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About the Continuum of Care

Our Continuum of Care (CoC) is NY-508, but what exactly does that mean? Read on to learn more about the role of the Homeless Alliance of Western New York.

What is a CoC?

Since 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been encouraging communities to end homelessness in a coordinated, comprehensive, and strategic fashion. HUD introduced the Continuum of Care concept to support communities in this effort. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act) codified the CoC planning process into law.

A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a collaborative approach to planning and funding for services related to homelessness. A CoC Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding to nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly re-house families and individuals experiencing homelessness while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream resources, and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness.

“Continuum of Care” refers not only to HUD’s program, but also the geographical location covered by a CoC program, and the body of people that participate in homeless services within that geographic area. Our Continuum of Care is NY-508 and includes five counties: Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming.

CoC Lead Agency

The Homeless Alliance of Western New York serves as the Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead Agency for NY-508. As the lead agency, the Homeless Alliance is responsible for fulfilling a range of critical duties that support the community in its mission to end homelessness.

Role of a CoC Lead Agency
  • Operating the Continuum of Care (CoC): Manages CoC compliance with HUD regulations, oversees system performance and resource access,   and leads Coordinated Entry (CE).
  • CoC Planning: Conducts community needs assessments, organizes the Point-In-Time (PIT) count, fosters partnerships, advocates for policy, training, capacity building, monitoring, oversees resource allocation, and coordinates crisis response with public health agencies to protect vulnerable populations.
  • HMIS Management: Operates as the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead to monitor trends, inform planning, and provide data-driven support to CoC members.
  • Funding Applications and Support: Prepares and submits the CoC’s annual application, secures HUD and state funding, and allocates resources to programs addressing community priorities.

Our Approach

At the Homeless Alliance, we believe that togetherness is key to ending homelessness. Through open collaboration with community partners, transparent decision-making, and shared responsibility, we create solutions that reflect the collective strength of our community. We are committed to fostering fairness, respect, and innovation while ensuring compliance with federal regulations. By working together, we continuously strive for excellence, address systemic gaps, and build sustainable housing solutions that meet the needs of all. Our approach is rooted in the belief that, united, we can make a lasting impact.