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Lancaster County – Whole Home Repairs Program

Lancaster County received funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to administer the COVID-19 ARPA Whole-Home Repairs…
Board Meeting Information

Please note that until further notice, the public meetings of the Lancaster County Land Bank, Lancaster County Housing Authority and…
Emergency Rental Assistance Program – Closure

The last day for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be September 30, 2024.
Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition, in partnership with Berks and York County coalitions awarded Youth Homelessness System Improvement Grant

In collaboration with the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness and the York County Coalition on Homelessness, the Lancaster County Homelessness…

CODE BLUE ALERTS

Code Blue Alert due to dangerous temperatures below 20°F

EFFECTIVE Saturday, 2/7 3AM - Monday, 2/9 11AM

Due to the extreme cold weather, local service providers are extending their hours so individuals experiencing homelessness can stay warm. The following daytime locations are available:

  • Teen Haven – 205 South Queen Street, Lancaster (Saturday and Sunday, 8am-5pm)
  • Moravian Center of Lancaster – 227 North Queen Street, Lancaster (Saturday only, 10am-5pm)
  • Lancaster County Food Hub - 812 North Queen Street, Lancaster (Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 7am-5pm)
  • Blueprints Drop-In Center – 317 North Queen Street, Lancaster (Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm)
  • Columbia Dream Center – 360 Locust Street, Columbia (Saturday and Sunday, 8am-5pm)

The overnight shelters continue to operate during Code Blue and will expand capacity, as viable. If you are seeking shelter, seek services at:

  • Salvation Army Winter Shelter – 131 S. Queen Street, Lancaster
  • Clay Street Emergency Shelter – 20 E. Clay Street, Lancaster
  • Tenfold Winter Shelter – 308 E. King Street, Lancaster
  • Elizabethtown Emergency Shelter - 105 E. Washington Street, Elizabethtown
  • Columbia Dream Center - 360 Locust Street, Columbia
  • Water Street Mission – 210 South Prince Street, Lancaster (continue to operate for current participants)

Shelters are at capacity or near capacity and are on a first come, first serve basis. Please also consider other alternatives to remain safe!

If you are interested in supporting and connecting with organizations providing resources in your community, please visit PA211

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If you are experiencing homelessness...

or about to become homeless call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211, to find options near you.

If you can’t call 211, dial 1-855-567-5341 to be connected to the service to find options near you.

Visit PA 211 to be connected with resources

About the Homelessness Coalition

The Coalition unites 75+ organizations—including health and human service providers, private sector partners, and faith-based organizations—with a shared vision: ensuring everyone in Lancaster County has a safe and stable place to call home. Through service coordination, advocacy, public education, and community organizing, we work collaboratively to eradicate homelessness and build lasting housing solutions throughout Lancaster City and County.

Our Role in Action for Homelessness

LCHC is the lead agency for PA-510 -responsible for the oversight of all Lancaster County Continuum of Care (CoC) policies, procedures, and project funding decisions. LCHC is the collaborative applicant for the CoC Program Competition, the Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) lead, and the Coordinated Entry lead agency for PA-510.

What is a Continuum of Care?

A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and service funding for homeless families and individuals. Composed of representatives of organizations including but not limited to nonprofit homeless service providers, victim service providers, faith-based organizations, organizations that serve homeless and formerly homeless veterans, and formerly homeless persons to the extent these groups are represented within the geographic area and are available to participate.

The CoC works to coordinate community-based processes related to the experience of homelessness and collaboratively to build a system of housing and services to address the needs of those at-risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. The CoC provides data and information to establish local priorities for system planning and evaluations of system-wide outcomes with the goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The staff working within the Office for the Coalition and supporting the COC and LCHC has the primary focus of bringing together the network of partners to deliver a consistent level of quality services to clients in Lancaster County. If you would like to be a part of the CoC, please email [email protected].

Programs Supported by the LCHC

Through collaboration and compassion, the Coalition manages and supports partners through our network a wide range of programs designed to meet immediate needs while addressing long-term solutions. These initiatives ensure that everyone in Lancaster County has the opportunity for safe, stable housing, and the support needed to thrive.

  • Street Outreach
  • Coordinated Entry
  • Emergency Shelter
  • Day Center/Day Shelter
  • Crisis Housing
  • Pathways
  • Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
  • Homelessness Prevention and Diversion
  • Special Projects Defined by HUD