The Heart of Illinois Homeless Continuum of Care ( HoIHCoC) is the lead entity responsible for the planning process for homeless services in the four county region, including the cities of Peoria and Pekin and the Counties of Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and Fulton.
The HoIHCoC was formed in the mid '90's in response to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's mandate that communities develop a "Continuum of Care" for the delivery of services to homeless individuals and families.
HUD Definition of the Continuum of Care:
"The Continuum of Care is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness."
Beginning with just four local agencies, the HoIHCoC has grown into a working group of 42 people representing 32 different agencies and businesses and the community at large. These agencies and individuals meet collectively on a bi-monthly basis to discuss service delivery, trends, agency developments, issues specific to certain sub-populations and to assist in the development of the HUD, DHS and SHP grant, as well as other funding sources, to ensure funding of local programs and seamless service delivery to our homeless population.
Services Provided by participating agencies.
· Homeless Prevention
Assistance to help people maintain their housing and prevent homelessness.
· Outreach, Intake and Assessment
To identify an individual's or family's needs and link them to appropriate housing and/or services.
· Emergency Shelter
Short term, safe and decent shelter provided as an alternative to the streets.
· Transitional Housing
Housing with supportive services to help people develop the skills they need to live in permanent housing.
· Supportive Services
Supportive services should be available throughout the Continuum of Care in order to address the specific needs of each individual. Supportive services may be provided in conjunction with housing, or through referral. Services should be available to address both the immediate and long term needs of homeless persons, such as education, employment assistance, health care, substance abuse treatment and mental health care, child care, transportation and other services.
· Permanent Housing
Affordable housing in which residents pay no more than 30% of their income for housing costs.
· Permanent Supportive Housing
Housing with supportive services designed to allow persons with disabilities to live in the community as independently as possible