Continuum of care.

(1) The purpose of a continuum of care, as defined in s. 420.621, is to coordinate community efforts to prevent and end homelessness in its catchment area designated as provided in subsection (3) and to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in this chapter.

(2) Under the federal HEARTH Act of 2009, each continuum of care is required to designate a collaborative applicant that is responsible for submitting the continuum of care funding application for the designated catchment area to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The designated continuum of care collaborative applicant shall serve as the point of contact for the State Office on Homelessness, is accountable for representations made in the application, and, in carrying out responsibilities under this chapter, may be referred to as the continuum of care lead agency.

(3) Continuum of care catchment areas must be designated and revised as necessary by the State Office on Homelessness and must be consistent with the continuum of care catchment areas recognized by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purposes of awarding federal homeless assistance funding for continuum of care programs.

(4) The State Office on Homelessness shall recognize only one continuum of care lead agency for each designated catchment area. Such continuum of care lead agency must be consistent with the designated continuum of care collaborative applicant recognized by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in the awarding of federal funds to continuums of care.

(5) Each continuum of care shall create a continuum of care plan, the purpose of which is to implement an effective and efficient housing crisis response system to prevent and end homelessness in the continuum of care catchment area. A continuum of care plan must include all of the following components:

(a) Outreach to unsheltered individuals and families to link them with appropriate housing interventions.

(b) A coordinated entry system, compliant with the requirements of the federal HEARTH Act of 2009, which is designed to coordinate intake, utilize common assessment tools, prioritize households for housing interventions, and refer households to the appropriate housing intervention.

(c) Emergency shelter, designed to provide safe temporary shelter while the household is in the process of obtaining permanent housing.

(d) Supportive services, designed to maximize housing stability once the household is in permanent housing.

(e) Permanent supportive housing, designed to provide long-term affordable housing and support services to persons with disabilities who are moving out of homelessness.

(f) Rapid ReHousing, as specified in s. 420.6265.

(g) Permanent housing, including links to affordable housing, subsidized housing, long-term rental assistance, housing vouchers, and mainstream private sector housing.

(h) An ongoing planning mechanism to end homelessness for all subpopulations of persons experiencing homelessness.

(6) Continuums of care must promote participation by all interested individuals and organizations and may not exclude individuals and organizations on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or religion. Faith-based organizations, local governments, and persons who have experienced homelessness are encouraged to participate. To the extent possible, these individuals and organizations must be coordinated and integrated with other mainstream health, social services, and employment programs for which homeless populations may be eligible, including, but not limited to, Medicaid, the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, the Food Assistance Program, and services funded through the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the welfare-to-work grant program.