Homeward Supports Regional Application for Federal Funding
The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) – our region’s compassionate and coordinated network of 34 local, mission-driven agencies addressing homelessness – recently submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the regional coordinated application for federal funding. This application is important to our area because federal funding from HUD accounts for the majority of public dollars allocated for homeless services.
You can learn more about the application and funding process in this recent blog post on the GRCoC website.
As the GRCoC’s planning agency, Homeward plays an integral role on the development and submission of this critical funding application.
Each year, the GRCoC confirms the appointment of an agency to act on its behalf as the designated Collaborative Applicant through a process of endorsement by the Governance Committee and approval by the GRCoC Board. Once approved, the GRCoC Board chair signs a memorandum of understanding outlining the key practices and principles between GRCoC and our collaborative applicant. Homeward has served as the designated Collaborative Applicant since the formation of the GRCoC.
Homeward staff members are responsible for compiling the application. They work closely with GRCoC members, especially the Ranking Committee, to craft application materials. The Homeward team truly goes above and beyond in this critical and herculean task.
In addition to shepherding the application process for our region, Homeward raised private funds to support engagement with nationally recognized consultants. This partnership ensures that our region is competitive with others and helps our region secure even more funds. These consultants offered key recommendations for the application and worked with GRCoC agencies to assist with their contributions to the application process.
This investment from Homeward enabled the GRCoC to apply for more federal resources and is yet another example how Homeward helps to grow capacity for the GRCoC and its member agencies.
In addition to Homeward’s work on the regional coordinated application for federal funding, our team serves a wide array of roles as the GRCoC’s planning agency. Homeward facilitates greater collaboration and more efficient use of limited resources among homeless service providers. Homeward analyzes data and creates reports to help GRCoC partner agencies and local governments better understand causes of and proven solutions to homelessness. Homeward secures significant resources, ensures funding compliance, researches and compiles best practices for homeless solutions, and provides recommendations based on input from people with lived experience in our region.
We invite you to learn more about Homeward’s role and the GRCoC’s impact in our region by reading the GRCoC Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 Annual Report.
