What is COHART?
COHART is a project of the Central Oregon Homelessness Alliance (COHA). 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. This provides one place where agency case managers can make such request, rather than having to call around to many possible resources in order to solve a particular problem. COHART has commitments from various organizations such as churches, community service organizations, and individuals to be a resource for meeting the needs of our unhoused neighbors.
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 request as they come in during business hours. The monitor determines if the request meets the requirements, is something that is a 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. Two different churches may agree to pay for half of the cost of the tires. COHART keeps an ongoing spreadsheet regarding all request, whether rejected or accepted and accomplished. There is every attempt to respond in a timely manner.
How can you help?
Someone from the COHART team will meet with you, either representing an organization or as an individual to determine how you might like to participate. We can be flexible depending on the size of your organization, the type of services you might be able to provide and how we might best fit into your current system.
For example, a church may already have a way that they work with the homeless. Their participation could have COHART fold into what they are already doing; having COHART take on the request that tends to come through the church office or committee. They may also become aware of needs of a homeless person and then become a requester for help.
Another church or organization, may have an interest in helping homeless people but do not know where to start. COHART is a way to become involved in a way that is efficient and in collaboration with others. The contribution may be one of providing a list of people who are willing to provide certain kinds of help such as transportation, auto mechanic services, towing services, child care, food donations, clothing donations etc.
There is always a need for financial assistance as well. A church or organization can make a pledge to provide a certain dollar amount over a year’s time. When a financial need occurs, the church or organization will be contacted on a rotating basis, for a particular need. The disbursement of funds would not need to be made until there is a known need.
COHART is also very much interested in having individuals be a part of our work. This can be involved in all sorts of volunteer work or be a provider of services or funds.