What is COHART?

COHART is a project of the Central Oregon Homelessness Alliance (COHA).  Our goal is to provide coordinated and collaborative solutions for our unhoused neighbors in the most responsible and timely manner as possible.

 

As service providers work with people who are homeless, or recently have become housed, they often become aware of special needs that cannot be met by their agency.  COHART is able to draw upon funds and pledges for services from organizations and individuals to meet many of these needs. COHART is one place where an agency case manager can make such a request, rather than having to call around to many possible resources in order to solve a particular problem.  

 

How does it work?

For example, someone, who is living in their trailer, needs tires for their car.  A case manager that works with this person calls the COHART phone number and makes a request for the needed tires.  COHART has someone monitoring requests as they come in during business hours.  The monitor determines if the request meets the requirements, is something that is possible to accomplish and then is assigned to one of the COHART team members to take the lead.  The solution may be covered with available funds or one or more of the organizations that have made a pledge will be contacted to meet this need.  

 

COHART keeps an ongoing spreadsheet regarding all requests whether rejected or accepted and accomplished.  COHART will require and keep all receipts of items or services purchased.  There is every attempt to respond in a timely manner.  

 

The request can only come from an agency or organization who will be working directly with the person who has the need. COHART will not take a request directly from the person with the need.  This is to assure that services provided are coordinated though the Coordinated Entry System.  Other restrictions which may cause a request to be denied include: the request is beyond our financial ability to meet the need, or the request creates an imbalance distributing  help fairly throughout the homeless population and the agencies that serve them.  Any funds that are disbursed will be given either to the agency or to the vendor directly.

 

How Can You Help?

• Make a financial donation to COHART 

• Donate your services 

• Encourage your faith community or organization to make a commitment to COHART for funds or services

• Become a volunteer for COHART

 

If you are interested in knowing more about how you or your organization can support COHART, contact us here. We will arrange to meet with you and/or your organization to explain COHART’s mission and operations.