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Continuum of Care
In January 2020, the Lowell Continuum of Care (CoC) merged with the Balance of State CoC. Information on this page has been archived and is not currently being updated. If you have specific questions related to previous CoC grant allocations please call 978-674-1474.
If you are looking for assistance related to experiencing homelessness, please go to the Homelessness Initiatives Resources page. If you are looking for more information on the Balance of State, please go to the state’s Continuum of Care Programs webpage.
The Lowell Continuum of Core (CoC) promotes a community wide commitment to ending homelessness. In cooperation with Federal, State and local governments and private funders, the CoC works to attain and provide funding for efforts providers to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness. The CoC also promotes access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimizes self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Attention Lowell CoC and interested organizations:
The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development has released the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Fiscal Year 2019 Continuum of Care Program Competition.
Application for Renewal Projects
Frequently Asked Questions FY 2019 RFP
Lowell Rating Process and Ranking Policy
Project Ranking FY 2019 CoC Applications
Bidders Conference: Wednesday July 31, 9:30am Mayors Reception Room. This conference is to provide an overview and answer any questions related to the NOFA process for renewals and new projects.
City Manager’s Task Force on Homelessness and Sustainable Housing
2018 Final Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA Application. View or click here.
2018 Final Project Priority Listing: View or click here.
FY 2018 Local Renewal and New Housing Project Funding Availability Notification
FY18 Notification of Funding Availability
Project Priority Ranking and Program Policy & Performance Evaluation
Lowell Continuum of Care
The Lowell Continuum of Care (CoC) is an umbrella organization whose members provide services to the homeless, with a goal of ultimately eliminating homelessness with assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Nonprofit organizations in Lowell that are members of the CoC are working to provide services to help increase the self-sufficiency of homeless persons and those with issues of mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and disabilities that are at-risk of homelessness. The CoC continues to implement a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), which has been installed at five homeless provider locations. Data is collected annually to create a Housing Gaps Analysis Chart that is used by the community to determine the unmet need for emergency shelters, transitional housing programs and permanent housing sites for homeless persons. Lowell's CoC is funded through HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs.View the City of Lowell Partnership for Change: Action Plan to End Homelessness (PDF) to learn more about the City's commitment, along with many dedicated partners, to end homelessness in our community.
A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local planning coalition that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.
The CoC is a coordinated and comprehensive strategic organizational structure with members that represent
- Community Leaders
- Housing and Service Providers
- Local, State and Federal Government Agencies
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Other Interested Residents and System Participants
- Public Housing Authorities
FY 2017 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
FY 2017 Local Renewal and New Housing Project Funding Availability Notification
FY 2017 Priority Placement for the 2017 Continuum of Care Program Competitive Application
Related Documents
Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Hud Notice of Funding Announcement Notification
Pursuant to the FY2016 Notice of Funding Announcement (NOFA) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Continuum of Care (CoC), the City of Lowell on behalf of the Lowell CoC is seeking a request for applications for New Permanent Housing Projects either for Permanent Supportive (PSH) or Rapid Rehousing (RRH) projects.
Funding for new permanent housing projects in the FY2015 CoC competition is limited. New permanent housing projects must follow a Housing First model, participate in the design and implementation of the CoC's Coordinated Access System and makes maximum use of mainstream resources for supportive services.
View the FY2016 CoC Program NOFA (PDF).
Local Funding Opportunities
Permanent Housing Bonus Application
The Lowell CoC is seeking applications for CoC New Housing Bonus Funds for permanent housing that includes both permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing project. HUD announced that the permanent housing bonus will be up to 5% of the CoC's Final Pro Rata Need. For Lowell that amount is approximately $60,000.
View the New Permanent Housing Bonus Application (PDF).
Transitional Housing Reallocation Application
The Lowell CoC is seeking applications from existing Lowell Continuum of Care Transitional Housing (TH) projects wishing to voluntarily reallocate existing TH funds to either a permanent supportive housing or rapid re-housing project the following two forms must be completed:
New Bonus Housing Types
CoCs may create new projects through the permanent housing bonus up to 5% of the CoC's FPRN for the following types of new projects:
- CoCs may create new permanent supportive housing projects that will serve 100% chronically homeless individuals and families.
- CoCs may create new rapid rehousing projects that will serve homeless individuals and families coming directly from the streets or emergency shelters, and include persons fleeing domestic violence situations and other persons meeting the criteria of paragraph (4) of the definition of homelessness.
Scoring Applications
An Independent Scoring Committee will rate and review New Housing Bonus Projects, Reallocation Plans and Renewal Applicant Performance Evaluations for submission as part of the Lowell CoC FY2016 application. Final decisions regarding all awards will be made by HUD via the national competition. For more information on the Lowell CoC's policies and procedures for rating and review of application please see Lowell MA-508 CoC Rating and Review Procedures 2016 (PDF).