Welcome

to the Cincinnati / Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless web site. Here you will find information on the CoC, upcoming events, downloadable reports and grant applications and other resources.

News

Thursday, June 18, 2009:

CoC Timeline Revised

I am not at all happy about the necessity to make this change, but as the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2009 CoC Process has still not been released, we need to postpone numerous events that are a part of the 2009 CoC process. As a point of reference, by this time in 2008 we had the first part of the NOFA for months, and in 2007 the CoC process ended and the application was submitted to HUD during the first week in June. Therefore, to say the CoC process is starting late this year is an understatement.

Click here to view the updated 2009 CoC Timeline.

Please mark your calendars with the following changes:

*The CoC General Orientation & Training is now schedule on July 14, 2009 from 2pm-4pm at the Health Foundation

*The CoC New Program Discussion and Scoring Criteria Review is now scheduled on July 17, 2009 from 2pm-4pm at the Health Foundation

*Leverage Letters are now due to the CoC offices on July 17, 2009 by Noon

*Large Group Scoring has been moved from July 17, 2009 to August 7, 2009 from 10am-3pm; Large Group Scoring Registration will now close on July 31, 2009 at 4pm.

My apologies for the need to make these changes; there are simply some steps to the CoC process that we cannot undertake in advance of the release of the HUD CoC NOFA.

A NOTE REGARDING LEVERAGE LETTERS: Effective 2008-SHP funded programs cannot use other SHP funded programs as a source of leverage. Please inquire with your leverage sources regarding if they receive HUD SHP funding. If they do, you either cannot use that program for leverage, or if the program has multiple funding sources, the letter must clearly state that the leverage is from a non-SHP funds.

Please forward this to your staff, and let me know if you have any questions. My apologies for any inconvenience these changes may have caused.

Kevin Finn, MSW, LISW-S
Executive Director
Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless
Thursday, June 11, 2009:

2010 HOPWA Applications are now available. Please click on the following to download: FY10 HOPWA New Program Application, FY10 HOPWA Renewal Program Application, and the Supplemental Budget (required application attachment. Please contact Jessie Waugh at 513-263-2780, extension 35 if you need assistance.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009:

Ordinance to Implement Homeless to Homes Passed by City Council

On Thursday, May 21, 2009, City Council voted on an ordinance that calls for the Continuum of Care to implement the Homeless to Homes Plan. The Homeless to Homes plan provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring that single homeless men and women have access to safe, appropriate shelter facilities that provide them with the services necessary to move out of homelessness. Click here to view the Ordinance.
Monday, May 18, 2009:

The HMIS 2008 Data Report is now available.Click here to view the Report.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009:

Homeless to Homes Update

Councilwoman Qualls introduced an ordinance regarding the implementation of the Homeless to Homes plan at the Health, Environment and Education Committee on May 12, 2009. This committee passed the ordinance and it will be presented to full Council this Thursday Night at 6pm. Click here to view the Ordinance.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009:

The 2009 Grant season has arrived! Although HUD has yet to release the 2009 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), the CoC is working on aspects of the 2009 CoC process which can be completed in advance of the HUD NOFA.

The timeline for the grant process in now available.Click here to view the 2009 CoC Grant Timeline.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009:

The Cincinnati Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, Inc. is please to announce the release of the Homeless to Homes Plan, which City Council requested by Ordinance on October 8, 2008. This plan provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring that single homeless men and women have access to safe, appropriate shelter facilities that provide them with the services necessary to move out of homelessness. This plan represents hundreds of hours of work by more than 70 individuals representing City and County government, housing and human services providers, the business community, philanthropists and funders, and leaders in the faith community, working with the commom goal of taking a blank slate approach toward designing a model system for Cincinnati's homeless citizens. This plan is only the beginning, as it makes recommendations regarding how our current homeless services system for individuals should develop over the next 3-5 years.

Highlights of the Homeless to Homes Plan include:

-A higher level of service system wide to move individuals out of homelessness quickly;

-An ambitious increase in transitional and permanent supportive housing, with a workable strategy for its development;

-Targeted services, specific to the individual's gender, age or special needs, with reduced reliance on emergency shelter;

Clear accountabilities of and actions for social services agencies, the business community, local government, funders and homeless people alike for the good of those who are homeless and the whole community.

Click here to view the complete plan.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009: The Homeless to Homes Plan is done and ready to be submitted to the City of Cincinnati & Hamilton County.

However, the CoC is coordinating with the Mayor's office regarding when the Homeless to Homes plan is to be submitted & therefore released publicly. In essence, the City does not want the plan to go out until they can dedicate their energy toward looking at the plan & its recommendations. In light of the current issues regarding the Human Services Funding, the Homeless to Homes Plan does not have the City's full attention. As a City-contracted agency, the CoC must submit & make the plan public on the City's schedule.

Therefore, our most recent information is that th Homeless to Homes Plan will be submitted, made public & posted on the CoC's website on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

Thank you for your patience.

Kevin Finn, MSW, LISW-S
Executive Director
Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, Inc.
Monday, April 06, 2009:

The Homeless to Homes Plan will be released to City Council on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. After its release to City Council, it will be able for download here on the CoC Website.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009:

The City has delayed the submission of the Homeless to Homes Plan until Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009:

Point-in-time count data is now available for Cincinnati/Hamilton County. HUD mandates that communities do a point-in-time count at least once every two years. The 2009 count was done on the night of January 29, 2009. Click here to see the 2009 PIT Spreadsheet.
Friday, February 27, 2009:

The results of the 2008 CoC Grant competition were finally announced and the Cincinnati/Hamilton County CoC, Inc. was fully funded.

This funding includes:
• The receipt of new grants for additional Shelter Plus Care certificates at Lighthouse, Tender Mercies, and the Jimmy Heath House on Odeon Street;
• A new Veterans-specific scattered site transitional housing program at Goodwill;
• A new TAPP House Program targeting transitional housing & services to homeless women with felonies;
• A new Rapid Re-housing program with Bethany House (as the lead agency of the Family Shelter Partnership) to serve homeless families.

We also managed to renew the Recovery Hotel funding as a Shelter Plus Care program.

Congratulations to all and my thanks to everyone who participated in the 2008 Grant Process for their patience and understanding!

Below are all of the programs funded, both new & renewal. Let me know if you have any questions.

Kevin Finn, MSW, LISW
Executive Director
Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, Inc.

OH-500: Cincinnati/Hamilton County CoC

Renewed Programs:
Caracole Recovery Community: $479,999

CILO Permanent Housing: $905,244

CILO Services for Persons with Disabilities: $167,187

Drop Inn Center Support Services: $266,250

Drop Inn Center, Homeless Individual Partnership Program: $494,126

FSPP Rapid Re-Housing: $1,678,310

Lighthouse Youth Services, Reading Transitional Living Program: $353,172

Goodwill Transitional Housing Leasing Pool: $856,787

Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, Recovery Hotel: $114,720

Shelter Plus Care Consolidated Renewal: $3,890,016

Shelter Plus Care Initial Renewal 2003: $319,632

New Programs:
Goodwill Scattered Site Transitional Housing: $878,736

Lighthouse Youth Services Shelter Plus Care: $327,600

Over-the-Rhine Community Housing Odeon Permanent Supportive Housing: $790,920

TAPP House Scattered Site Transitional Housing: $493,541

Tender Mercies Shelter Plus Care: $430,200

The Partnership Center, Ltd. provides consulting services to the Continuum of Care, including the VESTA application which assists in case management and reporting on homless and formerly-homeless persons.