In 2021, we introduced Sacred Heart Mission’s new innovative service approach called the Continuum of Care (CoC). The CoC is a tailored, flexible support approach that will help us drive better, faster housing outcomes for people who come through our Engagement Hubs, Sacred Heart Central and Women’s House.
The CoC approach supports people experiencing the full spectrum of homelessness, providing early intervention to prevent first-time homelessness, support to sustain housing, as well as coordinated wrap around services for people who have experienced prolonged and repeated episodes of homelessness. This approach incorporates partnerships with specialist health and human services, and community housing providers.
The CoC approach includes a Priority Allocation Group (PAG) which consists of key staff from programs across the Mission. The PAG meets weekly to match clients with housing and support packages according to their level of need. Access to housing is provided through our partnerships with a number of community housing providers.
By matching clients with a support packaged provided through the CoC approach and a property that will be suitable for them, we are able to support people to sustain their housing and end their homelessness permanently.
The PAG also tracks vacancies in our supported residential programs – Bethlehem Community, the Rooming House Plus Program (RHPP) and Sacred Heart Community, so clients can be referred to these programs when vacancies arise and if supported accommodation matches their needs.
How does the Continuum of Care work?
Find out in the following example of *Joe how the Continuum of Care supports clients to access and maintain long-term housing and connect with the community.
Stay up to date with our monthly newsletter, Heartbeat