Combating Family Homelessness: A Guide to HUDs Continuum of Care Program

Resources File for Programs for Children and Families Name Institutional Affiliation Course name Instructor’s name Assignment due date Resources File for Programs for Children and Families Program 1- Category: Government Support Services Relating to Poverty, Financial Crisis, and Homelessness Program Name U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’ Continuum of Care (CoC) Contact Information By Mail: Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 451 7th Street Southwest Washington DC 20410. Phone: (800) 877-8339. Fax: 1-202-708-9981 Email: helpdesk@huduser.gov. Website: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/ Services provided HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) is a federal-funded program targeting the homeless population through state and local-level intervention. CoC began as a concept for intervention as part of the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Act of 1987 that seeks to provide equal learning opportunities for children experiencing homelessness. Through the program, the federal government provides emergency assistance to families with school-aged children exposed to the dangers of homelessness and the disruption of their education. HUD is in charge of providing the funding and management support to state and local programs that support families and children with immediate and long-term solutions to homelessness. CoC’s goal is to develop a solution to homelessness by incorporating community-wide solutions that encompass the support and commitment of the federal government. Outreach: CoC provides the human and financial resources that support communities in conducting outreach for families and children exposed to homelessness. The program seeks to connect with people in need of housing, facilitate intake into immediate and long-term housing, and continuously assess their state of homelessness. CoC provides support to individuals in need of housing and state or local support systems providing assistance to vulnerable families and individuals. Immediate housing support: One of the key responsibilities of CoC is to facilitate the provision of emergency housing solutions to families and children at risk of homelessness. The program evaluates the needs of children facing homelessness and determines the need for temporary housing and available options for individuals at risk. Transitional housing: The ultimate goal of CoC is to provide stability for families facing homelessness at a national level. As part of this objective, the program provides transitional housing services that seek to facilitate access to stable homes for individuals at risk. The initiative provides housing for between one and twenty four months to allow individuals to access more permanent solutions for housing challenges. Permeant housing support: Under CoC, HUD provides parent housing solutions to at-risk individuals and families to ensure their access to stability and end homelessness. The program offers rental assistance to tenant-based individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and in need of support. The access to long-term housing is a critical objective for CoC and permanent housing assistance is necessary when immediate, and transitional housing solutions are inadequate to meet the needs of its clients. Connecting people with resources: CoC plays an important role of identifying persons at risk of homelessness and connecting them with resources at the local and state level. One of the factors contributing to homelessness is the mismatch between available resources and the needs of the population. CoCs at the local and state level identify the needs of people in need of support for different levels of homelessness and connects them with resources that best meet their needs. Additionally, CoC plays an important role in facilitating the access to mental health, education, and food support resources to the homeless population. The program helps vulnerable individuals and communities navigate challenges related to homelessness and the risk of loss of housing support. Tracking homelessness: The federal program plays an important role of tracking homelessness to determine changes, patterns, and emerging issues. It is an important data on national homelessness indicators that provide insights on how state and local programs can best approach the program. CoC demonstrates the challenges affecting homeless persons including children and the effectiveness of intervention measures at different levels of government. Cost CoC is a federal program under HUD and does not require beneficiaries to pay for the services it provides. Target population Families and children experiencing homelessness or related social and health challenges. Program 2 - Category: Parental Incarceration Program Name We Got Us Now Contact Information Ebony Underwood, Founder / CEO We Got Us Now 228 Park Ave S, PMB 83277 NEW YORK, NY 10003 USA Email: Ebony@wegotusnow.org. Website: https://www.wegotusnow.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wegotusnow/ Services provided Ebony Underwood founded We Got Us Now in 2018 as a result of the reception of her story on her personal experience with an incarcerated parent. The content creator and social entrepreneur intended to use her experience and those of other people impacted by incarceration to empower children and young adults experiencing similar circumstances. As a digital platform targeting the population of people impacted by incarceration, the organization advocates for the wellbeing of its clients by acting as their voice and a source of inspiration for the population. Underwood has received recognition for her leadership on the subject and was awarded the Soros Justice Fellowship for impacting young people. Mission statement: The mission of the organization is to engage, educate, and empower the children and young adults of incarcerated parents by providing lived experiences. The organization seeks to provide a voice to the inviable population impacted by incarceration by advocating for their wellbeing and facilitating connections w