A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a collaborative funding and planning approach that helps communities plan for and provide a full range of emergency, transitional and permanent housing and other service resources to address the various needs of homeless persons. As an entity, a CoC serves three main purposes:
- To develop a long-term strategic plan and manage a year-round planning effort that addresses the identified needs of homeless individuals and households; the availability and accessibility of existing housing and services; and the opportunities for linkages with mainstream housing and services resources.
- To prepare an application for funds are made available through a national competition announced each year in HUD’s Notice of Funding Availability (known as the HUD CoC NOFA).
- To oversee the Coordinated Entry (CE) to assess the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and match them to appropriate housing interventions.