The continuum was established in 1997 and is comprised of representatives from more than 30 public, private and non-profit agencies concerned with the development and coordination of homeless assistance programs. The purpose of the Mahoning County Continuum of Care is to assist in the coordination and development of service and housing for homeless and low-income persons with housing needs through planning, education and advocacy. Involvement in the Continuum is open, but involvement means commitment and time. Members are encouraged to participate in subcommittees.
The name and role (function served) of each group in the CoC planning process subcommittees are as follows:
A Provider Committee comprised of officers of the Continuum, past Chair, one or two representative assigned by each funded agency of the Continuum, one person from each organization that either funds or carries out activities on behalf of the homeless in Mahoning County, a homeless or formerly homeless person shall be established to take such action as well as facilitate service delivery through formal or informal collaboration and the creation of linkages between members. The Providers recommend members to serve on the following committees:
- The HMIS Advisory Committee
- The Evaluation Committee
- The Project Connect Committee
- Other Ad Hoc Committees as needed
The Provider Committee will ordinarily meet immediately prior to the full Continuum Meeting to provide an opportunity for committee reports.
The Provider Committee reports to the Executive Committee and the full Continuum and may from time to time, propose policies and other actions to the Continuum for its consideration.
The HMIS Advisory Committee provides input (provider, community stakeholders, and homeless consumer) on an ongoing basis and guides the planning and implementation of the HMIS. The Advisory Committee provides policy, technical, and organizational assistance to the HMIS and oversees implementation and ongoing operations by addressing the key issues that follow. The responsibilities of the HMIS Advisory Committee shall include, but not be limited to, conducting surveys, needs assessments, the gathering of facts, participating in the Point-In-Time Count and such other activities as to identify needed new services or the expansion of existing services and for implementation of the HMIS Project. The committee reports to the Executive Committee and the full Continuum and may, from time to time, propose policies and other actions to the Continuum for its consideration.
The Evaluation Committee shall be to review proposals and organizations, as appropriate, and prioritize proposals according to funding and other guidelines and/or plans of the Continuum; as well as evaluate existing programs endorsed by the Continuum. The Evaluation Committee will also determine the procedure for any appeals of its decisions.
The Project Connect Committee encourages and supports the ongoing development of all services related to the homeless through advocacy and public education. This Committee will plan and implement the annual Project Connect Event (formerly the Stand Down).
Introduction to Development of the Strategic Plan
In 1994 The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated the Continuum of Care process to encourage a coordinated, strategic approach to plan for programs that assist individuals and families who are homeless. The State of Ohio is organized into nine Continua of Care.The Mahoning County Continuum of Care was established in 1997 and is comprised of representatives from more than 30 public, private and non-profit agencies concerned with the development and coordination of homeless assistance programs. The purpose of the Mahoning County Continuum of Care is to assist in the coordination and development of service and housing for homeless and low-income persons with housing needs through planning, education and advocacy.
The CoC system consists of five basic components:
a. A system of outreach, engagement, and assessment for determining the needs and conditions of an individual or family who is homeless, and necessary support to identify, prioritize, and respond to persons who are chronically homeless;
b. Emergency shelters with appropriate supportive services to help ensure that homeless individuals and families receive adequate emergency shelter and referral to necessary service providers or housing search counselors;
c. Transitional housing with appropriate supportive services to help homeless individuals and families prepare to make the transition to permanent housing and independent living; and
d. Permanent housing, or permanent supportive housing, to help meet the long-term needs of homeless individuals and families.
e. Prevention strategies play an integral role in a community's plan to eliminate homelessness by effectively intervening for persons in public systems-e.g., corrections, foster care, mental health, and other institutions-so that they do not enter the homeless system. By law, prevention activities are ineligible activities in the three programs for which funds are awarded in this competition but are eligible for funding under the Emergency Shelter Grants block grant program. (11742 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 13, 2007 / Notices).
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recommended that each community across the country develop a plan to end chronic homelessness. According to Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, "The United States Interagency Council supports and encourages development of local 10-year plans to end chronic homelessness. Planning to end homelessness - not to manage or maintenance - is new. Inspired by the President's call to end this profile of homelessness and by city and county 10-year plans that have been developed across our country - Atlanta, Chicago, and Maricopa County to name a few - these planning processes have offered new resources, new collaborations, and new energy to create solutions.
By mid 2004 more than 120 cities had committed to such 10-year plans....Most importantly, the new research and new technologies offer performance based results oriented strategies to reduce and end homelessness. (United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, "The Ten Year Planning Process to End Chronic Homelessness in your Community A Set-by Step Guide": www.ich.gov)
These plans serve as the vehicle for a community to comprehensively identify each of its needs and to coordinate a plan of action for addressing them. For a community to successfully address the complex and interrelated problems related to homelessness, the community must marshal its varied resources-community and economic development resources, social service resources, business, health care, philanthropy, law enforcement, and housing and homeless assistance resources-and use them in a coordinated and effective manner. (11742 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 13, 2007 / Notices).
In 1994 The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated the Continuum of Care process to encourage a coordinated, strategic approach to plan for programs that assist individuals and families who are homeless. The State of Ohio is organized into nine Continua of Care.
The Mahoning County Continuum of Care was established in 1997 and is comprised of representatives from more than 30 public, private and non-profit agencies concerned with the development and coordination of homeless assistance programs. The purpose of the Mahoning County Continuum of Care is to assist in the coordination and development of service and housing for homeless and low-income persons with housing needs through planning, education and advocacy.
