Upstate Continuum of Care
Supporting Our Community
Meet the Upstate Continuum of Care, a coalition of passionate community members, key leaders, and service providers who are experts in homelessness. United Housing Connections is proud to serve as the Lead Agency in the Continuum of Care.
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The Upstate Continuum of Care (CoC) is composed of more than 80 agencies taking action to end homelessness in our communities. Serving 13 counties in the Upstate, the CoC aims to prevent and reduce homelessness through coordination and collaboration with other homeless service providers.
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Designed to promote community-wide involvement, the CoC provides funding for nonprofits committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness. Through these joined efforts, we work to re-house homeless individuals and families while working to minimize trauma.
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Learn more about the Upstate Continuum of Care and how you can get involved.
Upstate Continuum of Care Initiatives
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
The Upstate Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a web-based information management system used by public entities (state, county, and city governmental agencies) and private sector entities (nonprofits and health care agencies) to enable data sharing which assists providers to provide services to homeless and low-income persons in the Upstate of South Carolina.
The HMIS platform provides partner agencies with a flexible data management system for client documentation, case management, service tracking, and access to community resources. Agencies can share data with other programs to enhance service delivery and coordination. United Housing Connections provides local system administration services and support, including project management for site implementation; training and help desk functions; system demonstrations for agency staff, boards, and funders; and software revisions/upgrades.
The system is integrated with the other HMIS systems in SC for a more inclusive approach that will enhance the ability to refer those needing services all over the State.
Effective Zero Program
We believe that every veteran deserves a safe place to call home.
In 2017, United Housing Connections partnered with Veteran Service Providers like the Veteran’s Administration, Upstate Warrior Solutions, Alston Wilkes Society and others to develop the Effective Zero program in an effort to end veteran homelessness in Greenville — then expand across the state.
Today, the program is well established with a Veteran By-Name List and coordinated entry system of its own. In 2017, the program began with more than 250 veteran names on the list. Today, the number of veterans on the list averages less than 70. The goal of the program is to declare “effective zero” for veteran homelessness in Greenville by the end of 2022. “Effective Zero” means that there is very little time-lapse or gap between the time a veteran first experiences homelessness and the time he/she has the opportunity for stable housing.
Coordinated Entry System
Coordinated Entry System (CES) refers to the process by which we provide housing assistance to people experiencing a need. UHC conforms to the standards described by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure that the people we serve receive fair and equal access to housing assistance, based on their needs. Our process follows four key steps: 1) Access to people in need, 2) Assessment of needs, 3) Prioritization of people with the greatest needs, and 4) Referral to the appropriate housing and services that match their needs.
Regardless of location or method, we use the same assessment to ensure that the people we serve are treated fairly. A key element of this process is to ensure that people with urgent housing or related needs receive priority access to the programs for which they’re eligible. Regardless of how and where they are identified, CES enables us to match people needs to the right housing and resources in a timely, consistent, and accurate manner.