Maine Continuum of Care
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History of the Continuum Of Care
To address the growing problem of homelessness in the US, in 1987, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, later renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. One of the many purposes of this Act was to authorize funding for Homeless Assistance programs administered by federal agencies, including and most notably the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These resources (collectively referred to as McKinney Homeless Assistance funds), and the programs funded by them, have formed the backbone of systems designed to address the many needs of homeless individuals and families in states and communities across the nation.
In 1994, with input from stakeholders throughout the country, HUD introduced the Continuum of Care model to encourage communities to address the problems of housing and homelessness in a more coordinated, comprehensive, and strategic fashion. Unlike previous HUD planning documents established by an act of Congress, the Continuum of Care was created through HUD policy and governed by HUD-established rules and regulations. With the introduction of Continuum of Care planning, communities were encouraged to envision, organize, and plan comprehensive and long-term solutions to address the problem of homelessness in their community.
What is the Maine Continuum of Care
At one time the State of Maine had three Continuums of Care: the Greater Penobscot Continuum of Care, the City of Portland Continuum of Care and the Maine Continuum of Care, which includes the entire state outside of Penobscot County and the City Portland. The Greater Penobscot Continuum merged with the Maine Continuum in March of 2012. The Portland Continuum has now also merged with the Maine Continuum, as of April 2017.
MCOC Purpose and Mission:
The mission of MCOC is to end homelessness. MCOC accomplishes this mission by conducting the following activities:
- MCOC provides a single, coordinated, inclusive planning effort as well as develops and manages the annual Continuum of Care (CoC) Application process to ensure that MCOC receives the maximum amount of federal McKinney-Vento funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- MCOC fosters and promotes comprehensive, cohesive and coordinated approaches to housing and community resources for people and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless through:
- Prevention
- Outreach services
- Emergency shelters and supportive services
- Transitional housing and supportive services
- Permanent housing and permanent housing with supportive services
- Linkages to mainstream resources.
- MCOC identifies and prioritizes the housing and service needs of people who are homeless, and gaps within the service area;
- MCOC partners with the planning and development efforts of the Statewide Homeless Council and other groups to develop long-term solutions to address these needs and gaps;
- MCOC develops goals and specific action steps to address chronic homelessness and other homelessness throughout the service area and participates in planning activities with the Statewide Homeless Council and the Regional Homeless Councils that are implementing Maine’s Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness;
- MCOC advocates for necessary funding at the state and federal level to develop needed housing and services for people who are homeless in Maine;
- MCOC participates in the development and support of public policy to assist people who are homeless and to end homelessness in Maine; and
- MCOC educates the public and advocates for people who are homeless and for support of those agencies who help people who are homeless in Maine.
MCOC Committees:
- The mission and purpose of MCOC is carried out through five standing committees and ad hoc committees as assigned. Each committee is run by two Co-Chairs. These committees bring recommendations to the monthly MCOC meeting for vote by the overall membership. It is the expectation of MCOC that members shall participate in at least one standing committee.
Committee descriptions:
- Steering Committee – The Steering Committee will be comprised of: the three MCOC Chairs; at least one Co-Chair from each of the other Standing Committees; the Coordinator; the Chair of the Statewide Homeless Council (regardless of being an MCOC Chair or a Co-Chair on an MCOC standing committee); and at least one representative from DHHS (regardless of being an MCOC Chair or a Co-Chair on an MCOC standing committee).
- Data Committee – The Data Committee works to collect information on homelessness throughout the MCOC area and to improve data collection techniques and data analysis methods for use in the MCOC Application and to better inform MCOC members, and the general public regarding homelessness in Maine.
- Resources Committee – Works to educate and inform MCOC member organizations and the general public on issues regarding availability and access to mainstream resources and to involve the broader community in the Continuum of Care planning activities.
- Project Committee – The Project Committee will oversee the processes and methodologies used to monitor Renewal Projects that receive ongoing funding through MCOC. The Project Committee will also establish the criteria and protocols used to score and rank New Projects seeking funding through MCOC.
- Policy Committee – The Policy Committee works to collect and share information regarding Federal & State Legislative Policy in order to Educate and inform MCOC members
- Ad-hoc Committees – MCOC may vote to create an Ad-hoc Committee in order to address and respond to an emerging issue, to investigate a specific topic, or to perform a specific task.
Web sites for more information on the Continuum of Care and homeless planning in Maine:
COMMONLY USED ACRONYMS
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8X Section 8 Program
A
AARAAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act
ACAPAroostook County Action Program
ADLActivity of Daily Living
AGAttorney General
AGIAdjusted Gross Income
AHARAnnual Homeless Assessment Report
AMIArea Median Income
APRAnnual Progress Report
ASOAIDS Service Organization
AWAPAbused Womens Advocacy Project (now Safe Voices)
B
BEASBureau of Elderly and Adult Services
BLSBureau of Labor Statistics
BOCABuilding Officials and Code Administrators
BOLMBread of Life Ministries
BRAPBridging Rental Assistance Program
BWPBattered Womens Project (now Hope& Justice Project)
C
CAACommunity Action Agency
CAPCommunity Action Program
CCAPCoastal Community Action Program
CCICommunity Concepts, Inc.
CCR Central Contractor Registration
CDBGCommunity Development Block Grant
CEDCoastal Economic Development Corp
CFRCode of Federal Regulations
CHAMPCreative Housing Alternatives for Maine People
CHCSCommunity Health and Counseling Services
CHDOCommunity Housing Development Organization
CHOMCommunity Housing of Maine
CoCContinuum of Care
COIConflict of Interest
ConPlanConsolidated Plan
CPDCommunity Planning and Development
CSBGCommunity Services Block Grant
CSICounseling Services, Inc.
D
DECDDept. of Economic & Community Development
DEPDepartment of Environmental Protection
DHHSDepartment of Health and Human Services
DoCDepartment of Corrections
DOEDepartment of Energy
DOEDepartment of Education
DoLDepartment of Labor
DUNSData Universal Numbering System
DV Domestic Violence
E
EAEnvironmental Assessment
ECEnterprise Community
EEOEqual Employment Opportunity
EHOPEqual Housing Opportunity Plan
ELIExtremely Low Income (<30% AMI)
EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency
ESACEmergency Shelter Assessment Committee
ESGEmergency Shelter (Solutions) Grant
EZ Empowerment Zones
F
FAMEFinance Authority of Maine
FCSFamily Crisis Services
FDAFamily Development Account
FedHOMEHUD's HOME Investment Partnership Act
FEMAFederal Emergency Management Administration
FHAFederal Housing Administration
FMRFair Market Rent
FONSIFindings of No Significant Impact
FPCFrannie Peaboby Center
FSSFamily Self Sufficiency Program
FTEFull Time Employee
FUPFamily Unification Program (under Section 8)
FVPFamily Violence Project
G
GFCCHGreater Franklin County Coalition for the Homeless
GISGeographic Information System
GLBTQGay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning
GPCOCGreater Penobscot Continuum of Care
GRGross Rent
H
HAPHousing Assistance Payments
HASHomeless Services of Aroostook
HCIHome Counselors, Inc.
HCVHousing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
HDXHomeless Data Exchange
HEARTH Act
Homeless Emergency Assistance & Rapid Transition to Housing
HFAHousing Finance Authorities
HICHousing Inventory Chart
HJPHope and Justice Project
HMFAHUD Metropolitan Fair Market Rent Area
HMISHomeless Management Information System
HOHHead of Household
HOMEHousing Opportunities for Maine Fund (“State Home”)
HOPWAHousing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
HPRPHomeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program
HQSHousing Quality Standards
HUDDepartment of Housing and Urban Development
HUDHRE HUD Homeless Resource Exchange
HVJHomeless Voices for Justice
HVWG Homeless Veterans Working Group
I
IATFInter-Agency Task Force to End Homelessness
IDISIntegrated Disbursement and Information System
J
K
KBHKennebec Behavioral Health
KVCAPKennebec Valley Community Action Program
L
LAALocal Administrative Agency (for Shelter Plus Care)
LAASHLewiston Auburn Alliance for Services for the Homeless
LHALocal Housing Authority
LI Low Income
LIHEAPLow Income Home Energy Assistance Program
LIHTCLow Income Housing Tax Credit
LOCCSLine of Credit Control System
M
M/FMulti-Family
MAPS (Step-up) Maine Adoption Placement Services
MCOC CoC Maine Continuum of Care
MCHHMid Coast Hospitality House
MH/MSHA MaineHousing (Maine State Housing Authority)
MMAMaine Municipal Association
MMCAMidcoast Maine Community Action
MMHSMid Maine Homeless Shelter
MoCoMotivational Services
MoHoMobile Home
MOUMemorandum of Understanding
MSAMetropolitan Statistical Area
MV/ McVMcKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
N
NAEHNational Alliance to End Homelessness
NC/SRNew Construction/Substantial Rehabilitation
NIMBYNot-In-My-Backyard
NOFANotice of Funding Availability
O
OMBOffice of Management and Budget
P
PATHProjects in Assistance for Transition from Homelessness
PBVProject Based Voucher (under Section 8)
PCAPPenquis Community Action Program
PHAPublic Housing Authority
PITPoint-in-Time Count
PROPPeople's Regional Opportunity Program
PUCPublic Utilities Commission
Q
R
RAC +Rental Assistance Coupon Plus
RCAMRural Community Action Ministry
RDRural Development
RFPRequest for Proposal
RGHRumford Group Homes
RIHC /R1HCRegion 1 Homeless Council
RIIHC/R2HCRegion 2 Homeless Council
RIIIHC/ R3HCRegion 3 Homeless Council
S
S/FSingle-Family
SBIState Bureau of Investigation
SHCStatewide Homeless Council
SOSShelter Operating Subsidy
SPC/S+CShelter Plus Care
SROSingle Room Occupancy
SSDISocial Security Disability Insurance
SSISupplemental Security Income
T
TACTechnical Assistance Collaborative
TANFTemporary Assistance for Needy Families
TBRATenant Based Rental Assistance
TCMHTri-County Mental Health
TICTenant Income Certification
TTPTotal Tenant Payment
U
UAUtility Allowance
USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture
USICHUS Interagency Council on Homelessness
V
VAVeterans Administration
VASHVA Supportive Housing
VAWAViolence Against Women Act
VLIVery Low Income (<50% AMI)
VOA, NNE Volunteers of America, Northern New England
W
WCARC Washington County Association for Retarded Citizens
WCCEHWashington County Coalition to End Homelessness
WCCSAWaldo County Committee For Social Action
WHCAWashington-Hancock Community Agency
WMCAWestern Maine Community Action
WxWeatherization
X
Y
YA/IYouth Alternatives/ Ingraham
YANAYou Are Never Alone
YCCAPYork County Community Action Program
YCHDYork-Cumberland Housing Development Corporation
YCSPIYork County Shelter Programs, Inc.
YFSYouth and Family Services
Z
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