York County Coalition on Homelessness

OVERVIEW

The York County Coalition on Homelessness (York City/County Continuum of Care, PA-512), was created in 2011 as a single county Continuum with HUD approval. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local or regional planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. In 1995, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) instructed communities that they had to apply for federal homeless funding through a coordinated process - and the Coalition was born.

The York County Coalition on Homelessness welcomes participation by anyone in the community who has an interest in supporting households experiencing housing instability or with a desire to work collaboratively toward ending homelessness. Monthly meetings are open and accessible. If you'd like more information, please contact us at: yorkcountycoh@ycpc.org . 

Meetings

• 1 p.m.
• 4th Thursday of every month*
• Currently meeting virtually - contact yorkcountycoh@ycpc.org for connection details

November and December meetings each year may be moved to the third Thursday and may have another location. Changes in location and dates are provided on the previous month's agenda.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Leadership

• Lori Leister, Bell Socialization Services (Chair)
• Shawn Smith, United Way of York County (Vice-Chair)

Members & Participants

Members of the Coalition represent service providers and community members and are self-appointed. The Coalition is charged with the planning to end homelessness in York County, managing the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), managing the Pathways to Home (Coordinated Assessment/Entry process), and coordinating and applying for funding for projects to end homelessness. Participants range from those who work in homeless serving housing or service projects to healthcare, government, and other interested parties, including those who are homeless or formerly homeless.

History of the York County Coalition on Homelessness

From 1996 to 2004, York City and County operated a local, county-wide Continnum of Care Committee and HUD application process, however, it was determined that additional dollars may be available for our community if York joined the Central/Altoona Regional Housing Advisory Board - a regional group of counties in central Pennsylvania that would apply for HUD funding together.

From 2005 to 2010, York participated in this regional planning process. In 2010, it was determined that York should again bring their planning and application process back to a more local, county-wide practice and so in 2011 the York City and County Continuum of Care was brought back to a single county status. In January 2020, the group released new branding and new naming conventions, operating as the York County Coalition on Homelessness.  York County Planning Commission serves as the government liaison (or Lead Agency) for the County of York in the HUD application process and the Coalition, and plays an active role in determining plans to prevent and end homelessness in York County.

Additional Information

If you are homeless and seeking housing solutions in York County, please reach out to 211. The York County Planning Commission does not offer any direct housing services, instead of providing funding to community organizations to provide housing services. If you are seeking more information about the Coalition or Pathways to Home process, please contact the Program Coordinator at 717-771-9870.