Homeless Planning HOMELESS PLANNING PROCESS
In October 1999, the Regional Council of the Maricopa Association
of Governments accepted the request by the U. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development to assume responsibility for a regional
funding application and to convene a community wide group to develop
a countywide plan to address homelessness. A policy level committee
was formed, the Continuum of Care Regional Committee on Homelessness.
Working subcommittees were established to focus on the principal
tasks of the regional effort.
Regional Committee
Former Chief Justice Frank X. Gordon serves as the Chairman of
the Continuum of Care Regional Committee on Homelessness. Supervisor
Jan Brewer, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors' Chairman, serves
as the Vice Chairman of the Committee. Members include representatives
of the Governor's Office, elected officials of county and local
governments, foundation representatives, the Valley of the Sun
United Way and the Mesa United Way, service providers, advocacy
groups and formerly homeless people. The task of this Committee
is to oversee the development of an effective plan to address
homelessness in the region. In addition, the Committee has taken
responsibility for the annual funding application submitted to
HUD. The HUD funds have provided millions of dollars to agencies
serving the most vulnerable homeless people.
The planning process is supported by a grant from the Arizona Department of Commerce, the cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix , Scottsdale, and Tempe, by Maricopa County and by the Arizona Community Foundation.
MEMBERS
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Application Subcommittee
The annual application for McKinney-Vento funds for homeless programs
requires extensive preparation by community members and service
providers. The task of this Subcommittee is to prepare the application
in conformance with HUD requirements. Provider agencies collaborate
on the development of information to be included in the application.
Riann Balch, Executive Director of the Arizona Coalition to End
Homelessness, chairs this group. Members include representatives
of local governments, Valley of the Sun United Way and provider
agencies.
Provider agencies submitting projects
for inclusion in the coordinated, regional application must address
HUD and local questions. The projects are reviewed and ranked
by a special committee which is convened and managed by the Valley
of the Sun United Way. Their work is submitted to the Regional
Committee and is included as an essential element in the HUD application.
MARICOPA REGIONAL CONTINUUM OF CARE/HUD APPLICATION
On March 26, 2002, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development published the Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) in the Federal Register, signaling the beginning of the grant application process. The Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care has begun the local application process to obtain approximately $10 million dollars of homeless program assistance.
Agencies applying for HUD funds must complete an application, which must be submitted through the Continuum of Care for a community ranking process. HUD will not seriously consider any application which has not been included as part of the regional application process. The following documents must be completed and submitted by May 8, 2002, by 12:00 p.m. to the MAG Office. You can download the forms in the original Microsoft Word format or as Adobe Acrobat PDF files.
In addition to HUD criteria, agencies must also respond to local criteria established by the Continuum of Care Regional Committee on Homelessness. These requirements can be downloaded by clicking the following:
Mainstream Programs
Is there a need to coordinate mainstream programs to meet the needs of the homeless? Yes. The coordination of mainstream programs is needed to meet the needs of people who are homeless. Coordination can help identify a systematic way to ensure that individuals and families who are homeless are identified and enrolled in receiving the resources and assistance to help them become self-sufficient. Continuum of Care mainstream coordination can also help to identify the barriers homeless people face in each locality and help develop integrated strategies to address these barriers to service.
The models are comprised of numerous strategies localities across the country are using to coordinate their mainstram programs to meet the needs of homeless individuals and families in their Continuum of Care. You may use these models as a basis for developing integrated strategies. If you are already using any of these strategies (or ones not listed) make sure to include them in your application.
In addition, you might want to refer to Strategies for Accessing Mainstream Assistance Programs (p. 25-27) in the Question and Answer section of the NOFA on HUD's website. The address is http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa/forms/coc-qa.pdf. This will provide you with additional information and suggestions that may be helpful as you complete your application.
Leverage
If you have questions or require
additional information, please contact Charlene Moran Flaherty,
Homeless Planner, Maricopa Association of Governments, at (602)
452-5072.