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 HUD to help homeless people.

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

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) 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 EOHLC 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, EOHLC 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.

Additional Resources

Written Standards and Policies and Procedures for ESG and CoC Funded Programs

MA BoS CoC Environmental Review Policy

MA BoS CoC Grant Monitoring Policy

MA BoS CoC Project Rating and Ranking Policy

MA BoS CoC Reallocation Policy

MA BoS CoC Emergency Transfer Plan

Youth and Young Adult Education and Employment Resources

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

The MA Balance of State CoC is pleased to announce the availability of funding for new, expanded, and renewal applications. 

• The calendar below includes links to the resources you will need to take advantage of this opportunity, including information at HUD related to the FY24 NOFO through which this funding is available to us. 
• Instructions: You will also find a link to the Power Point presentation with specific instructions and additional links to guidance provided by HUD for use of eSnaps. 
• Deadlines: Please note the deadlines in the calendar below. 
• Questions: If you have questions, please reach out to Karen at [e-mail].

Opportunities for New Projects and Expansions of Existing Projects

New Projects

• The MA Balance of State CoC is accepting proposals for new projects to submit to HUD in response to the federal FY24 Continuum of Care NOFO anticipated during the summer of 2024. 
• Proposals must be submitted via CommBuys no later than June 21, 2024. Full instructions and a calendar with bidders conference is available on CommBuys at COMMBUYS - Bid Solicitation.

Additional Funding Opportunity - Concept Papers Requested by September 3, 2024

• Due to an unexpected increase in the bonus amount available as well as reallocated funding, we have access to more funding than anticipated when we prepared the procurement that was available on CommBuys in May. We are requesting concept papers from interested parties so that we can create additional new project applications and expand existing projects.
• Please follow the instructions in this document if you are interested.

FY24 NOFO Project Priority Listing

• On October 10, 2024 the BoS CoC Advisory Board voted to include the following projects in the FY24 NOFO Priority Listing submission. In addition to 37 renewals, the CoC is pleased to include 3 new projects and an expansion request for an existing project. All renewal projects were accepted, and none were rejected. The projects in order of priority are found below.
• FY24 NOFO Project Listing

BoS CoC-Approved Consolidated Application

• NEWS: BoS CoC announces approved Consolidated Application for FY 2024 CoC Program Competition
• Review the Approved Consolidated Application and Approved Priority Listings for all New, Renewal, Expansion, and Replacement Project Listings
• For Comments or Questions about the Approved Application, e-mail Karen Byron at [e-mail]

Related Documents 

• Concept Paper 
• FY24 NOFO Calendar 
• Renewal Expansion and New Application Guidance
• CoC Application and Priority Listing

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 4, 2024