Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care News
April 2020
Texas Homeless Network is the lead agency for the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care (TX BoS CoC) . The TX BoS CoC is a group of stakeholders that collaboratively plan and operate the CoC and a range of housing and services to prevent and end homelessness. The TX BoS CoC covers 215 counties and includes 24 Local Homeless Coalitions (LHCs) that plan, deliver, and evaluate local systems.
Announcements
Join the Balance of State Team!
THN seeks to fill the full-time position of CoC Performance Coordinator. This position is an integral part of the planning team supporting federally funded agencies in the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care (TX BoS CoC) to successfully operate Continuum of Care Program Projects. This position will develop and maintain a performance monitoring system for CoC Program funded housing projects in the TX BoS CoC. The purposes of monitoring are to assess how well services provided contribute to the TX BoS CoC’s goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring, to ensure compliance with relevant regulation (24 CFR 578), to evaluate efficiency of allocated funding, and the capacity of funded projects to improve outcomes for participants. This position works closely with the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) & Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Coordinator and the Systems Change Coordinator to achieve strategic goals in the TX BoS CoC. This position is grant-funded and employment is contingent on the continued receipt of grant funds. We encourage everyone to apply. We are entertaining remote work for the right candidate.


Find out more here
Homelessness & Health Preparedness

The Texas BoS CoC cares about the health of you and your community. We recognize the seriousness of the outbreak for people experiencing homelessness, or those who are living in poverty, who have higher risks of exposure to infectious disease, have a harder time accessing high-quality healthcare, and are often overlooked during emergencies. In an effort to help, we have compiled a list of resources to assist in your preparation for a possible coronavirus outbreak from our federal partners at HUD and local agencies we work with here at THN.  

Please visit our newest section of our website for a list of resources that have been made available.
Share Your Story
Our friends at American Public Health Association want to identify, capture, and distribute the stories of real people on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis and those that have been economically impacted.

Personal stories are the most meaningful and effective way showing how this unprecedented crisis is impacting real Americans in countless ways.

If you would like to share your unique and compelling story, please fill out the form here !
Nominations Coming Soon!
Do you know someone who is doing amazing things to help end homelessness in your community?

Well, be on the lookout soon, THN will be opening nominations for our 2020 Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness Awards.

Stay up to date by signing up for the THN E-Newsletter here
THN TX BoS CoC Coordinated Entry VISTA in Austin

THN is looking for a VISTA member who will support the TX BoS CoC's ongoing implementation of the Coordinated Entry (CE) system to improve services and outcomes for persons who experience homelessness. The VISTA member will primarily focus on supporting the Systems Change Coordinator by developing tracking and communication systems between the Coordinated Entry Planning Entities CEPEs) in local communities and the BoS, strengthening partnerships and providing technical assistance.

Apply today to be the TX BoS CoC Coordinated Entry VISTA and work with us to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring!
Important Dates
APRIL

Prepping for the FY 2020 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition: What to Know About Applying for CoC Program Funding
CANCELLED


COVID-19 and the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care
Tuesday 28 April 2020, 02:15 PM - 03:45 PM
TX BoS CoC Lead Agency Staff will talk about everything we have learned related to COVID-19 since the last webinar and provide ample time for communities to share about their wins and where they need help.
Register Here

Understanding COVID-19 changes with HMIS Data
Wednesday 29 April 2020, 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
This webinar will cover updates surrounding best practices for COVID-19 response as well as an in-depth look at why the HMIS COVID-19 Assessment is so important to utilize during these difficult times.
Who Should Attend: HMIS Projects
Register Here


CESC April 2020 Meeting
Tuesday 21 April 2020, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
The TX BoS CoC will be hosting a virtual meeting for the Coordinated Entry Steering Committee (CESC). The CESC provides direct support and guidance to the CoC’s systems change efforts, which will influence the direction of the CE implementation in the TX BoS CoC.
Who Should Attend : Coordinated Entry Steering Committees Members
Register Here


April 2020 TX BoS Board Meeting
Wednesday 22 April 2020, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
*Closed meeting

Opportunities
Open Funding Opportunities

We are currently in the process of adding a new section to our website to help collect all funding opportunities made available to Texas including city, state, and federal programs.

In the meantime check out this PDF of all current available funding options here
Across the TX BoS CoC...
North


South


East


West


Central



These articles were gathered from Google Alerts and emails sent directly to us. If you have articles about your community's efforts to prevent and end homelessness that you want highlighted in our next newsletter, please email the articles to   txboscoc@thn.org.
Staff Recommendations


The following are resources TX BoS CoC Lead Agency staff have found that we believe would be beneficial to your local efforts to make homelessness rare, brief, and one-time:
This month's recommendations are from Jen (LHC Specialist) and Mary (Asst. Director of Engagement) -

Navigating the CARES Act for Nonprofit Organizations  - Law firm DLA Piper hosted a webinar discussing how nonprofits can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a loan program designed to help businesses with fewer than 500 employees continue to pay workers. If nonprofits meet requirements, such as using 75 percent of the loan for payroll and not reducing employee compensation by more than 25 percent, up to 100 percent of the loan will not have to be repaid. Access the webinar recording and materials here.  


SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Application Webinar  - The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce walks through how to complete the loan application process. When applying, be sure to request the $10,000 advance; even if you do not qualify for the loan, you may still receive up to $10,000, which may be up to 100 percent forgivable. Gather the documents listed below and view the webinar here : 
Documents need to apply for the EIDL: 
- Tax filing (IRS Form 990), 
- Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet), 
- Statement of Activities (Profit & Loss), 
- Statement of Cash Flows


Economic Impact Payment Instructions for Non-Filers - The CARES Act is a federal economic stimulus program that provides Economic Impact Payments to households of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child under 17 years old. People who have filed tax returns in the past will automatically get their payments deposited into their bank accounts by the IRS.  Automatic payments will also go to people receiving Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.

People who don't usually file tax returns, called "non-filers" can use an online tool to give the IRS basic information so they can receive their payment. That includes people with very low income or no income. Go to the IRS' website here and click on the blue button that says, "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here."
Anyone who works or lives in the CoC's geographic area, and all housing and homeless services projects in the CoC's geographic area, are considered to be members of the CoC. The CoC has an open invitation process, so members may join at any time.

THN invites members to participate in the CoC's activities. Learn more on the email list , the website , and social media . CoC General Meeting minutes and recordings are posted on THN's website, in the TX BoS CoC "Get Involved" page at  https://www.thn.org/texas-balance-state-continuum-care/get-involved/ . Presentations by and conversations between CoC members and staff on relevant topics keep members informed and up-to-date.

Share this email with anyone you think may be interested!
CoC General Meeting Schedule

Stay informed about CoC happenings by participating in the bi-monthly webinars. Each meeting will feature a topic that is important to preventing and ending homelessness. See the Get Involved page for dates, topics, and registration links.
CoC Program Funding

If you are a representative of an agency that is interested in applying for United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Program funding, please contact txboscoc@thn.org .
Your CoC Team

Get your questions answered and some face to face time with all of the CoC staff on the second Wednesday of every other month during the CoC General Meetings.
The TX BoS CoC is a focus area of the Texas Homeless Network.