FY 2026 CoC Program Competition

Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care

AL-507 · 37 Counties — ARCH serves as the Collaborative Applicant and coordinates the annual HUD Continuum of Care funding competition on behalf of the Balance of State.

Posted August 10, 2026

Important FY2026 CoC Competition Update

ARCH has received notification that, due to a court order, the FY2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the August 26, 2026 application submission deadline are no longer in force. HUD has advised that it is unable to accept applications at this time and will provide further guidance and updates as they become available.

As the Collaborative Applicant for AL-507, the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH) had already initiated the local FY2026 CoC Competition, including the independent Ranking and Review process, based upon the requirements and deadlines established by HUD.

Effective August 10, 2026, ARCH has paused further action on the FY2026 local competition pending additional guidance from HUD.

Accordingly:

  • The previously anticipated August 11, 2026 local ranking notification will not be issued at this time.
  • Applicants should not submit their project applications in e-snaps at this time.
  • ARCH will not finalize or publish project rankings, funding recommendations, reductions, reallocation decisions, or rejection determinations while the competition is paused.
  • Materials and actions completed prior to this notice will be maintained as part of ARCH’s administrative record.
  • Applicants are not required to resubmit or revise local application materials at this time.
  • ARCH will provide additional instructions to applicants and stakeholders once HUD issues further guidance.

All previously published FY2026 local competition materials will remain available on this page for transparency and historical documentation. Their continued availability should not be interpreted as establishing currently operative deadlines or requirements.

HUD has indicated that additional information will be communicated through the SNAPS Competition Listserv and HUD.gov.

Please continue to monitor this page for updates regarding the AL-507 FY2026 CoC Competition.

Chronological Record

Competition Updates

August 10, 2026

Competition Paused Pending HUD Guidance

Due to a court order affecting the FY2026 CoC NOFO and application deadline, ARCH paused further action on the FY2026 local competition, including issuance of the local ranking notification, pending additional guidance from HUD. See the notice above for full details.

June 1, 2026

FY2026 CoC NOFO Released

HUD published the FY 2026 CoC Program Competition & YHDP Grants NOFO, opening the local competition and establishing the original August 26, 2026 application deadline.

Previous ARCH local competition materials and notices remain available below.

Fair & Transparent

A competitive, open local process

ARCH is committed to administering a fair, transparent, and competitive local application process serving the 37-county Alabama Balance of State area. We welcome applications from all eligible entities, including nonprofits, governmental entities, public housing authorities, tribal organizations, and faith-based entities.

Questions about funding?

AddressPO Box 451, Montgomery, AL 36101
FY 2026 CoC Program Competition

AL-507 FY2026 Funding Information

HUD has released several important reports, instructions, and resources for the FY 2026 Continuum of Care Program Competition. We encourage all new and renewal applicants to review this information carefully as you prepare your HUD project applications in e-snaps and continue through the FY 2026 competition process.

HUD's Estimated Annual Renewal Demand Amount Report establishes the following amounts for the Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care (AL-507). The Estimated Annual Renewal Demand (ARD) is $1,662,470 and represents the total amount associated with AL-507's eligible renewal projects.

$997,482Tier 1 (60% of ARD)
$648,843CoC Bonus
$865,125DV Bonus
$216,281CoC Planning

For FY 2026, HUD has established Tier 1 at 60% of the CoC's ARD — for AL-507, the Tier 1 funding threshold is $997,482.

Grant Inventory Worksheet (GIW)

Each year, HUD's Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) issues a Grant Inventory Worksheet listing every grant in the CoC that is eligible for renewal in the upcoming competition. The GIW calculates each project's Annual Renewal Amount (ARA), and the sum of all ARAs across the CoC sets the Annual Renewal Demand (ARD) shown above.

FY 2026 GIW — Review Completed. HUD's SNAPS office emailed the FY 2026 GIW for AL-507 to ARCH on June 23, 2026.*

Grantees, including ARCH, are encouraged to review their project's information and reply to ARCH, as the Collaborative Applicant, with any corrections by June 25, 2026. It is the responsibility of the grantee to report any inaccuracies. If corrections are needed, ARCH will send a GIW Change Form to HUD by the required HUD date of June 29, 2026. For this cycle, no GIW Change Form was submitted, so no revised worksheet was returned by HUD — the ARD figures published above reflect the GIW as HUD originally issued it on June 23, 2026.

HUD's official GIW Review Instructions, the FY 2026 Grant Inventory Worksheet, and the FY 2026 GIW Change Form are all listed below under Competition materials & downloads — this is public information. If you have questions about how your project is listed on the GIW, contact ARCH at arch@archconnection.org.

* HUD published the FY 2026 CoC NOFO on June 1, 2026 — the GIW was not issued until June 23, 2026, so applicants began preparing their applications before the CoC's confirmed ARD figures above were available.

New Project Bonus Funding Opportunities

In addition to renewal funding, AL-507 is eligible to compete for up to $648,843 in CoC Bonus funding and $865,125 in DV Bonus funding. Together, these two Bonus opportunities represent up to $1,513,968 that AL-507 may compete for through eligible new project applications.

Bonus funding is not guaranteed to the CoC — it represents the maximum amount AL-507 may request through eligible new project applications. These projects will compete nationally for funding under HUD's FY 2026 selection process. HUD has significantly increased the emphasis on competition this year and has announced a $1.3 billion investment in new projects, with a priority for Transitional Housing and Supportive Services projects.

Eligible new project components vary depending on the funding source and requirements established in the FY 2026 NOFO. Applicants should carefully review HUD's New Project Detailed Instructions to confirm the requirements applicable to their proposed project. Eligibility does not guarantee selection or funding.

What Is the CoC Bonus?

HUD provides CoC Bonus funding to allow Continuums of Care to compete for new projects beyond their existing renewal portfolio. This gives CoCs an opportunity to address identified gaps, expand services, respond to community needs, and advance HUD's priorities without relying solely on existing renewal funding.

This is why ARCH's local application process asked new project applicants to provide information regarding project eligibility, demonstrated community need, organizational capacity, project design, cost effectiveness, and alignment with HUD's FY 2026 priorities. This information will help support a fair, transparent, and competitive local review process.

What Is the DV Bonus?

AL-507 may compete for up to $865,125 in DV Bonus funding for eligible new projects specifically serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness who qualify under HUD's applicable requirements related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other eligible circumstances.

Organizations seeking DV Bonus funding should carefully review HUD's FY 2026 DV Bonus requirements and the New Project Detailed Instructions as they prepare their e-snaps project applications.

IMPORTANT: DV Bonus and the Tier 1/Tier 2 Process. There is an important change applicants should understand for FY 2026 — HUD states that DV Bonus projects will be selected using the Tier 1 and Tier 2 selection process this year.

AL-507 must locally review, score, rank, and prioritize competing project applications. HUD allows any competitively ranked project to be placed in Tier 1 based on the CoC's local rating and ranking process, needs, and priorities. Projects placed in Tier 2 face additional national competition. For Tier 2 projects, HUD will consider factors including the CoC Application score, the project's position in the CoC's local ranking, and supportive-service participation requirements — SSO and HMIS projects automatically receive the 10 points available under HUD's service-participation criterion.

Local scoring and ranking matter significantly this year. ARCH will utilize its established local competition process and approved scoring criteria to support an objective, fair, and transparent review of eligible projects consistent with HUD requirements and the FY 2026 NOFO. ARCH will provide additional information regarding the AL-507 local review and ranking process, scoring criteria, and Project Priority Listing as the competition progresses.

e-snaps & Project Application Resources

HUD's e-snaps portal is now open for Project Applications and the CoC Priority Listing. HUD reports that the Collaborative Applicant's CoC Application is not yet available and will be added separately.

A note on ARCH's role: as Collaborative Applicant, ARCH submits the CoC Application on behalf of the Continuum and coordinates the local competition — but ARCH cannot write or submit a project application for an individual agency. Each project applicant is responsible for preparing and submitting its own local application, project application, and application in e-snaps, if approved through Ranking and Review. ARCH also cannot set up an agency's e-snaps account — ARCH has provided HUD's guides on accessing e-snaps and creating a user profile in the Resources section below to help with this process.

Heads up — e-snaps is currently using FY25 Fair Market Rent rates. As you build your local CoC application and budget any rental assistance or leasing, keep in mind that e-snaps has not yet been updated to FY26 FMR rates.

HUD has released several resources for applicants, including:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to access e-snaps now and begin reviewing and completing the applicable HUD project application and Detailed Instructions. Please do not wait until the HUD/e-snaps submission stage of the local competition process to begin this work.

ARCH will continue providing updates and technical assistance throughout the competition. Please continue monitoring ARCH emails and the ARCH website for local competition materials, deadlines, and additional guidance. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to strengthening the homeless response system throughout the Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care.

Funding & Resources

Competition materials & downloads

NOFO Modification Posted — July 24, 2026. HUD posted a modification to the FY 2026 CoC Competition & YHDP Grants NOFO (opportunity number CPD-2600-DC-0025) on Grants.gov. The application deadline remains 8:00 PM Eastern Time on August 26, 2026. The modified NOFO is posted below alongside the original — applicants should reference the modified version as the current, controlling document. HUD does not include an itemized changelog inside the reissued NOFO text itself; for a synopsis of exactly what changed, search opportunity number CPD-2600-DC-0025 on Grants.gov and check the “Related Documents/History” tab, or contact ARCH at arch@archconnection.org with questions.

Rank & Review Subcommittee, Board Review Panel & ARCH Staff/Consultants

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Every Rank and Review Subcommittee member, Board Review Panel member, and supporting ARCH staff or consultant must complete this disclosure before reviewing, discussing, or scoring any FY 2026 local competition application. If you have nothing to disclose, write “None” in the first row of the table below.

Read the Full Conflict of Interest Policy (PDF)

Applicant AgencyNature of RelationshipRecusal Required?

Typing your name above and submitting this form serves as your electronic signature. Questions? Reach us at arch@archconnection.org.

Optional & HUD-Level Only

HUD Form 2996 — Opportunity Zone Preference Certification

HUD Form 2996 is available as part of the FY 2026 CoC Competition application materials. It is not required for all applicants — it's intended only for applicants seeking HUD's Opportunity Zone Preference Points.

Applicants choosing to pursue this federal preference must complete and sign Form HUD-2996 and include it with their final HUD project application. The FY 2026 CoC NOFO explains that applicants may qualify for Opportunity Zone Preference Points if they certify that 50 percent or more of the requested federal award will directly benefit one or more Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Applicants should carefully review the NOFO and determine whether their proposed project meets this threshold before completing the certification. Additional guidance is provided in the FY 2026 CoC Program NOFO under the Opportunity Zone Preference Points section (page 85), as well as in the instructions accompanying HUD Form 2996.

Because many CoC-funded projects — particularly scattered-site Rapid Re-Housing and countywide supportive services — serve participants across multiple locations, applicants should carefully evaluate whether they can reasonably support the certification before claiming the preference. Facility-based projects located within a Qualified Opportunity Zone may be more likely to qualify.

HUD Form 2996 (Opportunity Zone Preference Certification) FY26 CoC NOFO — Opportunity Zone Preference, p. 85

This is a HUD federal application preference, not part of ARCH's Local Competition scoring or ranking process. Submission or non-submission of HUD Form 2996 will not affect an applicant's local score during ARCH's review and ranking process. ARCH is not requiring all applicants to submit this form as part of the Local Competition — applicants who believe their project qualifies may submit the completed form with their final HUD project application.

HUD Update

FY 2026 Income & Rent Limits — Effective June 1, 2026

HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) has released updated FY 2026 Income Limits and Rent Limits, effective June 1, 2026. Agencies determining income eligibility for CDBG, CDBG-DR, ESG, HOME, HOPWA, HTF, NSP, or SHOP-funded activities should use the updated figures going forward.

What's Updated

Income LimitsCDBG, CDBG-DR, ESG, HOME, HOPWA, HTF, NSP, SHOP
Rent LimitsHOME, HTF
EffectiveJune 1, 2026

HUD's CPD Income Eligibility Calculator has been updated to reflect the new FY 2026 figures. If your agency calculated income eligibility using the calculator before June 1, 2026, HUD advises keeping a copy of that determination on file for your records — any recalculation after the effective date will reflect the new FY 2026 limits, not the prior FY 2025 figures.

CPD Income Eligibility Calculator View Income & Rent Limits

Source: HUD Exchange — CPD Income & Rent Limits/Income Calculator Updates

CoC Internal Competition

AL-507 CoC NOFO Timeline 2026

ItemDue DateResponsible PartySubmit To
Letter of Intent ReleasedMay 28, 2026 — due no later than June 12, 2026, 5:00 PM CSTARCHarch@archconnection.org
CoC Timeline, Open Competition & Policies PostedJune 19, 2026ARCHWebsite & e-newsletter
CoC Local Application Materials ReleasedJune 19, 2026ARCHWebsite, e-newsletter, email
Application / Competition Information SessionJune 24, 2026, 12:30–2:30 PMNOFO Team / ConsultantsVia Zoom (recording available)
Applications open in e-snaps & CoC-required local applicationJune 19 – July 23, 2026, both due no later than 5:00 PM CSTApplicant Agenciesarch@archconnection.org
Rank and Review TrainingJuly 6–10, 2026 (time TBD)NOFO Team / ConsultantsVirtual via Zoom (recording available)
CoC Local Competition Application & e-snaps applications DueJuly 23, 2026, 5:00 PM CSTApplicant Agenciesarch@archconnection.org (PDF export of e-snaps — do not press Submit in e-snaps)

Adjustments may be made based on when HUD opens e-snaps for this cycle.

Review & Appeal Process

What happens after applications are submitted

ItemDue DateResponsible PartySubmit To / Notes
Rank and Review Subcommittee Meeting & Review ProcessJuly 20 – Aug 5, 2026NOFO Team / ConsultantsVirtual via Zoom
Distribution of Preliminary Priority ListAugust 6, 2026ARCHWebsite, e-newsletter, email
Project Appeals *August 10, 2026, 5:00 PM CSTRank and Review Subcommitteearch@archconnection.org
Project Appeals Response *August 11, 2026, 5:00 PM CSTSubcommittee ChairNotification via email
Appeals due to Board Review Panel (if necessary)August 12, 2026, 5:00 PM CSTBoard Review Committeearch@archconnection.org
Board Review ResponseAugust 13, 2026, 5:00 PM CSTBoard Review PanelNotification via email
CoC Board Approval of Priority ListAugust 14, 2026CoC BoardVirtual via Zoom
Distribution of Final Priority List (if needed)August 14, 2026ARCHWebsite, e-newsletter, direct email
Agency Submission in e-snapsAgency notified when to submitARCHe-snaps (ARCH verifies submission)

* Appeals items subject to change.

The Collaborative Applicant cannot guarantee that any project will be funded, even after completing the local ranking and review process. Placement on ARCH's Priority List reflects the outcome of AL-507's local competition only — all final HUD funding decisions rest with HUD.

All submissions due to HUD by August 26, 2026, 8:00 PM ET — via e-snaps, HUD's system of record. No email submissions to HUD. No late submissions will be accepted.