Muskegon County Homeless Continuum of Care Network
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

I. BACKGROUND AND INTENT

This Agreement for participation in the development, implementation and management of programs to end homelessness in Muskegon County is entered into between member agencies of the Muskegon County Homeless Continuum of Care Network and the Community Coordinating Council.

Whereas, the Continuum has formally adopted a Continuum of Care Plan which sets forth several goals and objectives toward ending homelessness in the County; and,

Whereas, the sole purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to encourage cooperation between each member of the Continuum and the Community Coordinating Council, and to further detail the separate and distinct roles and responsibilities of each party with regards to the operation and implementation of projects to end homelessness in our community; and,

Whereas, each member of the Continuum understands that certain activities must be undertaken in order to meet federal, state and local requirements for funding; and

Whereas, each member of the Continuum agrees to:

  • Participate in the HMIS/Service Point system so that data can be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority in the manner in which they prescribe
  • Participate in each Point in Time Survey
  • Advocate on behalf of the homeless and participate in the Continuum's Homeless Awareness activities and in the Homeless Prevention activities
  • Actively participate in the Continuum's committees. The member understands that participation in the Continuum is one of the review criteria establishing priorities for funding
  • Provide accurate data to the Continuum in a timely fashion as determined by the Continuum. Accuracy and timeliness of data is understood to be of critical importance to funding agencies such that failure to provide the data in such a fashion could result in unpleasant consequences
  • Act as a liaison with the community at large and with their respective agencies to provide information about the Continuum's activities
  • Participate in the development of the evaluation and selection criteria to determine priorities for the Continuum
  • Participate in funding opportunities following state and federal criteria
  • Work with other agencies in the community to prevent a duplication of effort and services to serve the needs of the homeless
  • Work with the Continuum and the Community Coordinating Council to ensure that there are no gaps in service to the homeless or at risk of homeless population in our community; and

Whereas, the Muskegon County Homeless Continuum of Care Network is an affiliate collaborative of the Community Coordinating Council, the two entities understand the roles of each other in relationship to funding and other matters. The MCHCCN is obligated by certain federal and state statutes to review and prioritize projects. The Community Coordinating Council will review the work of the MCHCCN and support its decisions.

II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Whereas, all parties under this Memorandum of Understanding jointly recognize that individuals with very low-incomes, and representing the specified target populations, are diverse in terms of their strengths, motivation, goals, backgrounds, needs and disabilities;

  • those individuals are members of the community with all the rights, privileges, opportunities accorded to the greater community;
  • those individuals have a right to meaningful choices in matters affecting their lives; and
  • input of the individuals shall be sought in designing and implementing services.

III. TERM. This Agreement will begin July 1, 2005, and will continue until terminated in accordance with Section VII below.

IV. TERMINATION. The partners may terminate their participation with this Agreement for any reason by giving the other parties ninety (90) days prior written notice.

V. CONFIDENTIALITY. The partners agree that by virtue of entering into this Agreement, they will have access to certain confidential information regarding each other's operations related to the Continuum of Care's activities. The partners agree that they will not at any time disclose confidential information and/or material without the consent of that party unless such disclosure is authorized by this Agreement or required by law. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information shall be considered a material breach of this agreement. Where appropriate, releases will be secured before confidential information on an Individual is exchanged. Confidential information will be handled with the utmost discretion and judgment.

VI. NONDISCRIMINATION. There shall be no discrimination of any Individual on account of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, handicap, ancestry or national origin in the operation of the apartments.

VII. SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality and enforceability of the remainder of the Agreement.

VIII. AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be amended only with the mutual written consent of the partners.

IX. CERTIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO SIGN AGREEMENT. The persons signing this Agreement on behalf of the partners hereto certify by said signatures that they are duly authorized to sign this Agreement. 

COMMUNITY COORDINATING COUNCIL








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