2026 CoC Funding Competition
BRISTOL COUNTY COC 2026 APPLICATION RELEASED
2026 MA-505 COC COMPETITION APPLICATION is NOW AVAILABLE!
On Monday, June 22, 2026, the Bristol County Continuum of Care (BCCC), acting through its Collaborative Applicant (the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development), issued a “Notice of Funding Opportunity” (NOO) – Application for its local competition including both instructions and application form for New/DV Bonus and Renewal projects. This NOO relies on 2026 COC Program funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Competition Applications for 2026 are available at, and accepted only, through the Neighborly Portal, in accordance with the instructions provided. Effective June 22, 2026 at 2pm, the Neighborly Portal with access to the local CoC Application can be accessed here: https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/NEWBEDFORDMA/participant.
The Application deadline is Monday, July 6, 2026 at 12 noon as further detailed in the NOO – Application.
The linked Application provides an opportunity to seek funding for renewal projects as well as new projects (those available through CoC Bonus, DV Bonus and/or Reallocation funding).
This funding arises from HUD’s issuance of its 2026 CoC NOFO which is available here: HUD COC NOFO 2026.
The CoC strongly encourages those from FAITH BASED COMMUNITIES to apply for this funding. This competition is open to ALL eligible applicants; one need not have previously applied to participate and submit an application.
Additional supportive resources including the CoC’s reallocation plan, its review and ranking procedures, the CoC’s project selection process and terms/definitions are each available online at the BCCC website competition page at: https://www.bristolcountycoc.com/2026-coc-funding-competition/
Questions?
Technical questions related to accessing the Neighborly Portal, CoC Application or addressing technical issues will be discussed during a brief Neighborly Training Presentation on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 11am. This is a remote session. Please contact Jose.Maia@newbedford-ma.gov to register for this training.
Content questions related to Application’s subject matter should be directed to the Collaborative Applicant through the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development at Jennifer.Clarke@newbedford-ma.gov.
BRISTOL COUNTY COC REVIEW and RANKING PROCEDURES.2026
BCCC Releases 2026 Review and Ranking Procedures for the Local CoC Competition
The Bristol County Continuum of Care (BCCC) has released its BRISTOL COUNTY COC REVIEW and RANKING PROCEDURES.2026 document outlining how CoC and City of New Bedford ESG-funded projects are/will be evaluated, scored, and ranked this funding cycle.
Review and ranking is led by the BCCC’s Performance Review Committee (PRC), a cross-sector group representing philanthropy, the private sector, non-profit providers, and municipal staff — none with a financial interest in CoC-funded programs. The New Bedford Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), the CoC’s Collaborative Applicant, supports the PRC with quarterly monitoring reports.
The PRC reviews all new, renewal, and reallocation applications; evaluates them against the Continuum’s needs, gaps, and available HUD funding; ranks projects; and recommends a final slate — by tier for CoC projects, and by score for ESG projects — to the full BCCC for a vote.
How Projects Are Scored
New, bonus, and renewal projects are each scored on a 100-point scale, based on the application itself, threshold/merit review findings, and site visits or interviews where applicable. Criteria include performance against plans and goals, timeliness, participant outcomes, financial management, and capacity.
Tiering, Bonus Projects, and Reallocation
Once HUD’s NOFO is released, ranked projects are organized into funding tiers based on priority, performance, and identified gaps. The 2026 round also includes bonus project opportunities, including a new DV Bonus option covering SSO-CE DV, Transitional Housing, and PSH-RRH projects. Reallocation — shifting funds from underperforming renewals to new projects — remains available and is reviewed by the PRC.
Appeals
Agencies that believe their project was unfairly eliminated may appeal through OHCD, though not on the basis of incomplete applications, missing attachments, or missed deadlines. Applicants may also pursue a Solo Application directly to HUD under the conditions outlined in the procedures.
COC PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS
Now Available: 2026 Bristol County CoC Project Selection Process, Scoring, Ranking, and Reallocation Document
The Bristol County Continuum of Care (BCCC) is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 CoC Project Selection Process, Scoring, Ranking, and Reallocation document. This resource outlines how project applications — both new and renewal — will be reviewed, scored, and ranked for submission to HUD as part of the local 2026 CoC Program Competition (MA-505).
Application Deadline: July 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon)
All applicants are strongly encouraged to review this document in full before submitting their application.
What’s Included?
This year’s document details the complete project selection process, including:
Threshold Review — Eligibility requirements all applicants must meet before moving to merit review, administered by the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development (OHCD) on behalf of the BCCC.
Detailed Project Review — How the CoC’s Performance Review Committee (PRC) evaluates project eligibility, program configuration, and alignment with HUD and local priorities.
Scoring Criteria for New and DV Bonus Projects — A 100-point scale assessing Agency Experience and Capacity, Project Quality and Alignment, Match Resources, and Fiscal Management.
Scoring Criteria for Renewal Projects — A 100-point scale assessing Performance (housing stability, returns to homelessness, income growth, bed utilization, and chronic homeless service), Data Quality, Fiscal Management, and Narrative Responses.
Additional Evaluation Criteria — Baseline standards related to agency capacity, fiscal management, and project quality that apply to all renewal projects.
Final Selection and Ranking — How the PRC’s scoring recommendations are presented to and voted on by the BCCC membership, and how projects are placed into Tier 1 and Tier 2 for HUD submission.
Appeals Process — Guidelines for agencies not recommended for funding, or recommended for reduced funding, to appeal based strictly on procedural or conflict-of-interest grounds.
Reallocation Process — How the BCCC evaluates renewal project performance to strategically reallocate funds toward higher-performing projects.
Get the Full Document…
We encourage all applicants and partner agencies to read the full document carefully, as it contains detailed scoring rubrics and eligibility standards that will determine each project’s ranking in the CoC’s application to HUD.
Download the complete COC PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS here.
Questions about the application or selection process should be directed to Jennifer.Clarke@newbedford-ma.gov (on behalf of the Collaborative Applicant).
2026 COC COMPETITION REALLOCATION PLAN
Procedures used by the Bristol County Continuum of Care’s (CoC’s) Performance Review Committee and CoC Membership in the review, evaluation and ranking of renewal, CoC/ DV Bonus and reallocation projects is annually updated and made available to the CoC, project applicants and the community. This information is also referenced within the published application, itself.
The 2026 CoC’s Review and Ranking Procedures are available here: BRISTOL COUNTY COC REVIEW and RANKING PROCEDURES.2026
2026 COC COMPETITION FUNDING INFORMATION -- COMING SOON!
2026 CoC Competition Funding Information — Coming Soon
The Bristol County Continuum of Care (BCCC) will soon share information about anticipated funding available through the 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition local competition.
At this time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has not yet released the funding amounts associated with the 2026 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Once HUD publishes this information, BCCC will update this page with details on anticipated funding available through our local competition process.
All interested applicants and partner agencies are encouraged to check back regularly for updates. In the meantime, organizations are encouraged to develop their own applications, review prior competition materials, gather required documentation, and reach out with any questions.
Stay tuned for additional updates as more information becomes available.
This page will be updated once HUD releases the 2026 CoC NOFO funding amounts.
COMPETITION TERMS AND DEFINITIONS.2026
New Resource Available: 2026 CoC NOFO Terms and Definitions
In response to the HUD release of a 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the Bristol County CoC’s release of its local Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOO) application, a “Terms and Definitions” resource is available here:
TERMS and DEFINITIONS 2026 NOO
This resource is designed to help CoC stakeholders — including applicants, project sponsors, and partner agencies — navigate the language used throughout the 2026 CoC NOFO with greater clarity and confidence. Whether you’re preparing a new project application, renewing an existing grant, or seeking a better understanding of key terminology, this list breaks down important terms in plain, accessible language.
Use this resource to:
- Clarify unfamiliar or technical language found in the NOFO
- Support accurate and consistent application preparation
- Strengthen communication across your CoC and partner organizations
All interested, potential and existing CoC applicants are encouraged to review this resource in preparing any 2026 NOFO application.
2026 COMPETITION CALENDAR
The 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) funding competition through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) opened on June 1, 2026 and will conclude no later than HUD’s Submission deadline of August 26, 2026. Given the less than 90 day turnaround on the grant deadline, the Bristol County Continuum of Care’s own CoC Competition Calendar is highly accelerated.
Check out the 2026 BCCC COMPETITION TIMELINE here.
THE 2026 COMPETITION BEGINS...
CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Released by HUD…
As anticipated, HUD released this year’s CoC NOFO June 1, 2026. Here are a few important details right out of the gate:
What is a NOFO and why do I care?
The 2026 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (commonly referred to as the NOFO) is the major source of funding that the Bristol County Continuum of Care (BCCC) relies upon and competes for on an annual basis to ensure its existing housing programs, HMIS and coordinated entry systems can continue as we work to end homelessness. The BCCC was awarded just under $4 million dollars for the current year for housing currently operated by Catholic Charities, Community Counseling of Bristol County, PAACA, PACE, Steppingstone and SEMCOA along with the CoC’s HMIS (data system) and the Coordinated Entry System.
Each NOFO round is a highly competitive process and the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development (OHCD) serves as the BCCC’s “Collaborative Applicant” coordinating the complexities of the NOFO application process. This year’s deadline for the BCCC to submit everything to HUD is August 26th so there is much to be done during the intervening time between NOFO release and application due date.
The CoC NOFO grant opportunity information is available here. As always, the OHCD is preparing the BC CoC’s collaborative application and any renewal or new individual project applications submitted by the deadline. We look forward to the challenge and working together with you in this process.
Outside of renewal funding, will there be any new funding available this year?
Yes! According to the NOFO this year, new projects will be considered. Acceptable project types we anticipate as being permitted to apply through the BCCC are:
New projects created with CoC Bonus funding or through the CoC’s reallocation process:
- New Transitional Housing (TH)
- Supportive Service Only (SSO)
- Supportive Service Only Coordinated Entry (SSO-CE)
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PH-PSH)
- Rapid ReHousing (PH-RRH) projects
- Dedicated HMIS projects (which the City of NB applies for on behalf of the CoC)
New DV Bonus projects created with DV-specific Bonus funding:
- RRH-Rapid Re-Housing for DV
- SSO-CE Supportive Service Only Coordinated Entry for DV)
All projects must serve participants who meet all of HUD’s eligibility requirements as noted within the NOFO.
Our organization is not getting any of this money now; can we apply for this new 2026 CoC funding?
Yes! We encourage everyone in the community to consider this opportunity! If you are a faith-based non-profit, housing authority or local/state government, you can apply provided you comply with HUD and BCCC requirements. The BCCC anticipates issuing an RFP for new projects soon that will provide additional specificity and details. For now, if you have any questions or would like to seriously consider applying, we invite you to contact the OHCD prior to June 9th and talk with us about your ideas. You can do so via email at Jennifer.Clarke@newbedford-ma.gov.
As additional information becomes available, we will share with you and as appropriate, update our website in this 2026 Competition section which we encourage you to keep an eye on.
The BCCC and OHCD reserves the right to modify details as additional information is published by HUD.
