Continuum of Care
Continuum of Care is a community and regional-based process that provides a comprehensive and coordinated housing and service delivery system. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated the Continuum of Care process in 1994. The process promotes a coordinated, strategic planning approach for programs that assist families and individuals who are homeless and near homeless.
A Continuum of Care system has the goal of housing all persons who are homeless or near homeless in appropriate housing. This means identifying all homeless and near homeless populations in communities, understanding their needs, and building a comprehensive system that responds.
A Continuum of Care approach helps communities and regions strategically plan for and provide a balance of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing and service resources to address the needs of people who are homeless so they can make the critical transition from homelessness to jobs, independent living, and permanent housing. It is widely recognized that homelessness is not due to just a lack of shelter. Homelessness encompasses a wide range of conditions and involves a variety of unmet needs as well as underlying economic, physical, and social challenges. Communities and regions that adopt a continuum of care approach recognize the importance of all components of a continuum of care: prevention, outreach, intake and assessment, emergency shelter, transitional programs, supportive housing, permanent housing and all appropriate support services. The State supports the Continuum of Care concept as an effective approach to addressing the needs of people who are homeless and near homeless.
The vision for the State of Nebraska Continuum of Care is to create, implement, assess and evaluate:
. . . a dynamic 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.
The goal of programs for people who are homeless and near homeless in the State of Nebraska is to provide services to help individuals and families reach maximum self-sufficiency.
Grantees of the Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program are active participants in local and regional continuums of care. Service or housing providers, not currently involved in a Local/Regional Continuum of Care Group, can contact Jean L. Chicoine (402) 471-9644 or the convener(s) in their respective regions.
Nebraska Commission on Housing & Homeless (NCHH) and
State Continuum of Care Committee
Regional Continuum of Care Meeting Schedule
Documents in
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