Coalition To End Homelessness - Continuum Of Care

About the 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.

The Purpose and Activities of the CoC:

Promote community-wide goals to end homelessness;
Provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless persons;
Promote access to mainstream resources; and
Improve self-sufficiency among people experiencing homelessness.

Responsibilities of the CoC:

System Governance and Structure
System Operations and Planning
Designating and Operating a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Designing a Coordinated Entry System

Programs Available through the CoC:

Assessment and Referral for Service
Street Outreach
Emergency Shelter
Rapid Rehousing
Cold Weather Shelter
Permanent Supportive Housing

Coalition to End Homelessness

The Coalition to End Homelessness (“the Coalition”) harnesses all of its resources toward “making homelessness rare, brief and a one-time experience.” The Coalition is broadly but representative of public and private homeless service sectors. All interested Agency/Organizations and individuals, including persons who are currently or formally homeless, are invited to join the Coalition’s General Membership. An application is required and there are no costs associated with membership. See the charter below for more details on how to join.

Please send any questions on joining the Howard County Coalition to End Homelessness, its Governance Board or committees, to: [email protected].

Coalition to End Homelessness Governance Charter

Mailing Address:
CoC Manager
Coalition to End Homelessness - Continuum of Care Program
Office of Community Partnerships
Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services
9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

[email protected]

If you are experiencing homelessness or an immediate housing crisis, please contact Grassroots Crisis Intervention 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: 410-531-6677 (voice/relay).

The Coalition to End Homelessness Board

Coalition to End Homelessness Board Website

HUD Continuum of Care Competition 2023

Information about the 2023 funding process and related documents are listed below:

HUD Continuum of Care NOFO

Howard County CoC Technical Meeting slide deck

Howard County CoC made the following funding available through the 2023 local competition

New Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

Total Funding Available: $121,425 plus 10 housing vouchers.

The 10 housing vouchers are fully funded through the public housing authority, meaning $121,425 is available for supportive services and/or additional vouchers.

New Domestic Violence Rapid Rehousing Projects

Total Funding Available: $50,000

Important Documents

Howard County CoC Competition NOFO RFP 2023

Howard County CoC Preview Renewal Application

Howard County CoC Preview New Project Application

Howard County CoC Rank and Selection Policy 2023

Howard County CoC Reallocation Policy 2023

Howard County CoC Scorecard for Renewals

Howard County CoC Scorecard for New Projects

Important Deadlines for the Local Competition

July 28, 2023: Renewal applicants wishing to voluntarily reallocate all or partial funding must notify the CoC.
August 2, 2023: The CoC will notify potential applicants of any additional funding available through reallocation.
August 11, 2023: Letters of Intent must be submitted to CoC by 5pm.
August 29, 2023 5:00 pm: Applications are due including all supporting documents.
September 8, 2023: Project applicants will be notified of approval and ranking.
September 28, 2023: The CoC consolidated applicants and all project applications must be submitted to HUD.

Letters of Intent and Applications were submitted to [email protected]

HUD (Continuum of Care) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Community Technical Assistance Session

The Office of Community Partnerships and the Howard County Continuum of Care hosted a technical assistance session on July 26, 2023. The session was for any organizations that receive HUD CoC grant funding, or were interested in the possibilities of applying for CoC grant funding, now or in the future. The virtual training provided an overview of the NOFO application process, timeline, and expectations. Click to view slides of the presentation.

HUD (Continuum of Care) 2023 Initial Project Application Ranking

Final CoC Collaborative Application

Final Project List & Ranking

The Path Home - 2022 Progress Report

The Path Home

The Office of Community Partnerships worked with the Howard County Coalition to End Homelessness to update and further the work of the 2010 Plan. The title of the new plan, The Path Home, refers to the Coalition’s goals to strengthen the Coordinated Entry System – the path – to allow clients to return to stable, sustainable housing. It is a five-year strategic plan to end homelessness in Howard County, and will be implemented by the Coalition through annual action plans to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring. “The Path Home” has been developed in partnership with the Coalition to End Homelessness Board (CoC) with input from: the State of Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development, The National Alliance to End Homelessness, various Howard County Departments and Offices, and the community-wide Coalition to End Homelessness.

NEW The Path Home - 2022 Progress Report

If you have questions related to The Path Home, please contact: The Office of Community Partnerships at 410-313-6400 (voice/relay)

National Alliance to End Homelessness Assessment

The DCRS Office of Community Partnerships contracted the National Alliance to End Homelessness to conduct an assessment and analysis of our homeless response system and provide actionable recommendations for system improvements. The assessment was requested to address the lack of system flow in our current homeless response system. Recommendations from this assessment will be used to support the implementation of the county’s updated plan to end homelessness, The Path Home.

National Alliance to End Homelessness Assessment