About Us

News

Take Action

Advocate page

The Homeless Services Coordinating Council

The Consumer Advisory Council ( CAC )

Provider Affinity Groups

Population - specific Work Groups

Volunteer

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Eventsno content yet

Upcoming

Community Charrette Week : August 20-28 < links to Charrette page >

Past / Archived Events ( this page to be hidden for now )

In Memoriam < links to In Memoriam page >

FAQs

Contact Us

Find a Provider

General Information

Homelessness 101

Local Data and Research

Resources

Help Card

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Maps

Harris County Housing Resource Center

For Community Partners

Continuum of Care

HMIS

Homeless Court

Experiencing Homelessness ? Get Help

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About UsMission Statement: The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

The Coalition was established in 1982, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1988, and has evolved to be the lead agency coordinating the community response to homelessness in Houston. Under the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act passed in 2009, an entire community rather than individual service providers must demonstrate success in preventing and reducing homelessness. In 2011, HUD named Houston as a priority community. This designation recognizes the great need to transform Houston’s existing homeless service system and the tremendous opportunity to make significant advances due to the commitment of homeless service agencies <link to new Find a Provider page> and the contributions <links to new Donate page> of key community stakeholders.

Accordingly, the Coalition is the lead agency coordinating Houston’s response to homelessness, and as such serves as the primary support organization for the community’s Continuum of Care (CoC) <links to new CoC page>. The CoC system creates an improved homeless service system that more effectively provides services, support and housing <links to new Locate Housing secondary landing page> to all sub-populations within Houston’s homeless community, with a primary focus on moving individuals and families out of homelessness. The ultimate goal of the CoC is the creation of a homeless service system that achieves reduction in new instances of, length of, and returns to homelessness and meets the varying needs of homeless sub-populations such as unaccompanied youth, veterans and families with children.

For current information on the financial health of the Coalition, please select from the following: FY 2011 Financial Statements and Single Audit Reports (5.48 MB)FY 2010 IRS 990 (PDF 1.75 MB)

Staff <links to new Staff page>

Board <links to new Board page>

Press Room <link to new Press Room page>

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Staff page

The Coalition for the Homeless is led by an experienced management team, including:

(photo) Marilyn Brown - President & CEOMarilyn joined the Coalition in January 2012 in the interim position of President & CEO. She has worked in the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors throughout her career. Not a native Houstonian, Marilyn was transferred to Houston in the late 90s when she worked for BFI, Inc. She later worked as Director of Community Relations for Waste Management, Inc. Moving back into the nonprofit world, Marilyn worked at the Greater Houston Community Foundation and was the President & CEO of Leadership Houston. Her love of community led her to law school at the University of Houston Law Center, graduating in December 2010. She has a B.S. in Education from the University of Tennessee and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Memphis. mbrown@homelesshouston.org

(photo) Ron Jeffers - Chief Financial OfficerRon currently serves as CFO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. Prior to joining the Coalition, he served as CFO of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP). Prior to joining the GHP, Ron served as Controller for Neighborhood Centers, Inc. and has also held financial leadership positions with Career and Recovery Resources and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Houston and Southeast Texas Office. Prior to entering into nonprofit work, Ron worked on the tax staff of a big eight accounting firm, served as Corporate Counsel for a diversified group of oil and gas companies and founded and operated a private law practice. rjeffers@homelesshouston.org

(photo) Erol Fetahagic - HMIS AdministratorErol joined the Coalition HMIS team in July 2008 after being the housing coordinator/database administrator at a local homeless provider agency in Houston. Erol is originally from Bosnia, which he left at the end of the war in 1995. He immigrated to Houston through a refugee resettlement program. For the past fifteen years, Erol worked in various roles related to HUD-funded transitional and permanent housing programs, community outreach, agency-wide reporting, local database administration, and finally the HMIS. He currently manages most activities behind our successful HMIS implementation and supervises five dedicated members of the HMIS team. Erol graduated from a technical high school in 1987, attended the College of Civil Engineering at the University of Sarajevo from 1988 to 1992, and spent more than 3 years in the Bosnian Army. efetahagic@homelesshouston.org

(photo) Gary Grier - Director of Community EngagementGary joined the staff in June 2010. His work focuses on the enumeration and community needs assessment, provider services (including staff support to the Homeless Services Coordinating Council), grassroots consumer advocacy, disaster planning and emergency readiness, volunteer and internship programs, as well as community resources. Gary has been providing social services for sixteen years in the greater Houston area and has eleven years of community

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organizing experience. Gary oversaw daily operations of 22 housing and services programs, including transitional and permanent SHP, CBDG, SPC, Mod Rehab, ESG, HPRP, and HOPWA housing. He directed the Pathways to Success employment assistance program facilitating the return to work for persons receiving SSI/SSDI and accessing mainstream resources for disabled person(s). Gary is a proud graduate of the University of Houston, with a BA in Political Science, and the University of Houston Law Center. ggrier @ homelesshouston . org

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BoardThe Coalition is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under the leadership of an elected Chair.

OfficersStephen L. Williams - ChairFrances Isbell - Vice-Chair Clarissa Stephens - Secretary

Board MembersDavid Benson, Marilyn Brown (ex officio), Ira C. Colby, Clara Cooper, Stephan Fairfield, Nancy Frees-Fountain, Tory Gunsolley, Thomas “Greg” Hambrick, Celes Harris, Donna Herron, Tim Horan, Martha Giddings Macris, Linda K. May, Dennis Nelson, Timothy N. Oettmeier, Neal Rackleff, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, Dr. Steven Schnee, Andy Teas, Amanda Timm, Thomas Verhagen, Sharon Zachary-Heyliger, and Preston Witt

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NewsWelcome to the Coalition’s News center! Here you can find the latest news, archives, Press Room and related information.

Latest Coalition News (insert headline plus opening paragraph of latest Coalition press release, with <more> at end to continue reading)

eConnect – <links to new eConnect page>

Press Room <links to new Press Room page>

Financial Reports <links to Who We Are page>

Reporting <links to new Local Data and Research page under General Information>

Multimedia <links to new Multimedia page>

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eConnect page(insert Agency eConnect logotype) The Coalition delivers important news to homeless service providers and the public through eConnect e-mail blasts.

Read the latest eConnect <links to most recent issue of eConnect>

Join the eConnect mailing list <links to http :// visitor . r 20. constantcontact . com / manage / optin / ea ? v =001 dbhkIZY 57- BdIfJJpvgOsr 2 wDmvzbTouAmeWhQDJsb 5 njOElD 5 k 0 qE 8 i 0 iPOgatvRIECPEIX 9 obpI 6 SwNG V 9 IgJ 2 pMwMc 1 yaLkFlbFJexxX 5 Xq 9 R _ psBywLhHWDANTZXc 4 mNYNEpQ 6 lsB 0 NfqLUclns AuN 2 MffQ 4 >

eConnect archive <links to archive of previous issues of eConnect)

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Press Room Welcome to the Coalition’s Press Room! (heading)

Press contact: Marilyn L. Brown- 832-531-6007; mbrown@homelesshouston.org

Press Releases <links to archive of CFTH press releases>

Coalition in the News <links to archive of news items about CFTH and/or homelessness> Need list of items. (This list should also include FN: 2012CPO_OutreachEnrollmentFinalDraft.docx) This is to remain hidden for now.

Fact Sheet <links to pdf file to be created based on separate Word doc>

Coalition Staff <links to new About Us page, Staff subpage>

FAQ <links to new Coalition FAQ page>

Speaker’s Bureau <links to new Speaker’s Bureau page>

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Press Room FAQ

FAQs (heading)What is the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County?The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

The Coalition was established in 1982, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1988, and has evolved to be the lead agency coordinating the community response to homelessness in Houston. Under the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, passed in 2009, an entire community rather than individual service providers must demonstrate success in preventing and reducing homelessness. In 2011, HUD named Houston as a priority community. This designation recognizes the great need to transform Houston’s existing homeless service system and the tremendous opportunity to make significant advances due to the commitment of homeless service agencies <links to new Find a Provider page> and the contributions <links to new Donate page> of key community stakeholders.

Accordingly, the Coalition is the lead agency coordinating Houston’s response to homelessness, and as such serves as the support organization for the community’s Continuum of Care <links to new CoC page>. This work creates an improved homeless service system that more effectively provides services, support and housing to all sub-populations within Houston’s homeless community, with a primary focus on moving individuals and families out of homelessness.

The ultimate goal of the Coalition is the creation of a homeless service system that achieves reduction in new instances of, length of, and returns to homelessness, and meets the varying needs of homeless sub-populations such as unaccompanied youth, veterans and families with children.

How is the Coalition working to prevent and end homelessness?Broadly, the Coalition works to prevent and end homelessness by:● Liaising with government at the local, city, state and federal levels;● Supporting homeless service providers; and● Advocating on behalf of the homeless.

In addition, the Coalition delivers a number of focused programs and services, including the Consumer Advisory Council, Homeless Court, the Homeless Management Information System, the Homeless Services Coordinating Council, Houston Community Voice Mail, and the Point-In-Time Enumeration and Needs Assessment. (These are all described below).

Finally, the Coalition also provides information and referral services, both for homeless service providers and for people who are homeless.

What is the HMIS?The HMIS (short for Homeless Management Information System) is a computerized data collection tool specifically designed to capture client-level, system-wide information over time

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on the characteristics and services needs of men, women and children experiencing homelessness. HMIS allows the aggregation of client-level data across homeless service agencies to generate unduplicated counts and service patterns of clients served.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) National Data and Technical Standards establish baseline standards for participation, data collection, privacy and security. Implementation of HMIS is a requirement for receipt of HUD McKinney-Vento funding.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is the local HMIS lead agency.

Click here <links to HMIS page> for more information on the HMIS.

What is the Homeless Services Coordinating Council?The Homeless Services Coordinating Council (HSCC) was established in 1993 by the Coalition as a membership-driven program to assist homeless service providers. Council members meet on a monthly basis to collaborate, share information and best practices and access educational and training opportunities.

Click here <links to Advocate page> for more information on the HSCC.

What is Houston Community Voice Mail?The Houston Community Voice Mail (HCVM) Program provides free voice mail service to individuals, families with children and youth experiencing homelessness, and is managed by the Coalition. This initiative provides voice mail lines to more than 100 agency programs in Harris County, whose case managers in turn provide lines to their clients to access their voicemail. This program thus enables homeless persons to connect to job opportunities, housing, healthcare, information and hope for the future.

Click here <links to Community Voice Mail page> from more information.

What is Homeless Court?Homeless Court (HC), established in 2006, is a program coordinated by the Coalition that enables homeless defendants to resolve outstanding class C misdemeanor offenses within the City of Houston’s Municipal Court system. Houston’s HC is a partnership among city courts, the Coalition, local shelters and service providers allowing homeless defendants to meet traditional sentence requirements (often fines, public work service, and/or time in jail) through service program activities such as chemical dependency meetings, computer literacy classes and job skills training. Referral are initiated by homeless service provider case managers and submitted to the Coalition.

Click here <links to Homeless Court page> from more information.

What is the Community Advisory Council?The Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) is a group of people who have experienced homelessness or received homeless services who have been brought together to serve as a liaison between service providers and people who are homeless. It was formed by the Coalition in July

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2010 to enhance communication between the homeless community, the Coalition and homeless service providers. It is working to improve methods of combating homelessness, eliminate barriers and provide the homeless with a voice in citywide issues involving homeless services.

Click here <links to Advocate page> from more information.

What is the Point In Time Enumeration and Needs Assessment?The Point-In-Time (PIT) Enumeration and Needs Assessment is a program conducted by the Coalition and is required of all communities receiving HUD funding. The PIT enumeration engages more than 500 volunteers to conduct the count and survey the Houston homeless population during one night in January each year. In the spring of each year in-depth needs assessment interviews are conducted with representatives from homeless sub-populations. The goal of this program is to guide strategic changes to the homeless service system by ensuring that current information is available on the scope of homelessness in our community and the current needs and gaps in services.

Click here <links to Point in Time Enumeration page> from more information.

How can organizations that provide services to the homeless get connected with the Coalition?The best way for these organizations to get connected to the Coalition is by joining the Homeless Services Coordinating Council. Click here <links to Advocate page> for more information on the HSCC.

How can I help?Homelessness remains an enormous challenge, but it’s one we believe can be solved with your help. The major ways that you can help are by donating <links to Donate page> money, advocating <links to Advocate page> for the homeless and performing volunteer <links to Volunteer page> service.

For additional information, please visit our FAQ page <links to main FAQ page>

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Speakers BureauThe Coalition team has broad experience in a range of topics and issues related to the complex problem of homelessness, as well as extensive familiarity with the various federal, state and local resources involved.

We’ll be glad to share our expertise on homelessness and related issues by providing a speaker for your meeting or event.

The Coalition is prepared at any time (schedule permitting) to present to your group on the following topics:

● Can We End Homelessness? - a review of the latest thinking on ways to prevent and end homelessness

● Continuum of Care – an overview of the collaborative efforts of the homeless services agencies in the Houston area to prevent and end homelessness

● Government Resources - a broad review of federal, state, county and city resources for the homeless

● Homelessness 101 - a broad overview of the scope of the problem and existing efforts to address it

● Homelessness in the Houston Area - an overview of homelessness in this area, including demographics and unique contributing factors

Click here <links to form below> to request a speaker.

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Speaker Request Form

Notes● Each presentation lasts about an hour.● Please send in your request at least one month in advance of your meeting.● All fields must be filled in to submit your request.

Name of your organization ____________________Date and time of your meeting ____________________Location of your meeting ____________________Topic you would like presented (insert dropdown pick list)

Can We End Homelessness?Continuum of CareGovernment ResourcesHomelessness 101Homelessness in the Houston AreaOther (please specify) __________________

Your name ____________________Your phone number ____________________Your e-mail address ____________________

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Multimedia

heading – but this page to remain hidden for now)On this page you can find a collection of videos and other resource material regarding the Coalition and homelessness.

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Take Action Help us serve those who serve the homeless

As a nonprofit, charitable organization, the Coalition relies on generous support from individuals, corporations and foundations to make our work possible. Every gift, large or small, supports our mission: To lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

Donate online (insert the donate button here and have it link to download donate form)

or

Donate by check

Checks should be made payable to Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County and mailed to:Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris CountyAttn: Development Department600 Jefferson, Suite 2050Houston, TX 77002

The Coalition adheres to and supports the Association of Fundraising Professionals ’ ( AFP ) Code of Ethics , Association of Fundraising Professionals ’ Donor Bill of Rights and Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner .

Your donor information is safe and secure. For more details please review our Privacy Policy <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/hh/Privacy_Policy.asp?SnID=1260963998>.

Thank you to the many individuals, corporations and foundations <links to new donor list page> who help to make a difference in this community!

Questions? Contact the Coalition’s Development Department at 832-531-6003.

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Donor List pageThanks to all of our donors! (heading)

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is grateful for the many individual, corporate and foundation donors who generously support our advocacy work.

All of the corporate and foundation donors listed below made significant contributions in the past fiscal year. We also would like to extend our sincere thanks to the many other donors whose generous support helps us get closer to our ultimate goal—to prevent and end homelessness.

Andrews Foundation

Bank of America

Bank of Texas

Baxter Trust

Brookfield Office Properties

Cameron Foundation

Chevron

CRC Foundation

di Portanova Foundation

Gensler

Henley Foundation

Insperity

Journey Charitable Trust

Knox Foundation

Lowenstein Foundation

Marek Family Foundation

McNair Foundation

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Reliant Energy

Shapiro Foundation

Simmons Foundation

The Brown Foundation

The Frees Foundation

The Powell Foundation

Vale-Asche Foundation

Wells Fargo

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Advocate pageAdvocacy is vital in addressing homelessness effectively. (heading)

Homelessness is a complex issue, and effective efforts to prevent and end it require broad community participation. Citizens who care about the problem and become educated on the issues can advocate much more effectively for improved solutions. As the lead agency in the Continuum of Care, the Coalition for the Homeless provides various opportunities to advocate, including ongoing membership in various work groups.

The Continuum of Care is composed of several volunteer committees and networking/task groups, which have various roles and responsibilities. These committees/groups include but are not limited to the following:

● CoC Steering Committee ● Homeless Services Coordinating Council ● Consumer Advisory Council ● Provider Affinity Groups ● Population-specific Work Groups ● Task-specific Work Groups

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The Homeless Services Coordinating Council provides vital services—collaboration, education, advocacy and coordination—through the distribution of information and resources to serve persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Houston/Harris County and the surrounding areas. Membership in the Homeless Services Coordinating Council is a vital component in the CoC planning process. Member participation helps to reduce the duplication of services and to develop and maintain a service network that promotes and advances the quality of life for people who are homeless. Membership includes a variety of stakeholders, including nonprofit housing and services providers, faith-based organizations, advocacy groups, funders, government agencies and researchers. Membership is subject to annual registration, which includes updating vital agency information and dues depending on overall agency budget. <more; links to HSCC page with application; FN = 2012_Membership_Packet__member_renewal_request.doc>

Click here <links to new HSCC Reference Materials page> to view a variety of reference materials that the HSCC has produced.

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The Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) was convened in July of 2010 by the Coalition for the Homeless and developed its bylaws and stated mission: “Through our service and homeless experience, we provide a voice and a bridge of communication to network and share information between the homeless community, CoC, and the Coalition for the Homeless; to remove barriers, and to put an end to homelessness in the Houston area.” The CAC meets monthly and has developed several subcommittees, including the Stand up and be Counted Corps, the Speaker’s Series and the Community Needs Assessment Group. It represents the HUD consumer sub-populations and is composed of both formerly homeless persons and persons who are currently homeless. The CAC is an autonomous body that conducts annual election of officers who represent the CAC on the Coalition for the Homeless Board of Directors and in the CoC planning structure. <more; links to CAC application; FN = CAC_Application.docx>

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Provider Affinity Groups include existing and to-be-formed work groups focused on planning around specific program types or system components, such as prevention/diversion, emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, outreach, etc. These groups include staff from provider and government organizations, consumers, funders, etc.

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Population-specific Work Groups include both existing and to-be-formed groups focused on planning for the needs of specific sub-populations, such as domestic violence survivors and youth/young adults. These groups include staff from provider and government organizations, consumers, funders, etc.

Please check our Events Calendar <links to Calendar; http :// www . homelesshouston . org / hh / Test 2. asp ? SnID =940366401 > for other advocacy opportunities.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Gary Grier at Ggrier @ homelesshouston . org or via phone at 832-531-6006.

Please also consider advocacy opportunities with these partner organizations:One Voice Texas <links to http :// www . onevoicetexas . org / >National Alliance to End Homelessness <links to http :// www . endhomelessness . org / >

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VolunteerThe Coalition accepts general volunteers for projects and community volunteers for major events such as the Houston Homeless Count Point in Time Enumeration <links to Point in Time Enumeration page> conducted in January each year and the Homeless in Memoriam <links to In Memoriam page> on December 21st of each year.

We also encourage you to consider volunteering with one of the region’s many homeless service providers. Click here <links to map> for our interactive map showing their names, locations and contact information.

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Point in Time EnumerationThe Houston Point In Time Enumeration and Street Count (heading)

How many people are homeless in Houston and Harris and Fort Bend counties? How are veterans, families, children, and vulnerable populations affected by homelessness? The Coalition for the Homeless works to help answer these questions by conducting an annual Point In Time Enumeration and Street Count, and your help is needed in this extremely important task.

This information helps provide the basis for federal, state and local funding to address the issue and, more importantly, helps us analyze this region’s needs and develop and implement strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

2013 Point In Time Enumeration and Street CountDates: January 15 – training from 5:30 to 7:00 pm

January 22, 29 – count from 5:30 to 11:30 pmWhere: All of Houston, Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Staging areas have been assigned near your neighborhood.Details <links to Enumeration Teams and their Duties page>

To help in this crucial effort, please form your team and sign up <links to application form; FN = 2013P-I-T_InfoSign-Up.docx – new version in progress> early.

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Enumeration Teams and Their Duties page

Enumeration Teams and their Duties (heading)

There will typically be four people per team—one driver, one navigator and two counters—although smaller teams can in some cases be accommodated. A detailed area map with grid will be provided to each team, along with a clipboard, pencils, highlighter, flashlights and all necessary forms.

Task DescriptionsDriver: The driver’s only job is to drive his or her team safely around the assigned area. The driver should familiarize him/herself with the area before the night of the count. A valid driver’s license, current auto insurance and a vehicle are required.

Counters (2 per team): The counters will be responsible for observing the unsheltered homeless and calling out the number, gender and age group of those observed to the recorder. It will be the counter’s decision about whom to classify as homeless during the observational count. Training manuals and training opportunities will be provided in December 2012. One of the counters will be a service provider or formerly homeless person. This person will be familiar with the area the team is canvassing and will be responsible for approaching the homeless should this be necessary. She or he will have information about resources available to help the homeless should the occasion arise. She or he will assist the team in locating areas where the homeless may congregate.

Navigator/Recorder: The navigator/recorder will be a volunteer from the community and will have a dual role. She or he will help the driver navigate the assigned area and keep track of what areas of the map area have already been canvassed. In addition, she or he will be responsible for tallying the information that is called out by the counters and turning in the sheets at the end of the evening.

Questions? Contact Gary Grier or call (713) 739-7514.

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Eventsno content yet

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Upcoming● Community Charrette Week: August 20-28 <links to Charrette page>

● 30th Anniversary Luncheon, December 12, 2012 <links to 30th Anniversary Celebration page>

● National Homeless Memorial Day <links to In Memoriam page>

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Charrette pageCharrette Week for the Coalition (Heading)(Body copy)The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is hosting a four-day Charrette to Advance Plans to End Homelessness, with support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, on August 20, 21, 23 and 28. The general public is invited to attend.A Charrette is an intensive planning process that jumpstarts and streamlines how a community develops or updates its plan to end homelessness. The upcoming Community Charrette on Homelessness, which will encompass Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County, is an opportunity for collaboration among diverse stakeholders to solve community problems related to homelessness. The Community Charrette is a direct result of the current Continuum of Care work being led by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.

Download the Charrette Overview. <downloads FN Destination_Home_Charrette_Flyer.pdf (note – need to check for update, as this version may not be final)>

Charrettes stimulate and reignite community interest in ending homelessness by:● Dramatically decreasing the time required for planning, from two years or more to six

months or less;● Quickly establishing an open environment for concerns and questions;● Pushing the community conversation forward and confronting the most difficult issues; and● Strengthening relationships across systems, programs and funders.

For more information on the Charrette, please contact Gary Grier at 832-531-6006 or ggrier@homelesshouston.org.

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30th Anniversary page

Coalition 30th Anniversary Celebration, December 12, 2012 (Heading)

(Body copy)

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County will celebrate its 30th Anniversary this December. To commemorate the occasion, please join us at the Junior League of Houston for a festive luncheon. All proceeds will benefit the Coalition’s efforts to lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

If you are interested in further information and/or contribution opportunities, please contact the Development Department at 832-531-6003.

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Past/Archived Events (this page to be hidden for now)

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In Memoriam

In Memoriam (heading)

(insert graphic from http :// www . homelesshouston . org / hh / In _ Memoriam . asp ? SnID =901742446 )

NATIONAL HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY

December 21st is the longest night of the year. When you are homeless, that means the longest night on the street or in a shelter. In recognition of this, December 21st is designated as the National Homeless Memorial Day.

A number of people who are homeless in Houston/Harris County pass away every year. Unfortunately, many of them die anonymously. Join us on the steps of City Hall (901 Bagby) on December 21, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. as we read the names of those who have died while experiencing homelessness. Additionally, we will be collecting blankets, winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves at the vigil for distribution to members of our community currently experiencing homelessness. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. For more information, contact us at (713) 739-7514.

Below is a list of those who were homeless in the Houston/Harris County area and passed away last year.

2011Thomas Acree

Bertoldo AlcarazDavid AndrateAlbert AndrusFelecia Anes

Q. NailorRichard BakerPerry BarkerBilly Batten

Willie BrakinsAlton BuckleyJesus Camejo

Melaine CameronAlfonso CanoManuel Cruz

Deborah DestinRickie Dillard

Anthony DiprimaJoseph EleuterioErin Etheridge

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Richard GardnerRichard Gilchrist

Juan GonzalezJoe N. GreenJames GreskoDebra HarrisMark HartsellJames Harsley

Juan HernandezRobert Hill

Phillip HollowayJohn Hoyt

Terry HughesJason HutchinsShelby Jackson

Scott KapalaChristine Keckley

Alan KennedyHarold Lane

Jose LaraMichael Lee

Donald LewisJoseph Magana

Luz Medina MartiEarl Mattle

Claude MayfieldLeslie Mayo

James McCluskyJarvis McCurtisMelissa McLeodJodie Mitchell

Eric MlinxRuth MurilloMilbert PogueAnthony PolkDeron Powell

Michael QuigleyAnthony RandallMichael ReillyAmy ResendezJohn Reynolds

Ann RichardsonSalvador Rodriguez

Rene RuizManuel RusherPaul Sanchez

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Reuben SandersSteve StevensonFreddie Strokes

TraceyObispo Tzunun-Barreno

UnknownHogan Vasha

Emile WashingtonMark WillsonWillie WilsonCharles Wolf

Leonardo YanezDiedra Young

Anita ZeppenfelotJoseph Zimmerman

David Lopez Andrate

US Army veteran - Vietnam - died on the 5th of February, 2011

Mr. Andrate lived in the Aldine area off Highway 59 in a homeless encampment with two other homeless men; they had no tent or cabin—only donated blankets to keep warm. They thought they were safe.

On a Saturday night, one of our city’s coldest nights on record, Mr. Andrate layered himself in warm blankets in front of an open campfire in an attempt to keep warm and survive the cold. Sometime during the night, a spark from the fire ignited his blanket and he became engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread and within minutes, 85% of his body was covered in flames. He died shortly after being transported to an area hospital.

David survived the jungles of Vietnam, but not the perils of a Houston winter. Please visit our In Memoriam archive <links to new In Memoriam archive page> for lists from previous years.

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In Memoriam archive pageIn Memoriam archive (heading)

The Coalition for the Homeless honors the memory of the homeless persons who have died recently in our area. (insert FN MemoriamArchive.docx)

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FAQsAbout homelessness in the U.S.What does being “homeless” really mean?While probably everyone has some idea of what it means to be homeless, in the context of service delivery and the development of strategies to prevent and end homelessness, it’s important to be precise.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are four categories of homelessness:

Literally Homeless – An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:

● Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation;

● Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or

● Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.

Imminent Risk of Homelessness – An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that:

● Residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance;● No subsequent residence has been identified; and● The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other

permanent housing.Homeless under other Federal statutes - Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children and youth, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition, but who:

● Are defined as homeless under the other listed federal statutes;● Have not had a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in permanent housing

during the 60 days prior to the homeless assistance application;● Have experienced persistent instability as measured by two moves or more during the

preceding 60 days; and● Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time due to special

needs or barriersFleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence – Any individual or family who:

● Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence; ● Has no other residence; and● Lacks the resource or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.

What are the major contributing factors to homelessness in the U.S.?While circumstances can vary, the main reason people experience homelessness is because they cannot find housing they can afford. It is the scarcity of affordable housing in the United States,

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particularly in more urban areas where homelessness is more prevalent, that is behind their inability to acquire or maintain housing. (Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness)

A variety of additional factors can contribute to the problem; chief among these are poverty, a decline in levels of public assistance, lack of affordable health care, mental illness and addictive disorders.

How many people are homeless in the U.S.?According to HUD’s most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report (2010), <links to http :// www . hudhre . info / documents /2010 HomelessAssessmentReport . pdf > there are 649,879 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States.

Of that number:● 241,621 are people in families, and 408,258 are individuals.● 17% (109,812) of the homeless population is considered “chronically homeless,” <links

to http :// www . endhomelessness . org / section / issues / chronic _ homelessness ), and● 14% of homeless adults are veterans (HUD, 2011 Point-In-Time Estimates of

Homelessness: Supplement to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report <links to http://www.hudhre.info/documents/PIT-HIC_SupplementalAHARReport.pdf>

How many people are homeless in Texas?According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, <links to http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/4361/> there were 36,911 persons homeless in Texas in 2011, which means that approximately 15 out of every 10,000 persons in Texas are homeless.

This number remained basically unchanged from the 2009 count.

How does homelessness affect families and children?According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, families experiencing homelessness are similar to other, housed families living in poverty. In fact, many poor families—homeless or not—share similar characteristics: they are usually headed by a single woman with limited education; are usually young; and have high rates of domestic violence and mental illness.

Some families living in poverty fall into homelessness, usually due to some unforeseen financial challenge, such as a death in the family, a lost job, or an unexpected bill, creating a situation where the family cannot maintain housing.

Fortunately, homelessness among families is typically not a long-term experience. About 75% of families who enter shelter are able to quickly exit with little or no assistance, and never return. Some families, however, require more intensive assistance.

One of the most important strategies for lifting families from homelessness is rapid re-housing. The more quickly families are connected with permanent housing, the more quickly their homelessness can be solved and their lives can return to relative stability. Similarly, prevention

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strategies—in the form of cash assistance, housing subsidies, and other services—can avert homelessness before it starts.

How are services for the homeless funded?The federal government’s primary response to homelessness is embodied in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It funds proven solutions to homelessness. The bipartisan HEARTH Act of 2009 reauthorized the program to increase its emphasis on using outcomes and research to drive programmatic decisions.

The Homeless Assistance Grants appropriations account funds two programs: the competitive Continuum of Care (CoC) program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) block grant program. The HEARTH Act consolidated several previous programs into the CoC program, which funds proven interventions, like cost-effective permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people. The ESG block grant funds emergency shelter and adds a new focus on the cost-efficient interventions of homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing.

I notice a lot of abbreviations and acronyms in information about homelessness. Do you have definitions for these?Here are explanations of some of the most commonly used abbreviations and acronyms that are relevant to local efforts to prevent and end homelessness:

AHAR Annual Housing Availability ReportAPR Annual Performance Report (Annual Progress

Report for homeless programs)CDBG Community Development Block Grant (CPD

Program)CHDO Community and Housing Development

Organization. Non-profit housing provider receiving minimum of 15% of HOME Investment Partnership funds

CoC Continuum of Care approach to assistance to the homeless

Continuum of Care Federal program stressing permanent solutions to Homelessness

Con Plan Consolidated Plan, a locally developed plan for housing assistance and urban development under the Community Development Block Grant and other CPD programs

CPD Community Planning and Development (HUD Office of)

Data Warehouse Information system storing HUD program and operational data

EC Enterprise CommunitiesESG Emergency Solutions Grants (CPD program;

formerly Emergency Shelter Grants)

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Fair Housing Act 1968 act (amended in 1974 and 1988) providing HUD Secretary with fair housing enforcement and investigation responsibilities

FEMA Federal Emergency Management AdministrationFHA Federal Housing Administration (HUD Office of

Housing)FHAP Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHEO program).

Program assisting State/local govt with process fair housing complaints.

GPRA Government Performance and Results Act. Requires Federal Agencies to establish performance standards and report on results.

HEARTH Act Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act

HMIS Homeless Management Information SystemHOME Home Investment Partnerships (CPD program)HOPWA Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS

(CPD program)HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

DevelopmentLIHTC Low Income Housing Tax CreditMOU Memorandum of UnderstandingNOFA (HUD) Notice of Funding AvailabilityPHA Public Housing AuthorityPSH Permanent Supportive HousingPULSE The Homelessness PULSE projectRFP Request for Proposals. Used to solicit proposals for

contracts under the negotiated procurement method.Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment Program (Housing

and Community Development Act of 1974)Section 202 Loans for construction/rehab of housing for the

elderly or handicappedSection 202/811 Programs for housing assistance to the elderly and

people with disabilitiesSRO Single-Room Occupancy. Mortgage insurance

under Section 221(d) for single room apartments.Super NOFA HUD’s consolidated approach to issuance of

Notices of Funding AvailabilityTANF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Click

here <links to http :// www . workworld . org / wwwebhelp / tanf _ glossary . htm >

for a glossary of terms related to this program.TDHCA Texas Department of Housing and Community

AffairsVA Veterans Affairs (U.S. Department of)

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A more extensive list of abbreviations associated with HUD programs is available here <links to http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/about/acronyms>.

About homelessness in HoustonHow many people are homeless in the Houston area?Our most recent information indicates that on a given night there are approximately 8,768 homeless persons in our area, including 3,824 people living unsheltered, 3,532 living in sheltered facilities, and 1,412 in the Harris County Jail.

Those data reflect the results of the annual Point In Time Enumeration, which provides a snapshot of homelessness on a given night.

Measured in terms of the total number of persons accessing homeless services in a year, there were 22,781 people who were homeless in this area in 2011, as captured by HMIS.

Based on the Coalition’s 2012 Point In Time Enumeration and 2012 Needs Assessment Report, 22% of homeless individuals here—or about one in four—are in families with children, and 22% are veterans.

What are the contributing factors to homelessness in the Houston, Harris/Fort Bend County area?Factors contributing to homelessness in our area are generally the same as those in other areas of the U.S. (See What are the major contributing factors to homelessness in the U.S.?, above.)

Triggers for homelessness in this area during 2011 and 2012 are shown in the chart below. (insert Triggers of Homelessness chart, truncating the list below entry #8 – Changes in family status; rename chart to Major Triggers of Homelessness in the Houston Area)

As you can see, economic conditions are currently playing a large role, with “loss of job” forming the largest category.

In addition, according to the 2012 Needs Assessment Report and 2012 Point In Time Enumeration:

● Nearly 50% of homeless persons here reported receiving no income, whether from employment, earned income, veterans or disability benefits or other similar sources.

● 34% of people living on the streets were categorized as chronically homeless.● More than 25% of homeless persons here reported “the street” as the place they stayed

the longest during the last 12 months.

Houston has been named a Priority Community by HUD. What does that mean?Passage of the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act put into place requirements to coordinate various HUD and other federal funds to prevent and end homelessness.

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To aid certain communities in the implementation of the HEARTH Act, HUD designated ten Priority Communities across the country. The Houston/Harris County/Fort Bend County Continuum of Care was designated as one of these HUD Priority Communities.

This designation was based on the high rate of homelessness, especially chronic homelessness, in this area combined with the potential to improve systemic performance.

How can a homeless person or family get help here? What about youth?People who are homeless in this area can access this interactive map <links to map> showing homeless service providers and their contact information.

In addition, a variety of resources are located here <links to Experiencing Homelessness page>.

How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas in terms of homelessness?Our most recent information indicates that there are approximately 8,700 homeless persons in our area on a given night.

Here are comparable figures for other large Texas cities:

● Austin-Round Rock – 2,362● Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington – 5,865● El Paso – 1,331● San Antonio – 3, 222

Clearly, this region has a lot of work to do—the Houston total is nearly the same as that of the two next-largest homeless populations combined (i.e., Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington plus San Antonio).

How is Houston doing compared to other major U.S. cities in terms of helping the homeless?The fact that our region was identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a priority community indicates that we have a lot of work to do to improve our region’s response to the challenge of homelessness.

For reference, below are comparative figures for the 10 largest cities in the U.S. All data are taken from 2011 Point In Time Counts, which reflect the number of homeless persons on a given night (CoC = Continuum of Care).

New York City CoC 51,123Los Angeles City and County CoC 45,422Chicago CoC 6,635City of Houston/Harris County 8,471Philadelphia CoC 6,180Phoenix/Mesa/Maricopa County Regional CoC 5,831San Antonio/Bexar County CoC 3,222San Diego City and County CoC 9,436Dallas City and County/Irving CoC 3,540

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San Jose/Santa Clara City and County CoC 7,067

About the CoalitionWhat is the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County?The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

The Coalition was established in 1982, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1988, and has evolved to be the lead agency coordinating the community response to homelessness in Houston. Under the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, passed in 2009, an entire community rather than individual service providers must demonstrate success in preventing and reducing homelessness. In 2011, HUD named Houston as a priority community. This designation recognizes the great need to transform Houston’s existing homeless service system and the tremendous opportunity to make significant advances due to the commitment of homeless service agencies <link to new Find a Provider page> and the contributions <links to new Donate page> of key community stakeholders.

Accordingly, the Coalition is the lead agency coordinating Houston’s response to homelessness, and as such serves as the primary organizer for the projects that are creating the community’s Continuum of Care <links to new CoC page>. This work creates an improved homeless service system that more effectively provides services, support and housing to all sub-populations within Houston’s homeless community, with a primary focus on moving individuals and families out of homelessness.

The ultimate goal of the Coalition is the creation of a homeless service system that achieves reduction in new instances of, length of, and returns to homelessness, and meets the varying needs of homeless sub-populations such as unaccompanied youth, veterans and families with children.

How is the Coalition working to prevent and end homelessness?Broadly, the Coalition works to prevent and end homelessness by:

● Liaising with government at the local, city, state and federal levels;● Supporting homeless service providers; and● Advocating on behalf of the homeless.

The Coalition is the lead agency coordinating Houston’s response to homelessness, and as such serves as the primary support organization for the community’s Continuum of Care <links to CoC page>.

In addition, the Coalition delivers a number of focused programs and services, including the Consumer Advisory Council, Homeless Court, the Homeless Management Information System, the Homeless Services Coordinating Council, Houston Community Voice Mail, and the Point-In-Time Enumeration and Needs Assessment. (These are all described below).

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Finally, the Coalition in a partnership with 2-1-1, also provides information and referral services, both for homeless service providers and for people who are homeless.

What is the HMIS?The HMIS (short for Homeless Management Information System) is a computerized data collection tool specifically designed to capture client-level, system-wide information over time on the characteristics and services needs of men, women and children experiencing homelessness. HMIS allows the aggregation of client-level data across homeless service agencies to generate unduplicated counts and service patterns of clients served.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) National Data and Technical Standards establish baseline standards for participation, data collection, privacy and security. Implementation of HMIS is a requirement for receipt of HUD McKinney-Vento funding.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is the local HMIS lead agency.

Click here <links to HMIS page> for more information on the HMIS.

What is the Homeless Services Coordinating Council?The Homeless Services Coordinating Council (HSCC) was established in 1993 by the Coalition as a membership-driven program to assist homeless service providers. Council members meet on a monthly basis to collaborate, share information and best practices and access educational and training opportunities.

Click here <links to Advocate page> for more information on the HSCC.

What is Houston Community Voice Mail?The Houston Community Voice Mail (HCVM) Program provides free voice mail service to individuals, families with children and youth experiencing homelessness, and is managed by the Coalition. This initiative provides voice mail lines to more than 100 agency programs in Harris County, whose case managers in turn provide lines to their clients to access their voicemail. This program thus enables homeless persons to connect to job opportunities, housing, healthcare, information and hope for the future.

Click here <links to Community Voice Mail page> from more information.

What is Homeless Court?Homeless Court (HC), established in 2006, is a program coordinated by the Coalition that enables homeless defendants to resolve outstanding class C misdemeanor offenses within the City of Houston’s Municipal Court system. Houston’s HC is a partnership among city courts, the Coalition, local shelters and service providers allowing homeless defendants to meet traditional sentence requirements (often fines, public work service, and/or time in jail) through service program activities such as chemical dependency meetings, computer literacy classes and job skills training. Referrals are initiated by homeless service provider case managers and submitted to the Coalition.

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Click here <links to Homeless Court page> from more information.

What is the Community Advisory Council?The Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) is a group of people who have experienced homelessness or received homeless services who have been brought together to serve as a liaison between service providers and people who are homeless. It was formed by the Coalition in July 2010 to enhance communication between the homeless community, the Coalition and homeless service providers. It is working to improve methods of combating homelessness, eliminate barriers and provide the homeless with a voice in citywide issues involving homeless services.

Click here <links to Advocate page> from more information.

What is the Point In Time Enumeration and Needs Assessment?The Point-In-Time (PIT) Enumeration and Needs Assessment is a program conducted by the Coalition and is required of all communities receiving HUD funding. The PIT enumeration engages more than 500 volunteers to conduct the count and survey the Houston homeless population during one night in January each year. In the spring of each year, in-depth needs assessment interviews are conducted with representatives from homeless sub-populations. The goal of this program is to guide strategic changes to the homeless service system by ensuring that current information is available on the scope of homelessness in our community and the current needs and gaps in services.

Click here <links to Point in Time Enumeration page> from more information.

How can organizations that provide services to the homeless get connected with the Coalition?The best way for these organizations to get connected to the Coalition is by joining the Homeless Services Coordinating Council. Click here <links to Advocate page> for more information on the HSCC.

How can I help?Homelessness remains an enormous challenge, but it’s one we believe can be solved with your help. The major ways that you can help are by donating <links to Donate page> money, advocating <links to Advocate page> for the homeless and performing volunteer <links to Volunteer page> service.

About the Continuum of CareWhat is the Continuum of Care for Houston, Harris/Fort Bend County?According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.” This concept is based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements.

The Continuum of Care for Houston, Harris/Fort Bend County serves two 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;

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○ The availability and accessibility of existing housing and services; and ○ The opportunities for linkages with mainstream housing and services resources.

● To prepare an application of McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act competitive grants.

What is the role of the Coalition in the Continuum of Care?The Coalition serves as the lead agency for the Continuum of Care. The chief duties of the lead agency include:

● Staffing the planning committees;● Producing planning materials;● Coordinating needs/gaps assessments;● Collecting and reporting performance data;● Monitoring program performance;● Coordinating resources;● Integrating activities and facilitating collaboration;● Preparing the collaborative application for CoC funds;● Building awareness;● Recruiting stakeholders; and● Managing the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

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Contact UsContact Us (Heading)

Contact the Coalition by phone or mail:Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County600 Jefferson St., Suite 2050Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713-739-7514Fax: 713-739-8038

Or, reach us online:(Insert form here, all fields must be completed, including comments. Info dumped into an excel file for retrieval by staff)

First nameLast nameE-mailPhoneNature of inquiry (drop-down menu)

AdvocacyVolunteerismFundraising and DevelopmentCommunications and MediaAdministrative and BillingAgency Liaison

Comments

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Find a Provider

(click2map embed would be on this page)

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Left Navigation: General Information

Homelessness 101

Scope of the ProblemAccording to the most recent report <links to http :// www . hudhre . info / documents /2010 HomelessAssessmentReport . pdf > from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are nearly 650,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in this country.

In Texas, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, <links to http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/4361/> there were 36,911 persons homeless in 2011, which means that approximately 15 out of every 10,000 persons in this state are homeless. (This number remained basically unchanged from the 2009 count.)

And in the Houston area, the most recent statistics indicate that more than 8,700 people are without a home here on a given night.

While there are official definitions of homelessness <links to main FAQ page>, probably everyone has some idea of what it could mean to be without a home.

But not everyone is aware of the costs.

For the individual or family without a home, the impact can be devastating. Imagine for a moment what it would mean in your own life to be without a place to sleep, to shower, to keep your clothing and possessions, to build your life.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, families experiencing homelessness are generally similar to other, housed families living in poverty. In fact, many poor families—homeless or not—share similar characteristics: they are usually headed by a single woman with limited education, are usually young, and have high rates of domestic violence and mental illness.

Some families living in poverty fall into homelessness as a result of some unforeseen financial challenge, such as a death in the family, a lost job or an unexpected bill, creating a situation where the family cannot maintain housing.

In addition to the direct impact on individuals and families who are without a home, enormous costs accrue to our society in general from the problem of homelessness. These costs are incurred

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in the areas of medical treatment, hospitalization, police intervention, incarceration, the provision of emergency shelters and other areas.

Contributing FactorsWhile circumstances vary, the main reason people experience homelessness is because they cannot find housing they can afford. It is the scarcity of affordable housing in the United States, particularly in more urban areas where homelessness is more prevalent, that is behind the inability to acquire or maintain housing. (Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness)

A variety of additional factors can contribute to the problem; chief among these are poverty, a decline in levels of public assistance, lack of affordable health care, mental illness and addictive disorders.

In our area, economic conditions are currently playing a large role: 35% of the homeless individuals cite job loss as a trigger to their homelessness.

On the Path toward SolutionsAs you might expect, a problem of this magnitude and cost has attracted a great deal of attention across the country—from federal, state and local government agencies and initiatives to the efforts of individual citizens who advocate for homeless persons, donate to charitable organizations, or volunteer their time to help.

In fact, the problem is so complex, and related services are provided by so many organizations, both public and private, that improved coordination of these efforts—to reduce duplicative efforts, to ensure appropriate accessibility, and to achieve optimal cost-effectiveness—is a major concern.

In 1987, Congress passed the first federal law specifically addressing homelessness. The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, later renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, provides federal financial support for a variety of programs to meet the many needs of individuals and families who are homeless.

Although HUD did not initially impose any requirements for systemic planning at the local level, in 1994 the agency, recognizing the need for improved coordination, began requiring that communities come together to submit a single comprehensive application for HUD funding. HUD’s intent in creating this structured application process was to stimulate community-wide planning and coordination of programs for individuals and families who are homeless—and gave rise to the Continuum of Care (CoC) concept.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.”

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, which was established in 1982, is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead in the development and implementation of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

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Today, the organization is the lead agency coordinating Houston’s response to homelessness and, as such, serves as the primary support organization for the community’s Continuum of Care <links to new CoC page>. This work creates an improved homeless service system that more effectively provides services, support and housing to all sub-populations within the Houston area’s homeless community, with a primary focus on moving individuals and families out of homelessness.

The ultimate goal of the Coalition is the creation of a homeless service system that achieves reduction in new instances of, length of, and returns to homelessness, and meets the varying needs of homeless sub-populations, such as unaccompanied youth, veterans and families with children.

We encourage all citizens to become better informed on the issues surrounding homelessness, and to take action <links to Take Action page> by advocating, donating or volunteering.

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Local Data and ResearchBelow you can find access to a number of reports and other information concerning homelessness in this area.

● Perceived Needs of Homeless Persons in Houston/Harris County (2012 Needs Assessment Report) – to Lee Group by August 1, 2012

● Houston/Harris County/Fort Bend County Point-in-Time Enumeration 2012 Executive Summary <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/2012%20PIT%20Executive%20summary%20final.pdf>

● 2012 PIT Hot Spots Map <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/Hot_spots_Zip_Codes.pdf>

● 2011 Homeless School Children in Houston <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/2011_Homeless%20School%20Children%20in%20Houston.pdf>

● Houston/Harris County/Fort Bend County Point-in-Time Enumeration 2011 Executive Summary <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/2011_PIT_Executive_summary.pdf>

● Perceived Needs of Homeless Persons in Houston/Harris County (2011 Needs Assessment Report) <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/2011%20CFTH%20Needs%20Assessment%20Report.pdf>

● 2011 Harris County Homeless Students Map <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/Harris%20County%20Homeless%20Students.pdf>

● Capacity and Gaps in the Homeless Residential and Service System, Harris and Fort Bend Counties, 2011 <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/Capacity%20and%20Gaps%20in%20the%20Homeless%20Residential%20and%20Service%20System,%20Harris%20and%20Fort%20Bend%20Counties.pdf>

● Geographic Origin of the Users of the Houston/Harris County-based Homeless Services, 2011 <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/Geographic%20Origin%20of%20Houston%20Homeless%20Population%20v9FINAL.pdf>

● 2010 Houston/Harris County Homeless Count and Survey <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/2010_Final_Homeless_Report.pdf>

● 2009 Houston/Harris County Homeless Point-in-Time Enumeration and Survey <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/2009%20Houston_Harris%20County%20Homeless%20Point%20in%20Time%20Enumeration%20and%20Survey%20Report.pdf>

● Costs Associated with First-time homelessness for Families and Individuals <http://www.huduser.org/portal/publications/povsoc/cost_homelessness.html>. This study measures costs associated with first-time homeless families and individuals incurred by homeless and mainstream service delivery systems in six study communities.

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Unaccompanied individuals were studied in Des Moines, Iowa; Houston, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida. Families were studied in Houston, Texas; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Upstate South Carolina; and Washington, DC.

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Resources

Help CardIn addition to the map <links to map> showing the names, location and contact information for homeless service providers in the Houston area, please find this Help Card, <links to http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / HELP %20 CARD %20 English %20 and %20 Spanish %20 lud %2002162012. pdf > which provides an extensive list of local resources for homeless persons.

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2-1-12-1-1 allows people to give help and to get help.

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. Its implementation is spearheaded by United Way organizations and information and referral agencies in states and local communities. United Way Worldwide (UWW) and the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) are committed to providing national leadership so that every American has access to this essential service.

In the Houston region, the alternative number for this free service is (877) 541-7905

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MapsThe Coalition for the Homeless has developed an interactive mapping system for use by anyone in locating homeless service providers in our region. Click here <links to map> to visit the map.

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Harris County Housing Resource CenterThe Harris County Housing Resource Center (HRC) is a service of the Harris   County Community Services Department . It provides information on housing and community resources collected from all over Harris County, Texas.

The HRC offers recorded information for housing and emergency assistance, in English and Spanish, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling (713) 578-2055.

Click here <links to http :// www . hrc . hctx . net / > for more information.

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For Community Partners

Continuum of Care Recognizing the need to stimulate community-wide planning and coordination of programs for individuals and families who are homeless, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1994 instituted a requirement for communities to come together to submit a single, comprehensive application for HUD funds for housing and support services for people who have experienced homelessness. The organizational concept to embody this effort is the Continuum of Care (CoC).

First and foremost, the CoC is a planning process. The goal is to understand the size and scope of the problem of homelessness in a community, and to design effective strategies and solutions to address the problem. It is locally driven, although the process must meet federally set objectives and follow a federally mandated process.

As a result of its strong leadership, access to resources and high visibility in the community, the Coalition for the Homeless Houston/Harris County serves as this region’s lead agency for the CoC.

The Houston CoC encompasses Houston and Harris and Fort Bend counties, and its purpose is to:

● Help create integrated, community-wide strategies and plans <links to Planning/Coordination page> to prevent and end homelessness;

● Provide coordination <links to Who We Are page> among the numerous regional organizations and initiatives that serve the homeless population, and

● Create the region’s single, comprehensive grant application to HUD for McKinney-Vento funding. <links to CoC Funding page>

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Planning/Coordination pageContinuum of Care Planning/Coordination (heading)

Governance (heading)A successful CoC should have a year-round planning process that is coordinated, inclusive and outcome-oriented. The CoC has a governing body and a number of sub-committees or working groups. The membership of the governing body is decided through an open and democratic process and is representative of private, nonprofit and public sectors. The Houston-area Continuum of Care is governed by a 17-member Steering Committee <links to new Steering Committee page> composed of representatives from across the community.

Coordinated Plans (heading)Developing a comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness requires participation by all partners. Local public agencies play a major role in ensuring funding of housing and other homeless services. Through the development of a community-wide action plan in August 2012, and the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness published in 2006, a framework is developed that local public agencies use to create and implement their own portion of the five-year Consolidated Action Plans and Annual Action Plans focused on homelessness.

You can review the relevant planning documents and related information by selecting any of the items below.

Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness

<links to http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / Documents / Downloads / StrategicPlan 8081116110. p df>

Continuum of Care Action Plan (placeholder for end of August)

City of Houston Housing and Community Development plans <links to http :// www . houstontx . gov / housing / consolidated . html >

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Fort Bend County Community Development Department

<links to http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getsitepage.asp?sitepage=3228>

Harris County Community Services Department plans

(links to http :// www . csd . hctx . net / pr _ consolidatedplan . aspx and

http :// www . csd . hctx . net / pr _ annualactionplan . aspx >

Harris County Housing Authority

<links to http :// www . hchatexas . org / documents / PHA %20 Plan %202012. pdf >

Houston Housing Authority plans

<links to http :// www . housingforhouston . com / about - hha / hha - agency - annual - plan . aspx >

Steering Committee pageSteering Committee (heading)

Members of the Steering Committee that guides the Houston-area Continuum of Care include the following individuals and representatives from the following organizations:

● Houston City Housing and Community Development Department● Harris County Community Services Department● Houston Housing Authority● Harris County Housing Authority● Fort Bend County Community Development Department● City of Pasadena Community Development Administration● Rebecca Landes, VP of Programs and Services of Northwest Assistance Ministries,

Crisis Response System Position● Thao Costis, President/CEO of SEARCH Homeless Services, Permanent Supportive

Housing Position● Homeless Services Consumer● Homeless Services Consumer● Business Community Representative● Celene Meyers, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, Funders Together

Representative

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● Stephen Williams, Coalition for the Homeless Representative● Faith Community Representative● Public Agency Mainstream Services Provider 1● Public Agency Mainstream Services Provider 2● Public Agency Mainstream Services Provider 3

CoC Funding page

CoC Funding (heading)

A main function of the CoC is to prepare an application for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance competitive grants. These resources are invaluable in providing housing and supportive services for people who are homeless. These funds are made available through a national competition announced each year in HUD’s Notice of Funding Availability <links to CoC NOFA page> (known as the HUD SuperNOFA). Applications must demonstrate broad community participation and identify resources and gaps in the community’s approach to providing outreach, emergency shelter, and transitional and permanent housing, as well as related services for addressing homelessness. An application also includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to it, and establishes local funding priorities.

Federal funds are also provided through Emergency Solutions Grants <links to ESG page> and Community Development Block Grants <links to CDBG page>.

Additional sources of federal funds as well as state, local and private dollars can also be used to meet the needs of homeless persons.

CoC NOFA pageCoC Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) (heading)

Competitive funding from HUD is made available under a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published annually.

Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County agencies that provide services to homeless persons received more than $21 million to renew existing programs and nearly $2.8 million in new program dollars through the 2011 NOFA process.

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) page

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Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) (heading)

The Emergency Solutions Grant (formerly known as Emergency Shelter Grants) is another McKinney-Vento homeless assistance program funded through HUD, but unlike the CoC programs funded as part of the annual SuperNOFA competition, ESG is formula-funded. Entitlement jurisdictions receive ESG grants from HUD and make these funds available to eligible recipients, which can be either local government agencies or private nonprofit organizations.

ESG funds are focused on preventing and ending homelessness through provision of street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing activities. The Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care is working to strategically use these funds, and the strategy can be found here <links tohttp :// www . homelesshouston . org / hh / Emergency _ Solutions _ Grant _( ESG ). asp >

In the Houston-area Continuum of Care, jurisdictions that administer ESG funds are:● Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;● City of Houston Housing and Community Development;● Harris County Community Services Department;● Fort Bend County Community Development Department; and● City of Pasadena Community Development Department.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) pageCommunity Development Block Grant (CDBG) (heading)

The Community Development Block Grant program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Under CDBG, HUD provides grants on a formula basis to states and hundreds of localities nationwide. CDBG works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. Each activity must meet one of the following national objectives for the program:

● Benefit low- and moderate-income persons;● Prevent or eliminate slums or blight; or● Address community development needs having a particular urgency.

CDBG funds can be used in a variety of ways to support homeless assistance programs, including (but not limited to):

● The acquisition and rehabilitation of buildings to be used as emergency shelters, transitional housing facilities, or permanent supportive housing units;

● The costs of operating an emergency shelter or soup kitchen;

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● Emergency payment of rent and utilities to prevent homelessness;● Costs related to implementing and operating the Homeless Management Information

System (HMIS); and● Provision of a wide range of supportive services, ranging from case management to

job training to child care.

For more information on CDBG, visit HUD’s website <links to http :// portal . hud . gov / hudportal / HUD ? src =/ program _ offices / comm _ planning / communitydevelopment / programs .>

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HMIS

Homeless Management Information SystemThe Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a computerized data collection tool specifically designed to capture client-level, system-wide information over time on the characteristics and services needs of men, women and children experiencing homelessness. HMIS allows the aggregation of client-level data across homeless service agencies to generate unduplicated counts and service patterns of clients served.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) National Data and Technical Standards establish baseline standards for participation, data collection, privacy and security. Implementation of HMIS is a requirement for receipt of HUD McKinney-Vento funding.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is the local HMIS lead agency. For more information, please send an inquiry to hmis @ homelesshouston . org .

HMIS Privacy Policy (February 2012) http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / documents / hmis / HMISPrivacyPracticesV 4. pdf

HMIS Assessment Report – Executive Summary (Abt Associates, June 2012) http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / documents / hmis / HMISAssessmentReport - ExecSummary . pdf

ClientTrack HMIS Log In (insert Client Track logo) <https://www.clienttrack.net/HC_Harris/>

IssueTrak Log In (insert Issue Track logo) https :// hmissupport . homelesshouston . org / Login . asp

User Support <links to User Support page>

User Training <links to User Training page>

Participating Agencies <links to Participating Agencies page>

Frequently Asked Questions <links to Frequently Asked Questions page>

User Support pageUser Support (heading)

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ClientTrack User Support(heading)

For all issues related to HMIS & ClientTrack click here <https://hmissupport.homelesshouston.org/Login.asp>to submit a ticket. Your IssueTrak username is the same as in ClientTrack.

Call Us

The Coalition help desk line (713-739-7514) is available for HMIS users during normal business hours. When calling, please ask to speak with an HMIS team member.

E-mail Us

Click here <http://www.homelesshouston.org/hh/Contact.asp>for HMIS team members’ e-mail addresses (Coalition directory)

Ongoing Support and Quality Assurance

The HMIS team provides ongoing assistance to all participating agencies. An agency can request additional training or onsite visits from the HMIS staff at any time.

Click here <http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/HMISLicenseAgreement-Dec2010.pdf>for the HMIS user license agreement.

Guidance and Resources

ClientTrack User Guides – UPDATED 2010

● Quick Users ’ Guide – HMIS <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/ClientTrack%20Quick%20Users%20Guide.pdf>

● User Manual – Client Enrollment (including assessments), Exit, Services, Goals, and Housing <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/Documents/HMIS/ClientTrack%202010%20training%20manual.pdf>

● User Guide 1 ESG – Client tab <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/User%20guide%201%20esg.pdf>

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● User Guide 2 ESG – User, Employer & Provider Tabs <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/User%20guide%202%20esg.pdf>

● User Guide 3 ESG – Housing Management <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/User%20guide%203%20esg.pdf>

● User Guide 4 ESG – Calendar <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/User%20guide%204%20esg.pdf>

● User Guide 5 ESG – Workflow Navigation <links to http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/User%20guide%205%20esg.pdf>

● Reports Training – Participant Guide <links to http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / ClientTrack %20 reports %20 manual . pdf >

HUD Guidance1. Homeless Management Information System ( HMIS ) Data Standards – March 2010

<downloads http :// www . hmis . info / ClassicAsp / documents / Final %20 HMIS %20 Data %20 Standards - Revised %20_3. pdf >

HMIS Forum

1 st Quarter 2012 – April 2, 2012 – Harris County Dept. of Education <downloads http://www.homelesshouston.org/images/hh/documents/hmis/HMIS-2012ForumQ1.ppsx>

2nd Quarter 2012 – July 24, 2012 – Harris County Dept. of Education <downloads http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / documents / hmis / HMIS - 2012 ForumQ 2. pdf User Training pageHMIS User Training (heading)

(insert calendar icon) 2012 Training Calendar <links to http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / documents / hmis /2012 HMISTrainingCalendar . pdf >

Before registering, please check the 2012 training calendar for available sessions. HMIS trainings are available only for users from these participating agencies . <links to Participating Agencies page> If your agency is not listed, please send an inquiry to HMIS@homelesshouston.org and we’ll provide you with more information about HMIS participation requirements.

The Data Explorer training targets experienced users with good knowledge of existing ClientTrack reports, and is limited to one user per agency per session.

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(insert form from http :// www . homelesshouston . org / Forms . asp ? MODE = NEW & SNID =300045250& Forms _ FormTypeID =-250 )

Participating Agencies pageHMIS Participating Agencies (heading)

A Caring Safe Place

AIDS Foundation Houston

Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries

Angel Outreach Inc.

Bay Area Homeless Services

Bread of Life

Career and Recovery Resources

Cathedral Justice Project

Catholic Charities

Change Happens! (FUUSA)

Child Care Council of Greater Houston

City of Houston DHHS

City of Houston HCDD

City of Pasadena

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/HC

Corder Place Apartments/Houston HELP

Council on Alcohol and Drugs

Covenant House

Cy-Fair Helping Hands

David & Ivory Ministries

DeGeorge at Union Station/The Housing Corp.

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Fort Bend County

Goodwill Industries of Houston

Harmony House

Harris County Community Services Dept.

Harris County Protective Services

Harvest Life Foundation

Healthcare for the Homeless

Horizon Outreach

Housing Corporation

Houston Area Community Services

Houston Area Urban League

Humble Area Assistance Ministries

Interfaith Caring Ministries

Jackson Hinds Gardens/The Housing Corp.

Katy Christian Ministries

Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments

LASU Community Development

Lord of the Streets

Magnificat House

Memorial Assistance Ministries

MHMRA of Harris County

Mission of Yahweh

New Hope Counseling Center

Northline SRO

Northwest Assistance Ministries

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Open Door Mission

Palmer Episcopal Church

Prevent Blindness Texas

Project Joy & Hope

Santa Maria Hostel

Sarah’s House

SEARCH Homeless Services

St. Vincent de Paul

Star of Hope

Stop Turning Entering Prison

The Beacon (CHOM)

The Bush Cares Project

The Salvation Army

The Stash Box

The Women’s Home

Turning Point Center

Ultimate Changes

US Veterans Initiative

Volunteers of America

Wellsprings Village

Wesley Community Center

West Houston Assistance Ministries

Westside Homeless Partnership

Wheeler Avenue 5 C’s

YMCA

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HMIS Frequently Asked Questions pageHMIS Frequently Asked Questions (heading)

What is HMIS?

HMIS stands for Homeless Management Information System. HMIS is a software application designated to record and store client-level data, including the characteristics and service needs of the homeless community it serves. It was developed in a response to Congress’s request for unduplicated information about how the funds appropriated for homeless programs are being spent. Congress is not only interested in fiscal responsibility, but also wants to know who the homeless are (as a group) as well as understand the outcomes of the programs assisting them. In March 2010, HUD updated the standards relating to data collection and reporting.

Is my Agency required to use HMIS?

All agencies receiving federal funds from a McKinney-Vento HUD Program, HOPWA, or Community Development Block Grant for use in serving the homeless community are required to participate in the HMIS. Starting in 2012, Emergency Solutions Grant providers are also required to participate. Additionally, your agency may be required to use HMIS if funding is received from HHS, PATH, or VA for a homeless-specific program.

Can my Agency still use HMIS even though it is not required?

Yes! We would be very pleased to have your agency participate in HMIS if you provide services and/or shelter to the homeless community. The more information we have the better. The information helps to provide a more accurate picture of the homeless community in the Houston/Harris County area. If your agency is interested in participating in HMIS, please sent an inquiry to HMIS@homelesshouston.org.

What are the benefits to a homeless service provider of using HMIS?

HMIS data represent a strategic advantage for service providers, enabling multi-level client data sharing between participating organizations, as well as client case coordination and electronic referrals.

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This information sharing can help to prevent service duplications while providing access to comprehensive case management software, standard and ad-hoc reporting, performance measurement tools, software customization options, etc.

In addition, providers already in HMIS are better positioned to apply for future funding opportunities, as many national and local funders now require HMIS participation.

What HMIS software is currently used in Houston/Harris County?

The HMIS software currently used by the Coalition is called ClientTrack. Designed by DSI, ClientTrack is HUD-compliant HMIS software that helps organizations provide and keep track of services for the homeless as well as those at risk of becoming homeless. It simplifies the sharing of data between different HMIS participating agencies and allows for further analysis of this data.

If I experience a problem using the HMIS or have general questions, what should I do?

The HMIS department uses an issue tracking software application called IssueTrak. Users should submit all questions, concerns or issues through this system. IssueTrak assigns an issue number to every ticket submitted, allowing the HMIS team to effectively address each concern.

Community Voice Mail The Houston Community Voice Mail (HCVM) Program provides free voice mail service to people without phones seeking jobs, housing, health care, safety and stability. Through a partnership with Springwire and by request from a homeless services provider, we offer this program to enable phoneless people to communicate with potential employers, landlords and human service providers. Like any voice mail account, it can be checked from any phone. Clients receive their local phone number, set up their greeting, and begin giving it to employers, landlords and family. Even for people with cell phones, a Community Voice Mail number can be a major asset when, for example, cell phone minutes run out. Community Voice Mail is entirely free to the user. Each year, when we measure results, consistently 76% of Community Voice Mail users reach one or more of their goals within 6-8 months.

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The Coalition manages this service by specific request from local homeless service providers; if you are currently homeless and need this service, click here <links to map> to locate a service provider who may request the service for you.The ongoing success and expansion of Community Voice Mail hinges on caring people who will step up to ensure it is available in our community. Would you like to help provide this invaluable service?

It costs just $36 a year to support one voice mail user. Consider supporting one person or more by making an annual, quarterly or monthly recurring gift. See donation options. <links to Donate page>

On behalf of Community Voice Mail users throughout the Houston/Harris County area, thank you for helping extend a communications lifeline to thousands of our neighbors.  The results and outcomes of this initiative can be found in the following reports:2011 Houston CVM Report 2011 National CVM Data Snapshot 2010 Houston CVM Report 2010 National CVM Data Snapshot 2009 CVM Annual Report  

Broadcast MessagingBroadcast Voicemail and Broadcast E-mails add value and assist clients with achieving their objectives. In a 2008 CVM client survey , 59% of CVM users have an e-mail address that they use on a regular basis. Eighty-five percent indicated that information related to jobs and/or housing would be the most important information to receive.

Click here <links to map> to locate a service provider who may request the service for you.

If your Agency would like to offer HCVM directly to your clients as a case management tool, contact Scot More , Community Resources Manager (smore @ homelesshouston . org or 832-531-6008).

Homeless CourtThe City of Houston Municipal Court

Homeless Court(insert city of Houston and Coalition logos)

Homeless Court (HC) is a special Court session for homeless defendants to resolve outstanding misdemeanor offenses and warrants within the City of Houston’s Municipal Courts. It’s based on the first homeless court program in the nation, created in San Diego in 1989, and it commenced operation here in 2006. HC builds on partnerships between the court, local shelters and service agencies. It works to resolve the problems that homelessness presents with practical solutions. Initial referrals to HC originate in shelters and service agencies. Referrals are

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submitted to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. Court staff pulls dockets, and court dates are set by the presiding judge.

Key characteristics of the Homeless Court include:● It works within the City of Houston Municipal Courts.● It addresses the full range of misdemeanor offenses.● No one goes into custody.

Click here <links to new HC Details page> for more details on this program.

The Coalition manages this service by specific request from local homeless service providers; if you need this service, click here <links to map> to locate a service provider who may request the service for you.

Download a Referral Packet   <links to pdf>

View the 2012 Calendar <links to pdf>

View the Homeless Court Flier <links to pdf>

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Experiencing Homelessness? Get Help Have you lost your housing or are close to losing your housing? (Heading)Here are some options that might be able to help connect you with housing and services:

Call 211Simply dial the numbers 2-1-1 on any phone. It is staffed 24/7 by people in Houston who can refer you to emergency shelters, food, health care, substance abuse counseling, employment services and other services that might be helpful.

Or, search their online database. <links to http :// referral . unitedwayhouston . org / >

Locate Housing <links to http :// www . socialserve . com / tenant / index . html ? state _ id =4082& ch = HC  

Find a Service Provider Map <links to map> 

Help Card <links to http :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / HELP %20 CARD %20 English %20 and %20 Spanish %20 lud %2002162012. pdf >

Look Through the Coalition for the Homeless Houston/Harris County 2011 Service Directoryhttp :// www . homelesshouston . org / images / hh / hh / hh /2011%20 Services %20 Directory %20 final . pdf

Encountered problems with a homeless services provider?If you feel like you have been abused by a housing program, shelter or other service provider, you may have a number of recourses. Click here <links to new Report Abuse page> to learn more about reporting potential abuse.

You have a voice!The Consumer Advisory Council is a group of people who have experienced homelessness or received homeless services who have been brought together to serve as a liaison between service providers and the homeless.

The CAC is working to assure quality services and programs, while helping to develop strategies to prevent and end homelessness. As a CAC member, you will attend monthly meetings and participate actively in advisory discussions and consensus votes.

Transportation assistance will be provided. For more information or to apply, please contact Gary Grier at 832-531-6006 or ggrier @ homelesshouston . org .

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Report Abuse pageDo you feel like you have been abused by a housing program or shelter? (heading)

Here are some organizations that might be able to help.

Were you staying in a● Nursing home?● Assisted living facility?● Residential care home for people with intellectual disabilities?● Place where you were being served by a home health care or adult day care provider?

If so, contact the Department of Aging and Disability Services Consumer Rights and Services <http :// www . dads . state . tx . us / services / crs / index . html > at 1-800-458-9858.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental health) or are over the age of 65 and were abused or neglected

● In your home?● At a service provider while homeless?● In a shelter?

If so, contact the Department of Family and Protective Services <http :// www . dfps . state . tx . us / Adult _ Protection / About _ Adult _ Protective _ Services / in _ home . asp > at 1-800-647-7418.

Were you abused or mistreated while staying in a substance abuse treatment facility?If so, contact the Department of State Health Services <http :// www . dshs . state . tx . us / hfp / complain _ ntc _ subabuse . shtm > at 1-800-832-9623, then press “4” to file a complaint.

Were you abused or mistreated while staying in a● Hospital?● Psychiatric Hospital?● Crisis Stabilization Unit?

If so, contact the Department of State Health Services <http :// www . dshs . state . tx . us / hfp / complain _ HFlicensing . shtm > at 1-888-973-0022.

Do you have a complaint about a personal care home?If so, contact the UT Health Science Center’s Volunteer Ombudsman Program <http :// son . uth . tmc . edu / coa / ombudsman . htm > at 713-500-9931.

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