The procedures used by the CoC in the review, evaluation and ranking of renewal, new/dv bonus and reallocation projects is annually updated and made available to the CoC, project applicants and the community. This information is also referenced within the published RFP. The 2024 CoC’s Review and Ranking Procedures are available here: BRISTOL COUNTY COC REVIEW and RANKING PROCEDURES.2024 [ Continue reading. ]
2024 REALLOCATION PLAN
In anticipation of each CoC funding cycle, the Bristol County Continuum of Care (BCCC) issues its guidance regarding its policies/process for the reallocation of funding from an existing project to a higher performing and/or new permanent housing project. A copy of the CoC’s Reallocation Plan.2024 can be downloaded here: BRISTOL COUNTY COC REALLOCATION PLAN.2024 [ Continue reading. ]
2024 COC COMPETITION TIMELINE
The 2024 Continuum of Care (CoC) funding competition through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) opened on July 31.2024 and will conclude no later than HUD’s Submission deadline of October 30, 2024. Given the 90 day turnaround on the grant deadline, the Bristol County Continuum of Care's own CoC Competition Calendar is highly accelerated. Check out the BCCC competition timeline here: 2024 COMPETITION TIMELINE. [ Continue reading. ]
2024 RESOURCE | TRAINING SERIES :: IMMIGRATION
The Bristol County Continuum of Care (BC3) hosted a virtual training session on Immigration at the Intersection of Homelessness on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 as part of its Resource | Training Series. Helena DaSilva Hughes, Executive Director of the Immigrants Assistance Center (IAC), Corinn Williams, Executive Director of the Community Economic Development Center and Kenneth Amoriggi, Immigration Attorney with Catholic Charities of the Fall River Diocese (CCFR) presented information on immigration status basics, paperwork immigrant families/persons [ Continue reading. ]
HOMELESS DATA 2024
As has been the case for the past 15 years, the City of New Bedford's Office of Housing & Community Development, acting in its capacity as the Continuum of Care's (CoC's) Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead, and on behalf of the CoC, has completed its annual “Point In Time” (PIT) count creating a census of those individuals and families experiencing homelessness within the city, both sheltered (living in emergency or transitional housing) and unsheltered (on the streets/in places not meant for human habitation). Concurrent with that [ Continue reading. ]
HOMELESS YOUTH HANDBOOK
The Homeless Youth Handbook is an online know-your-rights resource for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Massachusetts. The Handbook provides Massachusetts-specific information and is designed to empower young people to understand their legal rights and take action to overcome the many barriers they may face. Topics include, but are not limited to, employment, housing, foster care, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights. Check out the Massachusetts Homeless Youth Handbook at: [ Continue reading. ]
RACIAL EQUITY PLAN NOW AVAILABLE!
Racial Equity Assessment & Action Plan The HSPN used CoC Planning funds from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to develop a Racial Equity Assessment and Action Plan in late 2023 and completed this effort in early 2024. This work was undertaken by the nationally-recognized Racial Equity Partners (REP) with the support of the HSPN Racial Equity Workgroup. The HSPN is grateful to the REP and Workgroup for developing such a meaningful document and will now begin the work articulated in the Action Plan section of the [ Continue reading. ]
2024 HSPN MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to all! There is no membership fee or dues and all are welcome to join the HSPN! Membership does provide opportunity to more actively engage with the continuum and it is encouraged. Generally organizations, community groups, agencies, and other entities join the CoC but individuals are also invited. Get more information--an your application right here on our website at this link! [ Continue reading. ]
COORDINATED ENTRY REBOOT 2024
We are pleased to announce it’s a new day for Coordinated Entry! New Bedford’s new Coordinated Entry System (CES) is focusing on individuals and families in our community who are currently experiencing homelessness. We are doing so by using CES to help get folks out of shelters, off the streets and in places not meant for human habitation so that they have a roof over their head as quickly as possible. This is no easy task given the many barriers to housing folks often face including CORI issues, past evictions, mental health, substance use issues [ Continue reading. ]
HSPN Publishes Summary of 2023 HUD AHAR
The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1 provides a Point In Time (PIT) and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) Estimates of Homelessness in the United States. The 2023 data was released December 18, 2023. The 2023 AHAR outlines key findings of the PIT Count and HIC conducted in January 2023. The report, itself, “provides national, state and CoC level PIT and HIC estimates of homelessness as well as estimates of chronically homeless persons, homeless veterans and homeless children and youth.” Key findings are available here: AHAR 2023 HSPN [ Continue reading. ]
