Ending Homelessness — Developing Partnerships 

Between HUD Continuums of Care and Disability, 

Aging, and Health Services Providers

August 29, 2022

Webinar
Welcome

Webinar is hosted by the 

Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC)

Facilitator

Lori Gerhard, Director of the Office of Interagency 

Innovation at the Administration on Community Living

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Instructions for Zoom

Audio Options

• Use your computer speakers, OR dial in 

using the phone number in your 

registration email.

• All participants are muted.

Questions and Comments

• Please actively use chat throughout the 

meeting, especially for your comments.

• To ask a presenter a question, please use 

the Q&A function.

Or, send your question or comment via email 

to HSRC@ACL.HHS.GOV

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This event is being recorded.
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Partnerships to 

address the 

needs of people 

experiencing or 

at risk of 

homelessness

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National Experts

• Sharon P. Singer, Office of Special Needs Assistance 

Programs (SNAPS), U.S. Department of Housing and 

Urban Development (HUD)

• Marcella Maguire, Director, Health Systems 

Integration, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)

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Slides 7 through 21 are from CSH, the U.S. Department of Housing and 

Urban Development, and the Community Planning & Development. 

The Continuum of Care (CoC) program:

CoCs as Local Partners to Address Homelessness for 

Older Adults and People with Disabilities

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You will learn...

• Why do people experience homelessness 

• About homelessness for those who are aging 

and/or living with disabilities

• Why Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is the 

best practice to meet their needs

• What are Continuums of Care (CoCs) and what 

role they play in addressing homelessness

• Why partnerships are needed to address 

community needs related to homelessness

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Why do people experience homelessness?

• Cost of renting/homeownership far outpacing incomes

• Limited affordable housing options for people on fixed or 

low-incomes

• Only 1 in 4 low-income renters who need housing 

assistance can access that assistance

• Lack of a social safety net (or have burned through 

supports)

• Domestic violence and/or history of abuse

• Lack of collaboration between service systems attempting 

to serve the same people—e.g. health care, public health, 

mental health, aging and disabilities systems

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Disproportionate representation by race

• People identifying as Black or African American accounted for 39% of all 

people experiencing homelessness and 53% of people experiencing 

homelessness as members of families with children but are 12% of the total 

U.S. population. 

• Together, American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and Native 

Hawaiian populations account for 1% of the U.S. population, but 5% of the 

homeless population and seven percent of the unsheltered population. 

• In contrast, 48% of all people experiencing homelessness were white

compared with 74% of the U.S. population. 

• People identifying as Hispanic or Latino (who can be of any race) are about 

23% of the homeless population but only 16% percent of the population 

overall.

2020 PIT Data

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Aging and Homelessness 11
People with disabilities and homelessness

• People with disabilities are disproportionately likely to 

experience homelessness. 

• Annual point-in-time counts (i.e., counts of the people 

in a community experiencing homelessness on a 

single night required by HUD) suggest that nearly one 

quarter of individuals experiencing homelessness 

have a disability, including physical, intellectual, and 

developmental disabilities, as well as mental health 

and/or substance abuse disorders.

https://www.naccho.org/blog/articles/hom

elessness-among-individuals-withdisabilities-influential-factors-andscalable-solutions

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Chronic Homelessness (disability + long-term)

On one night in January 2020, there were 110,528 homeless individuals with chronic 

patterns of homelessness. That is 27% of the total population of homeless individuals. 66% 

of chronically homeless individuals were living on the street, in a car, park, or other location 

not meant for human habitation. Since 2007, the number of individuals with patterns of 

chronic homelessness has decreased 8%. However, between 2019 and 2020 this number 

increased by 15%.

Exhibit 6.7: Sheltered vs Unsheltered 

Individuals with Chronic Patterns of 

Homelessness, by CoC Category, 2020

2020 PIT Data

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Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)

• PSH is an intervention that combines affordable housing assistance with 

voluntary support services to address the needs of people with disabilities 

(many of whom are chronically homeless). 

• Services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and 

connect people with community-based health care, treatment and 

employment.

• Investments in PSH have helped decrease the number of chronically homeless 

individuals by 8 percent since 2007. 

• Research has demonstrated that permanent supportive housing can also 

increase housing stability and improve health.

• A cost-effective solution, PSH has been shown to lower public costs associated 

with the use of crisis services such as shelters, hospitals, jails and prisons.

https://endhomelessness.org/endinghomelessness/solutions/permanent-supportive-housing/

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Supportive Housing is an Evidenced Based Solution

Supportive housing combines affordable housing with 

services that help people who face the most complex

challenges to live in their own homesand communities.

Employment 

Services

Parenting/

Coaching 

Life Skills

Primary 

Health 

Services

Mental 

Health 

Services

Substance 

Use 

Treatment

Case 

Management

Housing:

Affordable

Permanent

Independent

Support:

Flexible

Voluntary

Tenant-centered

Coordinated Services

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Affordable 

Housing

80+% of Supportive Housing residents stay housed.
Snapshot—Homeless Assistance Grants

• Continuum of Care (CoC) Program—(FY22 $2.8 billion due 9/30/22) 

awarded through annual competition. Projects are ranked and awarded as part 

of a community entity also called a CoC. Program components include 

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Rapid-Rehousing (RRH), Supportive 

Services (SS)

• Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)—(FY22 $300 million) Distributed by 

formula to states and localities. Program components include street outreach, 

emergency shelter, homelessness prevention (HP), RRH, and HMIS; as well as 

administrative activities

• ESG-CV—($3.96 billion CARES Act funding in 2020) Same program 

components as ESG including non-congregate shelter and other COVID related 

activities

• Special NOFO for Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness—($332 million due 

10/20/22)

• Youth Demonstration Project—6 rounds of funding (approx. $70 million 

annually)

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FY22 CoC NOFO

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HUD Policy 

Priorities in 

the fiscal year 

2022 NOFO -

National 

Alliance to End 

Homelessness 

logo.

Priority #1: End homelessness for all 

persons experiencing homelessness.

Priority #2: Use a Housing 

First approach.

Priority #3: Reduce unsheltered 

homelessness.

Priority #4: Improve 

system performance.

Priority #5: Partner with housing, 

health, and service agencies.

Priority #6: Advance racial equity 

and address racial disparities.

Priority #7: Improving assistance 

to LGBTQ+ individuals.

Priority #8: Engage persons with 

lived experience of homelessness.

Priority #9: Support local engagement to 

increase supply of affordable housing.
Role of the local Continuum of Care (CoC)

• A CoC is a state, regional or local planning body that coordinates 

housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. 

• CoCs are required to bring together government and nonprofit partners 

across the community representing different populations and community 

systems to work towards ending homelessness. People experiencing or 

with lived experience of homelessness must be included in the CoC work.

• HUD is to COCs, as ACL is to Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability 

Resources Center (ADRCs) and Centers for Independent Living (CIL).

• Large/medium size communities have their own COCs and smaller/rural 

communities are represented at state level called Balance of State (BOS) 

COC.

• COCs may be led by a department within government, or a local nonprofit 

with strong ties to the community and government.

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CoC Role Continued...

• System leadership and allocation of limited resources in the best 

way possible to address homelessness in their communities

community

• CoCs have a similar role to an AAA, ADRC or CIL role but for a 

different lens on the population

• They manage funding and performance for a variety of programs 

(funded both by HUD and likely state, local and private funding) 

including:

1. Unsheltered outreach (CoC and ESG)

2. Shelter (ESG)

3. Transitional Housing (CoC)

4. Rapid Re Housing (CoC and ESG)

5. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) (CoC)

HUD reports annually on Housing Inventory by CoC as well as a Point 

in Time Count of Homelessness by CoC—volunteers can participate in 

the count!

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Four Categories of HUD Homeless Definition

What are the four categories of the homeless 

definition (§ 578.3)?

Within the homeless definition there are four categories 

of homelessness:

1.Literally Homeless

2.Imminent Risk of Homelessness

3.Homeless Under Other Federal Statutes

4.Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence

Separate definition for “At-Risk of Homelessness”

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Coordinated Entry Systems

HUD requires CoCs to 

establish and operate a 

Coordinated Entry System 

with the goal of increasing 

the efficiency of local 

housing crisis response 

system and improving 

fairness and ease of access 

to shelter, services and 

housing, including 

mainstream resources

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Community Experts

• Jackie Fortmann, Assistant Director, Ability1st (FL)

• Johnna Coleman, Executive Director, Big Bend 

Continuum of Care (FL)

• Joshua Gemerek, Senior Vice President, Housing, Bay 

Aging (VA)

• Angie Alley, Assistant Director, Housing Services, Bay 

Aging (VA)

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Center for Independent Living of North Florida

1823 Buford Court

Tallahassee, Florida 32308

Ability1st maintains a Homeless Services Department consisting of a director and two full-time 

staff members dedicated to Street Outreach. The staff’s mission is to engage and build trust with 

homeless individuals to hopefully get them into housing and provide them with necessities while 

they are unsheltered. The Leon County 2021 Point in Time count identified 91

unsheltered individuals, with 52 of them chronically homeless. With the current spike in 

rental costs and inflation, unfortunately, it is likely that more and more people will become 

homeless. 

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Our population target are individuals with disabilities who are homeless or unsheltered

How we help: 

Food: Provide ready made meals, snacks and drinks.

Basic Necessities: Provide clothing, shoes, sleeping bags, portable showers, hygiene items, 

backpacks, flashlights, etc.

Transportation: Provide bus passes so people can attend appointments as necessary.

Referrals: Refer in house for assistance with social security and other benefits. Provide information 

regarding local shelters, food banks, career source, mental health and substance abuse treatment, etc..

Case management: Assessing housing and service needs, arranging, coordinating and monitoring the 

delivery of individualized services to meet the needs of the program participant. Use in house rapid 

rehousing funds and assist individuals with documentation for permanent supportive housing.

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The Big Bend Continuum of Care (BBCoC) is a membership, planning and oversight 

body for the homeless service system of care serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, 

Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties of the Big Bend area in Florida. 

The purpose of the CoC is to develop and implement strategies to prevent and end 

homelessness. The active participation of individual and organizational members is 

critical to the success of the CoC.

Members of the CoC are asked to attend general membership meetings and 

participate in any committees of interest throughout the year.

Other local partners include:

▪ Capital City Youth Services

▪ The Kearney Center Homeless Shelter

▪ HOPE Community Shelter

▪ Big Bend Homeless Coalition 

▪ The Refuge House

Ability1st and other partners use a Homeless Management Information System to make sure 

we are providing the best level of service while not duplicating efforts — this way the individual 

is receiving comprehensive assistance.

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Slides 26 through 29 are from Bay Aging.

Integrated Array of Services

Health & Wellness

• Adult Day Care

• Active Lifestyle Centers

• Care Coordination

• Chronic Disease SelfManagement

• Dementia Friendly 

Communities

• Fall Prevention

• Home & Personal Care

• Insurance Counseling

• Meals on Wheels

• Prevention Education 

• Transitional Care

• Veterans-Directed Home and 

Community Based Services 

Advocacy & Outreach

• Advance Care Planning

• Community Action Program 

• Community Integrated Health Network 

• Ombudsman

• Options Counseling

• Retired & Senior Volunteer Program

• Senior Medicare Patrol

• Senior Employment Title V

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Integrated Array of Services

Housing 

• Age- and Income-Restricted 

Service-Enriched Rental Housing 

• Community Development Block Grants 

• Emergency Home Repair 

• Homeless Solutions 

• Housing Choice Voucher Program

• Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation 

• Maintenance Technicians 

• Resident Service Coordination

• Rural Development 504 Loan

• Weatherization Assistance

Transportation

• Demand-Response 

• Deviated Fixed-Routes 

• Expanded App-based 

Service

• MedCarry

• New Freedom 

• Seasonal Trolleys

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Continuum of Care (CoC) 

Regional collaboration and uniform assessment for people experiencing a housing crisis

Community Based Organizations 

Community Services Board 

Departments of Social Services

Department of Veterans Affairs 

Domestic Violence Providers

Emergency Shelters

Faith-Based Community 

Foundation, State, & Federal Funders

Health Department 

Hospital Systems 

Landlords & Housing Managers

Legal Aid 

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Panel Discussion

Q&A

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HSRC 

Website

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acl.gov/HousingAndServices
Upcoming HSRC Event

• Training on Homelessness for Public Health Providers available through CDC 

Train, an affiliate of the TRAIN Learning Network powered by the Public 

Health Foundation. The training is available to anyone serving people who 

are experiencing homelessness and can be accessed by creating a free 

account at www.train.org. This course will provide trainees with the 

knowledge and skills needed to (i) ensure public health protections reach 

people experiencing homelessness and (ii) recognize and respond to public 

health emergencies among people experiencing homelessness. Upon 

completion of this course, participants will be able to:

o Take action to form partnerships with homeless service organizations

o Ensure that people experiencing homelessness are represented in public 

health data and analyses

o Tailor public health interventions and measures for people experiencing 

homelessness

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Access the most recent case studies to 

discover approaches for housing stability and addressing homelessness

• Bay Aging Partnerships Bring Help and Hope 

to People Experiencing Homelessness

• AgeSpan Partnerships Bring Housing and 

Services Together 

• Visit the Housing and Services Resource 

Center’s What’s New page!

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Resources for Continuums of Care

HUD landing page on COCs

HUD on Point In Time Counts

HUD’s Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) — homeless related housing 

programs and units in your community

HUD on COC boards

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We want to hear from you! 

Please email us at hsrc@acl.hhs.gov

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Acknowledgment

This presentation was supported in part by the U.S. Administration for 

Community Living through a contract with Mission Analytics Group, Inc. 

(Contract number HHSP233201500060I) which subcontracted the work 

to USAging. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the 

positions or policies of the Administration for Community Living / 

Department of Health and Human Services.