Columbus & Franklin County, Ohio

Continuum of Care Narrative

 

1.   Continuum of Care’s Accomplishments

All components of a Continuum of Care system are present in Columbus and Franklin County, including homelessness prevention, outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and supportive services.  Our community prioritizes expanding and strengthening permanent housing options and services for hardest-to-serve populations including chronically homeless individuals, families, and youth.  Over the past 12 months, Columbus and Franklin County have accomplished the following:

·         Opened 105 new units of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless men and women.

·         Initiated new inter-agency collaborative, including local Department of Veterans Affairs, Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, Community Shelter Board, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, non-profit housing and mental health providers, and the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board, to expedite access to mainstream resources and permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals.

·         Established new direct housing partnership for homeless families between the front-door family shelter and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.

·         Incorporated use of HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance in expanded YMCA permanent supportive housing project.

·         Federal CSAT grant (DHHS)secured by Amethyst to expand services for homeless women with alcohol and/or drug addictions.

·         Developed and implemented common triage tool and procedure at shelters serving women.

·         Community AIDS Task Force secured additional HOPWA rental assistance for clients.

·         Collaborative including CSB and partner agencies successfully implemented Winter Access project and ensured available shelter space for all requests during the winter period.

 

2.  Planning Process for Developing a Continuum of Care Strategy

a.  Lead Entity: The Community Shelter Board

The Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Continuum of Care system has been developed through extensive collaboration among public, private and non-profit organizations concerned with programs for homeless persons.  The lead organization for this process is the Community Shelter Board (CSB), established by major funders in 1986 in response to the growing problem of homelessness within the community.  CSB is charged with providing funds to assist emergency shelter programs and developing a community-wide plan to reduce the number of homeless people.  To that end, each year, CSB allocates Columbus and Franklin County general funds, Emergency Shelter Grant, Community Development Block Grant, United Way, and other public and private funds to homeless service providers in the community.  CSB is responsible for coordinating and submitting the community’s annual application to HUD for federal homeless assistance funds.  Additionally, CSB participates in and facilitates research, planning, discussion, and policy development among community leaders, government representatives, service providers, homeless consumers, and others concerned with community-wide solutions to homelessness.  CSB’s 17-member board is composed of business and community leaders appointed by the City of Columbus, Franklin County, the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, the ADAMH Board and the Metropolitan Church Council.

 

 

CSB has been recognized nationally for their work in ending homelessness: 

ü      CSB, Columbus, and Franklin County were included among 25 top-performing communities across the United States for Continuum of Care performance.  A study released during the summer of 2002 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognized CSB’s leadership and collaboration with city, county, and partner agencies.[1]  

ü      In March 2002, the Community Shelter Board received the 2002 Nonprofit Sector Achievement Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. CSB was recognized for its leadership and work to build the partnerships necessary to end homelessness.

ü      In the 2001 Urban Institute book entitled, Helping America’s Homeless: Emergency Shelter or Affordable Housing? by Martha Burt, Laudan Aron and Edgar Lee, the Community Shelter Board was sited for its efforts in developing programs to prevent first time and repeated homelessness and ameliorate the effects of homelessness.

 

b.  Continuum of Care Planning Process

Columbus/Franklin County has a well-organized Continuum of Care planning process that utilizes the expertise and experience of a wide array of representatives from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as representatives of the components of the Continuum of Care and the sub-populations served by these programs.   Various coordinating and advisory groups meet regularly throughout the year and contribute to planning and implementation efforts.  In order to avoid overlapping or duplication, the Continuum of Care planning process is divided into three components:

·        Overall Continuum of Care planning and coordination;

·        Specific Continuum components and/or issues relating to specific sub-populations; and

·        Linking Continuum of Care issues with broader community housing activities. 

The Community Shelter Board plays the lead role in convening meetings and providing staff support for planning activities and groups that relate directly to the Continuum of Care; it is also an active participant in other groups that operate independently from CSB.  The specific relationship of these groups in the Continuum of Care planning structure, and the specific participants, are detailed below:

 

·         Overall Continuum of Care Planning and Coordination

Continuum of Care Steering Committee

The Steering Committee, chaired by the Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board, is comprised of 20 homeless service providers, consumers, funders and government representatives, and plans and coordinates the delivery of homeless services in Franklin County.  This group develops the Continuum of Care funding priorities and coordinates the community application process.  A subcommittee of this group, the Technical Review Committee, is responsible for program evaluation and project ranking for the annual HUD submission.  Additionally, sub-committees have been established by the Steering Committee for tasks such as evaluating Shelter Plus Care projects and developing a five-year plan for the renewal of Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program projects. 

 

Continuum of Care Providers Group

During the Continuum of Care process, provider agencies come together to review the Continuum of Care process and formulate recommendations.  This group also reviews Continuum of Care project proposals and makes ranking recommendations to the Technical Review Committee.  The Continuum of Care Provider group has been a standing committee of the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) since April 2000, with meetings facilitated by CCH representatives on a bi-monthly basis.

Citizens Advisory Council

The Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) is a group of 19 current and formerly homeless people that serve in an advisory role to improve services for homeless people.  The CAC reviews plans and recommendations, including the annual submission to HUD, and provides feedback to make programs and services more effective from the perspective of the consumer.  The CAC also learns about a different topic at each meeting to build knowledge and skills in public service. 

 

Columbus Coalition for the Homeless

Central Ohio homeless service and shelter providers, formerly homeless persons and concerned citizens, meet monthly to coordinate service delivery, share information and coordinate advocacy on local, state, and national issues related to housing and homelessness.  Additionally, the Coalition is actively involved in community education events designed to increase community awareness and understanding of homelessness.  All Coalition meetings are open to the community.

 

·         Specific Continuum Components/Issues Relating to Sub-Populations

Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative (chronically homeless men and women)

The Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative oversees and makes recommendations on funding actions and policy issues related to Rebuilding Lives, a local initiative to provide supportive housing for chronically homeless men and women.  Collaborative members include senior officials from CSB, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, Columbus Foundation, United Way, CMHA, the ADAMH Board of Franklin County, Columbus Medical Association Foundation, Veterans Services Commission, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

 

Provider Coordination and Planning Groups

The Community Shelter Board has established several groups of homeless service providers that meet on a regular basis with CSB to address program issues, seasonal facility demand management, and to coordinate resources, outreach, referral and program linkages.  These groups meet every 2-6 weeks throughout the year and include the following:  1) Women’s Shelter Provider Group; 2) Men’s Shelter Provider Group; 3) Winter Access Group; 4) Family Provider Group; 5) Family Housing Collaborative; 6) ADAMH/Shelter Provider Group; and other CSB-sponsored issue specific groups.  Other coordinating groups that meet regularly include the CCH Health Care Committee, Outreach Provider Group, and a new Supportive Housing Provider Group.

 

·         Linkage to Broader Community Housing Activities

United Way Housing Vision Council

Appointed by the United Way, this group includes 30 individuals who represent donors, consumers, neighborhood groups, United Way Board of Trustees, community partners, United Way agencies, and local experts.  The purpose of this group is to identify and achieve the results necessary to address the community’s most critical housing needs.  Additionally, the Vision Council is involved in the investment of United Way resources to implement housing initiatives. 

 

Columbus Compact

The Columbus Compact is the city's lead organization in developing and focusing resources in the Columbus Empowerment Zone and other central city neighborhoods, while encouraging collaboration in neighborhood development and central city policy issues.

 

 

 

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Corporation

The Columbus/Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Corporation combines public and private funding through a variety of sources to support the development of housing within the city.  Both rental units and homeownership projects are planned.

 

B.R.E.A.D. Organization

As an interfaith, multi-denominational group, B.R.E.A.D. (Building Responsibility, Equality And Dignity), effectively addresses social and economic justice issues pertaining to crime, safety, jobs, poverty, housing and education.

 

Franklin County Housing Advisory Board

To expand and preserve the supply of affordable rental housing throughout Franklin County, the Board of Commissioners issues bonds upon the recommendation of the joint Columbus and Franklin County Housing Advisory Board.  The approximately15 member Board is appointed by the Board of Commissioners and the Mayor of Columbus (upon approval by Council).

 

Capital Crossroads

In 1999, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, and the City of Columbus Downtown Development Office initiated the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District project with High Street property owners in the downtown corridor.  Special Improvement Districts can fund a wide assortment of district-wide services including litter control, commercial marketing, and graffiti removal by allowing property owners to pool resources.  CSB coordinates with street outreach liaisons employed by Capital Crossroads to address downtown homelessness.

 

Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County

The ADAMH Board collaborates with the Community Shelter Board’s Rebuilding Lives initiative to create long-term housing with access to services that will help homeless individuals move from streets and shelters into productive, rewarding roles in our community.  ADAMH Board staff also actively participate in meetings with shelter providers to ensure system coordination and cross training.

 

c.    List of Dates and Main Topics of Continuum of Care Planning Meetings

 

Group	Topics	Date
1.      Continuum of Care Steering Committee	§         Review and evaluate 2002 CoC process §         Review state and federal legislation §         Review and approve 10 Year Plan and Annual Update §         Establish sub-committees to accomplish CoC planning and implementation goals §         Mid-term CoC project monitoring §         Confirm 2003 project renewal list, establish annual plan §         Review and approve 2003 Local Priorities and Process §         Review and approve 2003 proposal process, schedule, and RFP for new and renewal projects; release RFP §         Review HUD CoC requirements §         Evaluate and rank CoC renewal projects through Technical Review Committee §         Review and approve 2003 CoC ranking	8/20/02 10/15/02 12/17/02 1/21/03 2/18/03 3/18/03 4/15/03 5/20/03 6/24/03
2.      Continuum of Care Providers Group	§         Discuss improvements for 2003 CoC process §         Feedback on proposed 2003 Local Priorities and Process §         Review 2003 new/renewal projects, rank projects and forward recommended rankings to Technical Review Committee	6-10-02 12-09-03 1-13-03 2-10-03 6-02-03
3.      Columbus Coalition for the Homeless	§         Committee reports; resource issues; policy issues; advocacy	1st Wednesday of every month
4.      Citizens Advisory Council	§         Review 2003 Local Priorities and Process §         Review 2003 new/renewal projects, rank projects and forward recommended rankings to Technical Review Committee Review other Policy issues §         Examine issue of access to SSI benefits and forward recommendations to CSB §         Develop and finalize Benefits and Legal Guide for the homeless	2nd Monday of every month
5.      Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative	§         Review funding requests for supportive housing §         Ongoing system and resource coordination §         Review policy and advocacy issues	3nd Thurs. of every other month
6.      Provider Coordination & Planning Meetings	§         Women’s Shelter Provider Group §         Men’s Shelter Provider Group §         Winter Access Group §         Family Provider Group §         Family Housing Collaborative §         ADAMH/Shelter Provider Group §         CSB/CSH/Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Group §         Permanent Supportive Housing Provider Group (initiated June 2003) §         Outreach Provider Group	All groups met every 2-6 weeks year round as needed.
7.      United Way Housing Vision Council	§         Presentations on housing topics; policy discussions; resource allocation; advocacy; information sharing	2nd Friday of each month
8.      CSB Board of Trustees	§         Coordination of community based efforts §         Efforts to foster collaboration §         Funding services §         Achievement of its mission to assist families and individuals in resolving their housing crisis.	6/24/02 8/26/02 9/23/02 10/28/02 12/9/02 1/27/03 3/17/03 5/19/03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

d.    Organizations Involved in the Continuum of Care Planning Process