Continuum of Care

Continuum of Care

The Continuum of Care program is designed to assist sheltered and unsheltered homeless people by providing the housing and/or services needed to help individuals move into transitional and permanent housing, with the goal of long-term stability. Specifically, 24 CFR part 578.1 of the CoC Program interim rule states that the primary purpose of the CoC Program is to:

1. Promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness
2. Provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, States, and local governments to re-house homeless individuals and families rapidly while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities as a consequence of homelessness
3. Promote access to and effective use of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families
4. Optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Funding Requirements

• Applicant must be a non-profit 501(c)3 that is involved in the development of supportive housing consistent with the County’s Consolidated Plan. The County’s strategic plan and course of action for community revitalization have been submitted to HUD.
• Applicant must be a participating member in the Harford County Continuum of Care.
• Harford Community Action Agency is the Continuum of Care Lead for Harford County, and its Collaborative Applicant. Our role is to facilitate the CoC’s application for funding in the HUD competition. To be rated and ranked by the Harford County CoC Steering Committee, applications for funding (new and renewal) must be submitted to HCAA.

Eligible Uses for Funding

• Transitional housing to facilitate the movement of individuals and families to permanent housing;
• Permanent housing that provides long-term housing coupled with supportive services for persons with disabilities;
• Support Services to outreach to households experiencing homelessness. This includes screening and intake done through the Coordinated Entry process.

Application Process

Funding is awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually. The process is competitive. Eligible applicants must submit an application for funding to Harford Community Action Agency. Applications are reviewed, and rated competitively, for the following factors:

• Meets the eligible uses of the COC Program.
• Matches needs identified in the County’s Consolidated Plan.
• The organization has the capacity to perform the services.
• The organization has specific performance measures that measure the projects progress towards achieving identified objectives and outcomes.
• Has been involved in Harford County’s Continuum of Care.

For a complete list of program types, and eligible categories that may be funded, visit the HUD website.

The competition requires communities to shape a comprehensive and coordinated housing and service delivery system called a Continuum of Care. A Continuum of Care approach helps communities plan for and provide a balance of prevention and outreach services, emergency, transitional, and permanent housing, and other service resources to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness so they can make a critical transition from the streets to jobs and independent living to the extent possible.