The Homeless Coalition of Jasper and Newton Counties

11/02/2026

The Community Resource Guide

Finding help can be difficult, especially during a crisis. One of the goals of the Joplin Homeless Coalition is to make information about local resources easier to access for everyone, whether they are seeking assistance themselves or helping someone else.

The Coalition's Community Resource Guide is a free online directory that brings together information from organizations throughout Jasper and Newton Counties. It includes resources related to housing, food, healthcare, mental health services, recovery programs, transportation, legal assistance, identification documents, employment, utilities, veterans' services, and many other community supports. The guide is searchable, mobile friendly, and can even be saved for offline use when internet access is limited.

The guide is intended to be a living resource that grows alongside our community. As organizations update their services or new resources become available, the Coalition works with community partners to keep the information as accurate and useful as possible.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 28: The Importance of Lived Experience

11/01/2026

Prioritization and Rank and Review

One of the responsibilities of a Continuum of Care is overseeing the local competition for federal homelessness funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Before applications are reviewed, the Coalition establishes local priorities and develops a transparent process for evaluating projects. This work is led by the Prioritization Committee, which reviews community needs, funding priorities, and local policies to ensure the process is fair and consistent.

Once applications are submitted, the Rank and Review Committee independently evaluates each project using the approved scoring criteria. Committee members review applications, develop a recommended Project Priority Listing, document their decisions, and consider any eligible appeals. Members are required to disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate to help maintain the integrity of the process.

While these committees work behind the scenes, their role is important. They help ensure that funding decisions are guided by community priorities, objective criteria, and federal requirements while supporting projects that strengthen the homeless response system throughout Jasper and Newton Counties.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 27: The Community Resource Guide

10/31/2026

Public Education and Outreach

One of the recommendations in the Community Plan to Address Homelessness was to increase public understanding of homelessness and the community's response. The Public Education and Outreach Workgroup was created to help meet that goal by providing accurate information, encouraging community engagement, and helping residents better understand the resources available in Jasper and Newton Counties.

The workgroup supports educational initiatives, develops informational materials, promotes volunteer opportunities, and helps connect community members with Coalition activities. It also works to ensure that conversations about homelessness are informed by local data, current best practices, and the experiences of community partners and people with lived experience.

This educational series is one example of that effort. By sharing factual information about homelessness and the work taking place throughout our community, the Coalition hopes to build greater understanding, encourage constructive dialogue, and help more people become informed participants in strengthening our local system of care.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 26: Prioritization and Rank and Review

10/30/2026

The Monitoring Workgroup

Many housing and homelessness programs receive state or federal funding. Those funds come with specific requirements designed to ensure that programs operate responsibly, maintain accurate records, and provide services consistent with program regulations.

The Monitoring Workgroup helps review participating programs for compliance with applicable requirements and identifies opportunities for improvement. Monitoring is not intended to be punitive. Instead, it is a process that helps programs maintain high standards, receive technical assistance when needed, and strengthen the quality of services provided throughout the community.

Strong monitoring benefits everyone. It supports accountability to funders, encourages consistency among programs, and helps ensure that public resources are used effectively to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 25: Public Education and Outreach

10/30/2026

News - Talk - Weather

10/29/2026

The Data Workgroup

Good information helps communities make better decisions. The Data Workgroup focuses on collecting, reviewing, and interpreting information that helps the Coalition understand local trends and evaluate the effectiveness of the homeless response system.

The group reviews information from the Homeless Management Information System, Coordinated Entry, the Point in Time Count, Housing Inventory Count, and HUD System Performance Measures. Members also work to improve data quality, identify service gaps, and develop reports that help community leaders make informed decisions.

The Coalition's public local data page makes key information about homelessness in Jasper and Newton Counties easier to understand by presenting important measures in a clear and accessible format. By making this information available, the Coalition hopes to encourage transparency, support informed discussions, and help residents better understand both the challenges facing our community and the progress being made over time.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 24: The Monitoring Workgroup

10/28/2026

10/28/2026

The System of Care Workgroup

The System of Care Workgroup focuses on how the homeless response system functions as a whole. Rather than concentrating on a single organization or program, the group looks at how people move through the system and where opportunities exist to improve coordination between partners.

Members discuss topics such as referrals, access to services, barriers to housing, community needs, and opportunities for new partnerships. The workgroup also reviews recommendations from the Community Plan and helps identify projects that can strengthen the overall response to homelessness throughout Jasper and Newton Counties.

Improving a system is an ongoing process. As our community changes, new challenges and opportunities emerge. The System of Care Workgroup provides a place for organizations and community members to work together, share ideas, and recommend practical improvements that can benefit the entire community.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 23: The Data Workgroup

10/27/2026

Why the Homeless Coalition Uses Workgroups

No single committee can effectively address every aspect of homelessness. The issues facing our community are broad and include housing, outreach, data, funding, public education, program oversight, and system coordination. For that reason, the Joplin Homeless Coalition has established several workgroups and committees, each with a specific purpose and area of focus.

Many of these groups were created or expanded following recommendations in the Community Plan to Address Homelessness. Their role is to study issues in greater detail, develop recommendations, complete projects, and report their work back to the Coalition. This allows more people to participate while ensuring that important topics receive the time and attention they deserve.

One of the Coalition's strengths is that participation is open to a wide variety of community members. Service providers, local governments, healthcare professionals, faith communities, businesses, people with lived experience, and interested residents all have valuable perspectives to contribute. No previous experience with homelessness is required to become involved.

NEXT IN THE SERIES Part 22: The System of Care Workgroup