September
23, 2002
Franklin County/Columbus Recognized in
Top 25 Communities
The
results of the first nationwide study on comprehensive plans to address
homelessness is now available in a new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) report entitled "Evaluation of Continuums of Care for Homeless
People." The study analyzed 25
communities in all areas of the country, in an endeavor to determine whether the
Continuum of Care concept had achieved detectable results in the promotion of a
synchronized response to homelessness.
Franklin
County/Columbus was included in the study and recognized as a high-performer
within HUD’s Continuum of Care process.
The report commended the Community Shelter Board’s role and stated, “CSB
has employed an outcomes-based funding model for nearly five years, creating an
atmosphere of success, accountability, and results.”
The
report focused on Franklin County/Columbus’ success in garnering public and
private support and involvement, using data to guide policy, and providing
outcomes-based funding.
The
Community Shelter Board was commended for its business approach to management,
consideration of the bottom line, and outcomes-based funding. It was noted that CSB’s governing board
of trustees, made up almost entirely of leadership from the private sector
business community, stimulates a bottom line business focus to CSB operations
that interprets well to the general public, other funders, and the government
sector.
The
report also documented the success of CSB’s approach to accountability. Providers themselves are accountable for
results and propose their own performance standards, which, if not met, can
result in less and discontinued funding.
A
Continuum of Care is a system for helping people who are homeless or at imminent
risk of homelessness. A full
Continuum of Care includes prevention, outreach and assessment, emergency
shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and affordable
housing, plus supportive services in all components.
This
report documents the progress of each studied community along the many
dimensions of a comprehensive approach to homelessness prevention and
remediation. It concludes that, for
the high-performing communities studied, HUD's implementation of the Continuum
of Care funding process generally improved communication within local
communities in their response to homelessness.
"We
have stepped up in a community-wide partnership to comprehensively help the
homeless in our City," said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. "Our successes are being nationally
recognized, and we believe that over time we will serve as a national model for
improved services for homeless individuals and families."
Franklin
County Commission President Arlene Shoemaker noted, “Franklin County commends
the public/private partnership embodied by the Community Shelter Board, which
has positioned our community to be recognized for success in obtaining positive
results.”
HUD’s
Lawrence L. Thompson, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development
and Research, notes, “This report is a significant addition to our knowledge
about homelessness. It provides
important insights into local responses to the problem and identifies issues
that must be resolved as the nation grapples with the difficult and serious
problem of homelessness.”
A
complete copy of the 216-page Final Report in Adobe.pdf format, "Evaluation of
Continuums of Care for Homeless People" is available at
http://www.huduser.org/publications/povsoc/continuums.html
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 partnerships necessary to end homelessness. The award was given to CSB on behalf of
the Columbus and Franklin County community on March 19, 2002, in the Terrace
Theater of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington,
DC.
The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization which coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis. The Community Shelter Board allocates $6.0 million annually to support programs at 17 agencies. Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals. The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Sate of Ohio, and other public and private donors.
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