Fayette County Continuum of Care
The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a collaborative of government, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations that meets monthly to organize and deliver housing and services for homeless or at-risk individuals and families. The Continuum of Care strives to facilitate the movement from homelessness to permanent housing and maximum self-sufficiency. In Fayette County the CoC meets monthly to plan, organize, network, and share resources. In 2006 the CoC was asked to partner with the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation to create a 10 year plan to end homelessness in Fayette County and then participate in the regional plan to end homelessness. As time has gone on the Continuum has grown to work not only as a way to streamline the HUD application process but also to serve as a conduit to increasing organizational effectiveness through creative partnerships, defining gaps in services, and filling those gaps. Any government, non-profit, faith-based, or for-profit organization or civic minded individuals and/or formerly homeless are also encouraged to join.
Fayette County Continuum of Care on Facebook
CoC Mission
“To promote secure and affordable housing for residents of Fayette County who are homeless or who have been identified as being at risk of becoming homeless.”
History & Member Agencies
The Community Action Commission of Fayette County (CAC) received its first HUD McKinney funds in 1990 for a 3-year grant for Transitional Housing. CAC has received these funds ever since. As part of the renewal process for the McKinney funds in the mid-1990s, the agency had to describe its housing coordination activities, which HUD called a Continuum of Care. CAC responded by describing its attendance at various housing related meetings held in the county. As the Continuum of Care became a more formal requirement, a separate coalition was set up specifically to meet this requirement. The early Coalition consisted of the CAC’s homeless and housing staff, representatives from the Department of Job & Family Services, and a staff member from the Housing Authority. These members met monthly at a local restaurant and conducted very informal meetings. The coalition expanded as the CoC guidelines from HUD and the Ohio Department of Development were developed. Over time the membership has grown to include several organizations.
In 2012, the Fayette County Continuum of Care was asked to lead the region in the Homeless Crisis Response Program. The Regional Continuum of Care covers Clinton, Highland, Fayette, Pickaway and Ross Counties. Across the five county region, homeless programs will coordinate to more effectively deliver scarce resources to the homeless in our communities.
Continuum of Care Members Include: Fayette County Commissioners; Fayette County Workforce Board; Fayette County Economic Development; Fayette County United Way; Fayette County Department of Job and Family Services; Fayette County Memorial Hospital, Fayette County Health Department; Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, Fayette County Victim/Witness, Fayette County Metropolitan Housing Authority; Fayette County Community Action Commission; Fayette County Juvenile Probation; Fayette County Red Cross; Goodwill; Salvation Army; L.I.F.E Pregnancy Center; My Sister’s House Domestic Violence Program; The Agape Church; United Fellowship Church; Heritage Memorial Church; Grace Community Church.
Contact
To join the Continuum of Care or refer a homeless individual or family, please contact Dreama Brown at 740-335-7282 ext. 123.