Grants for housing authorities: the HUD Capital Fund and competitive grants

Most federal money for a public housing agency (PHA) comes from HUD in two ways. The Capital Fund arrives every year by formula and comes with spending deadlines. The competitive grants have to be applied for, against other agencies. This page covers both, using HUD's own pages and the Grants.gov listings as they stood on October 30, 2026.

The Capital Fund

HUD says the Capital Fund gives PHAs money every year for the development, financing and modernization of public housing and for management improvements. It can't be used for luxury improvements, direct social services, costs funded by other HUD programs, or anything HUD decides is ineligible.

The rules are in 24 CFR part 905. Three are worth knowing before you plan the year:

• Plan first. Under 24 CFR 905.300, every PHA needs a physical needs assessment and a 5-Year Action Plan approved by its Board, at least every 5 years. Capital Fund money can't be spent on work that isn't in the approved plan, except emergency work. The plan also needs a public hearing and consultation with the Resident Advisory Board.
• Obligate on time. Under 24 CFR 905.306, at least 90 percent of a formula grant has to be obligated within 24 months of the funds becoming available, and emergency grants within 12 months. If a PHA misses the deadline, HUD withholds its new Capital Fund grants until the problem is fixed, then releases them minus one-twelfth of the grant for each month it was out of compliance.
• Spend on time. All the grant has to be spent within 48 months of the funds becoming available. Anything not spent is recaptured by HUD.

As well as the formula grants, HUD's Capital Fund page has separate processing information for Emergency Safety and Security grants, Housing-Related Hazards grants and Lead-Based Paint grants. Check the page for the current notice before you apply.

Competitive HUD grants for PHAs

Here are four competitive HUD grants for PHAs and where each one stood on October 30, 2026.

ROSS Service Coordinators (ROSS-SC). HUD's Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency program pays to hire and keep Service Coordinators. They link public housing residents with services that help them move towards economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. The FY2026 round (PIH-2600-DC-0005) is listed on Grants.gov as a forecast, not yet open. The forecast shows estimated total funding of $40,000,000, about 143 awards of $272,250 to $816,750, and cost sharing.

ROSS Rapid Response. This one is open now and closes January 25, 2027 (PIH-ROSS-26-001). It's a one-time, cost-reimbursable grant for service coordination and limited direct services after an unanticipated emergency, such as a natural disaster, a public health crisis or the closure of a major local employer. Grants.gov lists 20 expected awards of $112,500 to $250,000, with cost sharing. PHAs can apply, and so can some nonprofits, resident associations, multifamily owners and tribes.

Jobs Plus. The FY2026 round (PIH-2600-DC-0014) is listed on Grants.gov as a forecast, not yet open. Only PHAs that operate public housing projects meeting the criteria in the funding notice can apply. The forecast shows estimated total funding of $10,200,000 for about 5 awards of $1,600,000 to $3,700,000, with cost sharing.

Choice Neighborhoods. Choice Neighborhoods helps communities turn around neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing. Planning Grants pay for a Transformation Plan, and Implementation Grants pay to carry it out. Local leaders, including public housing authorities and cities, take part. At the time of writing, the most recent round shown on HUD's page is FY2024, so watch the page and Grants.gov for the next one.

Get a free list of open grants

Your Evenings runs a done-for-you grant desk for local governments. Each month we find the grants your government is eligible for, draft the applications for your staff to review and submit, and keep track of the deadlines. It's a flat $2,500 a month, with no success fee. Everything is done by email and shared documents, so there are no calls to schedule.

We also offer an optional add-on for $1,000 a month. Post-award reporting: SF-425 and performance reports, drawdown packages, SAM.gov renewals and closeout files, all prepared for your sign-off.

Funders decide which applications are awarded, so we can't promise that any application will be funded.

Email us for a free list of open grants · See the grant desk

Sources

All read on 30 October 2026:

• HUD: Office of Capital Improvements (Capital Fund)
• 24 CFR part 905, The Public Housing Capital Fund Program, sections 905.300 and 905.306, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, current version
• HUD Exchange: Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Grant Program
• Grants.gov: ROSS Service Coordinator Program, Fiscal Year 2026 (forecast)
• Grants.gov: ROSS Rapid Response Program
• Grants.gov: Jobs Plus NOFO for FY2026 (forecast)
• HUD: Choice Neighborhoods

This page summarizes the sources above. It isn't legal or financial advice. Forecasts can change, so check each listing before you plan around it.

Written with AI assistance by Your Evenings. Last updated October 30, 2026.