Newaygo County’s Continuum of Care is a part of Newaygo County’s Housing Forum.  The Forum represents a coordinated and collaborative effort to actively reduce homelessness and to actively service our homeless.  Significant steps have been made in identifying the extent of homelessness and the needs surrounding this population.  MSHDA ESG funding will be requested to continue meeting the needs for homeless in the general population of our county (NCCS), youth (Bethany Christian Services), and domestic violence (WISE).  MSHDA ESG funding has been effectively utilized by these organizations since 1994 to assist homeless and high-risk of homeless in our county.

• Identify the lead entity for the Continuum of Care planning process.

  In August 1994, NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing (CNH) convened the first Newaygo County Housing Forum.  Made up of representatives from nearly 20 local human service agencies, businesses, foundations, and others, they gathered to share information regarding housing problems, pursue collaborative housing solutions and promote local housing programs to help increase local awareness and improve our community.  The forum allows those advocating for improved housing to maximize local housing programs, increase collaboration, and avoid duplication.

  Housing Forum meetings are held quarterly or more frequently as needed.   The location of the meetings is Newaygo County Commission on Aging/Community Development in White Cloud, the most centrally located town in the county.

  The Housing Forum took on the role of sponsoring the Newaygo County Continuum of Care in 1999.  Local agencies saw this as a natural extension of the Housing Forum and are involved to help streamline and improve housing and services aimed at Newaygo County’s homeless population and those at risk of homelessness.  The director of CNH, Lindsay Hager, is chairperson of the Housing Forum.  CNH provides the administrative and clerical functions of the Housing Forum as well as coordinating the planning process.  Staff from CNH and other agencies shares the work of the group through voluntary sub-committees.  As with most collaborative projects in our county, agency staff provides time committed in-kind.  Our continuum currently does not have a paid coordinator.  In 2001, the funding strategy approved by the group shows the use of funds provided by MSHDA that could be utilized toward a coordinator will be used in homeless services programs in order to assist people in need even more effectively.

• Describe community’s Continuum of Care planning structure.

  Work groups and sub-committees are formed on a voluntary basis, open to all members who have interest.  During 2001 sub-committees concentrated their efforts in the areas of the annual Point in Time survey, and the Continuum of Care gaps and needs analysis.

  Newaygo County’s Human Services Coordinating Body (HSCB) is chaired by Bev Cassidy, NCCS Executive Director.  The HSCB members are each provided with a copy of the "Newaygo County Continuum of Care” narrative and encouraged to provide input into the Housing Forum planning process.  In October 2001 Lindsay Hager and Marianne Boerigter provided a presentation to the HSCB on the work of the Housing Forum.

  People from the community (consumers) are invited and encouraged to attend Housing Forum meetings.  Agency staff brings ideas, thoughts, and concerns of community members to the meetings on their behalf.  Many community members with interest in the Housing Forum are working and unable to attend the scheduled meetings.

• Diagram illustration of how the entities in the Continuum of Care organizational planning structure relate.

  Housing Forum Point in Time Survey Subcommittee
  

• Describe community’s vision for combating homelessness

  The Newaygo County Housing Forum is a significant local effort actively taking steps to eliminate rural homelessness in Newaygo County.  Capitalizing on the combined strengths of local people, the Newaygo County Housing Forum strives to be the model for a rural housing collaborative by effectively taking on today’s challenges in order to seize tomorrow’s opportunities.

• Fundamental Components of Continuum of Care System
  HOMELESS PREVENTION

  AGENCY SERVICES Newaygo County Community Services (NCCS) Emergency Home Repairs Back Rent Assistance Utility Shut-off Assistance “Project Assist”, Security Deposit, Rent FEMA FIA Contract NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing Homelinks Foreclosure Prevention Down Payment Bethany Christian Services Security Deposit Rent WISE Security Deposit Rent Five Cap, Inc. Emergency Home Repairs Security Deposit Rent MSHDA Section 8 Rental Subsidy Newaygo County FIA Volunteer Home Finder Eviction Prevention Foreclosure Prevention Utility Shut-off Assistance Adult Protective Services Child Protective Services HOPWA Housing Stability Program HOPWA (rent, utility shut-offs) Newaygo County Community Development Emergency Home Repairs, Major Home Repairs, Grants and Housing Rehab Loans Newaygo Ministerial Association Rent Security Deposit Fremont Ministerial Association Rent Utility Shut-offs LOVE, Inc. Rent Security Deposit Utility shut-offs Salvation Army Utility Shut-offs (Consumer Energy matching credits) Newaygo County American Red Cross Utility shut-offs (MichCon Heat Bank) Newaygo County Community Mental Health Authority Supervised Housing

  Access to Prevention Services
  • 24-hour crisis lines through WISE, Community Mental Health, and FIA Protective Services

  • Runaway youth national hotline

  • Salvation Army 1.800.ASHELTER

  • Many agencies provide outreach and intake with their participants and where housing is an issue referrals are made to preventive service agencies. In addition, Ameri-corps workers, schools, churches, hospitals and police act as referral agents.

  • Other information and referral opportunities occur through Community Education, libraries, and community volunteers.

  • A Community Information System (kiosk) is located at the Fremont District Library or Fremont Municipal Building and is accessible to the general public. Agency information is provided.

  • People have heard from past service participants and access services based upon post usage and/or word of mouth from friends, family, and acquaintances.

  • Agencies providing prevention services are listed in the telephone directory.

  • Presentations given by agency staff to groups (Rotary, church groups, community education classes, living skills classes, Lions Club, Women’s Literary Club, etc.).

  • Flyers and information sheets describing programs are provided by agencies and are available at other agencies throughout the county as well as libraries, grocery stores, and other public places.

  • Agency staff living in the area communities, participating in area events, and participating in school-related activities that can provide people information even while not on the job.

  EMERGENCY SHELTER

  AGENCY SERVICES WISE Emergency Shelter (located in Mecosta County) for domestic violence victims Newaygo County American Red Cross Emergency Housing (motel/hotel vouchers) for house fire victims Salvation Army Emergency Housing (motel/hotel vouchers) NCCS Emergency Housing (motel/hotel vouchers) FIA Contract (motel/hotel vouchers) FEMA (motel/hotel vouchers) “Project Assist” (security deposit, first month rent) Bethany Christian Services Mentor homes, apartments for youth Regional Shelters Grand Rapids, Big Rapids, Muskegon (none located in Newaygo County)

  Access to Emergency Shelter Services
  • All of the methods listed in access to homeless prevention services also apply to Emergency Shelter.

  • Baby turn-in location at Gerber Memorial Health Services and police stations.

  TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

  AGENCY SERVICES Bethany Christian Services Runaway youth, mentor homes, apartments

  PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

  AGENCY SERVICES Habitat for Humanity Permanent Homes Newaygo County Community Mental Health Authority collaborating with NCCS CNH Permanent Supportive Housing NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing (CNH) Permanent Homes Senior Citizen Apartments (low income)

  Access to Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing
  • All of the methods listed in access to preventive services also apply to Transitional/Permanent Housing.

  • NCCS Project Assist is a direct link to permanent housing services of NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing. This also allows for great opportunities in goal setting for persons to work towards homeownership.

  • NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing provides Homeownership Classes for its applicants, Habitat for Humanity applicants and also is open to the general public. NCCS CNH also provides the HomeLINKS programs for Newaygo County in collaboration with MSU Extension and Habitat for Humanity.

  • Newspaper advertisements draw applicants for Habitat for Humanity and NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing.

  • Realtors and bankers in the area have been very helpful in acting as referral agents to the county’s permanent housing programs.

  • NCCS offers the Individual Development Accounts(IDA) to assist families of modest means purchase their first home.

  SUPPORT SERVICES

  AGENCY SERVICES District Health Department #10 Medical treatment and testing WIC Maternal Child Health Transportation Environmental Health Services Project Fresh PROST/Project Rehab Substance Abuse counseling WISE Legal advocate for victims of domestic violence Newaygo County Courts Friend of the Court, Probate Court MSU Extension Services Homebuyer and homeowner skills training Family Nutrition Program Land Use – Environmental Financial Management Bethany Christian Services Counseling Volunteer transporters Newaygo County Community Mental Health Authority Counseling Training for independent living and community inclusion 24-hour emergency services Crisis Intervention Individual and Family Therapy Bethany Christian Services Counseling Volunteer transporters Newaygo County Community Mental Health Authority Counseling Training for independent living and community inclusion 24-hour emergency services Crisis Intervention Individual and Family Therapy Family Health Care Medical Treatment Five Cap, Inc. Head Start USDA Commodities Individual Development Accounts Newaygo County ISD MECEP Neway Center Child Care Resources Even Start NCCS Emergency Food and monthly food distributions Homeless Prevention Homeowner Assistance Special Needs (gas vouchers, diaper kits, clothing) Big Brother Big Sister Individual Development Accounts NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing (CNH) HomeLINKS Services Work First! Work training and support Love, Inc. Special Needs and used furniture, clothing Global Friendships Special Needs and used furniture Fremont Ministerial Association Special Needs Newaygo Ministerial Association Special Needs Area churches Special Needs NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing Homeownership classes HOME Links Newaygo County Commission on Aging Health Screening Transportation Homemaker Info/Referral Home Delivered Meals/Congregate Meals Home Repairs Respite Newaygo County FIA Homemaker (in-home intense living skills training) Payment Assistance Emergency food Food Stamps Volunteer transporters Clothing

  Access to Supportive Services
  • All of the methods listed in access to preventive homeless services also apply to Transitional/Permanent Housing.

  How homeless and housing distressed persons receive or access assistance

  Shared information on programs and services available is excellent between agencies and organizations in Newaygo County. The Multi-Agency Consortium has been the foundation that allows the free flow of communication between agencies. Staff participation from agencies in monthly meetings such as Newaygo County Housing Forum, SCAN, Inter-Agency Council, Newaygo County HIV/AIDS Prevention Council, and Newaygo County Domestic Violence Task Force provides many opportunities to coordinate services. Each meeting opens or gives opportunity to share information about the services that each agency delivers. This provides staff to become familiar with each other’s services and gives the opportunity to ask questions. By doing so, people coming to any agency in the county can be referred to other types of assistance that will benefit them in their housing situation.

  Each agency in Newaygo County are also listed in the Newaygo County Inter-Agency Handbook. Pertinent information such as address, office hours, phone numbers is listed as well as services available and any sub-populations specifically served. This information is also available on Internet through the Multi-Agency Consortium homepage and can be accessed by any agency staff member with Internet capability or at any library in the county. By having this information available at the libraries, the general public also has access to this information.

  How our housing distressed sub-populations are reached

  Through extensive information sharing between agencies and organizations in the county, an awareness of our sub-populations has grown. Staffs of agencies involved in the continuum of care planning process are closely involved with groups serving sub-populations. These groups include Soldiers and Sailors Commission, Newaygo County HIV/AIDS Prevention Council, and Newaygo County Domestic Violence Task Force.

  Some agencies provide service specifically to a sub-population and have a variety of methods to provide outreach. The following lists some outreach services to specific populations.

  • Veterans
    • Soldiers and Sailors Commission
    • Newaygo County Veterans
  • Seriously Mentally Ill
    • Newaygo County Community Mental Health Authority
  • Substance Abuse
    • Gerber Memorial Health Services provides treatment for substance abuse.
    • PROST/Project Rehab provides counseling services for substance abuse.
    • Newaygo County Community Mental Health Authority provides substance abuse treatment for children and adults.
  • HIV/AIDS
    • HOPWA funds are available to Newaygo County residents through Housing Stability Program located in Ludington
    • Newaygo County HIV/AIDS Prevention Council Support Group for PWAs or those affected by HIV/AIDS
  • Domestic Violence
    • WISE provides a crisis hot line and has counseling services and a legal advocate for Newaygo County residents.
  • Youth
    • Bethany Christian Services provides case management and outreach to youth of Newaygo County.
    • NCCS Big Brother Big Sisters of Newaygo County provides case management to participants and outreach to youth.
  How our system facilitates movement from one component to another

  Within the components of our Continuum of Care, movement is typically from an emergency crisis toward permanent housing. Some households though, have a need for only prevention services. With staff and case managers knowledgeable about different levels of service throughout the county, persons can enter and exit the continuum at the points that best fit their situation.