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Heading Home Anoka Housing Collaborative (HHAHC){collapse}

  1. What is the Heading Home Anoka Housing Collaborative (HHAHC)?{HHAHC1}


    Heading Home Anoka Housing Collaborative (HHAHC) is the community’s local planning group working to end homelessness which is a network of county staff, non-profit organizations, community residents, and businesses that plan programs with the primary goal of alleviating homelessness in all areas of Anoka County.

  2. What is HHAHC's purpose?{HHAHC2}


    HHAHC's purpose is to develop a long-term strategic plan and manage a year-round planning effort that addresses the identified needs of homeless individuals and households; the availability and accessibility of existing housing and services; and the opportunities for linkages with mainstream housing and services resources and to prepare an application for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) competitive grants.

  3. What are the resources used for?{HHAHC3}


    These resources provide housing and supportive services for people who are homeless. The funds are made available through a national competition announced each year in HUD’s Notice of Funding Availability (known as the NOFA). Projects demonstrate broad community participation and identify resources and gaps in the community’s approach to providing outreach, emergency shelter, and transitional and permanent housing, as well as related services for addressing homelessness. Projects also include action steps to end homelessness, prevent a return to homelessness, and establish local funding priorities.

Upcoming Opportunities

Anoka Community Connect - September 19, 2019

Prevention and Outreach Committee{collapse}

  1. What is the Prevention and Outreach Committee?{PO1}


    The Prevention and Outreach Committee meets monthly to organize client outreach, outreach to landlords, and other community partners.  The group also serves as the Anoka County Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) workgroup.

  2. When does the Prevention and Outreach Committee meet?{PO2}


    Meetings are held monthly at St. Timothy's Parish Center the first Wednesday of each month from 1pm - 3pm.

Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care{collapse}

  1. What is the Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care (SMAC)?{smac1}


    The Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care (SMAC) is composed of five counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington who participate in regional planning to address the needs and resources of the homeless population within the identified counties. SMAC assists in the development of the regional Continuum of Care plan and works collaboratively with each local homeless planning group.

  2. What is the mission of SMAC?{smac2}


    The mission of SMAC is to coordinate the response of the suburban metropolitan counties to homelessness and maximize access to funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento Continuum of Care competition.

  3. What is SMAC responsible for?{smac3}


    SMAC is responsible to lead the following efforts and report the results to HUD on an annual basis:

    1. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
    2. Point-In-Time (PIT) Count
    3. Housing Inventory Chart (HIC)
    4. Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR)
    5. Coordinated Entry (CE)

  4. Why is SMAC important?{smac4}


    SMAC is important because:

    1. It can assess capacity and identify gaps. CoC planning provides communities with an opportunity to step back, critically assess capacity, and develop solutions to move homeless people toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency.
    2. It is proactive rather than reactive. CoC planning helps communities look comprehensively at needs, to anticipate policy or demographic changes, and develop the capacity to respond to these changes.
    3. It creates common goals for which to advocate. CoC planning helps communities develop a common vision and a set of common goals.
    4. The CoC creates coordination and linkages with others. Continuum of Care planning helps providers identify ways of coordinating and linking resources to avoid duplication and facilitate movement towards permanent housing and self-sufficiency.