Court injunction preserves HUD funding for Humboldt supportive housing

A federal court preliminary injunction has halted planned changes to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules that would have shifted how Continuum of Care funds are renewed, preserving the status quo for Humboldt County’s permanent supportive housing programs.

At a Jan. 13 Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting, Department of Health and Human Services administrators outlined how the proposed HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) would have replaced most automatic renewals for permanent supportive housing with a nationally competitive pool. County Housing and Assistance Coordinator Robert Ward told supervisors the county receives roughly $1.2 million in HUD CoC funds for one year and that the proposed changes would have jeopardized housing for about 70 households - roughly 80 people - who now rely on those subsidies.

The preliminary injunction followed a lawsuit by two governors and 19 state attorneys general, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, arguing the changes were unlawful and would force many formerly homeless individuals and families back onto the street. The injunction requires HUD to revert to the earlier renewal approach, allowing local continuums, including the Humboldt Housing & Homelessness Coalition (HHHC), to request renewals of existing funding while litigation proceeds.

Ward also reviewed state-level grant programs and explained that Caltrans-style share calculations for some funding streams are tied to the county’s Point-in-Time Count, scheduled for Jan. 23. The county emphasized both progress and ongoing obstacles in moving people from shelters and encampments into permanent supportive housing, noting limited unit availability and the slow pace of developing new subsidized units.

Supervisors also received an update on broadband from Connie Stewart of Cal Poly Humboldt. Stewart described progress on middle-mile infrastructure and current work on last-mile delivery aimed at bringing affordable high-speed internet to rural communities. She highlighted nearly $40 million in last-mile grant funding focused along Highway 299 and on tribal and local projects. The supervisors voted unanimously to approve and file the broadband update report.

Administrators from the county DHHS were present for the briefing, including Director Connie Beck and Deputy Director of Mental Health Paul Bugnacki, alongside Ward. The actions Tuesday give local housing providers breathing room while the legal fight continues at the federal level, but county officials warned that long-term funding certainty remains uncertain until the litigation is resolved.

The takeaway? Our two cents: keep an eye on the Jan. 23 Point-in-Time Count and consider volunteering to help document need; that count helps determine how much funding Humboldt can claim. Stay engaged with county DHHS updates and attend Board of Supervisors meetings to press for faster development of permanent supportive units and local plans that protect the housing already in place.