CONTINUUM OF CARE

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

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COLLABORATIVE APPLICANT

The Collaborative Applicant is the eligible applicant designated by the Continuum of Care (CoC) to collect and submit the CoC Registration, CoC Consolidated Application (which includes the CoC Application and CoC Priority Listing), and apply for CoC planning funds on behalf of the CoC during the CoC Program Competition. The CoC may assign additional responsibilities to the Collaborative Applicant so long as these responsibilities are documented in the CoC's governance charter.

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CONTINUUM OF CARE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

This page will offer you resources categorized under CoC Governance and Structure assist CoC Lead Agencies and Collaborative Applicants in the establishment and governing of the Continuum of Care. Topics include CoC responsibilities, CoC Board and CoC structure, CoC Governance Charter, and merging CoCs.

 

HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM 

A Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a local information technology system used to collect client-level data and data on the provision of housing and services to homeless individuals and families and persons at risk of homelessness. Each Continuum of Care is responsible for selecting an HMIS software solution that complies with HUD's data collection, management, and reporting standards.

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HMIS LEAD

The HMIS Lead is the eligible applicant designated by the CoC, in accordance with the CoC Program Interim Rule, to manage the CoC‘s HMIS on the CoC's behalf.

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HOUSING CRISIS RESOLUTION SYSTEM

Changing our response requires basing our approach on what the data tells us. Data tells us that homelessness CAN be ended, if we understand what homelessness is and what it isn’t. Homelessness is the state of not having housing. People who are homeless typically live in poverty, but poverty is a different problem than homelessness. If we think we have to end poverty to end homelessness, then we will never take seriously the proposition that homelessness can be ended. But if we understand that people who have lost their homes are extremely low income people experiencing a crisis, then we can address that crisis, and we can do that for everyone who needs it.

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HOUSING FIRST

A community-wide Housing First approach has the following elements:

• Emergency shelter, street outreach providers, and other parts of the crisis response system are aligned with Housing First and recognize that their role encompasses housing advocacy and rapid connection to permanent housing. Staff in crisis response system services believe that all people experiencing homelessness are housing ready.

• Strong and direct referral linkages and relationships exist between crisis response system (emergency shelters, street outreach, etc.) and rapid rehousing and supportive housing. Crisis response providers are aware and trained in how to assist people experiencing homelessness to apply for and obtain permanent housing.

• The community has a unified, streamlined, and user-friendly community-wide process for applying for rapid re-housing, supportive housing, and/or other housing interventions.

• The community has a coordinated assessment system for matching people experiencing homelessness to the most appropriate housing and services.

• The community has a data-driven approach to prioritizing highest-need cases for housing assistance, whether through an analysis of lengths of stay in Homeless Management Information Systems, vulnerability indices, or data on utilization of crisis services.

• Policymakers, funders, and providers collaboratively conduct planning and align resources to ensure that a range of affordable and supportive housing options and models are available to maximize housing choice among people experiencing homelessness.

• Policies and regulations related to supportive housing, social and health services, benefit and entitlement programs, and other essential services do not inhibit the implementation of the Housing First approach. For instance, eligibility and screening policies for benefit and entitlement programs or housing do not require the completion of treatment or achievement of sobriety as a prerequisite.

• Every effort is made to offer a tenant a transfer from one housing situation to another, if a tenancy is in jeopardy. Whenever possible, eviction back into homelessness is avoided.