The purpose of the Trenton/Mercer COC is to expand programs to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as to improve the services given to assist such individuals in shifting into transitional and permanent housing, with the goal of long-term stability. Trenton/Mercer CoC strives to:
- Identify the gaps and needs of Mercer County's homeless households and assist in the process of prioritizing local and state resources to address these needs.
- Coordinates citywide applications for homeless housing and service funds, including, but not limited to, the Trenton/Mercer County annual application for HUD McKinney-Vento funding.
- Advocate for additional federal funding to meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of suffering homelessness in Mercer County and elsewhere.
The Trenton/Mercer Continuum of Care's objective is to provide a leadership role in local planning and coordination to prevent and eradicate homelessness in Mercer County, while effectively administering the HUD Continuum of Care program.
The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is a federal program designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by providing funding for homeless individuals, youth, and families under four components:
- Permanent housing
- Supportive services
- Rapid re-housing
- Homelessness prevention