LA BOSCOC Members

organizations and people dedicated to ending homelessness

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Join the LA BOSCOC!

The LA BOSCOC is a self-governing coalition of organizations and people dedicated to ending homelessness in Louisiana. Any organization or person can join the LA BOSCOC. It’s free. There are no obligations. Members will receive information about homelessness response opportunities in the LA BOSCOC, including funding opportunities.

What does the LA BOSCOC do?

We provide housing, services, and technical assistance in more than 20 parishes across five Regions:

  • Baton Rouge Region: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Point Coupee, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana

  • Houma Region: Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption, St. John, St. James, St. Charles

  • Lake Charles Region: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis

  • Natchitoches/Sabine Region: Natchitoches, Sabine

  • Plaquemines/St. Bernard Region: Plaquemines, St. Bernard

LA BOSCOC members enjoy up-to-date information about efforts to end homelessness across Louisiana. They participate in governing the CoC, ensuring that every person from every demographic is served by the CoC’s housing and services. CoC members are powerful advocates for people experiencing homelessness and work to create a Louisiana in which no person lives in fear of homelessness.

Good Standing

Organizations that consistently participate in the CoC’s operation and self-governance are considered to be in Good Standing. Organizations in Good Standing enjoy several benefits, including approval to apply for CoC Program funding.

Click here for the list of organizations in Good Standing.

Benefits

Organizations in Good Standing enjoy the following benefits:

  • CoC Program funding — organizations in Good Standing can apply for CoC Program funding.

  • Certifications and Letters of Support — organizations in Good Standing can request and receive certifications and letters of support for their applications to other funding sources.

  • Voting — only organizations in Good Standing can vote during LA BOSCOC General Meetings, including Board member elections.

Requirements

To qualify for Good Standing, organizations must meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • General meeting attendance — organizations must have attended at least one of the most recent two LA BOSCOC General Meetings. General Meetings are announced via the LA BOSCOC’s mailing list.

  • Regional meeting attendance — organizations must have attended at least two of the most recent four regional meetings in their Region. Regional meetings are announced via the LA BOSCOC’s mailing list.

  • Committee participation — organizations must belong to and meet the participation requirements of at least one committee or the Board. Click here for a list of committees and how to join.

  • Point in Time (PIT) Count — organizations must have participated in the most recent PIT Count. The PIT Count happens every year in late January. Details are announced via the LA BOSCOC’s mailing list.

    • For organizations that operate emergency shelter or transitional housing: participation means submitting information about people who are currently sheltered or in transitional housing on the night of the PIT Count;

    • For all other organizations: participation means sending at least one staff person to at least one Region’s unsheltered count.

First year organizations

Organizations that joined the LA BOSCOC within the last 12 months may struggle to meet one or more of the Good Standing requirements depending on the time of the year they joined the CoC. These organizations may still be eligible for Good Standing benefits, such as receiving a Letter of Support/Certification from the CoC, if they are granted a Good Standing waiver. Requests for Letters of Support/Certification and Good Standing waivers must be submitted at least ten business days prior to a due date. Waiver requests are granted or denied by the LA BOSCOC Board.

Waivers

Organizations that do not qualify for Good Standing may request a waiver. Waivers are granted at the LA BOSCOC Board’s sole discretion. Waivers are generally granted only to organizations that demonstrate they were unable to meet the Good Standing criteria for reasons beyond their control.

To request a waiver, email Carrie Patterson, Continuum of Care Manager, at cpatterson@lhc.la.gov or submit a request by postal mail, attention Carrie Patterson, to 1690 N. Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802.

Contact

You can contact the LA BOSCOC by emailing Carrie Patterson, Continuum of Care Manager, at cpatterson@lhc.la.gov, or Winona Connor, Board Chair, at wconnor@lhc.la.gov. You can also contact the LA BOSCOC Board by postal mail at 2415 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Please mark all postal mail to the attention of Ms. Patterson or Ms. Connor.

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Louisiana. We believe all people are entitled to safe, stable, and secure housing. We are committed to working with stakeholders across our geography, in different professional circles, and from every background to create a Louisiana in which no person lives in fear of homelessness.