ROSS Rapid Response Program Grant

The ROSS Rapid Response Program (RRP) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides expedited funding to assist communities in addressing urgent social needs. This program offers one-time cost-reimbursable grants for service coordination and direct services, especially in response to emergencies like natural disasters or public health crises. By streamlining the application process, the RRP empowers local leaders to efficiently support residents in HUD-assisted housing, promoting self-sufficiency and resilience.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues this Funding Notification to invite applications from eligible entities for the program and purpose described in this notice. This document provides guidance to eligible entities on how to apply for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Rapid Response Program (RRP), an expedited funding component of the ROSS program.
ROSS is a place-based grant program that targets an entire resident community and aims to address economic and housing self-sufficiency needs at both the community and individual levels. ROSS primarily achieves this by providing targeted resources and referrals to supportive services, thus empowering residents to address educational, professional, and health challenges. ROSS is authorized under Section 34 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437z(6)) (the ì1937 Actî). HUD typically provides ROSS grant funding through an annual NOFO, enabling eligible applicants to hire service coordinators who help residents achieve self-sufficiency. ROSS grants are currently awarded in three-year renewal cohorts. The RRP minimizes requirements to those in existing ROSS statute to streamline and expedite the disbursement of grant funds. The RRP complements the annual ROSS NOFO with a one-time off-cycle award to grantees and is not a replacement for the NOFO.
The ROSS Rapid Response Program (RRP) awards one-time assistance via a cost-reimbursable grant for service coordination and limited direct services for residents of HUD-assisted housing. The RRP utilizes a simplified application process to promote local leadership and flexibility in addressing urgent social needs caused by unanticipated emergencies. Examples of these emergencies can include but are not limited to:
Natural disasters (e.g., wildfires or hurricanes) Public health crises (e.g., gun violence, community-level contamination or environmental hazards) Economic disruptions (e.g., closure of a major employment center that employs residents at the target site)