Below are the types of programs we fund:

Outreach
Outreach workers contact homeless persons to offer food, blankets, or other necessities in such settings as on the streets, in subways, under bridges, in parks or other areas where homeless persons set up temporary encampments, to assess needs and attempt to engage them in services; to offer medical, mental health, and/or substance abuse services; and/or to offer other assistance on a regular basis for the purpose of improving their health, mental health, or social functioning, or increasing their use of human services and resources such as housing. The goal of outreach is to assist clients to get off the streets or out of places not meant for human habitation and into any form of housing in the Continuum of Care. Outreach services may be provided during the day or at night.

Access Center / Drop-in Center
A center that provides access to or refers homeless persons to a range of services including shelter, medical and mental health services, crisis counseling, long-term case management, public benefits advocacy, mail/message pick-up, and family services.

Safe Haven
Supportive housing in which a structure, or a clearly identifiable portion of a structure, meets the following criteria: (1) serves hard to-reach homeless persons who have severe mental illness, are on the streets, and have been unable or unwilling to participate in supportive services; (2) provides 24-hour residence for an unspecified duration; (3) provides private or semiprivate accommodations; and (4) has overnight occupancy limited to 25 persons. A safe haven may also provide supportive services to eligible persons who are not residents on a drop-in basis. Safe havens shall not require participation in services and referrals as a condition of occupancy. Rather, it is hoped that after a period of stabilization in a safe haven, residents will be more willing to participate in services and referrals, and will eventually be ready to move to more traditional forms of housing.

Supportive Services Only
Projects provide services designed to address the special needs of homeless persons. Projects are classified as this component only if the project sponsor is not also providing housing to the same persons receiving the services. Supportive Services Only projects may have one or more structures at a central site or at scattered sites where services are delivered; or services may be delivered independent of a structure, such as street outreach. Examples of SSO projects include: medical services; childcare; employment programs; mental health services; substance abuse treatment; etc.

Overnight Shelter (Year Round Shelter and Winter Shelter)
Provides overnight shelter, two meals (dinner and breakfast) and case management services to homeless persons. Shelter is provided free of charge. Providers make case management services available to all clients and clients are strongly encouraged to participate in case management services. Although there is no predetermined set time limit on residence in the Year Round program, providers are encouraged to utilize a ninety (90) day time frame in which to place clients into appropriate long-term housing. Year Round program providers may also design programs and shelter rules which set a maximum time limit on a client's stay in the program as well as mandate participation in case management as a condition of staying in the program. The Winter Shelter program operates for 105 days from December 1st to March 15th of the following year with no time limit on a client's stay.

Emergency Shelter
A short-term shelter providing services designed to facilitate homeless individuals and families transition from sleeping in places not meant for human habitation to appropriate housing. Emergency Shelter is provided free of charge for a maximum of ninety (90) days and is operated on a 24-hour basis. On a case-by-case basis, clients may remain for longer than ninety days if they require a longer period to accomplish a specific goal.

Transitional Housing
Housing that facilitates the movement of homeless individuals and families to permanent housing. It is housing in which homeless persons live up to 24 months and receive supportive services that enable them to live more independently. This temporary housing is combined with supportive services to enable homeless individuals and families to live as independently as possible. Supportive services, which help promote residential stability, increased skill level or income, and greater self-determination, may be provided by the organization managing the housing or coordinated by that organization and provided by other public or private agencies. Transitional housing can be provided in one structure or several structures at one site or in multiple structures at scattered sites.

Permanent Housing (for Persons with Disabilities)
Long-term housing that is commonly community-based with supportive services designed to enable homeless persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible in a permanent setting. Permanent housing can be provided in one structure or several structures at one site or in multiple structures at scattered sites.

Prevention Program
Provides services to persons who are at risk of becoming homeless. The goal of prevention programs is to assist clients with various services and or cash assistance in order to prevent them from becoming homeless.