We Support the Recent Federal Court Ruling Upholding HUD’s Continuum of Care Framework
A federal court decision made in late March affirmed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) authority and continued implementation of the Continuum of Care (CoC) model across the country. Critical funds for programs who implement this model were under threat as the Trump administration attempted to alter application criteria, which would have left thousands of formerly homeless individuals without housing.
The Continuum of Care (CoC) model is an approach to behavioral health services that ensures people receive coordinated support across different stages of need, rather than isolated or one-time interventions. The key idea is meeting people where they are and supporting long-term outcomes rather than short-term fixes. Transitional Resources uses a form of the CoC model to support our clients in our programs.
Transitional Resources strongly supports this ruling.
In King County and across Seattle, this framework isn’t random policy but the backbone of programs and care systems that provide support to those experiencing homelessness. It’s what helps connect housing and behavioral health providers like TR to King County and the City of Seattle to coordinate housing and supportive services, helping to prevent people from falling through the cracks.
This decision matters because it reinforces core ideals about integrated care that we’ve come to know and see every day in our work:
- Streamlining access to services helps people get and stay off the streets.
When housing providers, behavioral health programs, and outreach teams are aligned through a common system, people receive more consistent and effective support so they can remain stable and housed. - Stability depends on integrated systems of care.
Housing stability is not achieved all at once, it requires integrated programs that can respond to complex needs over time. - Coordination and transparency strengthen results.
The CoC model helps ensure resources are distributed in a way that is transparent, strategic, and responsive to local needs.
When systems shift suddenly or unpredictably, it is felt immediately in our communities. It can mean disrupted services, delayed housing placements, added strain on frontline staff, and most importantly, uncertainty for people who are already in crisis and working to find stability. At a time when housing affordability and behavioral health needs continue to rise, maintaining and strengthening this framework is essential to ensuring the progress that cities across the country have made in providing resources for people to stay housed, off the streets, and in recovery. It helps cities across the country align scarce housing resources, prioritize people experiencing chronic and long-term homelessness, and coordinate supportive services so that people can move into housing with the right level of support to stay housed.
We see every day how important that connection is between housing and behavioral health. When supportive housing is working well, people are not only getting housed, they’re getting the ongoing services that help them stabilize, reconnect, and reduce returns to places like emergency rooms and shelters. This integration is what makes the difference between temporary solutions and lasting long-term stability.
While these court decisions are an important affirmation of the current system, they’re not the end of the conversation. Local providers, communities, and people with lived experience still need a strong voice in shaping what comes next. We will continue to monitor developments closely and advocate for systems that prioritize long-term stability, dignity, and reliable access to support for the people we serve.
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Questions? Contact kristenj@transitionalresources.org