TACIR hearing finds Continuums of Care provide coordination but face capacity, rural access and data gaps

A TACIR panel on the federal Continuum of Care (CoC) program and homelessness services told commissioners the CoC network is a valuable planning and coordination forum but is strained by limited resources, geographic gaps in access and data‑collection challenges, especially in rural Tennessee.

Panelists from nonprofit providers, local CoCs and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services described local practices, shelter capacity, data from homeless management information systems (HMIS) and state actions that support outreach and housing creation.

Why this matters

CoCs coordinate outreach, prioritize housing through coordinated entry and manage competitive federal HUD funding. Gaps in capacity or data, panelists said, can mean people experiencing homelessness miss services or face longer stays in emergency settings.

Panel highlights and numbers

- Scott Foster, executive director and founder of The Journey Home (Murfreesboro/Rutherford County), said CoCs are useful for planning and data gathering but can be cumbersome when bodies that meet do not align with operational service delivery.

- Erin Reed, executive director of the Knoxville‑Knox County Office of Housing Stability (TN‑502 CoC), said two federal requirements have helped: a mandate…