The Continuum of Care is a community-based, long-range plan that addresses the needs of homeless persons in order to help them reach maximum self-sufficiency. The Continuum of Care is developed through collaboration with a broad cross section of the community and based on a thorough assessment of homeless needs and resources. The Continuum of Care is recommended by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a comprehensive and strategic approach to addressing homelessness.

HUD Definition of the Continuum of Care:
"The Continuum of Care is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness."

1. It is a strategic plan for addressing homelessness in the community, based on the identified needs of homeless individuals and families, the availability and accessibility of existing housing and services, and the opportunities for linkages with non-homeless mainstream housing and service resources;
2. It is a strategic process to develop a broad based, community wide, year round initiative; and
3. It is an application to HUD for homeless-targeted housing and services resources.

• Homeless Prevention
  Assistance to help people maintain their housing and prevent homelessness.
• Outreach, Intake and Assessment
  To identify an individual's or family's needs and link them to appropriate housing and/or services.
• Emergency Shelter
  Short term, safe and decent shelter provided as an alternative to the streets.
• Transitional Housing
  Housing with supportive services to help people develop the skills they need to live in permanent housing.
• Supportive Services
  Supportive services should be available throughout the Continuum of Care in order to address the specific needs of each individual. Supportive services may be provided in conjunction with housing, or through referral. Services should be available to address both the immediate and long term needs of homeless persons, such as education, employment assistance, health care, substance abuse treatment and mental health care, child care, transportation and other services.
• Permanent Housing
  Affordable housing in which residents pay no more than 30% of their income for housing costs.
• Permanent Supportive Housing
  Housing with supportive services designed to allow persons with disabilities to live in the community as independently as possible.