According to HUD, "The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, States, and local governments to quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness."

Each year, programs seeking CoC-funds to run homeless-dedicated programs must submit an application to the Collaborative Applicant (the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless) to be evaluated and sent as part of the regional application to HUD. The Long Island CoC must objectively rank CoC-funded projects based on their performance in the last year or their project plan for new programs. The Ranking Committee determines the scorecard for all projects, as well applications for new project funds. Projects either fall into Tier I, which HUD typically views as the top priority for funding, or Tier II, which typically places them at risk for funding cuts from HUD. The CoC may also decide to reallocate funds from lower performing projects to create new project or expand higher performing projects.

The ranking scorecard for renewal projects is made available prior to the funding round. The local application for funding is released after HUD makes that year's NOFO available.