Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in Saginaw, Michigan, is a prime recipient of federal grants for domestic shelter and homelessness services, with a secondary footprint as a sub-recipient of pass-through funding from state agencies. The organization operates permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and supportive services targeting individuals and families experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence, delivered in Saginaw and the surrounding region.

Underground Railroad's federal grant portfolio centers on HUD's Continuum of Care Program (CFDA 14.267), which accounts for the plurality of its recent award activity. Since 2022, the organization has received multiple annual CoC awards ranging from approximately $127,000 to $285,000 per grant, supporting the establishment and operation of housing and supportive service projects including permanent supportive housing for persons with disabilities, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, supportive services only, Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS), and homelessness prevention. A $460,005 project grant from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (CFDA 16.736 — Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault) runs from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027, funding scattered-site transitional housing for up to 18 survivors and partnering with the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region to deliver case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, counseling, legal support, and housing advocacy. Recent CoC awards include a $285,460 grant awarded July 1, 2026, a $212,921 grant from October 1, 2025, and a $130,079 grant also from October 1, 2025.

Underground Railroad's customer base splits across five distinct federal agencies, with HUD's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development dominating the prime award count (51 awards, 99% coverage). The Department of Justice offices account for 31 sub-awards split between the Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime (18 awards) and the Office on Violence Against Women (13 awards). The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families carries 20 awards combined. The organization also receives substantial pass-through funding as a sub-recipient: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is the prime grantee on approximately 47 sub-awards naming Underground Railroad, funding domestic violence family services, transitional supportive housing, supervised visitation and safe exchange services, sexual assault focused services, domestic violence victims services (VOCA), and comprehensive services (TANF/GF).

Underground Railroad's award activity peaked at 24 awards in 2023 and 23 in 2024, with 14 awards in 2025 and one award in 2026 as of the source date. Combined obligated dollars across all 103 awards total $12.1 million, reflecting the sub-million annual grant structure characteristic of Continuum of Care and victim services programming. Only one award reaches ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, presenting minimal recompete exposure in the immediate term. The organization's operational scope remains geographically concentrated in Saginaw and Saginaw-area domestic violence and homelessness services, with no federal contracting footprint.