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

• Wednesday, December 03, 2008:
  On December 17, 2008, from 6pm-8pm a public forum will be held at the Health Foundation of Cincinnati at which the "Homeless to Homes" ordinance and process will be outlined and community members will have the opportunity to comment and provide input (Read below for more information regarding the "Homeless to Homes" City ordinance).
  
  
• Wednesday, October 29, 2008:
  "Homeless to Homes" Process Begins-
  
  On October 8, 2008, an emergency ordinance was passed by the Cincinnati City Council which does the following:
  
  *Mandates that the CoC, "address the inadequacies of the current provision of services for single homeless individuals in the City of Cincinnati, and to put into place a comprehensive plan to implement such services".
  
  *Requires that the plan:
  
  -Ensure individuals have access to facilities that are appropriate, safe and provide the comprehensive services needed for individuals to obtain and remain in housing;
  
  -Guarantee the highest standards of care for the homeless;
  
  -Insure that facilities are "good neighbors, and do not result in any behavior or actions that are disruptive";
  
  -Recommends services that are based on national best-practice methods within the context of the CoC;
  
  -Includes case management, medical, mental health, and recovery services.
  
  *States that this plan will guide the City of Cincinnati's resource allocation for this population in the future.
  
  *Recognizes the Hamilton County JFS believes that operating Mr. Airy Shelter is not apart of their "core competencies", and has requested a process be develop to privatize Mt. Airy.
  
  *Establishes a deadline for plan submission to the city of March 31, 2009.
  
  *States that it is the intention of the City Council and the mayor to "empower the CoC to respond to his mandate by creating a process that is inclusive of all key stakeholders", notably homeless service providers, the business community, local government, funders and homelessness experts.
  
  *States that, "failure to present a comprehensive completed plan to Council by the deadline will lead to direct intervention by Council to address the homeless system in a different manner".
  
  Click here to view the full text of the ordinance.
  
  We believe our CoC is being presented with an incredible opportunity to make significant improvements to the "homeless individuals" portion of our already strong CoC. With this opportunity comes the chance to access additional private funding for badly needed services, and to forge a new, stronger working relationship with the City, County, the business community, and local funders, all with the goal of helping the homeless.
  
  In the coming weeks, the CoC Board and staff will be working to seat and call the first meeting of the "Homeless to Homes" working group, with representatives from all of the above stakeholders. The "Homeless to Homes" working group, along with appropriate subcommittees, will guide this planning process under the guidance of an independent facilitator so that our community can successfully develop a plan that addresses the needs of homeless individuals in our community within the context of the larger Continuum of Care for the Homeless.
  
  More information will be posted on this website as the "Homeless to Homes" process moves forward.
  
  
  
• Thursday, October 23, 2008:
  The 2008 CoC Grant Application was submitted on October 21, 2008.
  Click here to view the Exhibit 1.