HISTORY OF CONTINUUM OF CARE (CoC) – Since 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been encouraging communities to address the problems of housing and homelessness in a coordinated, comprehensive, and strategic fashion. This concept is designed to help communities develop the capacity to envision, organize, and plan comprehensive and long-term solutions to addressing the problem of homelessness.
WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE” MEAN?
Continuum of care is a HUD term that:
- Refers to a system of providing services to the homeless. The “continuum” of services includes outreach and assessment, supportive services, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, permanent affordable housing, and community education and advocacy.
- Is a community plan to organize the deliver housing and supportive services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. Action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness are identified.
- Supports competition for HUD Homeless Assistance grants. North Dakota has one Continuum of Care process that is done yearly. The cycle culminates in a funding request submitted to HUD for locally determined projects that address the causes and needs of the homeless
