Ohio Balance of State Continuum of Care
Overview
The Ohio Balance of State Continuum of Care (BOSCOC) is comprised of the 80 rural counties in Ohio, covers all regions of the state, and represents diverse populations, needs, and capabilities. The Ohio Department of Development, Office of Housing and Community Partnerships (ODOD) and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) serve as the lead staffing agencies for the BOSCOC.
To better facilitate local coordination and planning efforts, BOSCOC members have also formed city, county, or multi-county Continua of Care (CoC). These local CoCs address community level planning, identify service gaps, and plan and prioritize new and renewal homeless assistance projects. However, to compete for federal funding available through the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs, local CoCs in these 80 counties participate in the BOSCOC.
Any questions about the Ohio BOSCOC can be directed to Erica Mulryan, the Continuum of Care Coordinator at ericamulryan@cohhio.org.
Role of COHHIO and ODOD
The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) serves as chair of the BOSCOC Steering Committee and COHHIO serves as co-chair. Together, ODOD and COHHIO are responsible for the vast majority of work related to the Ohio BOSCOC.
ODOD is recognized by HUD as the CoC lead agency. ODOD is ultimately responsible for submitting the CoC application on behalf of the BOSCOC, as well as Point-in-Time (PIT) Count data and updated Housing Inventory Charts (HIC). All decisions made by the BOSCOC committees or workgroups are ultimately approved by ODOD, in their role as the CoC lead agency.
COHHIO provides staff support for all activities pertaining to the Ohio BOSCOC including facilitating committee meetings, collecting and submitting PIT/HIC data to HUD, preparing the annual BOSCOC application, and implementing all processes related to program performance improvement. Additionally, COHHIO staff provide technical assistance to providers on the BOSCOC HMIS, basic programmatic issues, and other housing and homelessness related issues as needed. COHHIO’s Continuum of Care Coordinator is the primary contact for all Ohio BOSCOC work.
BOSCOC Committees and Workgroups
The Ohio BOSCOC currently has four standing committees/workgroups and two program specific workgroups. Additional workgroups are added as needed. Following is a list and descriptions of the BOSCOC committees/workgroups.
BOSCOC Advisory Committee:
The Advisory Committee is the primary planning body for the BOSCOC. Its members are responsible for making recommendations on policy decisions and reviewing and approving the work of the Steering Committee. In addition, the Advisory Committee reviews and approves the project evaluation process and completion of the Continuum of Care application for HUD funding. Members include housing and homeless service providers, funders, and advocates from around the state. The Supportive Housing Supervisor, Office of Community Development, Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), and the Deputy Director for Community Development, ODOD provide final approval for all Advisory Committee decisions.
BOSCOC Steering Committee:
The Steering Committee is responsible for leading and engaging in most of the work related to maintenance of the Continuum of Care and submission of the annual Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs application. Committee members also develop the application process plan, review and score HUD applications submitted by BOSCOC members, and engage in long-term CoC strategic planning. Members of the committee include staff of ODOD, COHHIO, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH).
BOSCOC Performance and Outcomes Committee:
The Performance and Outcomes Committee is responsible for developing and implementing plans for the monitoring of BOSCOC homeless programs as well as the BOSCOC sytem, with an emphasis on outcomes. Committee members engage in the development of program performance improvement plans, and provide input to the Steering and Advisory Committees regarding renewal programs/outcomes for the CoC application process. The Committee is also responsible for the development and management of plans for system-wide performance.
BOSCOC HMIS Workgroup:
The HMIS Workgroup coordinates statewide HMIS training and data collection for all BOSCOC homeless providers receiving state/federal funding for emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing (PSH), as well as organizations opting to participate in the BOSCOC HMIS.
BOSCOC Emergency Shelter Workgroup:
The Emergency Shelter Workgroup assists the Advisory and Steering Committees in management of and planning for issues primarily impacting BOSCOC emergency shelter providers. Current work is focused on preparing BOSCOC emergency shelters for implications of changes to HUD’s system-level performance requirements.
BOSCOC Transitional Housing Workgroup:
The Transitional Housing Workgroup assists the Advisory and Steering Committees in management of and planning for issues primarily impacting BOSCOC transitional housing providers. Current work is focused on preparing BOSCOC transitional housing providers for changes to HUD’s system-level performance requirements.
Meeting Frequency
All standing committees/workgroups meet at least four times a year, with additional meetings scheduled as needed. Task-specific workgroups meet on an as needed basis.
Committee Decision-making Process
Decisions are made within BOSCOC committees/workgroups by a vote of those present. A decision is made by the majority vote. Final approval of Advisory Committee decisions comes from he Supportive Housing Supervisor, Office of Community Development, Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), and the Deputy Director for Community Development, ODOD.
BOSCOC Resources
Information about Ohio BOSCOC plans, issues, work, or tasks can be found on the Training Materials page.