GA 505 Continuum of Care Semi-Annual Meeting
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our COC Semi-Annual Meeting.
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Feb
2021
News
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Jan
2021
Data – December 2020
Home for Good, the Continuum of Care, and our Partner Agencies have developed a client By-Name List. This By-Name List is a real-time list of people experiencing homelessness in our community. The list is monitored and updated daily to ensure everyone’s needs are being met and that no one gets lost in the system. The By-Name List has proven to be an effective tool in our mission.
During the month of December, 2020, the average number of people on the By-Name List was 107. According to the By-Name List data and client-shared information, we can share the data for living situation and household type. The percentages reflected in the graphs are based on the average number of 107 individuals experiencing homelessness.
In December 2020, there were 70 Coordinated Entry calls. Of those calls, 9 reported to be living in their car, 4 were living in habitation not meant for humans, 26 were living outside, 0 were in hotels paid by agencies, 13 were living in shelters, 10 were in private residences, and 8 were in hotels.
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2020
Partnerships Create Pathways
Partnerships Create Pathways
Because of our community partnerships, we now have an online Coordinated Entry form sending responses directly to 2-1-1.
The partnerships in the Chattahoochee Valley are vital to creating pathways to housing. Our Coordinated Entry System through 2-1-1 has been effective and efficient in this effort. This is why we are pleased to offer another access point for moving our community members to permanent housing and services. We now have an online intake form in which responses are sent directly to 2-1-1 for processing. This online form is in addition to the fillable/printable form currently used. The intention is to make the sharing of information and client needs more accessible and easier to process – taking steps to an even more cooperative and productive pathway to housing.
You can still fill out a form to print and /or email. Find that form here:
Intake Form – Fillable/Printable PDF
Online Intake Form For Those Experiencing Homelessness – Responses Sent Directly to 2-1-1
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Sep
2020
HOME FOR GOOD IS THE REGIONAL GRANTEE OF ESG CARES FUNDS
Home for Good is the Regional Grantee of ESG CARES Funds
COLUMBUS, GA – Home For Good, a program of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, announced Wednesday, September 16, during the Coronavirus Community Call they were named the regional recipient of the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Cares funds in the amount of $1,378,515. The funding will cover the six-county regional implementation for: Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Stewart, Talbot, and Taylor counties.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) made available the opportunity to apply for implementation of ESG CARES funds for Non-Congregate Shelter, Homelessness Prevention, Rapid Rehousing and Street Outreach.
“The ESG CARES Funding is vital to the systemic transformation needed to combat homelessness in our region.” said Pat Frey, Executive Director of Home for Good.
The CARES Act provides for three allocations of homeless assistance funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance. The CARES Act also provides additional support for homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by the coronavirus.
Services will be carried out in conjunction with community service provider sub grantees.
Home For Good will be conducting an informational session next Wednesday, September 23rd from 8:30am to 9:30am via Webex and soliciting partnership applications from community organizations. Webex Meeting Link
- Eviction Moratorium Declaration Form – Under the CDC’s order you must provide a copy of this declaration to your landlord, owner of the residential property where you live, or other person who has a right to have you evicted or removed from where you live.
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Jul
2020
Equity is Fundamental
The truth is housing-first works. The truth is a strong Continuum of Care works. The truth is, having a by-name list works. Our community is fortunate; these initiatives were implemented and continue to prove they work – especially for those with lived experiences.
But if the Coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s that we need to do better, and we MUST choose equity as the foundation.
How? By asking our community members with lived experiences to be part of the process of improving it. Clients are subject matter experts; their voices should not only be heard but respected and valued. To make real change and real progress, we must include all demographics; race, ability, age, and gender. We must continually evaluate the data and ask what upstream factors lead to these findings. Finally, we must adjust our strategies, keeping in mind the impact these decisions make on our most vulnerable citizens.
As an example, SafeHouse Ministries offered a survey to share with those experiencing homelessness. They intend to collect responses and host a forum; asking clients with lived experience that are also diverse demographically, how the survey responses compare with their insight, what would they add, and how can SafeHouse improve. SafeHouse Ministries will then use these findings to adjust their programs and practices, improve their system, and create a more equitable environment.
The SafeHouse Ministries survey is the beginning of our community-wide focus group initiative. These focus groups will be facilitated by those with lived experience. We want to continue what is working – the Continuum of Care with shared knowledge and responsibility – while improving and altering the system to consider who is most impacted. We want to remind everyone that the actions or inactions of your organization affect our entire community.
During this prolonged period of difficulty, many of us feel overwhelmed. You may be wondering, how can we do more? The real question is, how can we not? Homelessness is the outcome, not the cause. In addition, homelessness disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, People of Color. Our chance to make serious, systemic change is now. And we can get there – but equity has to be the first and fundamental goal.
Get involved today – contact our team or make a donation here.
Racial Equity Impact Assessment
Homeless System Response: Equity as the Foundation