About the Continuum of Care
The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The Purpose and Activities of the CoC:
- Promote community-wide goals to end homelessness;
- Provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless persons;
- Promote access to mainstream resources; and
- Improve self-sufficiency among people experiencing homelessness.
Responsibilities of the CoC:
- System Governance and Structure
- System Operations and Planning
- Designating and Operating a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
- Designing a Coordinated Entry System
Programs Available through the CoC:
- Assessment and Referral for Service
- Street Outreach
- Emergency Shelter
- Rapid Rehousing
- Cold Weather Shelter
- Permanent Supportive Housing
Coalition to End Homelessness
The Coalition to End Homelessness (“the Coalition”) harnesses all of its resources toward “making homelessness rare, brief and a one-time experience.” The Coalition is broadly but representative of public and private homeless service sectors. All interested Agency/Organizations and individuals, including persons who are currently or formally homeless, are invited to join the Coalition’s General Membership. An application is required and there are no costs associated with membership. See the charter below for more details on how to join.
Please send any questions on joining the Howard County Coalition to End Homelessness, its Governance Board or committees, to: CoC@howardcountymd.gov.
Coalition to End Homelessness Governance Charter
Mailing Address:
Catherine Wellman, CoC Manager
Coalition to End Homelessness - Continuum of Care Program
Division of Homeless Services
Howard County Department of Housing & Community Development
9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046
The Coalition to End Homelessness Board
The Path Home - 2022 Progress Report
The Path Home
The Office of Community Partnerships worked with the Howard County Coalition to End Homelessness to update and further the work of the 2010 Plan. The title of the new plan, The Path Home, refers to the Coalition’s goals to strengthen the Coordinated Entry System – the path – to allow clients to return to stable, sustainable housing. It is a five-year strategic plan to end homelessness in Howard County, and will be implemented by the Coalition through annual action plans to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring. “The Path Home” has been developed in partnership with the Coalition to End Homelessness Board (CoC) with input from: the State of Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development, The National Alliance to End Homelessness, various Howard County Departments and Offices, and the community-wide Coalition to End Homelessness.
Update: The Path Home - 2022 Progress Report
If you have questions related to The Path Home, please contact: The Division of Homeless Services at CoC@howardcountymd.gov.
National Alliance to End Homelessness Assessment
The DCRS Office of Community Partnerships contracted the National Alliance to End Homelessness to conduct an assessment and analysis of our homeless response system and provide actionable recommendations for system improvements. The assessment was requested to address the lack of system flow in our current homeless response system. Recommendations from this assessment will be used to support the implementation of the county’s updated plan to end homelessness, The Path Home.