What is the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care?
Vermont has two Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-recognized Continua of Care (CoC) that apply for federal homeless funding for their corresponding geographic areas: the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance (CCHA) which covers Chittenden County and the Vermont Balance of State CoC that encompasses the remaining counties in Vermont. The Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) is a HUD-designated entity designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.
The Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care Board is the planning and governing body for the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care (VT BoS CoC). This board made up of a broad group of stakeholders including service & resource providers, housing developers, state agencies, and others in the homelessness or low-income service system from around the state.
The Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) mission is to coordinate the planning and implementation of a housing and service system that meets the needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness within its geographic area, with the ultimate goal of preventing and ending homelessness.
What is a Local Housing Coalition (formerly called Local Continuum of Care or CoC)?
Each region in Vermont also has a local groups focused on regional homelessness prevention and intervention efforts. These groups were formerly called Local CoCs and are now referred to as Local Housing Coalitions.
What is a Continuum of Care (CoC) and what does it do?
A CoC consists of a partnership of service & resource providers, housing developers, state agencies, and others in the homelessness or low-income service system in a geographic region. CoCs monitor and address housing and service gaps through proactive solutions; conduct an annual Point in Time Count of those experiencing homelessness; manage the Coordinated Entry and HMIS system; and apply for and manage annual funding from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development.
The Continuum of Care is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness.
All interested parties are welcome and invited to join the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care in our work through general membership, committees, and work-groups!
How are the VT BoS CoC and Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont (HHAV) connected?
Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont (HHAV) serves as the collaborative applicant to the VT BoS CoC. This means that HHAV is the applicant designated by the VT BoS CoC to collect and submit the CoC Consolidated Grant Application (NOFO) and apply for CoC planning funds on behalf of the CoC during the CoC Program Competition. HHAV also provides staffing to the VT BoS CoC and collaborates on several committees. View this chart for a visual representation of the relationship.
Learn more about collaborative applicants here and here.
Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care Introduction Resources
Vermont’s Continua of Care System One-Pager
Vermont’s Continua of Care System, An In-Depth Guide
Vermont Continuum of Care Online Training Module
HUD Continuum of Care 101 Guide
HUD’s What is a Continuum of Care & FAQ Continuum of Care