About Us

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, which is authorized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is designed to promote a communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

The Continuum of Care includes individuals and organizations across Forsyth County who are committed to ending and preventing homelessness. The vision of the CoC is to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring; and that everyone has housing choices and prompt access to a variety of housing resources and supports that meets their needs.

The City of Winston-Salem serves as the Collaborative Applicant (CA). The CA is the organization designated by the CoC to submit the annual CoC application for federal funding; and apply for CoC planning funds.

Pursuant  to  Federal Guidelines WSFC CoC is responsible for:

  • Developing a coordinated assessment system

  • Planning and Coordination including outreach, engagement, assessment, shelter, housing and supportive services for people who experience homelessness

  • Annual Point in Time (PIT) count

  • Gaps Analysis

  • Homeless Management Information System

  • Preparing the CoC Application

A team of staff from the Continuum of Care at the Built for Zero Learning Session. The NC-500 CoC is one of more than 100 communities that are part of the Built for Zero movement to end homelessness.

Current Director of Street Outreach Services for the United Way of Forsyth County, John Mack, explains why what the Continuum of Care does matters.

Our mission is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The purpose of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Continuum of Care is to create a collaborative, inclusive, community based process and approach to end homelessness.