Homeless Programs

Click here to view the report on the 2011 Homeless Count.

The County Community Development Division provides infrastructure and facilitation to the Coordinating Council for Homeless Programs (CCHP).

CCHP is a consortium of individuals and organizations with the common purpose of planning a housing and services continuum for people who are homeless. CCHP is not a formal advisory council to Clackamas County although it does operate with County staff support. CCHP was originated to meet the Federal HUD requirement for Continuum of Care McKinney-Vento funds to flow into Clackamas County for people who are homeless.

The mission of the Council is to facilitate the development of a continuum of care (housing + services) that provides opportunities to significantly mitigate homelessness in Clackamas County, via:

• Full utilization of mainstream resources;
• Coordination of service delivery and housing systems;
• Systemic agreements and institutional targeting of populations at high risk of homelessness;
• Creative cultivation of new resources;
• Public awareness to foster a collective sense of responsibility.

The above mission, developed by CCHP, is based on a set of principles which will permeate its implementation. These principles are:

• Equity of access to housing and services;
• Choice and self-determination as consistently part of the process;
• Treating people with dignity and respect, regardless of their housing status;
• Culturally competent services;
• Non-judgmental approach to people and their problems throughout the housing and service systems.

Activities of the Coordinating Council for Homeless Programs are targeted to:

• Identify and advocate for the needs of people who are homeless in Clackamas County;
• Facilitate the development of a continuum of care including housing and services for people who are homeless in Clackamas County;
• Develop short and long term plans to mitigate homelessness in Clackamas County.
• Recommend funding priorities to HUD for new and renewal projects.

The Coordinating Council for Homeless Programs submits an annual report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) articulating the Council's planning efforts and other activities within Clackamas County which relate to homeless people. To get a copy of this report, contact the County Community Development Division at 503-655-8591.