The Continuum of Care recently received a message from Claude-Alix Jacob, Cambridge’s Chief Public Health Officer, addressing concerns some providers may have regarding meningococcal meningitis cases among homeless individuals in Boston:
Read MoreIn December of 2015, HUD released their final rule on defining “Chronically Homeless.” Providers operating CoC funded PSH projects that dedicate or prioritize persons or families experiencing chronic homelessness should adhere to this new definition for new enrollments on or after January 15, 2016.
Read MoreThe CoC recently compiled information on resources within our community that may be particularly essential in times of extreme winter weather. Please see the PDF file, below, which can also be printed as one double-sided sheet.
Read MoreBeginning with the next meeting, which is in February, the HSPC will convene in the Lombardi Building, at 831 Massachusetts Avenue (the block next to Cambridge City Hall).
Read MorePlease note that at this time we are very close to at capacity for volunteers.
Read MorePlease note that the provider organization Centro Latino ceased all client-related operations on September 21. This includes all services: those that were offered in Cambridge as well as those at their main location in Chelsea.
Read MoreAs discussed at the October 8 CoC meeting, the 2015 CoC competition requires more intensive strategic resource allocation than has been necessary in past competitions. To make the difficult strategic resource allocation decisions required for the 2015 competition, the Cambridge CoC will utilize the process and procedures described in the document below for project review, reallocation, selection & ranking
Read MoreAs discussed at the October 8 CoC meeting, the 2015 CoC competition requires more intensive strategic resource allocation than has been necessary in past competitions.
Read MoreThe purpose of this RFP is to select a housing and service provider(s) to be included as sub recipients in the CoC’s Permanent Housing (PH) Bonus Project proposal that will be submitted as part of the 2015 CoC Program application to HUD. The PH Bonus Project competition presents an opportunity to significantly expand the number of units dedicated to chronically homeless individuals in Cambridge, and to create new Rapid Rehousing projects for the CoC.
Read MoreAttention HMIS Users – The latest changes to the HUD 2014 Data Standards will be implemented Thursday, October 1st. You’ll see these changes when you enter Entry information in the HUD Assessment, along with written guidance from HUD on how to ask clients for this information.
Read MoreJoin us next month for a series of important discussions on increasing solutions to homelessness in Cambridge
Read MoreStaff of the Cambridge Continuum of Care (CoC) and Homeless Services Planning Committee (HSPC) need your help and feedback to ensure that we continuously improve our meetings and communications in the coming year.
Read MoreYesterday, HUD released information pertaining to updates made to the latest HMIS data standards. While the majority of changes are relevant only to projects funded under RHY, VA or HOPWA, one major modification made represents changes to the series of questions asked at entry about the length of time someone has been homeless. These questions are referred to as “Time on Streets, Emergency Shelters or Safe Haven.”
Read MoreThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, July 9 from 3:00-4:30 PM EDT titled: Housing First for People Experiencing Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.
Read MoreThe Cambridge CoC is required to review and update its Governance Charter on an annual basis (24 CFR Part 578.7). The original Charter was adopted by the CoC in April 2014 after several weeks of review and revisions by CoC stakeholders
Read MoreOn the night of February 25, 2015, staff from the Department of Human Service Programs, partner agencies, and community volunteers completed the annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The census includes a count of individuals and families staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing, and a count of unsheltered individuals.
Read MoreAt the March HSPC meeting I provided an overview of the changes to the HMIS data standards that are specific to CoC and ESG program funded projects.
Read MoreThe City of Cambridge’s Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) is pleased to announce a RFP for Cambridge’s FY2016 entitlement Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program. This application is for services to be delivered from July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016. This RFP is open to all nonprofit organizations providing homeless shelter and/or outreach programs in Cambridge. For further details, please use the links below for the RFP document and associated application materials.
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