Addressing homelessness across the region
A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a collaborative funding and planning system mandated by federal and state government. The Western Virginia CoC (VA-513) covers the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren, the towns within those counties, and the cities of Winchester and Harrisonburg. The Western Virginia CoC receives federal funding to provide homeless services through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Western Virginia CoC members at the Built for Zero Conference in Denver, CO. Oct 2019 From left to right:
Oscar Cerrito-Mendoza, Housing Services Manager, AIDS Response Effort, Winchester, VA
Sheila Orndorff, Executive Director, Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter, Woodstock, VA
Vine Adowei, Western Virginia CoC Coordinator, HRHA, Harrisonburg, VA
Shannon Porter, Executive Director, Mercy House, Harrisonburg, VA
Seli Perry, Director of Operations, Mercy House, Harrisonburg, VA
The primary goal of the CoC is to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring. Under the umbrella of the CoC, nonprofits and government agencies address homelessness with a variety of programs and services. The Western Virginia CoC has received HUD grants for permanent supportive housing, and to oversee the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a client database system (See page 3 for more on HMIS). Additionally, the Western Virginia CoC receives state funding through the Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP) grant for prevention, rapid re-housing, Centralized Intake, street outreach, emergency shelter, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA). HRHA is the lead agency for both grants and houses both the Western Virginia CoC Coordinator and the HMIS Coordinator. Learn more at: www.continuumofcare513.com
“I am excited about the innovative and collaborative ways in which our CoC is addressing homelessness and working to improve affordable housing throughout the region. I hope that more agencies and individuals will join our coordinated efforts to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in our communities.” – Vine Adowei, Western Virginia CoC Coordinator
