Committee told Navigation Campus earmark fell far short of request; HUD NOFO and housing bill next in play

Federal legislative staff Izzy told the Aurora City committee on June 18 that the U.S. House Appropriations Committee has advanced most fiscal 2026 spending bills but left the city with significantly less earmark funding than requested for a major shelter project.

Izzy said the delegation asked for $3.28 million for the Navigation Campus but that the House THUD report included $850,000. "We requested 3.28 million dollars, and we haven't been awarded yet," she said, adding her team and the delegation have met with senators’ staff and a White House Intergovernmental Affairs representative to press for the full amount during Senate negotiations.

Why it matters: the committee worried the reduced award will hamper urgent repairs and operations. Vice Chair Jackson said the shelter’s leaking roof and the site’s scale make timely, sufficient funds critical. Izzy said the Senate remains a possible path to increase the allotment but cautioned the Senate appropriations process is delayed and contentious.

The update also covered two other federal items that could affect local housing: the 21st Century Road to Housing Act and HUD’s FY26 Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFO. Izzy summarized the housing bill’s provisions — increased weight for projects in Opportunity Zones, explicit eligibility for affordable housing construction under HUD’s CDBG program and a pilot to convert vacant structures into housing — and said cloture was filed, but floor timing pushed the anticipated Senate vote to the next business day.

On HUD grants, Izzy said HUD’s FY26 CoC NOFO restores portions of last year’s proposal that reduced renewal funding; she described the program as a roughly $4 billion annual pool and reminded the committee applications are due to HUD by 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Aug. 26. She cautioned staff that litigation had previously delayed an FY25 NOFO and that future legal challenges remain a known risk.

What’s next: Izzy said federal staff will continue to press Senate appropriations staff and keep the committee informed of any changes to earmark amounts and HUD NOFO timing. The committee asked staff to alert members immediately if any increases or fresh obstacles arise.