08/05/26 Special Called Continuum of Care: Homelessness Planning Council

The Metro Nashville Network's Special Called Continuum of Care: Homelessness Planning Council meeting on August 5, 2026, focused primarily on the evaluation and approval of funding recommendations for HUD Continuum of Care (COC) grants addressing homelessness, including youth homelessness programs. The Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC) presented their review of applications for the Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) NOFOs, recommending approval of funding for OHS, Oasis, and Nashville Launchpad. The meeting also addressed significant changes in HUD funding priorities, including a reduction in guaranteed renewal funding and a shift in funding for Coordinated Entry (CE) and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) grants, which Metro government plans to cover directly rather than through HUD COC funds. This shift raised concerns about oversight, transparency, and future budgeting, leading to discussions about potential memoranda of understanding to ensure continued community oversight. Despite some reservations, the council approved the PEC's funding recommendations to meet HUD deadlines, with acknowledgment of the need for ongoing dialogue about funding and oversight of CE and HMIS programs.