COSCDA represents its members by serving as an advocate and liaison between Congress, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and related federal agencies on a host of programmatic and regulatory issues. COSCDA provides leadership in the development of funding proposals; legislative and regulatory strategies relative to community development, housing, and homelessness; disaster recovery as well as program implementation.
The COSCDA Congressional Partnership Award recognizes members of Congress for their outstanding contributions to federal programs benefiting state and local actions in community development. COSCDA established the award in 2023 to honor congressional champions of HUD Community Planning and Development (HUD-CPD) programs.
COSCDA is pleased to announce the recipient of our 2025 Congressional Partnership Award: Senator Katie Britt (R-AL). Senator Britt proudly serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. She is deeply committed to improving communities in Alabama and across the nation. COSCDA looks forward to partnering with Senator Britt to strengthen HUD’s community development programs. See below for a formal statement from Senator Britt:
“I am honored to receive the 2025 Congressional Partnership Award from the Council of State Community Development Agencies. As Alabama’s Senator, I remain committed to fighting for our people and our values every single day. Advocating for families, small businesses, local Main Streets, and communities across Alabama has always been a top priority for me. When the efforts of hardworking Alabamians, local leaders, and statewide programs align, our state thrives.
Please know how grateful I am for your dedication and passion for what you do. From spurring job creation and economic development to addressing our affordable housing crisis and so much more, your efforts are deeply significant to the success of our communities. I look forward to continuing to be a partner with you all to ensure the American Dream is not just accessible but achievable. Thank you again for this recognition.”
COSCDA and NCDA sent a letter to Senator Todd Young (R-IN) in opposition to the recently introduced Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act (formerly the YIMBY Act). Both organizations support the intent of this bill, but do not support additional reporting requirements for CDBG grantees.
“The reporting requirements proposed in the bill would further increase the burden of managing CDBG programs and would not meaningfully remove barriers to housing development. COSCDA and NCDA cannot support the bill in its current form. We welcome further engagement and alternative approaches to zoning and land-use reform.”
COSCDA’s President, Alison George, testified at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on “HOME 2.0: Modern Solutions to the Housing Shortage.” Her testimony focused on the success of the HOME program in Colorado and COSCDA’s recommendations to modernize the program.
“HOME is a vital program boosting much needed affordable housing in states like Colorado, given the flexibility and ability to address the specific needs in our communities… Modernization is key – specifically to ease administrative burden, support increased administrative capacity and preserve HOME’s flexibility.”
Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chair Mike Flood (R-NE) and Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) gathered public input to guide a potential reauthorization of HUD’s CDBG and HOME programs. COSCDA solicited input from member agencies across the nation to form our recommendations.
“Several themes emerged… that we urge Congress to consider when reauthorizing CDBG and HOME:
We applaud Congressman Flood and Congressman Cleaver for working to improve these critical community development programs and to increase our nation’s housing supply. Our staff and members are available for ongoing discussion as Congress proposes a pathway to reauthorize CDBG and HOME.”
COSCDA submitted a statement for the record regarding a House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance hearing on “Building Our Future: Increasing Housing Supply in America.” The statement focuses on the ways HOME, CDBG, and HTF support housing supply across the nation and asks Congress to support these critical programs.
“HOME, CDBG, and HTF are key investments in housing supply – especially affordable housing – that is simply not available to the same degree at the local and state level. COSCDA urges the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance to recognize the value of these programs and commit to supporting and improving them for the future.”
COSCDA sent a specialized version of the FY26 Advocacy Priorities to a list of more than 500 Capitol Hill staff who handle housing and community development issues. The document includes funding requests for Fiscal Year 2026 and proposes legislative changes to the following programs: CDBG, HOME, HTF, LIHTC, CDBG-DR, ESG, and more.
COSCDA sent a letter to Bryan Horn – the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs at HUD – requesting additional guidance on SAVE verification requirements in Addendum 1 of FY25 grant agreements. The letter captures concerns and recommendations from members across COSCDA’s program areas: community development, housing, disaster recovery, and homelessness.
COSCDA submitted comments in response to HUD’s “Notice of Recipient Financial Reporting Demonstration.” HUD intends to pilot a new grant reporting system with approximately 9 volunteers from public housing, CDBG-DR and CoC programs. In our comments, COSCDA made the following high-level recommendations for the reporting system:
COSCDA, the National Community Development Association (NCDA), and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) sent a joint letter to HUD’s new Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Grant Programs, Bryan Horn. The letter requests guidance on new HUD requirements, including the prohibition against using HUD funding for “DEI” programs, the requirement to use SAVE software to verify immigration status, and HUD’s response to recent Supreme Court decisions related to environmental reviews (NEPA).
“NCDA, COSCDA, and NAHRO write to request immediate guidance on issues affecting grantees’ ability to implement the FY2025 CPD grant process. We are also seeking information on HUD’s next steps for streamlining the environmental review process… We appreciate our partnership with HUD and look forward to receiving quick guidance on our inquiring so that we can help our member grantees proceed with program implementation.”
COSCDA submitted comments in response to a request for public input on experiences with FEMA disaster responses. We referenced COSCDA’s FY26 Advocacy Priorities and the need for at least a critical level of staff at FEMA.
“COSCDA supports thoughtful reforms to improve – rather than dismantle – FEMA and other disaster recovery initiatives… We encourage the Council to carefully consider the implications of any changes to the structure of the agency. The federal government should work in tandem with state and local agencies to ensure timely, effective disaster recovery.”
COSCDA submitted formal comments in response to HUD’s Interim Final Rule on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requirements. Our comments focused on the need for additional fair housing guidance.
“HUD should continue working with state agencies and other program administrators to address fair housing challenges. COSCDA also urges HUD to provide additional guidance to ensure compliance with the AFFH Interim Final Rule.”
COSCDA and the National Community Development Association (NCDA) sent a joint letter to Secretary Turner requesting additional guidance for FY25 Consolidated Plans and Annual Action Plans. Members of both organizations have been concerned that their plans may be rejected by HUD if their contents do not comply with President Trump’s executive orders.
“Notice CPD-25-02 predates the inauguration of President Trump and his subsequent executive orders… We request additional guidnace… on how to align ConPlans and AAPs with these and any other executive orders.”
COSCDA sent a transition memo to the HUD Administration Transition Team. The memo introduces COSCDA to the Trump-Vance Administration, outlines several of COSCDA’s advocacy priorities, and includes a list of key HUD programs administered by our members.
“COSCDA welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Trump-Vance Administration to support our nation’s community development programs… To this end, COSCDA offers recommendations on how the Administration can improve the administration of community development programs and make the most of scarce federal resources.”
COSCDA joined the National Community Development Association (NCDA) and the National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) on a letter to House Financial Services Committee leadership. The letter expresses our concern about the Build Now Act – a provision of the Senate-passed ROAD to Housing Act that would reward or penalize CDBG entitlement communities based on their housing production rate. (States are excluded).
“The undersigned organizations… write in opposition to attempts to change the CDBG allocation formula to impose a funding reduction on grantees whose housing production growth is below the median rate… While we recognize the urgent need to expand the nation’s housing stock, especially the stock of housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households, we do not support amending the allocation formula to impose a punitive reduction in critical CDBG funds.”
COSCDA joined several national organizations on a letter asking HUD to renew existing CoC grants instead of issuing a new FY25 NOFO. The letter focuses on the potential impacts to affordable housing developments and their low-income residents.
“We ask that you include a no-cost provision in any forthcoming continuing resolution or future spending bill requiring HUD to renew all existing Continuum of Care grants expiring during calendar year 2026 for a 12-month period… Failing to renew CoC grants will impact a significant portion of our portfolios, and ultimately the residents in your communities.”
COSCDA joined a letter led by the National Alliance to End Homelessness in support of the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act. The letter asks leadership from the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to support the bill as an effort to improve the federal government’s response to homelessness.
“[this bill] would make modest, low-cost or even no-cost changes in law that would ensure existing programs work better for people in need, thus making it easier for communities to reduce and prevent homelessness. The undersigned organizations appreciate the research and cooperation that produced meaningful and bipartisan legislation to address homelessness. We urge you to include RHTPRA in a broader reform package because it would promote opportunities for people to access safe, affordable housing.”
COSCDA signed onto a HOME Coalition letter in support of at least $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program in FY26. The letter urges Senate Appropriations Committee leaders to provide adequate funding for the HOME program, despite the House’s proposal to eliminate funding for the program in FY26.
“HOME is the only federal grant program that provides states and localities the resources and flexibility the need to address the affordable housing crisis, and it is imperative for Congress to provide adequate resources for this essential purpose. Accordingly, we respectfully urge you to support no less than a funding level of $1.5 billion in any FY26 funding legislation.”
COSCDA signed onto a CDBG Coalition letter asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund the CDBG program in Fiscal Year 2026.
“The undersigned members of the CDBG Coalition thank you for your support of HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for FY26. We are urging that the program be fully funded at the level of $3.3 billion in FY26 to keep up with local development needs across the country.”
COSCDA signed on to a letter in support of Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) funding led by several national organizations. The letter is addressed to appropriations leadership in Congress, urging them to explore avenues to sunset the EVH program without leaving thousands of households without rental assistance.
“We, the undersigned organizations, write to Congress concerning the future of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program. We urge Congress to provide adequate funding and flexibilities in the final FY26 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill to ensure that current households served by the EHV program do not lose the critical assistance they rely on.”
COSCDA joined over 800 national, state, and local organizations on a HOME Coalition sign-on letter in support of at least $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program in FY26. COSCDA is a co-lead of the HOME Coalition.
“HOME is HUD’s flagship affordable housing production program. For three decades, it has been one of the most effective and flexible tools states and localities have to meet their affordable housing needs, including rental home production and preservation, single-family home construction, homeowner rehabilitation, and tenant-based rental assistance. In the current economic environment, with housing costs historically high and low-income households suffering, it is more important than ever for Congress to provide significant resources for this essential program.”
COSCDA joined a sign-on letter led by Enterprise Community Partners, Habitat for Humanity, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in support of HUD’s Section 4 Capacity Building program. HUD recently cut back the Section 4 program and has threatened further funding cuts. The sign-on letter is addressed to appropriations leadership on Capitol Hill.
“Section 4 is the only federal program that is specifically designed to increase the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by providing them with critical capacity building funds so that they may better serve all types of communities in need. Throughout its history, the program has benefitted all 50 states… We hope you can fund at least $50 million in FY2026, as well as working with HUD as needed to ensure timely disbursements of funds under prior year awards.”
COSCDA joined a CDBG Coalition letter to Congressional leadership outlining our Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) funding request for the CDBG program. The letter includes the following statements:
“The undersigned members of the CDBG Coalition urge you to support no less than $4.2 billion for the program in FY26… CDBG is an essential resource for helping communities tackle serious challenges such as preserving owner-occupied single-family housing, installing and improving critical infrastructure such as water and sanitation systems, providing life-saving improvements such as fire equipment in rural areas, funding food banks, and providing homelessness prevention services, to name a few important activities by CDBG. There is no other federal program that provides communities with the resources to collectively address these issues.”
COSCDA joined hundreds of organizations on a national letter – led by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) – urging Congressional leadership to push back against proposed staffing cuts to HUD. The letter includes the following statement:
“We, the undersigned national, state, and local organizations, write to oppose efforts by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to terminate at least half of all employees at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This is a catastrophic staffing cut to an agency that has struggled with a severe housing shortage for many years. Without adequate staffing at HUD, states and communities will face new barriers to accessing the critical federal resources they need to pay the rent, build affordable housing, address homelessness, recover from disasters, revitalize distressed communities, promote homeownership, and more.”