Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless Releases FQHC RFP

Overview

Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless (CAAH) is one of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC)’s core community partners. In addition to providing HMIS support to all LA BOSCOC agencies, CAAH also administers the One Stop Homeless Services Center (the One Stop) in Baton Rouge.

Today, CAAH has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a private non-profit entity to operate a federally qualified health center (FQHC) clinic within the One Stop.

Proposals are due by 4 PM on Thursday, October 28, 2021. For more information, including eligibility and application requirements, please refer to the RFP.

Request for Proposals

Click here to download the RFP.

Questions

For more information, please contact Charles Phillips at cphillips@homelessinbr.org.

LHC Releases Coordinated Entry Request for Interests (Lake Charles)

Overview

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), on behalf of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), has opened its local competition for funding available under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO in August 18, 2021. The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

Through its local competition, the LA BOSCOC expects to make approximately $23 million available, including more than $2 million for new projects.

The LA BOSCOC welcomes and encourages applicants that have not previously received CoC Program funding to apply.

The LA BOSCOC will publish all information about its local competition on its website at https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition and via its email distribution list. Click here to subscribe to the LA BOSCOC’s email distribution list.

Final documents

Today, the LA BOSCOC published a Coordinated Entry Request for Interest (RFI). Under this RFI, LHC seeks to identify potential subrecipients to receive an estimated $50,000 to fund Coordinated Entry activities, including single site access and street outreach.

Inquiries are due by 4 PM CST on October 1, 2021.

The RFI can be found here: https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition

About the LA BOSCOC

The LA BOSCOC is Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness. It serves more than half of Louisiana’s geography, including more than 20 parishes and the cities of Baton Rouge, Houma, and Lake Charles.

For more information, please contact Carrie Patterson, Continuum of Care Manager, at cpatterson@lhc.la.gov.

Key Stakeholder Survey to Support the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO

Overview

Click here to take the survey.

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), on behalf of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), has opened its local competition for funding available under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO in August 18, 2021. The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

Through its local competition, the LA BOSCOC expects to make approximately $23 million available, including more than $2 million for new projects.

The LA BOSCOC welcomes and encourages applicants that have not previously received CoC Program funding to apply.

The LA BOSCOC will publish all information about its local competition on its website at https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition and via its email distribution list. Click here to subscribe to the LA BOSCOC’s email distribution list.

Key stakeholder survey

Click here to take the survey.

Today, the LA BOSCOC published its key stakeholder survey. This survey will support the LA BOSCOC’s FY 2021 CoC Competition application by providing critical information about homelessness response across the CoC in the last year. Without this information, the CoC will be less competitive at the national level, and therefore less likely to receive new project funding.

We urge all organizations that provide any services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence, to take a few minutes to reply to this survey.

This survey will take between 5 and 20 minutes and is best completed by someone with comprehensive knowledge of their organization’s entire scope of homelessness response — usually a program director, COO, executive director, or CEO.

Topics include:

  • All service providers: how your agency has improved is readiness for public health emergencies; how your agency coordinated with mainstream health agencies to respond to COVID-19; whether your agency has worked to identify people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; whether and to what extent you have assessed and addressed racial inequities in your service delivery;

  • Emergency shelter and transitional housing providers: protocols you implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to address immediate safety needs for people in congregate settings;

  • Outreach providers: protocols you implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to address immediate safety needs for people in unsheltered living situations;

  • Domestic violence service providers: training you provided to project staff addressing safety planning protocols; if you provide Coordinated Entry activities, how your CES implementation incorporates trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches that prioritize safety and confidentiality.

The CoC staff appreciate your time and contribution to ensuring you receive credit on the national stage for your work and guaranteeing the LA BOSCOC its best opportunity to receive its maximum funding award.

Survey responses are due by October 1, 2021.

Click here to take the survey.

Final Versions of All Local Competition Documents Now Available

Overview

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), on behalf of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), has opened its local competition for funding available under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO in August 18, 2021. The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

Through its local competition, the LA BOSCOC expects to make approximately $23 million available, including more than $2 million for new projects.

The LA BOSCOC welcomes and encourages applicants that have not previously received CoC Program funding to apply.

The LA BOSCOC will publish all information about its local competition on its website at https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition and via its email distribution list. Click here to subscribe to the LA BOSCOC’s email distribution list.

Final documents

Today, the LA BOSCOC published final versions of all remaining key documents for its local competition. This includes an updated Request for Proposals that reflects system project allocations approved by the LA BOSCOC Board on September 17, 2021.

This release includes final versions of the Annual Changelog, Projects Eligible for Renewal, New Project Scoring Tool, Renewal Project Scoring Tool, and an updated Request for Proposals.

All local competition documents can be found here: https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition

About the LA BOSCOC

The LA BOSCOC is Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness. It serves more than half of Louisiana’s geography, including more than 20 parishes and the cities of Baton Rouge, Houma, and Lake Charles.

For more information, please contact Carrie Patterson, Continuum of Care Manager, at cpatterson@lha.la.gov.

Board Meeting: Friday, September 17, 1 PM to 2 PM

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC) Board, which is the LA BOSCOC’s primary governing body, will meet Friday, August 30, from 11 AM to noon.

This meeting will focus on three topics:

Approving the remaining key documents for the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO. Click here for more information and to review those documents.

Reviewing non-competitive project expansions. The LA BOSCOC Board has offered to consider expansion requests from current subrecipients of two systems-level CoC Program-funded projects, “Coordinated Entry” and “HMIS.” The Board will review proposals and determine their funding mechanism in relation to the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO local competition General Funding Pool.

Special population: people living in disaster shelters. More than 200 people are currently living in disaster shelters in the LA BOSCOC. Part of this population includes people who were experiencing homelessness before Hurricane Ida or who were precariously housed before Hurricane Ida and cannot be returned to housing via FEMA rental assistance. The Board will consider whether to designate one or both of these populations as a special population for the purposes of Coordinated Entry prioritization.

Click here to access the agenda.

FY 2021 Local Competition Webinar - Slides and Recording Now Available

Overview

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), on behalf of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), has opened its local competition for funding available under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO in August 18, 2021. The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

Through its local competition, the LA BOSCOC expects to make approximately $23 million available, including approximately $2 million for new projects.

The LA BOSCOC welcomes and encourages applicants that have not previously received CoC Program funding to apply.

The LA BOSCOC will publish all information about its local competition on its website at https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition and via its email distribution list. Click here to subscribe to the LA BOSCOC’s email distribution list.

Webinar and Slides

On Friday, September 10, the LA BOSCOC hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the CoC Program, the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO, and the LA BOSCOC’s FY 2021 local competition.

Today, the LA BOSCOC posted the slides and the full recording of that webinar for your review. (Please note that the slides contain several errors that reference the FY 2019 local competition, primarily in relation to the project application supplement; these errors are noted as part of the recorded webinar, but for further clarification, please contact glevine@lhc.la.gov.)

Click here to view FY 2021 local competition page, which includes links to the slides and webinar.

Draft Versions of Remaining Local Competition Documents Now Available

Overview

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), on behalf of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), has opened its local competition for funding available under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO in August 18, 2021. The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

Through its local competition, the LA BOSCOC expects to make approximately $23 million available, including approximately $2 million for new projects.

The LA BOSCOC welcomes and encourages applicants that have not previously received CoC Program funding to apply.

The LA BOSCOC will publish all information about its local competition on its website at https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition and via its email distribution list. Click here to subscribe to the LA BOSCOC’s email distribution list.

Draft documents

Today, the LA BOSCOC published draft versions of the remaining key documents for its local competition. They are:

Reminder: FY 2021 CoC Program local competition webinar

LHC will host an informational webinar for its FY 2021 CoC Program local competition on the morning of Friday, September 10. This webinar will provide both an overview of the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO and critical information for potential project applicants.

Click here to register for the webinar.

About the LA BOSCOC

The LA BOSCOC is Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness. It serves more than half of Louisiana’s geography, including more than 20 parishes and the cities of Baton Rouge, Houma, and Lake Charles.

For more information, please contact Gordon Levine, Continuum of Care Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov.

FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO: Overview and Project Applications

Overview

The LA BOSCOC is hosting a webinar to equip organizations to apply for new and renewal funding under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Session Description

Facilitator: Gordon Levine, Louisiana Housing Corporation

Date and Time: Friday, Spetember 10, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM

Overview: this webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will fund approximately $23 million in housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. This includes approximately $2 million in new project funding. Attendees will also gain valuable insight into the local competition process for new project funding, including critical information about project design, funding availability, and creating a successful application.

Target Audience: project managers, program directors, and executive staff who are involved in decisions about project design and funding applications

Who Should Attend?: any eligible organization that is interested in or considering applying for new or renewal project funding in the LA BOSCOC’s geography. “Eligible organizations” are limited to non-profit organizations, local governments and instrumentalities of local governments, Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs), and public housing agencies. Click here to view a map of the LA BOSCOC’s geography (each region in green is part of the LA BOSCOC).

Registration

Click here to register.

FY 2021 CoC Program Local Competition Now Open

Overview

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), on behalf of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), has opened its local competition for funding available under the Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO in August 18, 2021. The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

Through its local competition, the LA BOSCOC expects to make approximately $23 million available, including approximately $2 million for new projects.

The LA BOSCOC welcomes and encourages applicants that have not previously received CoC Program funding to apply.

The LA BOSCOC will publish all information about its local competition on its website at https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition and via its email distribution list. Click here to subscribe to the LA BOSCOC’s email distribution list.

Key documents

Today, the LA BOSCOC published three key documents related to the local competition:

  • Request for Proposals (RFP)

  • Timeline and Critical Dates

  • Rating, Ranking, and Scoring Policy

All three documents can be accessed here: https://laboscoc.org/fy21-coc-program-competition

Upcoming documents

The LA BOSCOC expects to publish all remaining documents needed to successfully apply to the local competition on September 13. They include:

  • Annual Local Competition Changelog

  • New Project Scoring Tool

  • Renewal Project Scoring Tool

  • Renewal Projects Eligible to Apply

This release date is an estimate and may change.

FY 2021 CoC Program local competition webinar

LHC intends to host an informational webinar for its FY 2021 CoC Program local competition on the morning of Friday, September 10. This webinar will provide both an overview of the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO and critical information for potential project applicants.

LHC will release registration details about this webinar in a subsequent email.

Timeline changes due to Hurricane Ida

In response to the impacts of Hurricane Ida, and as provided for in HUD’s FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO, LHC submitted an extension request for its consolidated application from HUD. The request would, among other easements, extend the deadline for new and renewal projects by approximately two weeks.

The Timeline and Critical Dates published today reflects the extension request. If HUD does not approve the extension request, LHC will publish an amended Timeline and Critical Dates.

About the LA BOSCOC

The LA BOSCOC is Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness. It serves more than half of Louisiana’s geography, including more than 20 parishes and the cities of Baton Rouge, Houma, and Lake Charles.

For more information, please contact Gordon Levine, Continuum of Care Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov.

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LA BOSCOC Board Meeting: Monday, August 30, from 11 AM to Noon

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UPDATE: the NOFO documents under discussion are linked below:

***

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC) Board, which is the LA BOSCOC’s primary governing body, will meet Monday, August 30, from 11 AM to noon.

This meeting will focus on two topics:

Coordinated Entry in the Houma Region. Insofar as there are few people experiencing literal homelessness living in the Houma Region or interested in moving to the Houma Region, and insofar as that situation is likely to continue, the Board will consider offering flexibilities to that Region’s permanent housing providers in filling project slots, including suspending the Intervention element of Coordinated Entry and creating a limited path to housing people who are at risk of homelessness.

FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO. On August 18, HUD released its Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will fund approximately $23 million in housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness in the LA BOSCOC, approximately $2 million of which will be funding for new projects. The Board will consider several key documents and mechanisms related to the LA BOSCOC’s local competition for funding.

Click here to access the agenda.

FY 2021 CoC Program - New Project Application Session

Introduction

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC) is Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness.

On August 18, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its Funding Year (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The CoC Program funds eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence. Click here for more information about the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO from HUD.

Under the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO, the LA BOSCOC is eligible to apply for approximately $23 million. The majority of that funding will be dedicated to existing projects; however,

  • Approximately $1 million will be made available for new projects serving people experiencing literal homelessness (including people experiencing chronic homelessness);

  • Approximately $850,000 will be made available for new rapid re-housing activities serving people fleeing domestic violence (which includes but is not limited to dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking).

The LA BOSCOC expects to release its Request for Proposals (RFP) for new project applications under the FY 2021 CoC Program NOFO within the next two weeks. The LA BOSCOC, in partnership with TAC, is providing this session to equip potential applicants with the foundational knowledge they need to successfully design a new project and submit a new project application.

Session Description

Facilitator: Melany Mondello, TAC

Date and Time: Thursday, September 2, from 1 PM to 2:30 PM CST

Overview: This session is an opportunity for potential Continuum of Care (CoC) Program new project applicants to ask questions about the general CoC Program application process and how to put together a competitive CoC Program new project application.

Before the Session: Please review the CoC Program Interim Rule (the CoC Program’s core rules and regulations) and familiarize yourself with eligible activities under this funding source, as this session will not be a full review of the CoC Program Interim Rule. Click here to view the CoC Program Interim Rule.

Target Audience: Staff who will be responsible for writing CoC Program new project applications and other leadership-level staff involved in the new project creation and application process

Who Can Attend?: Any eligible organization that is interested in or considering applying for new project funding in the LA BOSCOC’s geography. “Eligible organizations” are limited to non-profit organizations, local governments and instrumentalities of local governments, Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs), and public housing agencies. Click here to view a map of the LA BOSCOC’s geography (each region in green is part of the LA BOSCOC).

Register

Click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

Questions?

Contact Gordon Levine at glevine@lhc.la.gov with questions about the CoC Program NOFO and new project application process.

Contact Melany Mondello at mmondello@tacinc.org with technical questions about this session.

Announcing our fall training series: Healthy Project Essentials

Overview

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), Louisiana's largest coalition to end homelessness, is committed to fostering professional growth opportunities for its members.

As part of that opportunity, the LA BOSCOC is pleased to announce its FREE fall 2021 training series: Healthy Project Essentials.

This multi-part series will equip case managers and project managers with foundational knowledge about building high quality participant files, maintaining good HMIS data, and improving your implementation of VAWA requirements for HUD-funded projects.

Session #1: Participant Files 101

Facilitator: Gordon Levine, Louisiana Housing Corporation

Target Audience: housing case managers who work directly with participants; project managers who supervise case managers; this project is focused on at projects funded by the CoC Program and ESG

Overview: This training will cover the basics of creating and maintaining high quality participant files for transitional and permanent housing projects funded by the CoC Program and ESG. Topics will include federal requirements, CoC requirements, and best practices for easy monitoring visits. The session will conclude with a Q&A.

Time and Date: September 14, 10 AM to noon

Register: click here to register

Session #2: HMIS Data Entry Clinic

Facilitator: Susan Walker, Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless

Target Audience: staff people who enter HMIS data; project managers who review project HMIS data quality; this training is focused on projects funded by the CoC Program and ESG

Overview: This training will cover the essential steps for producing high quality HMIS data. Topics will include data completeness at participant intake, data completeness at participant exit, and how to avoid common pitfalls with participant HMIS data. The session will conclude with a Q&A.

Time and Date: October 5, 10 AM to noon

Register: click here to register

Session #3: VAWA Implementation 101

Facilitator: Larisa Kofman, Kofman & Associates

Target Audience: project managers or program directors who are responsible for creating and implement policies and procedures; this training is focused on projects funded by the CoC Program and ESG

Overview: This training will focus on the core policies and practices that CoC Program- and ESG-funded projects are required to implement under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), as well as other associated federal laws, with a focus on housing protections impacting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and human trafficking. Topics will include an overview of housing protections, flexible funding and funding opportunities, impacts on survivors, considerations for programs in transforming practice, and an interactive scenario-based application of housing protections focused on discrimination, documentation, and notice/lease requirements.

Time and Date: TBA between late October and early December

Register: click here to register

Questions?

For questions about the training series, including technical questions about registration, please contact Gordon Levine at glevine@lhc.la.gov.

Accessing Baton Rouge Section 8 on Friday, July 9

The East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA) will be opening its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) waiting list on Friday, July 9, 2021, from 10 AM to 2 PM CST.

Applications will be accepted online only. Applications will become available on the specified date and time at https://ebrpha.org/.

For people experiencing literal homelessness: the following sites will be providing computer access and staff assistance applying — no appointment needed:

  • THE ONE STOP (START CORPORATION): 1623 Convention Street

  • ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: 220 St. Vincent de Paul Drive

For people fleeing domestic violence:

  • IRIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER will be providing computer access and staff assistance applying; for more information, including how to access, call 225-389-3001.

For more information about EBRPHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, please contact EBRPHA at https://ebrpha.org/contact-us/.

Job Opportunity: Coordinated Entry Specialist

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), as the collaborative applicant (i.e. lead agency) of the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), is hiring a Coordinated Entry Specialist.

Click here to read more about the position and apply via the state civil service website.

The LA BOSCOC is 'Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness. On an annual basis, it funds more than $20 million in housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness through dozens of projects and subrecipients. LHC serves as the LA BOSCOC’s managing staff, ensuring that the LA BOSCOC’s member-agencies are equipped to succeed in preventing and ending homelessness.

The Coordinated Entry Specialist’s primary responsibilities include:

  • Overseeing the LA BOSCOC’s Coordinated Entry System, which is the LA BOSCOC’s process for intake, assessment, triage, and referral of people experiencing homelessness;

  • Managing the LA BOSCOC’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program-funded Coordinated entry grants, which together total more than $1 million annually;

  • Coordinating the Baton Rouge Street Outreach Network, a street outreach and case conferencing working group dedicated to connecting people experiencing unsheltered homelessness with the resources they need to quickly return to housing;

  • Refining the LA BOSCOC’s Coordinated Entry System by continuing to develop its policies and procedures, applying and reapplying for relevant funding, and expanding the LA BOSCOC’s knowledge of new and best practices by engaging other high performing CoCs.

In addition to the requirements posted on the civil service website, the right candidate will demonstrate a drive for public service, a passion for serving marginalized populations, and an interest in working with complex systems. Previous experience working with CoCs or in homeless services is a plus but not a requirement; we welcome applications from anyone open to learning and growing with the position.

Note: this position is a reposting; if you are still interested in being considered for this position, you must apply again.

Please direct any questions to Gordon Levine, CoC Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov.

CDC Continues Eviction Moratorium Through July 2021

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended the existing eviction moratorium through July 31, 2021. (The previous moratorium was due to expire June 30, 2021.)

The eviction moratorium is intended to prevent the eviction of renters during the COVID-19 pandemic who are unable to make rental payments.

Per the CDC’s information release, this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.

For more information, please visit the CDC’s eviction moratorium page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-eviction-declaration.html

For access to free, civil legal aid to low-income people throughout southeast Louisiana, including the Baton Rouge, Houma, and Plaquemines/St. Bernard Regions, please contact Southeast Louisiana Legal Services: https://slls.org/

For access to legal services on a sliding scale based on income in southwest Louisiana, including the Lake Charles Region, please contact Southwest Louisiana Law Center: https://louisianalawhelp.org/organization/southwest-louisiana-legal-services

Tropical Cyclone Three information

Tropical Cyclone Three is expected to impact Louisiana today (Friday, June 18) and tomorrow (Saturday, June 19). It is expected to be a local event, and its primary impacts are expected to be outside the LA BOSCOC’s geography.

At this time, and to the best of the LA BOSCOC’s knowledge:

  • No emergency weather shelter has currently or is expected to be stood up by any state agency;

  • No emergency weather shelter has currently been stood up by any parish (we have no information about whether any might be planned);

  • None of the LA BOSCOC’s federally funded shelters, including St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge and the Family Violence Program of St. Bernard, are planning to stand up any additional emergency shelter beds in response to this event.

If the LA BOSCOC receives any information about emergency weather shelter being stood up in the LA BOSCOC’s geography, we will send a follow-up email with further details.

Anyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness who is concerned about the upcoming weather event should be encouraged to contact their local Coordinated Entry Access Point to request services.

Click here for a list of Coordinated Entry Access Points, including their locations, contact information, and hours of operation.

Announcing our Summer Training Series: Case Management as a Profession

Overview

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), Louisiana's largest coalition to end homelessness, is committed to fostering professional growth opportunities for its members.

As part of that opportunity, the LA BOSCOC is pleased to announce its FREE summer 2021 training series: Case Management as a Profession.

This three part series will equip case managers with the foundational knowledge they need to succeed in providing high quality services to participants.

Session #1: Housing Case Management Practices

Facilitator: Jenna Espinosa, TAC (biography)

Target Audience: Case managers of all experience levels

Training Series: Case Management as a Profession (part 1 of 3)

Overview: This training will cover the basics of professional case management practices. Topics will include service planning and action step implementation, resource brokerage and when to refer to specialized service providers, how to support person-centered services, and more.

Register: click here to register

Session #2: Basics of Motivational Interviewing

Facilitator: Jennifer Ingle, TAC (biography)

Target Audience: Case managers of all experience levels

Training Series: Case Management as a Profession (part 2 of 3)

Overview: This training will introduce motivational interviewing as a case management tool. Content will include how to "meet people where they're at" while still providing the support and resources necessary to achieve housing stability. Attendees will learn about the Stages of Change model and increase their capacity to provide ongoing, effective case management services via motivational interviewing techniques.

Register: click here to register

Session #3: Basics of Trauma-Informed Care

Facilitator: Jennifer Ingle, TAC (biography)

Target Audience: Case managers of all experience levels

Training Series: Case Management as a Profession (part 3 of 3)

Overview: This training will assist attendees in developing or improving their delivery of trauma-informed case management services. Many of our participants are recovering from or actively experiencing trauma. Attendees will learn how to engage with participants and help participants navigate systems of care in ways that limit their vulnerability to traumatization.

Register: click here to register

Questions?

For questions about the training series, please contact Carrie Patterson at cpatterson@lhc.la.gov.

For technical questions about registering for a session, please contact Melany Mondello at mmondello@tacinc.org.

Major LA BOSCOC Website Updates!

Overview

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC), Louisiana’s largest coalition to end homelessness, has just launched a major update for its website. Read on for more information!

Event Calendar

The LA BOSCOC now has a dedicated events calendar!

This calendar includes information about training events and meetings that are open to the general public, including:

  • Regularly scheduled meetings: weekly web meetings, quarterly regional meetings, semiannual general meetings

  • Periodic meetings: CoC Board meetings, CoC Committee meetings

  • Training events: one-time training events like last week’s “Better Serving LGBTQ+ Participants” by Louisiana Trans Advocates; seasonal training series like Summer 2021’s “Housing Case Management as a Profession” by TAC

Going forward, most events will NOT be announced via an Outlook calendar invitation; the official record of upcoming tevents will be maintained on the LA BOSCOC’s event calendar.

(Events will still be announced primarily by the LA BOSCOC’s mailing list. Visit our home page to subscribe!)

Report an Outreach Need

From the home page, you can click a button to Report an Outreach Need. This information is passed directly to homeless services staff in your area who are trained to respond to outreach requests. They will triage your outreach request and respond as soon as possible.

Anyone can make an outreach request, including CoC members, community partners, people experiencing homelessness, and any other member of the public.

You can also click here to report an outreach need.

Emergency Housing Vouchers

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) are a new kind of voucher funded by HUD under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. They're similar to Section 8 vouchers, but with a big twist: they can only serve people experiencing homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence.

The LA BOSCOC is creating best practices with its EHV implementation and tracking its progress. Click here to see where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.

…and more!

The LA BOSCOC’s website has been significantly overhauled, and almost every part of the site is different. Spend a little time with it; you might be surprised at what you find!

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.