09/09/26 Continuum of Care: Homelessness Planning Council

The Metro Nashville Network's Continuum of Care: Homelessness Planning Council meeting on September 9, 2026, focused primarily on homelessness strategic planning and oversight of homeless services funding and operations. Key procurement-related discussions included updates on the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) lawsuit, which Nashville and other entities won, affecting the timeline and process for HUD funding awards expected by December 1. The council also discussed the submission of youth homelessness grant applications and ongoing contract and funding management. Significant attention was given to transparency and accountability issues related to the Office of Homeless Services (OHS), including complaints about voucher referral processes, data discrepancies, and a Metro Human Relations Commission discrimination investigation. The council passed a motion to establish a standing tracker for committee requests to improve transparency and oversight. Additionally, there was discussion about potential operational agreements between the Homelessness Planning Council and the Coordinated Entry (CE) and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) leads, with plans to formalize these agreements in future meetings. The meeting also touched on governance updates and the strategic plan draft aiming to reach functional zero chronic homelessness by 2036.