The Coalition for the Homeless coordinates our Louisville community’s response to homelessness through efficient use of resources and funding. The primary way we do this is through the Continuum of Care.
What is the Continuum of Care?
In 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched the Continuum of Care process. This process is an approach that helps communities across America address the problems of homelessness in a coordinated, comprehensive, and strategic fashion.
A Continuum of Care is a community’s plan to organize and deliver shelter and services that meet the specific needs of homeless individuals and families as they move toward stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. This plan should include:
- Outreach, intake, and assessment to identify an individual’s and family’s service and housing needs, and link them to appropriate housing or service resources.
- Emergency shelter and safe, decent alternatives to the streets.
- Longer term shelter with supportive services to allow people the time and support to eliminate barriers to permanent housing, such as utility debt.
- Permanent housing and permanent supportive housing.
Every Continuum of Care should also feature homelessness prevention strategies and services, which can range from one-time emergency funds that keep a roof over a family’s head to crisis intervention services for people with mental illness.
By working together, these groups can envision, develop, and implement solutions that respond to the wide-ranging needs among people experiencing homelessness, such as veterans, youth, survivors of domestic violence, and people struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS.
See CoC Forms and Documents here.
Membership
The Coalition for the Homeless is looking for local community members and service providers interested in homelessness and the services available to those experiencing homelessness.
Members of the CoC strive to understand the needs of the homeless and work collectively to address these needs. This group also works annually to apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding to address the identified needs and distribute to community based nonprofits.
To join the Continuum of Care, please complete this membership form and return it to ejohns@louhomeless.org.
Meetings
The CoC meets quarterly, typically on the first Monday of each quarter at 3pm.
The next meeting of the CoC will be a virtual meeting via Zoom:
CoC Quarterly Meeting: Monday, October 7, 2024 at 3:00 pm.
To register for the meeting please click here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If you have questions about becoming involved in the process, please contact Brandi Scott, Director of Planning & Evaluation, at bscott@louhomeless.org.
For prior meeting agendas and minutes, click here.
CoC Application Info
We previously accepted inquiries for new projects under the 2024/2025 NOFO. New project inquiries must have been submitted no later than Friday, July 19, 2024. Organizations that have not previously received CoC Program funding are encouraged to apply. If your agency is interested in applying for a new project in the FY24/25 CoC funding competition and did not submit a new project inquiry, please contact Brandi Scott.
Please direct any questions to Brandi Scott at bscott@louhomeless.org. For other information regarding the CoC NOFO, click here.
What is the Coalition’s role in the Continuum of Care process?
The Coalition for the Homeless has provided leadership and coordination for the Louisville Metro Continuum of Care process since 1997. We have staff dedicated to working with local homeless provider agencies and community leaders in a year-round research, strategic planning, and application process.
Our staff specifically focuses on the following activities to direct this process:
- Reading and interpreting the HUD application for community agencies.
- Conducting necessary research of best practices around the country and determining local gaps in services.
- Organizing and conducting the annual unsheltered point-in-time count.
- Facilitating the community funding process with homeless service agencies.
- Writing and submitting a collaborative proposal to HUD for federal funding.
Who can be involved in the Continuum of Care?
According to HUD requirements, the membership of the Continuum of Care must be inclusive of the many facets of the community which it represents. The Louisville Metro Continuum of Care membership consists of over 80 entities representing the public sector (state and local government agencies; public housing agencies; school systems and universities; local workforce investment act boards; and other state and national level groups or individuals) as well as the private sector (nonprofit organizations; faith-based organizations; funders and advocacy groups; businesses and business associations; hospitals and medical representatives; homeless and formerly homeless people; and any other interested individuals).
For other posts on this site related to the CoC, click here.
How do I get more information about this process?
The Coalition is looking for local community members and service providers interested in homelessness and the services available to those experiencing homelessness. Meetings are held virtually. To get the meeting access info, or if you have any other questions about becoming involved in the process, please contact Brandi Scott, Director of Planning and Evaluation, at (502) 636-9550 x1211 or bscott@louhomeless.org.
Meeting dates are subject to change or may include additional meetings once the HUD grant application is released.