Broward County's Continuum of Care of Homeless Services Based on the Federal Plan to Break the Cycle of Homelessness

A U.S. Dept. of HUD Blue Ribbon "Best Practice"

1993 Strategic Plan, adopted by Broward County Commission, calls for three regional Homeless Assistance Centers (HACs) and Complete Continuum of Care"

Continuum of Care" concept avoids warehousing the homeless in shelters. Instead, clients progress through treatment phases towards re-integration within communities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) believes that the best approach to alleviating homelessness is a community-based process that provides a comprehensive response to different needs of homeless individuals and families. This continuum of care approach assesses needs, inventories resources, identifies gaps, and coordinates public and private resources to fill in the gaps and avoid duplication.

The product of this coordination is a continuum of care system with these fundamental components:

• Homelessness prevention;
• Outreach and assessment to identify an individual's or family's needs and make connections to facilities and services;
• Immediate shelter and safe, decent alternatives to the streets;
• Transitional housing and necessary social services. Such services include job training/placement, substance abuse treatment, short-term mental health services, independent living skills, etc.;
• Permanent housing or permanent supportive housing arrangements.