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What is the
Continuum of Care?
The Contra Costa Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) is a system of care that organizes and delivers housing and support services for homeless individuals and families across the county. In addition to being a coordinated network of service providers, the CoC also acts as a planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. The decision making body of the CoC is the
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MEETING CALENDARS
FOR:
Council on Homelessness and Community meetings  |
Health, Housing and Homeless Services
(Staff to the Continuum of Care and Council on Homelessness)
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
2400 Bisso Lane
Suite D, 2nd Floor
Concord, CA 94520
P: (925) 608-6700
F: (925) 608-6741
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Continuum of Care
Newsletter
Have news or an announcement to feature in our newsletter? Click News Submission 
Questions or Comments about the Newsletter?
Click Email Us |
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| LETTER FROM THE CHAIR |
WINTER EDITION 2017
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Gabriel Lemus
Chair, Council on Homelessness
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Greetings,
The end of the summer and fall have been quite busy for those of us working on ending homelessness. Contra Costa submitted the annual application to the federal government for HUD for homeless funding and we had a ton of great activities for Homelessness Awareness month in November. We're already gearing up for the annual Point in Time Count in January and are actively seeking volunteers to help us gather accurate data about how many people in our communities are struggling with homelessness. Finally, there are 11 seats on the Council on Homelessness that will be accepting applications. We're always looking for fresh, committed, experienced people to join the Council, so consider applying!
Sincerely,
Gabriel Lemus
Chair, Council on Homelessness
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SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR HOMELESS POINT IN TIME (PIT) COUNT
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We are seeking volunteers to help with our annual Homeless Point in Time Count in late January. Volunteers will be trained on how to administer a short survey and then be stationed at specific community sites with other volunteers to conduct the surveys.
This survey provides valuable information on the scope of homelessness, particularly around the number of unsheltered people on the streets and the progress being made to end homelessness. It is also used by local agencies to help plan services and programs appropriately, address strengths and gaps, increase public awareness, and attract resources to help end homelessness.
We will need volunteers to help conduct surveys on Wednesday, January 24th, Thursday, January 25th and Friday, January 26th. Volunteers who want to participate will need to attend a training the week of January 15th before being able to administer the survey, even if they've volunteered with the Point In Time count before. We will be in touch with volunteer training information as the event gets closer.
To get more information and to volunteer, please go to this form:
https://goo.gl/forms/g692tTSeQaGpecHr2.
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2016-2017 CONTINUUM OF CARE (CoC) ANNUAL REPORT RELEASED
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The 2016-2017 CoC Annual Report documents the incredible work our Continuum of Care has achieved over the last year, provides data that paints a clear picture of who is struggling with homelessness and highlights areas for improvement and gaps in service.
The 2016-2017 Annual Report is now available
here.
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HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH SUCCESSES
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November was Homelessness Awareness Month and Contra Costa made the most of it!
Highlights include:
For information about how to show Storied Streets at your event, contact [email protected]
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DONATION OPPORTUNITY
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As a senior on a fixed income, James couldn't pay all his bills after a steep rent increase, and he eventually lost his housing. After months of hard work, he has new affordable housing lined up but those unpaid bills now stand in the way of James getting out of a shelter and into a home where his grandchildren can visit.
Your donation to the
can help end homelessness for James and others like him.
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H3 OPEN HOUSE 1/12
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Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) Administration offices have moved!
Come see our new offices and celebrate the new year at our Open House:
Friday, January 12
2:00 pm- 4:00 pm
2400 Bisso Lane
Suite D, 2nd Floor
Concord, CA 94520
Our new phone and fax:
(925) 608-6700 Phone
(925) 608-6741 Fax
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SUCCESS IN MARTINEZ
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Thanks to the collaborative work between the Martinez Police Department, the Martinez/Pleasant Hill CORE Outreach Team, the Concord Homeless Shelter, and Contra Costa Courts,
Gloria* is on a path to housing and a safer, healthier life.
Gloria faced a number of challenges, including a lack of housing, a substance use disorder and physical and emotional abuse by a partner.
A Martinez police officer, who had interacted with her many times on the street, facilitated the arrest and incarceration of her abusive partner, removing Gloria's domestic violence threat. During her court hearing, that same Martinez officer contacted the Martinez/Pleasant Hill CORE Outreach team, who came to the courthouse to offer Gloria services on the spot. When she agreed to go into shelter, the CORE team transported her directly from the Courthouse to the Concord Shelter.
We are happy to say Gloria is now in shelter, free from domestic violence, working toward gaining permanent housing and maintaining her sobriety.
*Name has been changed for anonymity
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WALNUT CREEK/CONCORD CORE TEAM
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The cities of Concord and Walnut Creek have partnered to sponsor a CORE outreach team to engage people experiencing homelessness in those two cities. The new team hit the streets in October and is already having great success reaching people who are living in places not fit for human habitation and connecting them in with services.
Cities interested in learning more about how to get their own CORE team can contact Juliana Pooley, Coordinated Entry System Manger at 925-608-6705 or
[email protected]
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To notify a CORE team about an unsheltered homeless individual or family, please call 211. Please note that CORE teams are not designed for crisis response. For medical or other emergencies involving homeless individuals, please call 911.
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SEEKING MEMBERS!
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The Council on Homelessness is seeking applications for new members!
The following seats are accepting applications:
- Affordable Housing Developer
- Behavioral Health
- City Government
- Consumer/Consumer Advocate
- Education and Vocational Services
- Emergency Solutions Grants
- Homeless Service Provider
- Public Safety #1
- Public Safety #2
- Reentry Services
- Veterans Administration
Deadline for applications is January 5th, 2018.
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Storied Streets Screening in Antioch 1/11/18
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Thursday, January 11, 2018
7 pm-9 pm
El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. 2nd Street, ANTIOCH
FREE
Join us for the film, snacks and a discussion about homelessness in Contra Costa
Co-sponsored by the City of Antioch and the Council on Homelessness
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CoC Community Meeting January 19th
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The quarterly Contra Costa Continuum of Care (CoC) meetings provide a forum for communication and coordination about the implementation of the CoC's Strategic Plan to prevent and end homelessness, and for orchestrating a vision on ending homelessness in Contra Costa, educating the community on homeless issues, and learning about advocacy efforts related to federal, state, and local policy issues affecting people who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
CoC Community Meeting
Friday, January 19th
10 am - 12 pm
ZA Room, 30 Muir Road, Martinez
To be added to the meeting mailing list, please email
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COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS MEETINGS
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Council on Homelessness meetings are open to the public and take place:
First Thursday of the month
1:00 - 3:00 pm
ZA Room, 30 Muir Road
Martinez
To see past meeting agendas, minutes and presentation materials, click here.
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