Continuum of Care Programs (CoC)

A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.

Across the Commonwealth there are 11 CoCs eligible to apply for money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help homeless people.

Each of the 11 CoCs serves a unique geographic area with HUD asking the state (HLC) to be responsible for addressing homelessness in their area. 

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) manages 1 of the 11 HUD approved Continuums of Care across the Commonwealth and applies for homeless assistance funds annually in what is known as the Balance of State CoC.  CoC membership is open to anyone interested in ending homelessness in the CoC’s area.  Members include other state agencies, many private non-profit homeless service provider organizations, other private non-profit organizations, faith based organizations, and individuals.

Continuum of Care Service Areas

About Our Continuum of Care

The Balance of State CoC works to address homelessness in a number of ways including Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing and Transitional Housing, Supportive Services for those who are homeless, and by collaborating with the many organizations serving this population throughout our CoC geography. One of the ways we identify this population is through an annual survey most often undertaken in the last week of January. Each year HLC counts all of the homeless people reported by homeless service providers together with collected counting of homeless people on the streets by local police departments and volunteer groups.  This is our annual Point in Time Count of homeless people in the 115 Balance of CoC communities to identify the most important needs for services and types of housing.  Generally, the most important need identified is determined to be to move homeless people from the streets and emergency shelters into safe permanent housing with ongoing support services.

Through the CoC, HLC and its partners, in endeavoring to end homelessness:

• Fund permanent supported housing for over 800 formerly homeless individuals and families.
• Conduct street outreach to homeless people living in places people would not normally live (abandoned buildings, under bridges, in their cars, etc.) in an effort to get them into a safer environment.
• Work with CoC members in an effort to help better coordinate homeless services in the CoC jurisdiction.
• Increase the number of housing units to be made available by leveraging other local and state resources to provide the services.

Who is Eligible?

Homeless individuals and families who are homeless according to the HUD definition of homelessness, living in shelter, or living in places not meant for human habitation.

How Can CoC Resources Be Accessed?

To apply for housing in a CoC-funded program within the Balance of State, applicants need to access the Coordinated Entry System (CE). This process ensures that access to the finite resources available is equitable and provided to those who are most vulnerable first. Applicants can begin with their local homeless service provider. If it is unclear who that might be, you can reach out to the CE Regional Navigator who oversees the access point in your region. 

For help in accessing an emergency shelter, either speak with a local homeless service provider, if you know of one, or follow this link to the Service Provider Listing.

Funding FY24 & 25

Based on guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on January 8, 2026, the FY24/25 NOFO has been reopened and the BoS CoC will respond according to instructions found in the HUD CoC NOFO update.

"Projects that were awarded FY 2024 funds and are not being reallocated or replaced by the CoC may be eligible for selection for FY 2025 funds using their FY 2024 application submission and are not required to apply for renewal for FY 2025 funds (I.B.2.c). If applicants with awards from FY 2024 indicate in writing, in a manner that HUD may further direct, that the applicant will not reallocate or replace any of their awards, HUD will consider, if feasible, beginning the review and processing of these renewals before the February 9, 2026, submission deadline. 
For all other projects, in accordance with the FY24-25 NOFO, HUD will make e-snaps available to receive: Applications for eligible renewal projects with an expiration date in CY 2026 that were not awarded in FY24;

Applications for new projects created through CoC and/or DV reallocation or YHDP replacement, (see NOFO I.B.2.b(24) and III.B.4.a.(3) and (5) and I.A.3.d.(2)); Applications for YHDP Projects that expire in CY 2026 to renew, if not awarded in FY 2024, or replace those projects, as provided under I.A.3.d,(2); FY 2025 Project Listing that includes all projects approved by the CoC to apply for FY 2025 funding (see I.B.2.c). CoCs are required to submit a FY 2025 CoC Priority Listing if they are submitting applications for eligible CoC or YHDP renewal projects that were not awarded FY 2024 funding or new projects created through CoC, DV Reallocation, or YHDP Reallocation under YHDP Replacement (IV.E.3.c). If a CoC is not submitting applications described in the bullets above for FY 2025 CoC and YHDP funding, the CoC is not required to submit a FY 2025 CoC Priority Listing (IV.G.3).

All renewals are subject to the reviews and processes under the original terms of the reopened FY24-25 CoC NOFO, see Renewal Project Requirements, Section III.B.4.c at 53–55; Project Renewal Threshold, Section III.C.4.c at 64–65, and all applicable statutes and regulations under 24 C.F.R. § 578, et seq. and 2 C.F.R. § 200, et seq. All recipients are reminded of their ongoing obligations to submit Annual Performance Reviews, audit reports, and other materials as required under their grant agreements and Section III.C of the FY 24-25 CoC NOFO. See Rules that Affect How HUD Evaluates Applications, Section III.C at 57–67. Incomplete materials, which HUD may consider under the reviews and processes of the reopened FY24-25 CoC NOFO, may delay renewals. New projects created through reallocation (see I.B.2.b.(24)) must meet the requirements in sections I.B.3.a, III.B.4.a.(3), (4) and (5) and the project eligibility and project quality thresholds established in sections III.C.4.a. and b of the FY 24-25 NOFO.

HUD expects application forms and materials to be available on e-snaps no later than January 16, 2026. Applications will be due by February 9, 2026. HUD will communicate information and any updates on HUD.gov and by mailing list.” This language has been taken from the HUD.gov Community CoC page.

Questions? Please reach out to Karen Byron: [e-mail]

Related Documents:

• FY 2024 and FY 2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Renewal or Replacement of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants FR-6800-N-25  
• FY24/25 NOFO Grants Notice 

How to Get Involved

The Balance of State Continuum of Care hosts a general membership meeting, virtually, the first Wednesday of every month at 10:00 AM. There are also several committees that work to address unique issues of subpopulations within the Continuum of Care. Membership is open to anyone interested in preventing and ending homelessness in the CoC’s geographic area. New participation is always welcome. Individuals with lived experience and expertise of homelessness are encouraged to become involved. We seek to maintain a diverse membership with representation and participation from the Black, Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities communities.

For more information on general membership or committee membership please contact the following: 

• General Membership – [e-mail]
• Persons with Lived Experience and Expertise of Homelessness (PLEE) Committee – [e-mail]
• Racial Equity Committee – [e-mail]
• Coordinated Entry Committee – [e-mail]
• Veterans Committee – [e-mail]
• Domestic Violence Committee – [e-mail]
• Youth and Young Adult Committee – [e-mail]  

Date published:	September 11, 2024
Last updated:	December 30, 2025