HUD Watch: The $108 Million Question — What the New Federal Funding Rules Mean for Michigan

In Episode 10 of UnHoused & UnFiltered, hosts Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie take an in-depth look at the newly released federal Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and why they believe it represents one of the most significant threats to Michigan's homeless response system in decades. They explain how the proposed changes could fundamentally reshape how homelessness services are funded, potentially placing between 3,500 and 5,000 currently housed Michiganders at risk of returning to homelessness while limiting services for thousands more. The discussion explores the shift away from permanent supportive housing, new definitions of self-sufficiency, expanded treatment requirements, and how rural communities could be disproportionately impacted by the new scoring criteria. Nick and Sarah also examine concerns surrounding harm reduction, disability eligibility, encampment policies, and the growing challenges facing older adults, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time. They discuss the ongoing legal challenges surrounding HUD's implementation of the funding process and why these changes extend beyond policy differences into questions of federal authority and constitutional law. The episode also highlights MCAH's estimate that Michigan will need approximately $30 million in state funding to help stabilize housing programs and reduce the impact of anticipated federal funding losses. Throughout the conversation, the hosts emphasize that homelessness is driven by housing affordability, economic pressures, and limited resources—not personal failure—and encourage listeners to engage with their elected officials, support local homeless service providers, and advocate for evidence-based solutions that keep people safely housed.