Texas Homeless Network

education, resources, and advocacy

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Texas Homeless Network

education, resources, and advocacy

Graphic saying to Join the Texas Balance of States

Do you live and/or work  in one of the 215 counties that the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care serves? If so, we’ve got many ways for you to get involved in ending homelessness in your community (and across our great state).

As the lead for the The Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care (TX BoS CoC), THN leads a coordinated response to ending homelessness through an array of programs and systems. Whether you’re interested in joining one of our many committees, starting a local homeless coalition in your area, volunteering for the Point-in-Time count, or helping ensure best practices across our full 215 county region, we’d love to have you as a part of our team of changemakers. Learn more and get involved now by exploring the links below.

Stay Informed
General Meetings
Membership
Make Public Comment
Join Your Local Homeless Coalition
Participate in Planning

Stay Informed & Get Involved

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Each month, the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care sends out a newsletter covering what is happening across our geographic region. Don’t miss your opportunity to stay informed today!

Subscribe Now

Participate in Meetings

Participating in meetings relevant to your role in the community can provide you a direct way to stay informed about what matters to you. Explore the meeting list to learn more about what’s coming in 2024.

List of TX BoS CoC Meetings

Keep An Eye On Our Calendar

Want to make sure you don’t miss what’s happening across the state, both virtual and in-person? Bookmark our calendar and check back monthly for the latest events.

List of TX BoS CoC Meetings

Want to Catch Up The Past Year?

Check Out Our Past Newsletters:

To review previous CoC Newsletters, visit our Resources section. 

2023 Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care Year in Review

Join Texas BoS CoC General Meetings

Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care (TX BoS CoC) General Meetings are open to anyone who lives or works in the TX BoS CoC’s geographic area. 

By joining, you have the opportunity to learn about TX BoS CoC programs and policy priorities, upcoming events, local initiatives to end homelessness, best practices, and more! Meetings are held two times per year via webinar, so there’s no need to travel.

For accessibility needs so you can participate in the CoC General Membership meetings or other CoC activities, please contact Mary Stahlke, Director of Engagement, at mary@thn.org or 512-861-2180.

2024 General Membership Meeting Materials

In 2024, the CoC held General Membership meetings in May and September. Anyone who lives and/or works in the TX BoS CoC is invited to attend. To receive meeting updates, sign up for the TX BoS CoC Newsletter.

9/11/2024 TX BoS Full General Membership Meeting
September 11, 2024, 9:00-Noon

Join THN, the TX BoS CoC Board, and other CoC general members for the annual hybrid meeting of the CoC! This meeting is a time to catch up on the state of the CoC, review our governance charter, and reflect on accomplishments from the past year. At this year’s meeting, we will also be learning more about CoC modernization. The CoC is exploring options to enhance structures and processes to support local communities and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Technical assistance providers from The Cloudburst Group will present analysis and ideas, and everyone will have an opportunity to discuss them.

If you have questions, contact Mary Stahlke at mary@thn.org or 512-861-2180.

9-11-2024 CoC General Membership Meeting Agenda

9-11-2024 CoC General Membership Meeting Slides

5/15/2024 CoC General Membership Meeting
The CoC is exploring options to modernize structures and processes to enhance capacity in ways that improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness at the local level. What might that look like? How can you have a say? Join us for a discussion with technical assistance providers from Cloudburst Consulting to learn more. 

Click here to review the recording.

5/15 meeting notes and attendance list

Slides about CoC Modernization

If you’re new to the CoC or want refresher information, please see the “CoC Orientation” video on THN’s YouTube channel.

Anyone that lives or works in the TX BoS CoC is invited to attend. However, this meeting is recommended for individuals at agencies involved in funding and planning for homeless services in the TX BoS CoC.
Click here to receive webinar invitations and other important BoS CoC news.
Previous General Meetings

Meeting recordings are available on the Texas Homeless Network YouTube channel.

To review previous years’ CoC General Membership Meeting Minutes and Materials, visit our Resources section. 

Become a TX BoS Member

The TX BoS CoC General Membership is made up of all service providers, advocates, local government officials, and individuals who work to eliminate homelessness in the TX BoS CoC’s geographic area. 

General Members can:

    • Run or vote for CoC Board positions
    • Participate in Local Homeless Coalition Meetings
    • Attend CoC General Membership Meetings
    • Respond to request for comment on proposed TX BoS CoC policies
    • And much more!

Please note: CoC General Membership is different from THN Membership. While anyone who lives or works in the TX BoS CoC is considered a General Member, THN membership requires a separate sign-up and donation process. To learn about the benefits of becoming a THN member, click here.

How to become a member:

Anyone who works or lives in the CoC’s geographic area, and all housing and homeless services projects in the CoC’s geographic area, are considered to be members of the CoC. The CoC has an open invitation process, so members may join at any time.
 
THN invites members to participate in the CoC’s activities. Learn more on the email list, and social media. CoC General Meeting minutes and recordings are posted on THN’s website, in the “Resources” page. Presentations by and conversations between CoC members and staff on relevant topics keep members informed and updated.

Join Your Local Homeless Coalition

Local Homeless Coalitions are groups of organizations, individuals, and leaders interested in ending homelessness that meet face-to-face locally within TX Balance of State communities. LHCs make plans to address homelessness in their communities, pursue CoC goals, and lead local initiatives. There are approximately 25 Local Homeless Coalitions across the Texas Balance of State at this time. 

For more information on how to join, click here.

Local Homeless Coalitions Map

Make Public Comment

THN considers public comment important to the development of the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care and, therefore, provides for a formal public comment period on numerous draft and/or proposed plans, policies. The public is invited to make comments via the Public Comment Portal, at meetings when the draft or proposed version of a document is under consideration, or by submitting comments in writing during applicable public comment periods to THN via letter, fax, or email, as directed for each document.

Public comments received outside of the specified public comment period may not be forwarded to the TX BoS CoC’s Governing Board for consideration or considered as part of the official record of public comment requiring reasoned responses.

Click here to access the TX BoS CoC Public Comment Portal.

Participate in Consolidated Planning

The Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care for homeless assistance (TX BoS CoC) is required to consult with the Consolidated Plan Jurisdictions (CPJs) within the CoC on the development of Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans, and CAPERs. Consultation helps jurisdictions and the CoC align planning efforts, goals, strategies, and evaluation, and working together make the best use of resources.

Forty CPJs are in the geographic area covered by the TX BoS CoC. Find CPJs’ Consolidated Plans, Action Plans, and CAPERs on the HUD Exchange.  Find HOME-ARP Allocation Plans on hud.gov.

The CPJs receive HUD funding from one or more formulary grants that can be used to address homelessness and housing:

The Consolidated Plan is designed to help states and local jurisdictions to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CPD formula block grant programs…The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. Grantees report on accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).” (from the HUD Exchange) 

To consult with the CoC on a Consolidated Plan, Action Plan, CAPER, and HOME-ARP, contact engagement@thn.org.

The CoC recommends that jurisdictions also consult with their Local Homeless Coalitions (LHCs) who spearhead local planning, goals, strategy, and evaluation for homeless assistance in specific segments of the CoC. The LHCs know their communities’ needs and provide services. LHCs are an important component of CoC governance and are invaluable in Con Planning. Contact information for LHCs can be found here.

See these slides showing how jurisdictions and CoCs can coordinate.

See HUD’s guide to Consolidated Plan Jurisdictions and CoCs working together. To assist with planning, the CoC will provide data from the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count of persons experiencing homelessness and the Housing Inventory Count (HIC) that shows homeless assistance units (emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing beds) operating in the CoC. Each community may then conduct a basic gaps analysis by comparing the demand (number of people experiencing homelessness on the night of the PIT Count) with the supply (number of units and beds available to house people experiencing homelessness on the night of the PIT Count) to see the gaps in housing. Then, goals and strategies can be set to address the gaps.

For communities that did not conduct a PIT Count, the CoC will estimate PIT data for your CPJ. For communities where no housing for homeless assistance operates, there is no HIC data for your CPJ. To participate in the PIT Count and HIC, contact data@thn.org. Learn more about the PIT and HIC, including regional infographics, in the Data section of THN’s website. 

 

CoC General Meetings are open to anyone who lives or works in the TX BoS CoC’s geographic area. Attendees learn about TX BoS CoC programs and policy priorities, upcoming events, local initiatives to end homelessness, best practices, and more!

Meetings are held bi-monthly via webinar, so there’s no need to travel. Sign up to receive webinar invitations and other important BoS CoC news.

 

2019-2020 Meeting Minutes
2018-2019 Meeting Minutes
2018-2019 Meeting Recordings:
2018-2019

Local Homeless Coalitions are groups of organizations, individuals, and leaders interested in ending homelessness that meet face-to-face locally within TX Balance of State communities. LHCs make plans to address homelessness in their communities, pursue CoC goals, and lead local initiatives. There are approximately 25 Local Homeless Coalitions across the Texas Balance of State at this time. 

For more information, click HERE

THN considers public comment important to the development of the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care and, therefore, provides for a formal public comment period on numerous draft and/or proposed plans, policies. The public is invited to make comments via the Public Comment Portal, at meetings when the draft or proposed version of a document is under consideration, or by submitting comments in writing during applicable public comment periods to THN via letter, fax, or email, as directed for each document.

Public comments received outside of the specified public comment period may not be forwarded to the TX BoS CoC’s Governing Board for consideration or considered as part of the 

official record of public comment requiring reasoned responses.

Click here to access the TX BoS CoC Public Comment Portal

Subscribe to receive updates on the Homeless Assistance Program.

View The CoC Map

The Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care for homeless assistance (TX BoS CoC) is required to consult with the Consolidated Plan Jurisdictions (CPJs) within the CoC on the development of Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans, and CAPERs. Consultation helps jurisdictions and the CoC align planning efforts,
goals, strategies, and evaluation, and working together make the best use of resources.

Forty CPJs are in the geographic area covered by the TX BoS CoC. Find CPJs’ Consolidated Plans, Action Plans, and CAPERs on the HUD Exchange.  

The CPJs receive HUD funding from one or more formulary grants that can be used to address homelessness and housing:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

HOME Investments Partnership Program (HOME)

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) 

Housing Trust Fund

“The Consolidated Plan is designed to help states and local jurisdictions to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CPD formula block grant programs…The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. Grantees report on accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).” (from the HUD Exchange) 

The CoC recommends that jurisdictions also consult with their local homeless coalitions (LHCs) who spearhead local planning, goals, strategy, and evaluation for homeless assistance in specific segments of the CoC. The LHCs know their communities’ needs and provide services. LHCs are an important component of CoC governance and are invaluable in Con Planning. Contact information for LHCs can be found here.

See HUD’s guide to Consolidated Plan Jurisdictions and CoCs working together. To assist with planning, the CoC will provide data from the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count of persons experiencing homelessness and the Housing Inventory Count (HIC) that shows homeless assistance units (emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing beds) operating in the CoC. Each community may then conduct a gaps analysis by comparing the demand (number of people experiencing homelessness on January 23, 2020) with the supply (number of units and beds available to house people experiencing homelessness on January 23, 2020) to see the gaps in housing. Then, goals and strategies can be set to address the gaps.

 

For communities that did not conduct a PIT Count, the CoC will estimate PIT data for your CPJ. For communities where no housing for homeless assistance operates, there is no HIC data for your CPJ. To participate in the PIT Count and HIC, contact data@thn.org. Learn more about the PIT and HIC, including regional infographics, in the Data section of THN’s website. 

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