Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition

Geographic Scope: Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania (PA-506 CoC)

Program Purpose: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to:

• Promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness
• Provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness
• Promote access to and effect utilization of programs by homeless individuals and families
• Optimize self-sufficiency for those experiencing homelessness

Eligible Project Types:

• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) projects
• Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) projects
• Transitional Housing/Rapid Re-Housing (TH-RRH) joint component projects
• Expansions of existing CoC grants

Administering Organization: Berks Coalition to End Homelessness (BCEH) serves as the collaborative applicant for the CoC Program Competition, the HMIS lead, and the Coordinated Entry lead agency for PA-506 Reading/Berks County CoC.

Funding Amounts (FY24 Example):

• CoC Bonus: $191,343
• DV Bonus: $382,686
• Reallocated Funds: $109,710

Contact Information:

• Email: elise@bceh.org
• Phone: (610) 372-7222
• Address: 600 Penn St, Reading, PA 19601
• Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm

Funding Priorities (FY24): HUD emphasizes coordination with healthcare organizations and housing organizations; new/expansion projects that incorporate housing or healthcare partnerships are heavily prioritized.

Application Process

Step 1: Intent to Renew/Transition (for existing grantees)

• Email Intent to Renew or Intent to Transition forms to elise@bceh.org
• Deadline: November 21 (FY25 example)

Step 2: Funding Committee Review

• Committee meets to approve and accept renewal/transition projects
• Timing: Week of November 24 (FY25 example)

Step 3: New Project Proposals (for new applicants)

• Complete new project RFP form
• Submit new project budget form
• Email proposals to elise@bceh.org
• Deadline: December 12 (FY25 example)
• Note: Webinar provided to explain new project process

Step 4: Renewal Project Application Narratives

• Complete renewal project application narratives
• Submit to elise@bceh.org
• Scoring tools provided to guide application

Step 5: Scoring and Appeals

• CoC Ranking Committee reviews all applications
• Scoring results sent to applicants
• Applicants may appeal scores by deadline

Step 6: Funding Committee Review of New Projects

• Committee accepts new applications and determines priority list
• New project applicants notified of acceptance/rejection
• Rejected applicants may appeal within timeframe

Step 7: Project Application Submission in e-snaps

• All renewal/transition projects submit in e-snaps
• Deadline varies by fiscal year
• New projects submit updated applications in e-snaps with feedback incorporated
• Final deadline for new projects in e-snaps

Step 8: Final Priority Listing and HUD Submission

• Final Priority Listing posted to CoC members and applicants
• CoC Collaborative Application and Priority Listing submitted to HUD

Required Materials

For All Applicants:

• Completed application form (renewal or new project specific)
• Project budget documentation
• Organizational information
• Project narrative addressing HUD requirements

For Renewal Projects:

• Housing First Narrative
• Racial Equity action steps
• Equity Organizational Self-Assessment (for scoring purposes)

For New Projects:

• New Project RFP Form
• New Project Budget Form
• Project narrative
• Evidence of community partnerships (especially healthcare/housing)

For Expansion Projects:

• Expansion Project Proposal Form
• Budget for expansion components
• Justification for expansion

Submission Format

• Email submissions to: elise@bceh.org
• e-snaps system for final project applications
• In-person submissions may be required for certain documents

Scoring and Ranking

• Renewal Project Scoring Tool provided to guide applications
• New Project Scoring Tool provided for new applicants
• Ranking Committee (consisting of community representatives not receiving HUD funding and representatives from Berks Youth Action Board) reviews:
  • Scoring data
  • Project applications
  • Other relevant information
• Committee uses comprehensive review—not just scores—to determine final Priority Listing
• Applicants may appeal ranking decisions after Priority Listing release

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance available to discuss potential projects or application process. Contact elise@bceh.org or call (610) 372-7222.