Continuum of Care Overview
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care plan is a community-based, strategic plan to reduce homelessness. The Continuum of Care plan requires participation of a broad cross section of community representatives, data collection and analysis of homeless needs, and collaborative, consensus-based decision-making around local priorities. Based on this plan, communities may apply for funding under the HUD Continuum of Care grant to address priority needs.
The Houston/Harris County Collaborative process was initiated in 1992, before HUD developed its Continuum of Care approach to planning. The foundation of the process is based on two principle concepts, implementation and evaluation. Under the guidance and coordinating efforts of the Collaborative Continuum of Care approach, Houston/Harris County’s strategy became the national model that HUD now encourages other jurisdictions to develop.
What is the Request for Application (RFA) Process?
To help the Collaborative achieve the necessary strategies to address homelessness in Harris County, the Collaborative hosts a competitive RFA process. Based on the needs, priorities, issues, goals and objectives stated in the Gaps Analysis; the Collaborative recommends projects in the HUD Continuum of Care Consolidated Application that will address those issues. Projects selected by HUD will receive funding to administer the proposed program.
Applicants’ Conference
To ensure applicants are aware of information to be included in the application, an Applicants’ Conference will be held approximately three weeks after HUD issues the Notice of Funding Availability. Attendance of the applicant organization’s grant writer is mandatory. If an applicant organization and/or grant writer does not attend the Conference, the organization will not be allowed to participate in the process.
Components of the Continuum of Care
The fundamental components of a Continuum of Care system are:
- A system of outreach, engagement, and assessment for determining the needs and conditions of individuals or families who are homeless and necessary support to identify, prioritize, and respond to persons who are chronically homeless.
- 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.
- Rapid re-housing to help persons with lower barriers who are homeless successfully move to, and stay in, conventional housing units.
- Transitional housing with appropriate supportive services to help homeless individuals and families who need more assistance to prepare to make the transition to permanent housing and independent living.
- Permanent housing, or permanent supportive housing, to help meet the long-term needs of homeless individuals and families.
- Prevention strategies, which play an integral role in a community’s plan to eliminate homelessness by effectively intervening for persons at risk of homelessness or those being discharged from public systems – e.g., corrections, foster care, mental health, and other institutions – so they do not enter the homeless system.
The HUD Continuum of Care grant provides funding for these services through the following programs:
1. Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
Promotes development of supportive housing and services that help homeless persons transition from homelessness to permanent housing and self-sufficiency.
Eligible Projects:
- Transitional Housing
- Permanent Housing for Persons with Disabilities
- Supportive Services Only (SSO)
- Safe Haven
- Innovative Supportive Housing
Eligible Activities:
- Acquisition and Rehabilitation
- New Construction (except for SSO projects)
- Leasing
- Supportive Services
- Operating Costs (except for SSO projects)
- Project Administrative Costs
2. Shelter Plus Care Program (S+C)
Rental assistance for homeless persons with disabilities. Requires 100% match in services for every dollar of rental assistance received. If the application is for a new project you must partner with a unit of local government.
Eligible Activity: Rental Assistance
- Tenant-based: rental assistance for participants to choose their own housing.
- Sponsor-based: rental assistance through contract(s) between grant recipient and sponsor organization(s).
- Project-based: rental assistance through a contract with a building owner.
- SRO-based: rental assistance in single room occupancy setting.
3. Single Room Occupancy Program (SRO)
Provides rental assistance on behalf of homeless single individuals in connection with moderate rehabilitation of SRO dwellings. An organization must partner with a local Public Housing Authority (PHA), and the PHA must administer the rental assistance.
Helpful HUD Links
For more information contact our office.
Office: 713-739-7514 Fax: 713-739-8038
