At the end of December, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released guidance outlining how it plans to reopen and process the FY24-25 Continuum of Care (CoC) competition. HUD has indicated the NOFO will reopen in early January, with applications due in February and awards anticipated in May.

That clarity is helpful but doesn’t eliminate risk. Between now and the announcement of awards, communities could still face funding gaps that disrupt housing and services. Local competitions remain paused, application systems are not yet open, and providers are being asked to wait while timelines are compressed. In other words, planning is happening, but continuity is not guaranteed.

That’s why advocates across Arizona are urging Congress to take a simple, stabilizing step: extend existing CoC contracts for one year. A short-term extension would protect housing and services that are already in place, give communities time to plan responsibly for federal changes, and avoid preventable disruption for people who are currently housed or actively being served. 

As Arizona’s statewide housing and homelessness advocate, we are asking our partners and supporters to contact their congressional delegation and urge them to support this extension. Below, we’ve included simple language you can use to make that request.