Table of Contents. SECTION I.NYC CCoC Useful Information & Facts...1

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2 Table of Contents SECTION I.NYC CCoC Useful Information & Facts New Member Welcome Letter NYC Coalition on the Continuum of Care Consumer Committee Facts NYC on the Continuum of Care Consumer Committee Rules NYC CCoC Consumer Committee By-laws NYC CCoC Preamble NYC CCoC Steering Committee By-laws SECTION II.NYC CCoC Useful Information McKinney-Vento Act HEARTH Act Introduction to SuperNOFA SECTION III.Advocacy Organizations & Events New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) The Network - Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHNNY) Picture the Homeless New York is Our Home Coalition for the Homeless The Partnership for the Homeless Vocal-NY formerly New York City AIDS Housing Network Housing Works New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Urban Justice Center HIV/AIDS Service Administration (HASA) SECTION IV.Resources Glossary... 39

3 SECTION I. NYC CCOC USEFUL INFORMATION & FACTS 1.1 New Member Welcome Letter December, 2012 Greetings! Welcome to the NYC CCoC Consumer Committee monthly meeting. We are a body of individuals who identify as being currently or formerly homeless and are accessing homeless services within the last three (3) to five (5) years. Our role in NYC CCoC is to: Act as a liaison between NYC CCoC and currently or formerly homeless consumers. Participate through elected representatives in the decision making process of the NYC CCoC Steering Committee In conclusion, we are a group of concerned individuals who seek to empower ourselves and others concerning issues that are vital to navigating the system relative to help in solving the problem of the homelessness in NYC. Sincerely, NYC CCoC Consumer Committee 1 P a g e

4 1.2 NYC Coalition on the Continuum of Care Consumer Committee Facts SOME USEFUL NYC CCoC CONSUMER COMMMITTEE FACTS The NYC CCoC Consumer Committee Membership on the Consumer Committee of the NYC CCoC is open to any individual who identifies as being formerly or currently homeless and/or is accessing homeless services within the last three (3) to five (5) years. Mission and Purpose The mission of the Consumer Committee of the NYC CCoC is to serve as the voice of representation and advocacy on behalf of the currently or formerly homeless Consumer population in New York City. The overall purpose of the Consumer Committee of the NYC CCoC is to: Serve as a liaison between the NYC CCoC and currently or formerly homeless Consumers. Participate, through representation from the elected Consumer Representatives, in the decision-making process of the NYC CCoC s Steering Committee, which is the governing body of the NYC CCoC. Fully and actively participate in the evaluation of NYC CCoC renewal homeless and supportive services projects. The Consumers along with Coalition members and Government agencies decide on how 100 million dollars in McKinney-Vento funding is prioritized and distributed amongst homeless services care providers throughout the five (5) boroughs of New York City. The voting Representatives of the Consumer Committee hold 1/3 of the Steering Committee votes; 8 out of 24 total. Steering & Consumer Committee Monthly Meetings: 1. The Steering Committee meets the 3 rd Friday of every month from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., RFK Genesis Apts. located at 113 East 13 th St., NY, NY (Lower level). 2. The Consumer Committee meets the first Monday of every month from 6:00 p.m-.8:00 p.m., unless that Monday falls on the 1 st or the 3 rd. In that case, the meeting will be held the following Monday at RFK Genesis Apts. located at 113 East 13 th St., NY, NY (Lower level). 2 P a g e

5 1.3 NYC on the Continuum of Care Consumer Committee Rules NYC CCoC Consumer Committee Rules Homeless or not everyone should respect one another. No opinion is right or wrong. It s just an opinion. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Attendees must raise their hands and wait to be called on if they want to speak. Consumers are to arrive on time. Consumers must sign the attendance sheet in a timely manner. Any consumer that arrives thirty minutes or more after the meeting begins will not receive a MetroCard or any stipends. Consumers should respect the fact that all meeting attendees are entitled to the food. Please wait until everyone has eaten before you approach the table for seconds and thirds. Reminder: All announcements should be ed to the address below: 3 P a g e

6 APPENDIX C: CONSUMER COMMITTEE BYLAWS OF THE NEW YORK CITY COALITION ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ARTICLE I Name The name of this organization is the New York City Coalition on the Continuum of Care ( NYC CCoC ). The name of this NYC CCoC standing committee shall be the Consumer Committee of the NYC CCoC. ARTICLE II Mission and Purpose The mission of the Consumer Committee of the New York City Coalition for the Continuum of Care (NYC CCoC) is to serve as the voice of representation and advocacy on behalf of the currently or formerly homeless Consumer populations in New York City. We educate by conducting outreach and sharing knowledge of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento funding. We participate, through representation from the elected Consumer Representatives, in the decision-making process of the NYC CCoC s Steering Committee, which is the governing body of the NYC CCoC. The Consumer Committee fully and actively participates in the evaluation of NYC CCoC renewal of homeless and supportive services projects. The basic purposes of the Consumer Committee of the NYC CCoC are to: a) Serve as liaison between the NYC CCoC and currently or formerly homeless Consumers; b) Participate, through representation from the elected Consumer Representatives, in the decisionmaking process of the NYC CCoC s Steering Committee, which is the governing body of the NYC CCoC; and c) Participate fully in the evaluation of NYC CCoC renewal projects. Section 1. ARTICLE III Membership Membership on the Consumer Committee of the NYC CCoC is open to any individual who identifies as formerly or currently homeless or is accessing homeless services Section 2. Consumer Representatives to the NYC CCoC Steering Committee There are eight (8) Consumer Committee Representatives with voting privileges on the NYC CCoC Steering Committee and eight (8) alternate Consumer Committee Representatives with no voting privileges, except when required to vote on behalf of the absent Consumer Representative in their respective category. Section 3. Consumer Representative Responsibilities a) A Consumer Representative is elected for a term of one (1) year; 4 P a g e

7 b) The Consumer Representative must make a significant time commitment to attend all scheduled monthly Steering Committee Meetings of the NYC CCoC, which are usually held during daytime hours; c) If conducted, the Consumer Representative must actively participate in the site visits of NYC CCoC grantees; and d) The Consumer Representative must actively participate in all NYC CCoC Committee and Sub- Committee meetings. e) Attendance Requirement: 100% attendance is expected. However, in order to be eligible for reelection to the Consumer Committee, a Representative must be in Good Standing. f) Good Standing: To be in Good Standing, the voting Representative, or alternate, must have attended at least 75% of the previous year s Steering Committee meetings and Consumer Committee meetings. g) If conducted, the consumer representative elected representative or alternate must actively participate in site visits of the NYC CCoC grantees. h) The elected consumer representative must actively participate in all NYC CCoC Committee and Sub- Committee meetings. Section 4. Consumer Representative Elections The consumer committee of the NYC CCoC elects eight (8) representatives and eight (8) alternates for a total of sixteen (16) individuals. Every effort will be made to include members who fit into a wide range of categories, including but not limited to: Chronically Homeless Domestic Violence HIV/AIDS Mental Health Permanent Housing Substance Use Veterans Youth Section 5. Stipends & Carfare All consumers attending regularly scheduled NYC CCoC consumer committee meetings will receive public transportation reimbursement. Reimbursement for public transportation will also be provided for those consumers who attend, NYC CCoC Steering Committee meetings, consumer related trainings, site visits, workgroup meetings, standing committee meetings, ad-hoc committee meetings and outreach sessions. All elected consumer representatives, elected alternates and co-chairs will receive stipends for attending regularly scheduled consumer committee meetings. Elected consumer representatives, elected alternates and co-chairs will also receive stipends for attending, Steering Committee meetings, consumer related trainings, site visits, workgroup meetings, standing committee meetings, ad-hoc committee meetings and outreach sessions. (Amendment: November 7, 2006; rev ; rev ) 5 P a g e

8 In order to receive stipends and public transportation reimbursements all consumers, elected representatives, elected alternates and co-chairs must arrive and sign-in, no later than twenty-nine (29) minutes after the start of Consumer Committee meetings. Consumers, elected representatives, elected alternates and co-chairs must arrive within twentynine(29) minutes; prior to the start of: NYC CCCoC Steering Committee meetings, consumer related trainings, site visits, workgroup meetings, standing committee meetings, ad-hoc committee meetings and outreach sessions or they will not be eligible for a stipend or public transportation reimbursement. (Amendment: November 7, 2006; rev ; rev ) ARTICLE IV Meetings The monthly meeting of the NYC CCoC Consumer Committee shall be held on the first Monday of each month, except if such day is a legal holiday. Then and in that event, the Consumer Committee Co-Chairs shall fix the day but it shall not be more than two (2) weeks from the date fixed by these bylaws Regular meetings of this Consumer Committee shall be held at a location to be determined by the Consumer Committee Co-Chairs, and may be subject to change by a majority vote of the Consumer Committee members. Section 1. Election Process and Timeline ARTICLE V Voting The Consumer Nominating Committee, incumbent Co-Chairs of the Consumer Committee and the Consultant will assist in the coordination of all Consumer Committee elections; a) The Consumer Nominating Committee will solicit Consumers to run for election on the New York City Coalition on the Continuum of Care as Consumer Representatives. All candidacy applications must be submitted to the Consumer Nominating Committee; b) All candidates will submit a written statement and make a verbal statement in person explaining why they wish to become a Consumer Representative at the Consumer Committee meeting to be called Nomination Day. Nomination Day will be one week prior to the Consumer Election Day: c) A list of all qualified candidates will be compiled into a Consumer election ballot; d) Consumer Election Day will be held in the month prior the Annual Meeting of the NYC CCoC. The Results of the election must be presented as a slate at the Annual Meeting of the NYC CCoC; Each voter will select eight (8) candidates e) The vote tabulation will function as follows: 6 P a g e

9 1. The eight (8) Consumers with the most votes will be elected as Consumer Representatives. Up to eight (8) consumers with the next highest votes will be selected as Alternates. 2. If there is a tie between two (2) or more individuals with the highest votes there will be a run-off among them; the individual with the most votes will be elected the Consumer Representative, and the runner-up (second place holder) will be elected the Alternate Consumer Representative. If there is another tie between two (2) or more individuals in the run-off election, the run-off is repeated until one of the two individuals garners one or more votes than their opponent(s); 3. When selecting the Alternate Consumer Representative, if there is a tie between two (2) or more individuals, there will be a run-off among them; the individual with the most votes will be elected the Alternate Consumer Representative, and the other candidate(s) will be eliminated; and 4. Votes will be tabulated by representatives from the Consultant and a member of the Consumer Nominating Committee. f) Election results will be sent out via , blast fax, posted at the Consultant s location, and posted at the location where votes were cast. Section 2. Voting Eligibility Requirements A Consumer may vote in the Consumer Representative elections, if they meet the following two (2) requirements (A & B): Any Consumer who identifies as formerly or currently homeless and/or is accessing homeless services a) Must have: AND 1. Attended the Consumer Committee Nomination Day Meeting; And 2. Attended two (2) of the last three (3) Consumer Committee Meetings; And/Or 3. Be an incumbent (formerly elected) Consumer Representative from the past year; AND b) Must attend the Consumer Election Day in-person to cast your vote/ballot. ARTICLE VI Consumer Representatives 7 P a g e

10 Section 1. Consumer Representative Candidacy Requirements The following three (3) requirements (A, B, and C) must be fulfilled by all prospective Consumer Representative Candidates in order to run for election: a) Eligibility; Any Consumer who identifies as formerly or currently homeless and/or is accessing homeless services b) Application: Complete membership application, whereby all four (4) parts must be completed for consideration: 1. Name of Consumer and contact information; 2. Location where Consumer receives(ed) homeless services and their contact information; 3. Narrative, which includes: i. Statement describing experience trying to find housing. AND ii. Statement of why he/she wants to become a Consumer Committee Representative. AND iii. Statement describing history of work as an activist on homeless issues, advocate for one s self, or advocate for currently homeless or formerly homeless people. c) Statement: The candidate must make a verbal statement, and submit a written statement to all Consumers attending the Consumer Committee Nomination Day Meeting of the NYC CCoC, explaining why he/she wishes to become a Consumer Representative. Section 2. Replacement of Absent Consumer Representative a. The Co-Chairs of the Consumer Committee will be responsible for assisting the Consultant in tracking attendance of Consumers at meetings. b. It is the responsibility of the Consumer Representative to contact the Consumer Committee Co-Chairs on the day they are going to be absent. c. It is also that Consumer Representative s responsibility to contact the Alternate Representative and make arrangements to serve as Proxy and to vote at Consumer and Steering Committee meetings. d)a motion must be made at the Consumer Committee meeting to replace an absent representative. 8 P a g e

11 e) Absences: If you miss two (2) of the last three (3) Steering Committee or Consumer Committee meetings without coverage (Alternate), you will be replaced by a Consumer Alternate. f) If approved by the Consumer Committee Nominating Committee, the Consumer Alternate will assume the post/position and a special election will be held to fill the vacated alternate position. g) Special election rules will follow election procedures as stated above. Section 1. Election of Co-Chairs ARTICLE VII Co-Chairs of the Consumer Committee a) Two (2) Co-Chairs will be elected from the existing eight (8) Consumer Representatives or from those who have served in an elected capacity as a consumer representative or co-chair within the last two years prior to the current election. Responsibilities a) Assist the Consultant in tracking Consumers attendance at meetings; b) Represent the Consumer Committee at NYC CCoC Events; c) Assist in the creation of the Consumer Committee agenda; d) Lead the Consumer Committee meeting; e) Appoint a consumer committee nominating committee to coordinate the consumer election process as stated in the by-laws. f) To assist the NYC CCoC Steering Committee Co-chairs in the day to day business of the Continuum. The Consumer Co-chairs shall attend Steering Committee meetings, NYC CCoC related trainings, Standing Committee meetings, Ad-hoc meetings, Strategic Planning meetings, Workgroup meetings, Outreach Sessions and Site Visits. Section 3. Elections a) Candidacy eligibility requirements: To assure that the Co-Chairs have more than basic knowledge of the Continuum of Care process, in order to run for a Co-Chair position, a candidate must have served in an elected capacity, either as an elected Consumer representative or a Co-Chair, within the last two years prior to the current election. b) Voting Eligibility Requirements: To vote in Co-Chair Elections 1)Consumer that is homeless or formerly homeless and accessing homeless services. 2)Must have attended three (3) of the past five (5) Consumer Committee meetings. Voting Day is considered a meeting to meet the requirements to vote in this election. c) Election Process: At the first Consumer Committee Meeting following Voting Day, the Co- Chairs of the Consumer Committee will be elected. 1. The names of the Co-Chairs running for the elected position will be placed on a ballot. 2. Eligible voters will vote for two candidates to serve as the Co-Chairs of their committee. 9 P a g e

12 Section 1. Grievances 3. The two candidates that receive the most number of votes will be elected the Co-Chairs. 4. In case of tie, a run-off election will occur. Then eligible Consumer Voters will vote for one Consumer Representative to break the tie. 5. In order to maintain complete transparency, the ballots from the Consumer Co-chair election will be counted by the consultant and at least one member of the Consumer Nominating Committee. ARTICLE VIII a) Any Consumer having a grievance with a decision made by the Consumer Committee shall submit such a grievance in writing to the NYC CCoC Consumer Committee Co-Chairs with a copy submitted to the NYC CCoC Consultant. b) A standard NYC CCoC grievance form shall be kept at all times on the Continuum website ( The Co-Chairs and Consultant will also bring copies of the form to all Consumer Committee and Steering Committee meetings. c) Grievances shall be reviewed by the Consumer Committee Co-chairs. All grievances will be resolved within thirty days. Any consumer submitting a grievance shall have the option of submitting such a grievance directly to the Steering Committee Co-chairs. d) If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision rendered by the Consumer Committee Co- Chairs, he or she may request a review of the grievance and the Consumer Committee Co-Chair s written decision by the Steering Committee Co-Chairs. The decision of the Steering Committee Co- Chairs will be rendered within thirty days of the request and will be deemed as the final decision. e) If a grievance is filed against a specific Steering Committee or Consumer Committee Co-Chair, that Co-Chair is excused from the process and the current Grievance Committee will act as a replacement. 10 P a g e

13 1.5 NYC CCoC Preamble New York City Coalition on the Continuum of Care Steering Committee Preamble T he purpose of the NYC CCoC is to provide a leadership role in the prevention and eradication of homelessness in NYC. It is a broad-based coalition of homeless housing and shelter providers, consumers, advocates, and government representatives, working together to shape citywide planning and decision-making. While the original purpose and ongoing mandate of the coalition is to submit New York City's annual application for HUD McKinney-Vento funding, neither the CCoC Steering Committee nor its Co-Chairs are agents of HUD. Providers are encouraged to submit specific questions to their HUD contract managers and to establish and maintain ongoing relationships with said individuals. 11 P a g e

14 Amended Bylaws Approved NYC CCoC Steering Committee By-laws BYLAWS OF THE NEW YORK CITY COALITION ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION The name of the organization shall be the New York City Coalition on the Continuum of Care (NYC CCoC). ARTICLE II MISSION The mission of the NYC CCoC is to provide a leadership role in the prevention and eradication of homelessness in New York City. It is a broad-based coalition of homeless housing and shelter providers, consumers, advocates, and government representatives, working together to shape citywide planning and decision-making. Specifically, the NYC CCoC is to: A. Identify the gaps and needs of homeless households in New York City and participate in the process of prioritizing local and state funding to meet these needs; B. Coordinate citywide applications for homeless housing and service funding, including but not limited to New York City s annual application for HUD McKinney-Vento funding; C. Track trends and adjust priorities to meet the changing needs of homeless households; and D. Advocate together for increased federal funding to meet the needs of homeless and at-risk New Yorkers. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Membership in the NYC CCoC shall be open to all persons interested in the purposes of the NYC CCoC. Voting members are limited to the members of the NYC CCoC Steering Committee (the Steering Committee). ARTICLE IV MEETINGS A. The Annual Meeting of the members shall be in September or within 60 days following the submission of the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grant Application. The purpose of this meeting is to elect the Steering Committee for the following NYC CCoC Year. B. The NYC CCoC Year begins at the first Steering Committee meeting following the Steering Committee election. C. There will be a minimum of six (6) Steering Committee meetings each NYC CCoC year. 1. The agenda for Steering Committee meetings shall be distributed no later than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled meeting. 2. Minutes of all meetings shall be distributed no later than two (2) weeks following the recorded meeting. 12 P a g e

15 D. Special meetings of the NYC CCoC may be called by the Co-Chairs when it is deemed in the best interest of the NYC CCoC or upon the request of one-third or more of the Steering Committee members. Notices of such meetings shall be sent out to all participating members via the NYC CCoC contact list. E. Voting Procedure: 1. At any meeting of the Steering Committee, each voting member present, in person or by their designated alternate or proxy, shall be entitled to one vote. 2. Upon demand of any voting member, any vote shall be by ballot. 3. A quorum of 51% of the voting members must be present for a motion to be brought to a vote. If there is no quorum present, the motion is tabled until such time as a quorum is present. 4. In order to be eligible to vote, a Steering Committee Representative must have attended two out of the last three Steering Committee meetings. 5. In order for a Steering Committee Representative to be counted towards the quorum, he/she must be eligible to vote as defined above. 6. A motion passes if at least 60% of the quorum votes in favor of it. F. Designated Alternates: Each Steering Committee Representative must have a designated alternate on file with the NYC CCoC Co-Chairs. Both are considered Steering Committee representatives for their specific seat. G. Proxy Voting: In the event that neither the primary Steering Committee Representative nor their Alternate can attend a Steering Committee meeting, they can assign a proxy for the meeting. All proxies shall be in writing and dated by the proxy giver, designating the person by whom the proxy is to be cast. Proxies shall be valid only for the Steering Committee meeting immediately following the date of the proxy. H. Rules of Order: Unless otherwise specified by these Bylaws, the NYC CCoC will be governed by Roberts Rules of Order. I. Attendance Requirement: 100% attendance is expected. However, in order to be eligible for election or reelection to the Steering Committee, a Representative must be in Good Standing. McKinney-Vento recipients interested in participating on committees must also be in Good Standing. J. Good Standing: To be in Good Standing the voting Representative, or their alternate, must have attended at least 75% of the previous year s Steering Committee meetings. K. Grievances: As per Article VIII, grievances will be discussed by a standing Grievance Committee. The Committee will make recommendations to the Co-Chairs, who will render final and binding decisions. Committee Members and Co-Chairs must recuse themselves from the process if a grievance involves either an agency or issue that they are directly involved in. ARTICLE V STEERING COMMITTEE STRUCTURE The business of the NYC CCoC shall be managed by the three (3) Co-Chairs and a 27-member Steering Committee. The twenty-seven members are as follows: A. Eight Government Representatives B. Eight Consumer Representatives C. Eight Coalition Representatives D. Three At-Large Representatives ARTICLE VI STEERING COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES 13 P a g e

16 A. The Steering Committee as a whole is responsible for meeting the NYC CCoC objectives in Article II: Purpose section of these Bylaws. B. Each Steering Committee Representative or their Designated Alternate is expected to: 1. Attend at least 75% of the Steering Committee meetings. 2. Serve on at least one committee (see Article VIII). 3. If applicable, communicate important NYC CCoC activities and decisions to their agencies and/or membership. 4. Participate in efforts that achieve the objectives in Article II: Purpose section of these Bylaws. C. In order to be eligible for re-election, a Steering Committee Representative must meet these responsibilities. ARTICLE VII CO-CHAIRS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE A. Three Co-Chairs will be elected to preside over the Steering Committee, on which one of the three must be a government representative and no organization may have more than one Co- Chair position. B. To be eligible for Co-Chair, a candidate must have attended at least 75% of the past year s Steering Committee meetings. C. Steering Committee Representatives, consumers and McKinney-Vento recipients are all eligible for Co-Chair if they meet the aforementioned attendance requirement. D. Steering Committee Representatives will elect the three Co-Chairs. E. The Co-Chairs will be elected at the first meeting of the NYC CCoC year by the newly elected Steering Committee. F. Once elected Co-Chairs, these individuals may not be voting Representatives. G. The term of election is for one NYC CCoC year. There is no limit on the number of terms a Co-Chair can serve. H. Responsibilities: 1. Set agenda of Steering Committee meetings. 2. Call for and preside over Regular and Special Meetings. 3. Ensure that the Steering Committee is working collectively and individually to meet the purposes of the NYC CCoC. 4. Ensure that each Representative meets the eligibility requirements for election and reelection to the Steering Committee. 5. Form and maintain diverse and balanced committees. 6. Call the Grievance Committee into session when official grievances are filed and render final and binding decisions on such grievances. I. If a Co-Chair leaves in the middle of his or her term, the remaining Co-Chairs, in concert with the Nominating Committee, have the discretion to call a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of that term. ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES A. The Consumer Committee is a permanent standing committee of the NYC CCoC Steering Committee (see attached bylaws). 14 P a g e

17 B. In addition to the Consumer Committee, the Steering Committee will have six (6) standing committees. All six of the committees will have a minimum participation of four Steering Committee Representatives, including at least one government representative, one consumer representative and one coalition representative. McKinney-Vento recipients in good standing may also participate in the committees. The committees are as follows: 1. Nominating Committee: The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to: a. Solicit nominees for At-Large, Coalition, Government and Co-Chair Positions. b. Determine eligibility of new and existing At-Large, Coalition, and Government and Co-Chair nominees. c. Coordinate election processes with the Co-Chairs and, if applicable, NYC CCoC consultants. d. On a quarterly basis, solicit new candidates and fill vacancies for any open at-large, government and coalition positions. 2. Gaps and Needs Committee: The purpose of the Gaps and Needs Committee is to: a. Identify homeless populations not being adequately served by CoC funds. b. Identify strategies to fund projects to serve said populations. c. Communicate to the Co-Chairs any pertinent updates at least ten (10) days prior to the next Steering Committee Meeting. d. On an at least quarterly basis, report to the Steering Committee. 3. Policy and Advocacy Committee: The purpose of the Policy and Advocacy Committee is to: a. Identify viable strategies to raise funds to augment McKinney-Vento funding. b. Identify and actively engage in strategies to advocate for policies and legislation that impact NYC CCoC providers, including but not limited to activities to increase McKinney-Vento funding. c. Communicate to the Co-Chairs any pertinent updates at least ten (10) days prior to the next Steering Committee Meeting. d. On an at least quarterly basis, report to the Steering Committee. 4. Grievance Committee: The purpose of the Grievance Committee is to: a. Arbitrate issues of concern amongst the NYC CCoC. b. Ensure that there is a fair and accessible process for filing a grievance with the NYC CCoC. c. Meet as needed; i.e., when a written grievance has been filed with the Steering Committee. d. Make a recommendation about the grievance to the Co-Chairs (as per Article VII, the Co-Chairs will render a decision to the Steering Committee in response to the grievance. The decision of the Co-Chairs is considered binding and final). 5. Evaluation Committee: The purpose of the Evaluation Committee is to review the Evaluation process and to address the areas where the NYC CCoC can meet and exceed HUD standards. The Committee will: a. Maintain and, with approval, update the evaluation tool. b. Ensure trainings and site visits as needed. 15 P a g e

18 6. Data Management Committee: The purpose of the Data Management Committee is to provide compliance oversight to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) standards as set by HUD and the NYC CCoC. The Committee will: a. Identify data collected though this process and report to the NYC CCoC with recommendations b. Look for new ways to make the HMIS process more user-friendly, while increasing participation c. Meet as needed to strategize on new ways to streamline the data collection process C. A vote of the Steering Committee is required in order to add a standing or ad-hoc committee (see Article IV for voting procedures). D. When a committee is established, either ad-hoc or standing, the Steering Committee must elect at the time of creation a Chair and Vice-Chair for that Committee. E. All voting members of the NYC CCoC Steering Committee are required to participate in at least one committee each year. Failure to do so may disqualify the member and his or her coalition from voting membership in the next Steering Committee year.. ARTICLE IX COALITION REPRESENTATIVES A. A coalition is a group of at least five organizations that has come together with a priority to advocate for services and/or needs of homeless individuals and families. It must meet the following criteria: 1. A mechanism for new members to join; 2. Independent organization with its own system of governance, i.e., elected officers, board of directors/steering committee, bylaws; 3. Conduct meetings at least four times a year; 4. Has a purpose beyond being a voting member of the NYC CCoC: 5. Must directly or indirectly represent a homeless subpopulation, program type or specific unmet need; 6. The Coalition s mission statement and minutes of its last three meetings must reflect that the group is actively engaged in planning and advocacy on behalf of the identified group/need to be represented; and 7. Subcommittees of a coalition cannot be a separate coalition. B. There are eight coalition representatives to the Steering Committee of the NYC CCoC. The purpose of coalition membership is to bring the perspective of those who deliver housing and/or services to homeless New Yorkers and to communicate NYC CCoC issues to their constituent providers and consumers. C. The following six (6) categories of representation are permanent categories under which a coalition, meeting the above definition, can be represented at the NYC CCoC. 1. Shelter/Transitional Housing 2. Permanent Supportive Housing 3. Mental Health 4. HIV/AIDS 5. Domestic Violence 6. Youth 16 P a g e

19 D. The two (2) remaining categories of representation are rotating slots. Examples of these categories include, but are not limited to Substance Abuse, Families, Veterans, Ex Offender, Undocumented, Drop-In/Outreach, Employment, etc. E. The term of election is for one NYC CCoC year. There is no limit on the number of terms a coalition can serve. F. Process of Elections: 1. The Nominating Committee will solicit, before the Annual Meeting, coalitions to run for election on the New York City Coalition on the Continuum of Care. a. Each coalition running for election will complete an application with background information on their coalition, which will at a minimum include a description of the services they provide and a contact name for more information. b. A coalition may run under multiple categories, but may only be elected in one category. If a coalition receives the most votes in more than one category, the category in which they received the greatest number of votes will be their category of representation. c. Providers will vote for the coalition of their choice in each category of the six standing categories, and vote for one representative in each of the two of the rotating categories. d. A provider is defined as any organization who has received McKinney- Vento Continuum of Care funding in the past three years. e. Ballots will be sent to the executive director of the provider organization. f. To inform voting provider organizations about coalitions they are voting for, ballots will include the information from the submitted coalition s applications. g. Each provider agency will have one vote, regardless of how many programs they have that are funded under the McKinney-Vento CoC. h. The Nominating committee will be responsible for sending and receiving ballots. G. Coalitions must designate one named voting member and one alternate voting member upon election to the Steering Committee. ARTICLE X GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES A. A government representative must be employed by an agency that meets the following criteria: 1. Provides funding for services and/or housing to meet the needs of homeless individuals and families in New York City. 2. Is a New York City, New York State or, with the exception of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, a Federal agency. 3. Any agency can hold only one seat on the Steering Committee. B. There are eight (8) government representatives on the NYC CCoC Steering Committee. The purpose of the government representatives is to bring the perspective of government agencies who deliver housing and services to the table of the NYC CCoC, to improve interagency coordination and to provide information about the NYC CCoC to other government agencies not represented at the NYC CCoC. C. One (1) permanent seat is dedicated to the lead organization designated by the NYC CCoC to manage the McKinney-Vento application process. The remaining (7) government agency seats are 17 P a g e

20 up for election each NYC CCoC year. Any government agency that meets the criteria under Article X, Section A, and is in good standing may run for election. D. The term of election is one for one NYC CCoC year. There is no limit on the number of terms a Government Representative can serve. E. All eight government representatives will designate one named voting member and one alternate voting member at the beginning of each NYC CCoC year. ARTICLE XI AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVES A. The at-large representatives must demonstrate their interest in ending homelessness in NYC and have expertise that will be of value to the NYC CCoC. They are ineligible if s/he is: 1. An employee or board member of an organization that receives McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance grants. 2. An employee or board member of a Coalition that is a voting member of the NYC CCoC Steering Committee. 3. An employee of a Government Agency that is a voting member of the NYC CCoC Steering Committee. B. The term of election is for one NYC CCoC year. There is no limit on the number of terms an Atlarge Representative can serve. C. Process of Elections: 1. The Nominating Committee will solicit, at the first full Continuum of Care Steering Committee meeting after the Continuum of Care homeless Assistance Application is submitted, applications for at-large members. After reviewing the applications and ensuring that nominees meet eligibility criteria, the existing Steering Committee will vote for three at-large representatives. 2. If, after elections, there is a vacant at-large position, it can be filled through the above process at any time of the year. Applications for the vacant position(s) will be accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a first-come, first-serve basis. ARTICLE XII CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES 18 P a g e

21 SECTION II. NYC CCOC USEFUL INFORMATION 2.1 McKinney-Vento Act National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P. St. NW Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) Website: McKinney-Vento Act NCH Fact Sheet #18 Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, June 2008 The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (PL100-77) was the first -- and remains the only-- major federal legislative response to homelessness. This fact sheet provides a brief history of the McKinney-Vento Act, describes its content and evolution, and summarizes recent trends in McKinney-Vento Act legislation and funding. A list of resources for further reading is also provided. HISTORY In the early 1980s, the initial responses to widespread and increasing homelessness were primarily local. Homelessness was viewed by the Reagan Administration as a problem that did not require federal intervention. In 1983, the first federal task force on homelessness was created to provide information to localities on how to obtain surplus federal property; this task force did not address homelessness through programmatic or policy actions. In the years that followed, advocates around the country demanded that the federal government acknowledge homelessness as a national problem requiring a national response. With this goal in mind, the Homeless Persons' Survival Act was introduced in both houses of Congress in This act contained emergency relief measures, preventive measures, and long-term solutions to homelessness. Only small pieces of this proposal, however, were enacted into law. The first, the Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act of 1986, removed permanent address requirements and other barriers to existing programs such as Supplemental Security Income, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Veterans Benefits, Food Stamps, and Medicaid. Also in 1986, the Homeless Housing Act was adopted. This legislation created the Emergency Shelter Grant 19 P a g e

22 program and a transitional housing demonstration program; both programs were administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In late 1986, legislation containing Title I of the Homeless Persons' Survival Act -- emergency relief provisions for shelter, food, mobile health care, and transitional housing -- was introduced as the Urgent Relief for the Homeless Act. After an intensive advocacy campaign, large bipartisan majorities in both houses of Congress passed the legislation in After the death of its chief Republican sponsor, Representative Stewart B. McKinney of Connecticut, the act was renamed the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. A reluctant President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on July 22, On October 30, 2000 President William Clinton renamed the legislation the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act after the death of Representative Bruce Vento, a leading supporter of the act since its original passage in CONTENT The McKinney-Vento Act originally consisted of fifteen programs providing a range of services to homeless people, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, job training, primary health care, education, and some permanent housing. The McKinney-Vento Act contains nine titles: Title I of the McKinney-Vento Act includes a statement of six findings by Congress and provides a definition of homelessness. Title II establishes and describes the functions of the Interagency Council on the Homeless, an independent entity within the Executive Branch composed of the heads of 15 federal agencies. Title III of the McKinney-Vento Act authorizes the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Title IV authorizes the emergency shelter and transitional housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the Emergency Shelter Grant program (expanded from the program created by the Homeless Housing Act in 1986), the Supportive Housing Demonstration Program, Supplemental Assistance for Facilities to Assist the Homeless, and Section 8 Single Room Occupancy Moderate Rehabilitation. Title V of the McKinney-Vento Act imposes requirements on federal agencies to identify and make available surplus federal property, such as buildings and land, for use by states, local governments, and nonprofit agencies to assist homeless people. Title VI authorizes several programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide health care services to homeless persons, including the Health Care for the Homeless program, a Community Mental Health Services block grant 20 P a g e

23 program, and two demonstration programs providing mental health and alcohol and drug abuse treatment services to homeless persons. Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Act authorizes four programs: the Adult Education for the Homeless Program and the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, both administered by the Department of Education; the Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration Program, administered by the Department of Labor; and the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. Title VIII amends the Food Stamp program to facilitate participation in the program by persons who are homeless, and also expands the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Title IX of the McKinney-Vento Act extends the Veterans Job Training Act. EVOLUTION The current McKinney-Vento Act has been amended four times: in 1988, 1990, 1992 and These amendments have, for the most part, expanded the scope and strengthened the provisions of the original legislation. In 1988, Congress amended the then McKinney Act with relatively minor changes. The 1988 amendments mostly served to expand eligible activities and to modify the distribution of McKinney funds. The 1990 amendments were more far reaching, altering the majority of programs authorized by the original act. In addition to expanding eligible activities for several McKinney Act programs, a few new programs were created. These included the Shelter Plus Care program, which provides housing assistance to homeless individuals with disabilities, mental illness, AIDS, and drug or alcohol addiction, and a demonstration program within the Health Care for the Homeless program to provide primary health care and outreach to at-risk and homeless children. Also in 1990, the Community Mental Health Services program was amended and given a new name: the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program. The 1990 amendments also specified in greater detail the obligations of states and local educational agencies in assuring the access of homeless children and youth to public education. The amendments also increased the Education of Homeless Children and Youth program's authorization and required states to make grants to local educational agencies for the purpose of implementing the law. The 1992 amendments modified and expanded Title IV of the then McKinney Act, the shelter and housing provisions. Included in these amendments were the creation of "safe havens," or very low-cost shelter for persons unwilling or unable to participate in supportive services; the creation of a Rural Homeless Housing Assistance grant program; and the consolidation of the 21 P a g e

24 mental health services demonstration program and the alcohol and drug abuse treatment demonstration program into the Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Support (ACCESS) program. The ACCESS demonstration program was designed to fund projects that integrate services for severely mentally ill people. In 1994, Congress amended the Education of the Homeless Children and Youth program and the Surplus Property Program. The amendments to the Education of Homeless Children and Youth program provided local educational authorities with greater flexibility in the use of funds; specified the rights of homeless preschoolers to a free and appropriate public preschool education; gave parents of homeless children and youth a voice regarding their children's school placement; and required educational authorities to coordinate with housing authorities. The 1994 amendments also removed military bases closed under base-closure laws from the McKinney Act process and created a new process under which service providers could apply to Local Redevelopment Agencies to use property at closed bases to assist homeless persons. RECENT TRENDS AND CURRENT STATUS Since the passage of the original McKinney Act in 1987, the now McKinney-Vento Act programs have been expanded and funding has significantly increased. However, McKinney- Vento programs have suffered setbacks in recent years. These programs now face new challenges as homelessness persists unabated across the country. Congress authorized just over $1 billion in expenditures for McKinney Act programs for 1987 and 1988; however, a total $712 million was appropriated for those years. In subsequent years, overall funding levels increased from $350.2 million in FY87 to the all-time high of $1.49 billion in FY95. Recently, however, support for McKinney-Vento Act programs has declined. The share of the U.S. budget allocated to Homeless Assistance Grants has decreased by 8% over the past four years, and by 28% since 1995, when the homeless plans were consolidated (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2005). In FY94, the Interagency Council on the Homeless lost its funding and was made part of the White House's Domestic Policy Council. In FY95, funding for the Job Training for the Homeless program was terminated. In FY96, funding for McKinney-Vento programs was cut by a total of 27%. Several McKinney-Vento programs saw their funding eliminated entirely. These programs included the Adult Education for the Homeless program, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project, the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program, and the Family Support Centers. Over the past few years, funding has been partly restored to some of these programs, although few have surpassed their FY95 funding levels. Adding to these concerns, the Administration s suggested budget proposes a 36% decline in federal housing assistance by FY2010 (NLCHP, 2005). More recently, a few McKinney-Vento Act programs have been repealed and some may face dramatic restructuring. In 1998, consolidation legislation repealed the Job Training for the Homeless program and the Adult Education for the Homeless program. In 2001, Congress again reauthorized the McKinney Education of Homeless Children and Youth 22 P a g e

25 Program as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act in the No Child Left Behind Act, signed by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002 (Project HOPE, 2005). A 2006 Department of Education report to Congress on the program cited a dramatic increase in funding from 2001 to 2005 and made particular note of a 59% increase in appropriations for LEA (local educational agency) sub grants. In July 2007, a bill reauthorizing the Education Provision of the McKinney-Vento was introduced in the House of Representatives. Important provisions of the bill would clarify the responsibilities of preschools, authorize $35 million for transportation, further define best interest placement decisions, double the total allowable spending on the program from $70 to $140 million, ensure immediate enrollment for homeless students regardless of unpaid fines at their current or previous school, and require states to develop procedures by which students could receive partial credit or attempt to recover all credits lost during periods of homelessness (NLCHP, 2007). The HEARTH Act, currently being considered in the House of Representatives, would reauthorize the McKinney-Vento Act and expand its appropriation to $2.5 billion annually. (NLCHP, 2007) CONCLUSION The McKinney-Vento Act has created valuable programs that have saved lives and helped hundreds of thousands of Americans to regain stability. A 1995 evaluation of the HUD McKinney-Vento programs concluded that the programs "have assisted significant numbers of homeless persons to regain independence and permanent housing and at reasonable costs." A 1996 evaluation of the HUD McKinney-Vento programs' Continuum of Care process noted that this approach to implementing the programs has "given localities and states new tools for addressing the problem of homelessness" (Fuchs and McAllister, 1996). Similarly, a 1995 evaluation of the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program found that HCH programs "represent innovative and effective efforts to improve access to health and health-related services for homeless people in the United States" (Cousineau, 1995). And a 1995 evaluation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program found that homeless children's access to school has improved significantly since passage of the McKinney-Vento Act, and that "state coordinators and local school district administrators have worked hard, with limited resources, to ensure homeless children's and youth's access to a free, appropriate education" (Anderson et al., 1995). All of these evaluations noted, however, that the resources allocated to the McKinney- Vento programs are insufficient to meet demand, and that lack of adequate funding limits the programs' success. While inadequate funding clearly impedes the effectiveness of the McKinney- Vento programs, the McKinney-Vento Act's greatest weakness is its focus on emergency measures -- it responds to the symptoms of homelessness, not its causes. The McKinney-Vento Act was intended as a first step toward resolving homelessness; in the absence of legislation containing farther-reaching measures, homelessness can only be expected to increase. In speaking on the floor of the Senate when the McKinney-Vento Act was first introduced, then Senator Albert Gore (D-TN), one of the bill's chief sponsors, said: 23 P a g e

26 "(McKinney) is an essential first step towards establishing a national agenda for action to eradicate homelessness in America... No one in this body should believe that the legislation we begin considering today is anything more than a first step towards reversing the record increase in homelessness" (Congressional Record, p. S3683, March 23, 1987). The McKinney-Vento Act was, and remains, landmark legislation. The programs created by the McKinney-Vento Act are needed now more than ever, as homelessness shows no signs of abating. However, after more than a decade of an emergency response to a long-term crisis, it is clear that only by addressing the causes of homelessness -- lack of jobs that pay a living wage, inadequate benefits for those who cannot work, lack of affordable housing, and lack of access to health care -- will homelessness be ended. RESOURCES Adler, Wendy Chris. Addressing Homelessness: Status of Programs Under the Stewart B. McKinney Act and Related Legislation, National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202/ Anderson, Leslie et al. An Evaluation of State and Local Efforts to Serve the Educational Needs of Homeless Children and Youth, Available, free, from the U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., SW, Room 4168, Washington, DC ; 202/ Cousineau, Michael et al. A Study of the Health Care for the Homeless Program: Final Report, Available, free, from the National Clearinghouse for Primary Care Information, 2070 Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 450, Vienna, VA ; 800/ In the Washington, DC metro area: 703/ Foscarinas, Maria. "The Federal Response: The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act," in Homelessness in America, National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202/ Fuchs, Ester and William McAllister. The Continuum of Care: A Report on the New Federal Policy to Address Homelessness, Available from Community Connections, PO Box 7189, Gaithersburg, MD ; 800/ Hombs, Mary Ellen. American Homelessness: A Reference Handbook. Second Edition, Available for $39.50 from ABC-CLIO, Inc., PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA / National Coalition for the Homeless. Necessary Relief: The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202/ P a g e

27 National Coalition for the Homeless. Unfinished Business: The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act After Two Years, National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202/ National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Available at National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, Available at Project HOPE. History of the McKinney Act, Available at U.S. Department of Education. Report to the President and Congress On the Implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Available at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Review of Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Programs Administered by HUD: Report to Congress, Available, free, from HUD User, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD 20849; P a g e

28 2.2 HEARTH Act Assistance Reauthorization Homeless Assistance Reauthorization National Policy Update June 2009 Highlights of the HEARTH Act On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed into law a bill to reauthorize HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs. The bill was included as part of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act. The McKinney-Vento reauthorization provisions are identical to those included in two bills introduced earlier in 2009, both known as the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. The Senate bill (S. 808) was introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Kit Bond (R-MO), and 11 other Senators. The House bill (H.R. 1877) was introduced by Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and 5 other House Members. HEARTH Act Highlights Increased Prevention The HEARTH Act will provide much greater resources to communities for prevention and re-housing targeted to those who are at risk of homelessness, including people who have extremely low incomes and are doubled up, living in a hotel, or have a precarious housing situation. The bill will change the current Emergency Shelter Grants Program to the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, and almost double the amount for ESG to 20 percent of the total for homeless assistance. The new ESG program served as a model for the Homelessness Prevention Fund included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Family Rapid Re-housing Incentive The Act requires that HUD provide incentives for rapid re-housing programs for homeless families. Rapid re-housing programs have been successfully used in numerous communities to significantly reduce family homelessness. By dramatically reducing the length of time that families are homeless, rapid re-housing programs ensure a quicker return to stability and self-sufficiency. Continued Attention to Chronic Homelessness The HEARTH Act continues HUD's existing initiative to house people who experience chronic homelessness. However, it adds families with children to the initiative. Permanent Housing Solutions The HEARTH Act designates 30 percent of total funds for new permanent housing for families and individuals with a disability. It also requires that 10 percent of funds be used for permanent housing activities for families with children. 26 P a g e