Article Ix. Interagency Commission on Homelessness.

The County has a goal to ensure that everyone has a home in the County, and that homelessness will be rare, brief, and non-recurring. In order to achieve this goal, the County will:

The County Council finds that ending and preventing homelessness require substantial coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector service providers and community organizations.

Montgomery County Continuum of Care is a group of governmental entities and community representatives that carries out the responsibilities of the Continuum of Care program established pursuant to the federal Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (the HEARTH Act).

The County Council intends that the Interagency Commission on Homelessness established under this Article be constituted and function in such a manner that it may serve as the governing board of Montgomery County Continuum of Care, and in serving this function comply with applicable federal regulations governing the Continuum of Care program.

reaching functional zero for an identified type of homelessness; and

having systems in place adequate to house all individuals entering homelessness during a specific time period.

prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness;

reduces barriers to accessing housing and other key services; and

is guided by the theories that:

The Commission has 25 members.

The Executive must appoint the following to serve as ex officio members:

The Executive must invite the following to serve as ex officio members:

The Executive must appoint 4 members who are representatives of government agencies.

The Executive must appoint 4 members who are representatives of homeless service organizations that:

The Executive must appoint 4 members who are representatives of private organizations that provide behavioral health, children and family services, healthcare, domestic violence services, aging and senior services, disability services, or veterans’ services.

The Executive must appoint:

The Executive must appoint 2 members of the general public who are residents of the County.

The term of each non-ex officio member is 3 years. If a member is appointed to fill a vacancy before a term expires, the successor serves the rest of the unexpired term.

Recommendations by the Commission.

Each member of the Commission is a voting member.

The Commission must elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.

The Commission must meet at least 4 times each year.

A majority of the members of the Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

A member serves without compensation. However, a member may request reimbursement for mileage and dependent care costs at rates established by the County.

The Commission may establish 1 or more committees to assist in carrying out any function of the Commission. Any committee action is not the action of the Commission and must not bind the Commission or its members. A committee may consult a person who is not a member of the Commission.

The Commission must establish a governance committee to ensure effective coordination of the Continuum of Care. The governance committee must:

promote a community-wide goal to end and prevent homelessness;

develop a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness and minimize the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless families and individuals;

review and monitor any program that is a component of the Continuum of Care and Housing First Initiative, including:

recommend to the Executive and Council any improvements to local policies to end and prevent homelessness;

educate the community about homelessness, best practices to end and prevent homelessness, resources needed to end and prevent homelessness, and long term savings that are achieved by providing permanent stable housing;

recommend and promote partnerships with any private organization, business, corporation, philanthropic organization or foundation, and any municipal, state, or federal government agency to improve the County’s ability to prevent and end homelessness; and

establish procedures for the effective coordination of the Continuum of Care.

provides data and trends regarding homelessness, including data from the Council of Government’s Point-in-Time survey;

identifies gaps in the Continuum of Care that prevent or impede the County’s ability to address needs identified through the review of data on homelessness;

makes recommendations for the capital and operating budget;

makes recommendations for any legislative or regulatory changes needed to implement the Continuum of Care strategic plan; and

reports on any educational or public outreach activities undertaken during the preceding year.