What We Do

The Central Mississippi 500 Continuum of Care is made up of service organizations that provide direct, indirect or supportive services to homeless individuals and those at risk of becoming homeless, persons who advocate on behalf of the homeless and other individuals, groups, and organizations concerned with the welfare and needs of the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Per HUD’s definition, the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

PRIMARY FUNCTION OF CENTRAL MS COC:

• Develop and maintain a Continuum of Care for homeless services, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in the Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Warren and Copiah county service area;
• Formalize working relationships among the agencies and others making up MS500COC;
• Provide a strategy for setting and reaching the goals and objectives identified by the Continuum of Care;
• Seek funding for projects that provide services, housing, and housing related services to the homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless;
• Administer any grants received to achieve these goals.
  

Funding

The Central MS COC reviews and prioritizes local applications for federal homeless program funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Additionally, we monitor local agencies’ management of HUD homeless program funds to ensure compliance with HUD requirements. View the FY2024-FY2025 CoC Program Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity here.

**Public Notice for CoC Application Process**

Leadership

The Central MS CoC is governed by the following Board of Directors. The board of directors and officers are elected for three-year terms and are made up of nonprofit members, federal, state, local agency members, advocates, one formerly homeless member, faith-based organization members, ESG Recipients, and mental and/or medical health providers.