Homeless Solutions
We believe homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring.
What We Offer
Manages client-level database (HMIS) for 70 agencies
Facilitates annual federal and state funding of $12 million for 30 homeless programs
Coordinates local and regional planning strategies for 100 agencies serving those experiencing homelessness
Work With a Top Team
The Continuum of Care Team and Homeless Management Information Systems Team at The Planning Council has been bestowed with the Best Regional Partnership Award. The Virginia Housing Awards recognize innovative, effective efforts that address Virginia housing and community development needs. This award is given to a regional effort that exemplifies how leveraging successful partnerships can lead to vibrant communities.
Are you a homeless solutions provider interested in becoming part of the CoC?
Visit one of our local Continuum of Care websites:
Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition
The SVHC includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton.
Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium
The GVPHC includes the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg, as well as the counties of James City and York
For more information regarding Continuum of Care Coordination, contact Amanda Ofsonka. For more information regarding Homeless Management Information Systems, contact Jordan Schaller.
Continuum of Care Coordination
The Planning Council (TPC) works with more than 100 regional partners to develop and coordinate diverse systems of care to provide crisis services, housing, and other support to households who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, serving as the administrative backbone of two Continuums of Care (CoC) in the Hampton Roads region.
The CoC Lead Agency for the Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition (SVHC)
The administrative lead for the Greater Virginia Homelessness Consortium (GVPHC)
From left to right:
Amanda Ofsonka, Director, Continuum of Care Programs
Karen Griffith, Continuum of Care Manager
Natalie Jackson, Continuum of Care Manager
As part of the region’s Continuum of Care (CoC), The Planning Council leads local and regional homeless initiatives to promote a systematic approach to preventing and ending homelessness. Focusing on creative solutions, data-driven decision-making, and collective impact, our Continuum of Care Team works alongside provider agencies, governmental leadership, as well as state and national advocacy groups to implement and roll out best practice programs to prevent and end homelessness.
To secure financial resources on an annual basis to support homeless housing and service programs, The Planning Council develops and submits the annual CoC applications to state and federal funders that total $12 million.
“With expertise in community needs
assessments, our team partners with
local governments and businesses,
nonprofit agencies and the faith-based
community to address the most
vulnerable populations’ needs.”
From left to right:
Jordan Schaller, Director, Data Systems and HMIS Administration
Rachael Gibson, Homeless Management Information Systems Administrator
Lindsay Taylor, Homeless Management Information Systems Administrator
Ashley Love, Homeless Management Information Systems Administrator
HMIS Administration and Training
TPC produces reports using HMIS and public data to help communities understand the scope and nature of homelessness—how many people are in shelters, transitional housing, or living unsheltered; how many are chronically or episodically homeless; the characteristics and needs of those served; which households return to services; and which programs are most effective in reducing and ending homelessness. These reports support our partners in securing approximately $20 million across the CoCs we serve.
Serving all of Greater Hampton Roads and Lynchburg, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Administrators train end users, analyze and report data generated by homeless assistance providers, and encourage the use of data to coordinate service provision, manage operations, and better serve clients. The Planning Council is a key partner in the statewide Homeless Data Integration Program, led by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Hampton Roads HMIS Participating Agencies
Hampton Roads HMIS Policies and Procedures
Hampton Roads HMIS Data Quality Plan
For more information on HMIS and related data, contact Jordan Schaller.
To learn more about the Homeless Management Information System, please visit www.hamptonroadsendshomelessness.org/hmis.html
Regional Task Force
The Planning Council chairs the Regional Task Force that fosters outreach initiatives focusing on housing vulnerable homeless populations such as those who are medically vulnerable, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. The Task Force identifies local problems, researches best practices from around the country, and builds the support needed to implement regional solutions. Examples of Task Force successes include:
- Addressing the need for affordable housing with support services for those who experience homelessness and have mental or physical disabilities. The Task Force began its partnership with Virginia Supportive Housing in 2006 to develop the nation’s first regionally funded Permanent Supportive Housing program and has since facilitated the development of 320 affordable apartment units in four cities across South Hampton Roads.
- Identified substance abuse among those experiencing homelessness as a major barrier to stable housing. Partnered with The Healing Place of Wake County to replicate this best practice in Hampton Roads. To date, this has not come to fruition, but the need is great, and the focus remains the same.
Partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and local Public Housing Authorities to drastically increase the number of housing vouchers for the region’s homeless veterans as well as households experiencing homelessness. - Hosted six regional conferences for over 300 participants since 2008, with national experts highlighting best practices to prevent and end homelessness.
For more information about the Task Force, contact Julie Dixon.
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