Homelessness is not just an urban issue.

Individuals and families who experience housing insecurity are more likely to have experienced violence, and experiencing housing instability increases the risk of experiencing violence. The two experiences can create a cycle of trauma and violence. Although CoCs often have relationships with local victims’ service providers to ensure safe housing for people who are actively fleeing violence, there are a number of ways that a broader partnership can benefit both systems of care. This resource pulls together guidance and tips for strengthening those partnerships.

With a focus on rural and suburban Continuums of Care (CoCs), this framework explores the idea of broadening community partnerships, responding to data, and expanding resource options to achieve an end to homelessness for multiple populations at once and sustain the achievements over time.

These guides are designed to help communities, Continuums of Care (CoCs), and homeless service providers address and improve key aspects of the homelessness system of care. They provide evidence-based, practical approaches for increasing employment income, securing permanent housing, preventing first-time homelessness, reducing time spent homeless, and preventing returns to homelessness.

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) can make a tremendous difference in a community’s success in preventing and ending homelessness. FBOs bring a perspective and resources that are not otherwise available to the homeless system of care. This guide offers potential strengths of FBO partnerships, along with opportunities for FBOs to support homelessness response and strategies homeless systems can employ to support these partnerships.

This checklist, to be completed by program leadership, is designed to help program leaders identify local partners who can help people experiencing homelessness find jobs, increase their income, and improve their employment opportunities.

This toolkit supports leaders of homeless systems of care to connect with representatives of faith-based organizations through new and expanded partnerships.