Continuum of Care
The Continuum of Care (CoC) system is an array of homeless and homeless prevention programs that serves people from their immediate needs for services (food, clothing, shelter, financial assistance and supportive services) through permanent affordable housing.
The Bergen County Division of Community Development is the Lead in the Continuum of Care system within the jurisdiction and is also responsible for the coordination of the CoC annual application on behalf of the Bergen County COC Committee. Prior to June 2014, the COC Planning Committee and the Housing & Emergency Assistance Committee (H&EAC) a sub-committee of the HSAC, met monthly as joint committees. This process began in 1994, when HUD developed the Homeless Continuum of Care section of the Bergen County Five Year Consolidated Plan and the Division was charged with the responsibility for the development of a plan, for the delivery of shelter and support services for the County’s homeless population.
This coordinated effort has enabled the County to maximize benefits from collective problem solving and coordinated activities. The Division is also responsible for coordinating the COC committee meetings, which are held alternating months of the year, with the COC Leadership and General committees. All recommendations and strategies for the annual Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grant applications are derived from the work of these committees. The Continuum of Care system includes the entire spectrum of support services and housing options for the at risk of homelessness, homeless and chronically homeless populations.
Bergen County Continuum of Care : “COCBUILDS”
RE: HUD NOFO COC BUILDS (BERGEN PROJECT APPLICATION IS DUE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 (LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED)
Please see the attached CoC Builds application AND Budget.
- CoC Application
- CoC Budget
Interested applicants must complete the application below as well as the attached budget template. All application submissions must be emailed to Angela Drakes adrakes@co.bergen.nj.us and Casey Carty ccarty@monarchhousing.org via email by –5pm September 16, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. The CoC will then hold a review committee to evaluate all submissions and determine one project application that will be included in the submission to HUD. If selected, the applicant will be expected to work with the CoC Lead to provide all needed information for the application submission.
CoC Builds Update August 23, 2024:
Based on the PPRN report released by HUD on 8/22/24, the Bergen CoC is now eligible for $7,500,000 for the CoC Builds process. Please see the updated application attached.
Interested applicants must complete the application below as well as the attached budget template. All application submissions must be emailed to Angela Drakes adrakes@co.bergen.nj.us and Casey Carty ccarty@monarchhousing.org via email by –5pm September 16, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. The CoC will then hold a review committee to evaluate all submissions and determine one project application that will be included in the submission to HUD. If selected, the applicant will be expected to work with the CoC Lead to provide all needed information for the application submission.
Please see the link and Info below.
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/cfo/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps/CoCBuilds (-> us-west-2.protection.sophos.com)
Purpose
The Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds (CoCBuilds) NOFO targets efforts within CoC geographic areas to address and reduce persons experiencing homelessness by adding new units of permanent supportive housing (PSH) through new construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation through one-time CoCBuilds awards under the CoC Program. Through the CoCBuilds NOFO, HUD is encouraging CoCs to leverage funds provided for construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation of new PSH units with other funding sources to maximize the amount of housing that can directed to meeting the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. PSH is permanent housing in which supportive services are provided to assist individuals with a disability and families where at least one household member has a disability and is experiencing homelessness to live independently. Additionally, no more than 20 percent of each award may be used for other eligible CoC Program activities associated with the PSH project (e.g., supportive services, operating costs (Section IV.G.3 of this NOFO)), and no more than 10 percent of an award may be used for project administration.
Permanent supportive housing is beneficial for several reasons:
- Stability: It provides stable housing for individuals who may otherwise be experiencing homelessness or precariously housed, offering a foundation for stability in their lives.
- Support Services: It offers on-site or readily accessible, voluntary support services such as counseling, healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and job training, tailored to the individual's needs.
- Cost-Effectiveness: It can reduce overall public costs by decreasing the use of emergency services, such as hospitals, shelters, and law enforcement, which are often utilized at higher rates by individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Improved Health Outcomes: Stable housing contributes to better physical and mental health outcomes for residents, as they have a safe and consistent environment in which to address health issues and access regular care.
- Community Integration: Permanent supportive housing allows individuals to become integrated into their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and social connection, which are crucial for overall well-being.
- Prevention of Recidivism: For individuals who have experienced incarceration or cycles of homelessness, permanent supportive housing can break these cycles by providing a stable environment and support systems to prevent relapse into previous patterns.
Overall, permanent supportive housing addresses both the immediate need for shelter and the underlying factors contributing to homelessness, leading to better outcomes for individuals and communities alike.
HUD has the following six goals for this competition:
- Increase housing opportunities for people with high risk of levels of need.
- Increase the supply of permanent supportive housing units within CoC geographic areas to address individuals and families experiencing homelessness where one member of the household has a disability.
- Encourage coordination between housing providers, health care organizations, and social service providers.
- Ensure access to resources for projects to expand opportunities for new PSH units in States with populations less than 2.5 million.
- Ensure new PSH units are conveniently located near local services; e.g., walking distance, near reliable transportation services, provide access to telehealth.
- Affirmatively further fair housing by addressing barriers which perpetuate segregation, hinder access to areas of opportunity for protected class groups and concentrate affordable housing in under-resourced areas.
Funding of approximately $175,000,000 is available through this NOFO. HUD expects to make approximately 25 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2024
The Bergen County Continuum of Care is now accepting Concept Papers for agencies seeking new and renewal Continuum of Care funding. New project applications can be for any of the following program types: permanent housing, transitional housing, HMIS and support service only programs. While concept papers will be accepted for all program types, funding decisions will be based on the project evaluation criteria, performance standards, local monitoring findings, as well as any restrictions placed on funding by HUD in the FY2024 NOFO.
All applications must be submitted through SM Apply by August 2nd, 2024 at 5pm. Late submissions will receive an automatic deduction of 5 points from the total application score.
Bergen Continuum of Care Funding Application
FY 2024 - Bergen CoC Budget Final
To assist agencies looking to submit an application, the CoC will host a technical assistance session on Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 11am. Please use the link below to register for the session:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsduiuqT4qHtEsN3zyqhplcde6yXrIj77B
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2023
FY2023 Continuum of Care Funding for New and Renewal Projects
The Bergen County Continuum of Care is accepting Concept Papers through the SM Apply system for agencies seeking new and renewal Continuum of Care funding for any of the following program types: Permanent housing, Transitional housing and Support services only programs. While concept papers will be accepted for all program types, funding decisions will be based on the project evaluation criteria, performance standards, local monitoring findings, as well as any restrictions placed on funding by HUD in the FY2023 NOFO. To assist agencies looking to submit an application, the CoC will host a technical assistance session on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, at 10:30am. Please use the link below to register for the session:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYof-2przkoG9A6s0D5WThRos-ypB6Bf7j6
Specifications for eligible project types, the scoring criteria and the HUD NOFO can be found here:
DEADLINE: Any agency seeking to apply for either new or renewal funding MUST complete an application in SM by 5 PM on Friday, August 4th, 2023.
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2022
- Bergen Application
- Bergen Priority Listing
- FY 2022 Bergen CoC Budget
- FY2022 Continuum of Care Concept Paper Release
- FY2022 Concept Paper Addendum
- Criteria and Scoresheet
- FY2022 Budget Worksheet
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2021
- FY2021 Continuum of Care Collaborative Application
- FY2021 Continuum of Care Project Priority listing
HUD has released the 2021 CoC NOFO. The County’s Collaborative COC application due date is November 16, 2021.
The Bergen County CoC is accepting NEW applications for PSH, RRH, TH/RRH, and SSO-CE. PSH projects are eligible to apply for service dollars as well as rental assistance.
Listed below are the HUD funding Priorities for 2021:
- DV RRH
- DV TH/RRH Projects
- PSH Projects that are partnering with healthcare organizations
- Please note that PSH projects can include service dollars in the budget
If anyone is interested in submitting a NEW application at this time, please submit a 1-page Concept Paper with a budget by September 7, 2021.
Please see the attached following documents for further information:
- 2021 Bergen COC Desk Monitoring Tool
- 2021 Bergen Desk Monitoring Questionnaire Doc Request
- FY2021 Concept Paper Announcement
- FY2021 COC Application Budget Worksheet
- FY2021 COC Project Evaluation Criteria Scoresheet
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2019
- FY 2019 Continuum of Care Concept paper
- FY 2019 Continuum of Care Concept paper Scoring Criteria
- Bergen CoC Priority Listing 2019
- Bergen 2019 CoC Collaborative Application
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2018
- FY2018 Continuum of Care Project Priority Listing
- FY2018 Continuum of Care Concept Paper
- FY2018 Bergen Continuum of Care Scoresheet
- FY2018 Consolidated Application
- FY2018 Project Priority Listing
Bergen County Continuum of Care FY2017
Contact Us
Bergen County Division of Community Development
One Bergen County Plaza • 4th Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601
Department of Administration and Finance
One Bergen County Plaza • 5th Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076
Phone: 201-336-7335 • Fax: 201-336-7304