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
2021 Continuum of Care Competition
2021 NOFO Policies
Community Funding Priorities (2021)
Reallocation and Deobligation Policy (2021)
Review, Rating, and Ranking Policy and Procedure (2021)
2021 HUD CoC NOFO Competition Submissions
Austin / Travis County Continuum of Care 2021 NOFO Collaborative Application
Austin / Travis County Continuum of Care 2021 NOFO Priority Listing (approved by Leadership Council on 11/01/21)
Austin / Travis County Continuum of Care 2021 NOFO Final Project Rankings (approved by Leadership Council on 11/01/21)
Final TX-503 Austin/ Travis County Collaborative Application, Priority Listing, and All Submitted Projects
General CoC NOFO Resources from HUD
HUD: 2021 Continuum of Care, Notice of Funding Opportunity
New Project Detailed Instructions
New Project e-snaps Navigation Guide
Renewal Project Detailed Instructions
Renewal Project e-snaps Navigation Guide
YHDP Replacement Detailed Instructions
Local Competition Resources
View the ECHO Zoom Office Hours Recordings:
- (Monday 9/13, No Attendees)
- (Monday 9/20, Recording Not Available)
- (Monday 9/27, Passcode = &K?6mU60)
Bidder’s Conference (Click to Download Slides)
View Zoom recording here. (Recorded on 09-07-21)
CommunityForce Instruction Slides
Link to CoC NOFO Competition Local Application AAQ
Austin / Travis County CoC Grant Inventory Worksheet Reports
Link to CoC Estimated Annual Renewal Demand Report (See TX-503)
Project Application Resources
New Project CommunityForce Instruction Slides
CoC Expectations Form
CoC Performance Scorecards Quarter 1 Summary (Renewal Projects)
CoC Project Barriers Data (Question 4.6 in the Renewal Application)
2021 CoC Project Renewal Application
2021 CoC Project Renewal Scoring Guide
2021 New, CoC Bonus, & Domestic Violence Application
2021 New, CoC Bonus, & Domestic Violence Scoring Guide
Previous Continuum of Care Competitions
CoC NOFA and NOFO materials from previous years may be accessed here.