Councils and Committees
The Pinellas Continuum of Care (CoC) is driven by the collaborative efforts of various councils and committees that play a vital role in furthering the CoC’s mission to end homelessness in Pinellas County. These groups are the backbone of the CoC’s work, providing recommendations to the Board of Directors and ensuring that the CoC’s strategies truly meet the needs of our community.
These councils and committees - which include providers, funders, individuals with lived expertise, elected officials, and community members - are instrumental in developing innovative approaches, fostering partnerships, and addressing the complex challenges faced by the most vulnerable members of our community. Whether it's through data analysis, advocacy, resource allocation, direct service coordination, or policy recommendations, the work done in these committees is critical to the success of the CoC and Pinellas County.
Councils
Funders’ Council
Responsibilities
The Funders’ Council makes recommendations to the Pinellas CoC Board of Directors on funding of homeless/at-risk programs and services, either in response to CoC requests or on issues raised by Funders’ Council members.
Make recommendations on strategically aligning funding resources available for homeless-at-risk programs and services based on HLA-approved priorities, to make the most effective use of scarce resources.
Annually review and make recommendations to the CoC on the best use of funds from specific resources and activities that enable the Pinellas system of service to meet and exceed applicable performance standards as approved by the CoC. Such resources may include the HUD Continuum of Care, Sate of Florida homeless funding and/or local public or private sources.
Coordinate funding planning and recommendations with other community-wide funding and planning groups.
Research and recommend potential common activities, requirements, and contract language across local funders that will advance a more coordinated system of services. (An example: current multiple local funders require that any service provider receiving funds for homeless services will enter consumer data into TBIN, the Pinellas Homeless Management Information System.
Officers:
Chair: Vacant
Vice Chair: Arrow Woodard, Housing Manager | Community Development, City of Largo
Providers’ Council
Responsibilities
The CoC’s Providers’ Council is responsible for advising the CoC Board of Directors on critical policies impacting the Pinellas homeless crisis response system. Providers’ Council members include representatives from homeless/at-risk service providers and other organizations that are actively involved in services that affect homeless/at-risk target groups in Pinellas County.
Make recommendations on homeless/at-risk services system issues, concerns and needed actions, either in response to Board requests or on issues raised by Providers Council members.
Address the needs of all target groups, such as individuals, families, Veterans, unaccompanied youth, etc., for permanent housing.
Annually review and make recommendations on activities and priorities that enable the Pinellas system of services to meet and exceed HUD/Continuum of Care and other performance standards.
Coordinate planning and recommendations with other community-wide planning groups.
Officers:
Chair: Kevin Marrone, President and & CEO, Boley Centers
Vice Chair and Service Expert: April Lott, President and & CEO, Directions for Living
Service Expert: Ashley Lowery, President & CEO, Homeless Empowerment Program
Service Expert: Michael Jalazo, Executive Director, People Empowering and Restoring Communities (PERC)
Committees
Advocacy Committee
The CoC’s Advocacy Committee drives the CoC’s advocacy work, using data and research to advocate to policy makers and funders to achieve the legislative and funding goals of the HLA and CoC.
Meetings:
Dates: 1st Monday, quarterly
Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual
Officers:
Chair: Kathleen Beckman, Chair of the Pinellas Continuum of Care
Vice Chair: Ann Marie Winter, Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas
Data and System Performance Committee
The CoC’s coordinates Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data, reviews system performance measures and data, informs best practices, and recommends funding priorites to the CoC Board of Directors.
Meetings:
Dates: 3rd Thursday, Monthly
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am
Location: Allendale United Methodist Church, Room 109 and Virtual
3803 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg
Lived Experience Advisory Committee
The Pinellas CoC's Lived Experience Advisory Committee (LEAC) is working to improve programs, services, and resources available to individuals and families experiencing and at-risk of homelessness in Pinellas County; advocate for positive change; and reduce the stigma towards homelessness and housing programs.
Meetings:
Dates: 2nd Thursday, Monthly
Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: Barbara S. Ponce Public Library, Kitchen Side Room
7770 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park
Officers:
Co-Chair: Michael Chretien
Co-Chair: Gary Small
Secretary: Kat McMillan
Point in Time (PIT) Planning Committee
The Pinellas Point in Time (PIT) Planning Committee is responsible for planning the annual Pinellas PIT Count and Survey. PIT is a national event with a noble mission: to identify and better serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Pinellas County. The information collected during PIT plays a pivotal role in informing policy makers at the local, state, and national levels. This data is sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), giving them a real-time snapshot of Pinellas residents experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. This invaluable information helps secure millions of dollars in funding for vital resources, including affordable housing; inform policy at the local, state, and national levels; guide local resource allocation and planning; and drive advocacy efforts.
Meetings:
Dates: 1st Tuesday, Monthly, August - February
Time: 9:30am - 11:00am
Location: In person location and Virtual
Officers:
Chair: Dominique Randall, Homeless Services Manager of Pinellas County Human Services