About CTBOS

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Mission

CT BOS is a united coalition of private and public-sector service providers with the mission to prevent and end homelessness in Connecticut by rapidly connecting those in need to appropriate, low-barrier housing and services to support stability.

Vision

Homelessness in Connecticut will be rare, brief, and unlikely to happen again.

What is a Continuum of Care?

To receive homeless assistance funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) communities are required to establish and maintain a Continuum of Care (CoC). CoCs are responsible for coordinating funding, policies, strategies and activities toward ending homelessness in their region. CoC is also the name of the HUD program that provides funds to end homelessness.

History of CT BOS

Formed more than 20 years ago to help ensure that suburban and rural communities across Connecticut were fully accessing federal funds to address homelessness, CT BOS was one of the nation’s first Balance of State Continuums of Care. Since it’s inception, CT BOS has grown to encompass all areas located in the following planning regions: Capitol Region, Lower Connecticut River Valley, Naugatuck Valley, Northeastern CT, Northwest Hills, South Central, Southeastern CT. CT BOS now manages a year-round, nearly state-wide planning effort to end homelessness in Connecticut.

What Do We Do?

CT BOS is a coalition of individuals and agencies that assist people experiencing homelessness and those close to experiencing homelessness to obtain housing, economic stability, and an enhanced quality of life through comprehensive services.

Geographic Area

CT BOS plans and oversees use of HUD CoC funding in the following localities: all Cities and towns in the planning regions of Capitol Region, Lower Connecticut River Valley, Naugatuck Valley, Northeastern CT, Northwest Hills, South Central, Southeastern CT.

Funding

CT BOS receives over $57 million in annual funding for 120 projects that include coordinated entry, joint transitional housing / rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, planning, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and street outreach.

Collaboration

CT BOS identifies and addresses needs of people experiencing homelessness and those at-risk for experiencing homelessness utilizing not only HUD dollars, but also mainstream resources and other sources of funding. This is often achieved through the work of the local planning bodies that are active in many of the covered regions and that help guide the work of CT BOS. Consistent with the CoC Program Interim Rule, the CT BOS Steering Committee serves as the Continuum of Care Board.

Who Leads the CT Balance of State

CT BOS is led by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the localities that make up the BOS CoC including Advancing Connecticut Together, Coordinated Access Network (CAN) representatives, CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence, CT Coalition to End Homelessness, CT Department of Children and Families, CT Department of Corrections, CT Department of Education, CT Department of Housing, CT Department of Labor, CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, CT Department of Social Services, CT Housing Finance Agency, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Partnership for Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and persons who have experienced homelessness.

The Steering Committee manages a year-round planning effort that includes:

Establishing policies and plans toward ending homelessness in the CT BOS region
Analyzing information to determine needs of people experiencing homelessness in the region
Establishing priorities for how to use funding made available by HUD
Setting performance standards and evaluating projects funded through CT BOS
Monitoring project compliance with HUD and CT BOS requirements
Offering training and technical assistance to support agencies’ efforts to provide the highest quality services
Coordinating with other systems and programs serving people experiencing homelessness
Educating the community about homelessness