Funding for homeless assistance received by DCF must be coordinated through the Continuums of Care (CoCs) per, Florida Statute; the CoCs subcontract with other community partners to fund the direct services provided to the homeless population. Partnering with each CoC gives local control of projects that are tailored to needs of each community.
The State Office on Homelessness enters into multi-year unified contracts with each CoC for eligible grants. These Unified Homelessness Grants combine all applicable funds (Emergency Solutions Grant, Homelessness Prevention Grant, Challenge Grant, and Staffing Grant) into a single contract for each CoC.
ESG-CV funds are used to provide rental assistance and case management, support emergency shelters, and conduct street outreach programs to connect unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness with local housing and other essential services. DCF coordinates funding for homeless assistance through a statewide network of lead agencies, called Continuums of Care, who subcontract with other community partners to fund the direct services provided to the homeless population.