Continuum of Care Exhibit 1

 

2004 Application Summary

 

Continuum of Care (CoC) Name:  Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio

CoC Contact Person and Organization:  Barbara Poppe, Community Shelter Board

Address: 115 West Main Street, LL Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone Number: 614-221-9195          E-mail Address: bjpoppe@csb.org

 

 

 

 

Continuum of Care Geography

                                                                                                                

Geographic Area Name

 

6‑digit Code

 

Columbus, Ohio

391176

 

Franklin County

399049

Form HUD-40076 COC-A


 

 

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 the Commons at Grant in July 2003, a 100-unit newly built supportive and affordable housing facility operated by National Church Residences.  Fifty apartments are for the Rebuilding Lives chronically homeless population.

·         Opened East Fifth Avenue Apartments in February 2004, a 32-unit supportive housing project operated by Community Housing Network for Rebuilding Lives eligible chronically homeless women with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.

·         Secured funding from the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) to support the Rebuilding Lives PACT Team Initiative (RLPTI), a new inter-agency collaborative, that includes VA clinic, 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 provide permanent supportive housing for 156 chronically homeless individuals over the next three years.

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 20-member board is composed of business and community leaders appointed by the City of Columbus, Franklin County, the United Way of Central Ohio, the Chamber of Commerce, the ADAMH Board and the Metropolitan Church Council.  CSB has been recognized nationally for its work in ending homelessness: 

ü      Strategies for Reducing Chronic Street Homelessness report released on March 2, 2004 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognized Franklin County as one of seven communities leading the way to end chronic street homelessness.  The report complimented Columbus’ approach, noting “Rebuilding Lives is a comprehensive and ambitious initiative that represents a ‘paradigm shift’ in the community’s approach to homelessness. 

ü      The January 26, 2004 edition of the Christian Science Monitor recognized Columbus and the Community Shelter Board for its “bold approach to chronic homelessness" through the Rebuilding Lives plan. 

ü      “Getting to YIMBY: Lessons in YES in My Back Yard”, published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition recognized the Community Shelter Board and Lutheran Social Services/Faith Mission for fostering community acceptance in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood with the opening of the new Faith Mission on 8th Avenue men’s emergency shelter. 

ü      A June 2003 editorial in The New York Times recognized Columbus and the Community Shelter Board for its cutting edge programs. 

 

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

úThe Steering Committee, chaired by the Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board, is comprised of 24 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; examining racial representation, physical accessibility, and legal issues related to client due process.

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 is a standing committee of the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless (CCH).

Citizens Advisory Council

The Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) is a group of 13 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.  All Coalition meetings are open to the community.

·         Specific Continuum Components/Issues Relating to Sub-Populations

Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative

The Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative oversees and makes recommendations on funding actions and policy issues related to Rebuilding Lives.  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.  During the past year, three workgroups formed.  The Evaluation and Communication workgroup has initiated a comprehensive Rebuilding Lives evaluation plan.   The Collaborative Investment workgroup has developed a sophisticated matrix model to categorize supportive housing types based on population served, intensity of services, and operating costs. The Resource Development workgroup has identified potential sources of funding for permanent supportive housing and plans for accessing or leveraging these resources.

Provider Coordination and Planning Groups

Several groups of homeless service providers meet on a regular basis to address program issues, seasonal facility demand, and to coordinate resources, outreach, referral and program linkages.  Coordination and leadership is provided by the Community Shelter Board and the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless.  These groups meet monthly, and often more frequently, throughout the year and include the following: Women’s Shelter Provider Group; Men’s Shelter Provider Group; Winter Access Group; Family Provider Group; Family Housing Collaborative; ADAMH/Shelter Provider Group; CCH Health Care Committee, Outreach Provider group, Supportive Housing Provider Network, and various other ad hoc groups.

·         Linkage to Broader Community Housing Activities

United Way Housing Vision Council

Appointed by the United Way, this group includes 21 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 and assist United Way in investment decision making for 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. 

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