You may have heard about Memorandum M-25-13 set to ‘pause’ Federal funding. Here’s what we know.
On Monday (January 27th) the Office of Management and Budget released a memorandum requiring Federal Agencies to, “identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements.”
And to suspend the distribution of funding while the review took place. Funding was scheduled to be halted on Tuesday (January 28th) at 5:00PM. Which would be absolutely devastating for nonprofits and the people they serve.
Some background: Strategies to End Homelessness was founded in 2007 for the purpose of coordinating and planning our local homeless services through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development‘s (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) program.
We’ve since grown to add homelessness prevention programs and other programs that support ending homelessness, but the CoC is at the core of what we do.
Today, Strategies to End Homelessness is designated by HUD as a Unified Funding Agency, the third and still one of only 14 UFAs out 400 CoCs in the nation. To receive this status, we must annually demonstrate robust sub-recipient management and strong financial controls, as well as have the consent of our local direct service organizations.
On Tuesday – hours prior to the 5:00PM deadline – the funding portal we utilize to draw down HUD funding for our agency and our local partner agencies was unavailable. Meaning critical funding for our community was no longer accessible.
After a national outcry and the intervention of the courts, on Wednesday (January 29th), the White House Office of Management and Budget “rescinded a memo that froze federal grants and loans and created widespread confusion.”
Here is what we know, now: the funding is available–again. And all Federal financial assistance programs are being reviewed. We will keep working to prevent and end homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. Knowing that changes may very well be on the horizon.
Want to learn more about your local CoC? Join our open orientation next month.
