Continuum of Care Coordination

As part of the region’s Continuum of Care (CoC), The Planning Council leads local and regional homeless initiatives to promote a systematic approach for preventing and ending homelessness. Focusing on creative solutions, data-driven decision making and collective impact, our Continuum of Care Team works alongside provider agencies, governmental leadership, as well as state and national advocacy groups to implement and roll out best practice programs to prevent and end homelessness.  

To secure financial resources from on an annual basis to support homeless housing and service programs, The Planning Council develops and submits the annual CoC applications to both state and federal funders that total over $12 million.

Are you a homeless solutions provider interested in becoming part of the COC?
Visit one of our local Continuum of Care websites:

• Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition – www.svhcva.org
  • The SVHC includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton.
• Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium – www.gvphc.org
  • The GVPHC includes the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg, as well as the counties of James City and York.
• Portsmouth Homeless Action Consortium – https://www.portsmouthva.gov/502/Homelessness
  • FY2019 Final CoC Consolidated Application
  • FY2019 Final Priority Listing

Regional Task Force

The Regional Task Force chairs regional outreach initiatives that focus on housing vulnerable homeless populations such as those who are medically vulnerable, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. The Task Force identifies local problems, researches best practices from around the country, and builds support needed to implement regional solutions. Examples of Task Force successes include:

• Addressing the need for affordable housing with support services for those who experience homelessness and have mental or physical disabilities.   The Task Force began its partnership with Virginia Supportive Housing in 2006 to develop the nation’s first regionally funded Permanent Supportive Housing program, and has since facilitated the development of 320 affordable apartment units in four cities across South Hampton Roads.
• Identified substance abuse among those experiencing homelessness as a major barrier to stable housing.   Partnered with The Healing Place of Wake County to replicate this best practice in Hampton Roads. To date, this has not come to fruition but the need is great and the focus remains the same.
• Partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and local Public Housing Authorities to drastically increase the number of housing vouchers for the region’s homeless veterans.