We are happy to share the FY2025 Central Mississippi CoC Self-Guided Application Briefing, which has been prepared in place of our usual live workshop due to this year’s compressed HUD timeline. This briefing provides all applicants with the essential information needed to successfully navigate the FY2025 CoC Program Competition.
As you will see in the briefing, HUD released the FY2025 CoC Program NOFO on November 13, 2025, and this year includes a number of significant shifts that will impact project applications. Highlights include:
Key FY2025 Changes
- New eligibility standards and disqualifying factors related to discrimination, public safety, and prohibited practices.
- A new national Merit Review scoring structure, which now determines a substantial portion of project selection.
- Major changes to Tier 1 and Tier 2 funding proportions—only 30% of funds are protected in Tier 1, with 70% now competitive.
- Increased emphasis on required service participation, coordination with law enforcement and behavioral health partners, and strategies addressing unsheltered homelessness.
Local Competition Requirements
The briefing outlines all items required for both new and renewal projects, including:
- e-snaps project application (exported as PDF)
- Current SAM.gov registration
- Most recent audit
- HMIS and Coordinated Entry participation commitments
- Match documentation
- Environmental review status, monitoring reports, and other HUD-required forms
The document also includes a detailed FY2025 local competition timeline, with project applications due December 12 and appeals due by December 22.
Purpose of the Briefing
This resource is designed to help applicants:
- Understand FY2025 NOFO updates,
- Prepare accurate and complete application packets,
- Strengthen project narratives in alignment with new national priorities,
- Avoid common errors that can jeopardize eligibility.
Please take time to carefully review the briefing and begin your application preparations as early as possible. With such significant national scoring and ranking changes this year, it is critical that each project submit a complete, competitive, and well-supported application.
If you have questions or need technical assistance, support will be available during the published TA period. Agencies may contact our office at mstamps@centralmscoc.org no later than December 1 with questions.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our community and for your work in addressing homelessness across Central Mississippi. We look forward to supporting you through this year’s competition process.
FY25 Central MS CoC Self-Guided Application Briefing
