to process eligible renewals for FY25. However, HUD is not ordered to obligate funding or grant any specific renewals at this time.
- HUD is also required to inform recipients of any steps they need to take for eligible renewals to be processed, except for the actual obligation of funding.
Together, we will ensure that those with the greatest needs receive the resources they deserve and were promised, so they can remain stably housed.
