News & Upcoming Events

Annual Three County CoC Funding Competition Completed!

The Three County CoC (MA507), in response to the HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), has completed the (FY) 2021 Continuum of Care local Competition for renewal and new projects, and Noncompetitive Award of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Renewal and Replacement Grants. Projects have been ranked by the CoC's Ranking and Evaluation Committee and approved by the CoC Board.

Total Amount in Housing and Service Projects that will be Submitted for HUD Approval:

Renewal Projects: $1,807,664

New Projects: $285,903

CoC Planning Dollars: $85,155

YHDP Projects: $1,000,675

Rejected: $0

TOTAL CoC Request: $3,179,397

View the Full Project Listing here & the Final CoC Application for MA 507 here.

The full CoC response (including the CoC application and the project listing above) is due to HUD on 11/16/2021, but the Collaborative Applicant will submit this on Monday, November 15th, to HUD, if at all possible. Any comments should be emailed to Keleigh Pereira @ kpereira@communityaction.us.

Below is the final list of Ranked Projects (there were not complete applications rejected), and the YHDP Awards, below that.

Statewide Homeless Youth Awareness Campaign

"HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT"

In November 2021, the MA Commission on Unaccompanied and Homeless Youth is launching an awareness campaign, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” to encourage youth and young adults without a safe or reliable place to stay to self-identify when they need help and connect to existing and reliable resources designed to support them.

The purpose of the Awareness and Connection Campaign is two-fold:

to connect YYA who could benefit from support with resources; and
to raise awareness and support for programs that work to prevent and end youth homelessness in

Massachusetts

Youth and young adults (up to 25 years of age) in the 3 County region who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of housing instability, should call the Youth Service Provider in their area that offers YYA emergency housing options and supports:

Hampshire & Franklin Counties:

DIAL/SELF Youth and Community Services

A youth in crisis or in need of shelter in Franklin or Hampshire County or the North Quabbin region can call the 24/7 line to schedule an intake and access emergency resources

Phone: 413-774-7054 x8 for emergencies, x4 for non-emergency services
Hours: 24/7

Northern Berkshire County (Adams, North Adams, Florida, Cheshire, Savoy, Clarksburg, & Williamstown)

Louison House

A young adult in crisis or in need of shelter can call Louison House during business hours to schedule an intake and access emergency resources

Phone: 413-663-6323 Ext. 5 or 6
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:30pm

Berkshire County (except Northern cities/towns)

Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority

A youth in crisis or in need of shelter can call during office hours

Phone: 413-443-7138 x239; 413-443-7138 x218 (back up phone number)
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm

The Three County CoC is hiring!

The Three County Continuum of Care, at Community Action Pioneer Valley is hiring for a new innovative role to support access to housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.

This position is part of Three County Continuum of Care's Coordinated Entry (CE) team and homelessness response systems, acting as the primary contact for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability and the service agencies that support them. This position coordinates the referral process for individuals and families seeking housing and shelter assistance through assessing a families needs and vulnerability. This role includes completing data entry and data quality reporting, managing referrals to partner agencies, training partner agencies, coordinating financial assistance, and supporting the management of a Continuum-wide resource database. This position will involve housing search and landlord engagement; communication with local housing authorities and Emergency Voucher administering agencies.

Community Action offers a comprehensive benefits package. We offer Health Insurance (CAPV pays 80% of the premium*), Dental Insurance, Retirement Plan, Flexible Spending Plans (medical and dependent care), Vision Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance (CAPV pays 100% for the benefit), Sick, Vacation, Personal time and 12 paid Holidays. Please go https://www.communityaction.us/job-openings to apply, for full job description, and information regarding benefits*. Community Action is committed to a diverse workforce. AA/EOE/ADA

here is the full position description and link to apply! This position pays $18.95-$20.10/hr.

Racial Equity

Since February 2020, the Three County Continuum of Care has engaged in a series of activities specifically focused on centering racial equity in our homelessness response. In collaboration with Racial Equity Partners, we have:

Analyzed our data through a racial equity lens (to see racial disparities data by County, visit our local data section.)
Provided antiracism training for providers working in the homelessness system
Engaged community partners to develop strategies to address racial inequities in our homelessness response
Developed a Racial Equity Action Plan to guide our work

You can find the public facing 2021 Three County CoC Racial Equity Action Plan here.

The Three County CoC, along with the Western Mass Network to End Homelessness, is dedicated to undoing structural racism and support Legislative priorities that address policies needed to increase equitable measures for people of color in the intersection of race and homelessness as well as upstream budget and bills that support funding to increase support for our most vulnerable populations. Here are the 2021 budget priorities & bill priorities, supported by the CoC.