The Missouri State Continua of Care Map
A Continuum of Care is a community-based, long-range planning process that addresses the needs of homeless persons in order to help them reach maximum self-sufficiency. The Continuum of Care is developed through collaboration with a broad cross section of the community and based on a thorough assessment of homeless needs and resources. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends the Continuum of Care model as a comprehensive and strategic approach to addressing homelessness. Participation in a ‘homeless management information system’, or the HMIS, has is a requirement to receive HUD funding.
HUD defines the Continuum of Care as:
“[A] community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness.”
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Trainer Guide on Continuum of Care Planning and Implementation
This map indicates the geographical areas of Missouri that have formed Continua of Care. The smaller areas are the more populous counties of the state, and are referred to as “entitlement areas” because they receive funding for housing and homelessness directly from HUD. The remainder of the state, in yellow, is the Balance of State (BoS) Continuum of Care (CoC), which is comprised of the remaining 101 non-entitlement counties. The BoS, Joplin, Springfield, St. Joseph, St. Louis City, and St. Louis County CoCs all use the same implementation of HMIS.
Inside the HMIS implementation, each CoC may set their own rules for using the database. St. Louis City and St. Louis County share the same HMIS Policies and Procedures manual.
To visit web sites associated with the various Continua of Care in Missouri, please see the list of links below.
Balance of State Continuum of Care
Greene-Webster-Christian Counties Continuum of Care
Jasper-Newton Counties Continuum of Care
Kansas City Region Continuum of Care
St. Charles County Continuum of Care
St. Louis City Continuum of Care
St. Louis County Continuum of Care
