Continuum of Care
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes Continuum of Care funds available to communities through a grant process. Continuum of Care funds serve as a catalyst for our community to create a systematic response to ending homelessness and drive policy for our Coalition of service providers. ECHO serves as the lead agency for the Austin/Travis County Continuum of Care, and coordinates the Continuum of Care local funding competition.
CoC Program Overview CoC Program Policies & Documents
CoC Trainings & Webinars
CoC Program Overview
HUD mandates that a Continuum of Care is responsible for:
- Promoting community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness;
- Providing funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness;
- Promoting access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Oversight of the Continuum of Care Program Grant
Our CoC Board, the Homelessness Response System Leadership Council provides oversight for the CoC program grant and serves as the HUD required CoC governing body. Our Leadership Council has designated the following entities to lead CoC initiatives:
CoC Stakeholder Meetings
CoC board meeting agendas and minutes and stakeholder meeting materials may be found here.
Lead Agency (ECHO)
As the Lead Agency, ECHO is designated to carry out the planning and system operation activities of the CoC, including fiscal and compliance activities. ECHO uses HUD guidance to coordinate a local competition for CoC funds that are granted to providers in our community. Other responsibilities of the CoC Lead agency include management of the annual HUD application; coordination of other funding opportunities; project and system monitoring; meeting management; planning and coordinated the PIT Count; consulting with ESG recipients; establishing a Coordinated Entry system; developing written standards for providing assistance; and participating in the development of consolidated plans (Austin, Travis County).
CoC Collaborative Applicant (ECHO)
As the Collaborative Applicant, ECHO is designated by the CoC Board (Membership Council) to be the entity responsible for coordinating and submitting the collaborative application to HUD for CoC-funding awarded to local homeless assistance programs. ECHO is also responsible for evaluating outcomes of awarded programs.
CoC HMIS Lead (ECHO)
As the designated HMIS Lead, ECHO manages the Continuum’s data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The HMIS Lead responsibilities include administering the CoC plans for privacy, security, and data quality, as well as submitting HUD-required reports on behalf of our community. Data entered into HMIS allows our community to understand the services provided by partnering agencies and measure the performance of the entire system.
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CoC Program Policies & Documents
HUD Guidance
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act amended by the HEARTH Act (2009)
Continuum of Care Related Regulations
HUD Grantee Information: TX-503 – Austin/Travis County CoC
Local CoC Program Policies
Grant Amendment Policy
Reallocation and Deobligation Policy (2019)
Forms and Documents
CoC Grant Minor Change / Budget Amendment Form
CoC Grant Significant Change Request Form
Project Performance Monitoring Scorecards
Information on Project Performance Monitoring Scorecards can be found here
2022 CoC Competition
FY 2022 Final Priority Listing (PDF)
FY 2022 CoC Program Collaborative Application (PDF)
Timeline: 2022 CoC Competition (PDF)
2022 CoC Program Local Competition Projects Accepted, Rejected or Reduced and Draft Priority Listing (PDF)
About the 2022 Continuum of Care NOFO Competition
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2022 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Monday, August 1. Communities across the country will compete for a share of $2.8 billion in federal funds directed toward initiatives to end homelessness.
ECHO is designated Austin and Travis County’s collaborative applicant by our Continuum of Care governing board, Leadership Council, so it’s our responsibility to apply for these CoC funds with the guidance of and on behalf of our community.
Application Materials
NOFO Policies
Bidder’s Conference | Recorded August 9, 2022
Click link to view recording
View Slides
2022 Special NOFO Competition
Special NOFO 2022 Final Priority Listing (PDF)
Special NOFO 2022 CoC Program Collaborative Application (PDF)
Special NOFO Timeline (PDF)
Updated 8/16/2022
About the Special NOFO
In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new, first-of-its-kind funding opportunity available to distribute $322 million to communities across the country to address unsheltered and rural homelessness through a Special NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity).
This Special NOFO will award funds on top of the regular annual NOFO communities across the country. In response to the NOFO requirements, ECHO is creating a “Plan for Serving Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness with Severe Service Needs.” Our community will be competing against other community Continuums of Care (CoCs) across the country for funding. HUD has allocated a maximum of the following funding for Austin/Travis County:
- $7,703,625 over a 3-year term
- $2,567,875 per year
Special NOFO Application Materials
Special NOFO Policies
Recording: Special NOFO Community Meeting | July 22, 2022
Previous Continuum of Care Competitions
CoC NOFA and NOFO materials from previous years may be accessed here.