Our Story

ECHO West Texas (Ending Community Homelessness Organization) is a nonprofit organization originally established in June 2021. In late 2022, it began full development through a collaboration with local housing and service providers who sought more coordinated and action-oriented solutions to address homelessness in the Lubbock area. This partnership was driven by the need for a centralized data system that would improve communication between providers, streamline service navigation, and help individuals experiencing homelessness access more efficient and effective support. It also reflected a growing recognition that Lubbock required policies tailored to its unique challenges and policies that could better reflect and respond to local conditions and community needs.

 

On February 5, 2025, HUD formally approved Lubbock's request to separate from the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC), which previously included 213 other counties under a single, centralized system. This pivotal change allows Lubbock to govern, manage, and operate its own local CoC Program, enabling the development of tailored policies, procedures, and core functions that directly address the unique needs of Lubbock’s city and county.

 

HUD also approved ECHO West Texas to serve as the Lead Agency for the newly independent Lubbock CoC. Operating as a cross-functional team, the CoC Board and Membership (comprising over 100 local agencies and individuals) works in collaboration with the City of Lubbock, and ECHO West Texas to collectively govern, manage, and implement the operations of the CoC Program.

 

ECHO fulfills the standard roles and responsibilities outlined by HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, including the management, planning, operation, and reporting of the Homeless Response System (HRS). These responsibilities include the following core functions:

 

• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) - A local database used to collect client-level information on housing and supportive services provided to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. This system facilitates real-time collaboration among service providers and helps ensure that individuals are efficiently matched with the most appropriate services and resources. The system is accessible to any organization, state agency, church, or community group committed to serving community members in Lubbock and surrounding regions.

 

• Coordinated Entry (CE) - A streamlined, community-wide process designed to efficiently and equitably connect individuals and families to appropriate housing and support services. CE ensures consistent access, prioritization based on vulnerability and need, and helps prevent anyone from falling through the cracks in the system.

 

• Collaborative Grant Application – An annual HUD CoC funding competition that supports multiple agencies working together within a coordinated system, using data-driven strategies to allocate resources efficiently and reduce homelessness across the community.

 

ECHO West Texas also develops and advances initiatives designed to strengthen and support the success of Lubbock’s Homeless Response System (HRS). These initiatives include:

 

The Coordinated Care Project is a $2.6 million collaborative investment project, in partnership with the City of Lubbock, focused on building rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements that directly enhance the delivery and coordination of services. 100% of the funds have been allocated to four local agency hubs to advance the goal of community-wide coordinated care. The designated service coordination sites are: Lubbock Impact, Kingdom Co-Op, Serve Lubbock, and Grace Campus. The range of services include: basic necessities, medical care, mental health resources, education, career development, homeless coordination, and housing.

 

 

commUNITY day is a monthly initiative designed to provide comprehensive, coordinated support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at high risk of becoming homeless. By bringing local agencies and resources together in one central location, the program ensures streamlined access to essential services in a welcoming and empowering environment that promotes long-term stability. In addition to direct service delivery, participating agencies meet to share updates, resources, and collaborative strategies to address homelessness more effectively. This unified approach strengthens interagency coordination, fosters deeper partnerships between providers and the broader community, and minimizes duplication of services. Most importantly, CommUNITY Day aims to reduce the repeated cycling of individuals through fragmented programs by offering a more connected, wraparound service model that prioritizes meaningful client engagement and continuity of care.