Family MattersFamily Preservation and Family Reunification

Dan McDougall-TreacyValley Cities Counseling & Consultation

We’ll be coveringSpectrum of housing supportsFUPCollaboration for successProgram

Services that promote housing stability

Low Level Services

Services are provided off site, accessed by the tenant on their own

Moderate Services

Services offered on or off site, usually more intensive in early stages and taper off as client becomes more stable.

Intensive Services

Most services are provided on-site, with intensive case management. Staff is on site or on-call 24/7.

Low Need High Need

3(Deeply Affordable) Supportive Housing Affordable Housing

Very short-term assistance provided to address an immediate housing crisis for those

homeless or at imminent risk.

Emergency/short-term Financial Assistance (homelessness prevention)

Hotel-Motel Voucher

Emergency Shelter

Emergency Housing Assistance

4

Limited duration – usually 30 days to 2 years

Intended to help people transition from a housing crisis to permanent stable housing

Project-Based Transitional Housing

Project-Based Supportive Transitional Housing

Transitional Housing Assistance

5

Ongoing assistance to cover difference between FMR and 30% of tenant’s income

Best administered by partners, such as housing authority + service organization

• Permanent Independent Housing

• Permanent Supported Housing

Permanent Housing Assistance

6

People who are homeless or at-risk for homelessness, and

face persistent obstacles to maintaining housing, such as:

Supportive Housing works for:

7

Mental Illness

Substance Abuse

Chronic Health Issues

Other Problems

Services are designed to meet the needs of the family or individual

Intensity varies as need varies Services move from housing stabilization

to community buildingOpportunities are provided for vocational,

education, employment

Flexible Services

HUD Rental Subsidies

Public HousingShelter + CareHousing Choice Vouchers

◦Section 8◦Family Unification Program◦Other special population set-asides

Other HUD Voucher programs (HOME, HOPWA)

HUD’s Family Unification Program

• Prevent the separation of families by increasing available housing for child welfare involved families

• Ease the transition to adulthood for youth aging out of foster care

• Facilitate and expedite access to housing and supportive services through agency collaboration

Family Unification Program

Joint certification◦ Public Housing Authority - Family income is below established

limits, other regulations

◦ Public Child Welfare Agency/Child Protective Services – Certifies that housing is primary factor in separation of children from family or prevention of reunification

Families experiencing multiple barriers including◦ Mental health/physical health◦ Chemical dependency◦ Development disabilities◦ Domestic violence◦ Child abuse◦ Foster care placement and CPS involvement

Benefits of FUP

• For PHAs: increase the ability to serve clients with more Section 8 vouchers

• For CWAs: expand access to housing solutions for families and caseworkers

• For families: affordable housing, stability, reunification, exit from the child welfare system

• For the community: the preferred and most cost effective alternative to foster care

DSHS Responsibilities

Case management services for youth ages 18-21

Housing search (including low-poverty census tracts)

Staffing commitment and internal trainingCoordination with Public Housing Authority

and Community Partner Agencies

PHA Responsibilities

Match waiting lists with FUP-eligible families and youth

Remove jurisdictional barriers to mobilityPre-move and post-move counselingCoordination with DSHS, Children’s

Administration and Community Partner Agencies

Community Partner Agencies Responsibilities

Include housing and related support services in the family’s / youth’s existing service plan

Provide ongoing tailored services to assist family or youth in obtaining and utilizing ongoing mainstream services

Minimum one-year follow upCollect and report relevant data for

program evaluation and planning

More Info on FUP

Program Descriptionhttp://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/family.cfm

Regulationshttp://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/24cfr982_00.html

Most Recent NOFAhttp://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/gensec.pdf

FUP in Washington State

2010 Statewide FUP MOU

◦Seven public Housing Authorities

◦Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Children’s Administration

◦Community Partner Agencies

FUP in Washington State

Purpose of MOUA stronger and more competitive FUP

application for any Washington State PHA applying for FUP vouchers

Ensure adequate supports for families through DSHS and partner agreements

Continue to build partnership foundations among public agencies and private service providers across the state

Addressing Family Homelessness in King County, WA

High-level Planning◦10 Year Plan◦Family Homelessness Plan

Political Will◦Build and maintain

Addressing Family Homelessness in King County, WA

Multiple Funders◦Coordinate Resources◦Align with the plans

Multiple Stakeholders◦Representation◦Collaboration

Addressing Family Homelessness in King County, WA

Public & Private FundingState and local dedicated fundsCounty and municipalUnited WayFoundationsIntermediary – Washington Families Fund

Valley Cities Families First Program

Bringing it all togetherFUP Vouchers

◦King County Housing AuthorityServices Funding

◦Washington Families Fund◦Desigbnated County CSD funds

DSHS ◦Division of Child and Family Services

Valley Cities Families First Program

Streamlined referral and standardized assessment

Tailored Services◦Intensive case management with individualized

support◦Coordination with DCFS requirements◦Children’s services◦Mental health and chemical dependency◦Employment and Self-sufficiency

Dan McDougall-Treacy, MSWDirector, Homeless Family Servicesdmcdougalltreacy@valleycities.org