ANNUAL REPORT - dcf.state.fl.us with children as the fastest growing homeless population. ... 2015...

COUNCILON

HOMELESSNESS

ANNUALREPORT20

15

Council on Homelessness

Department of Children and Families

1317 Winewood Boulevard

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700

850-922-4691

www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/homelessness

Table of Contents4 Executive Summary

6 Homelessness in Florida

9 A Snapshot of Homelessness in Florida – 2015 Point in Time Count

12 AddressingHomelessnessinFlorida

16 ChallengeGrant2014

19 RecommendationsSupportingContinuums of Care

21 Housing

24 HousingRecommendations

27 Department of Education—Homeless EducationProgram

30 Appendices

30 Appendix I—Number of Homeless People

per County

35 Appendix II—Homeless Students Reported

in Florida Public Schools by Florida County

2009-2014

37 AppendixIII—OverviewofFunding,Officeon

Homelessness

38 AppendixIV—ContinuumofCarePlanning

andFunding

41 ContinuumofCareLeadAgencyContacts

43 Council on Homelessness

44 Glossary

Submitted to:

GovernorRickScott

SenatePresidentAndyGardiner

HouseSpeakerSteveCrisafulli


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Florida’s Council On Homelessness

1317 Winewood Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700

Rick Scott Governor

Mike Carroll Secretary

Shannon Nazworth Chairperson

June 30, 2015

The Honorable Rick Scott Governor PL05 The Capitol Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001

Dear Governor Scott,

On behalf of the Florida Council on Homelessness, its members and our multiple state agency partners, I submit the “Council on Homelessness 2015 Report” for your consideration.

In accordance with state law, the Council has prepared recommendations for reducing homelessness in our state. The report also summarizes the extent of homelessness and characteristics of the men, women and children who do not have their own home.

I want to thank the members of the Council for taking on this responsibility and working diligently to study the issue and identify targeted solutions. Their efforts are making a difference in helping reduce the number of Floridians without a place to live.

The 2015 Report reflects a significant reduction in homelessness in Florida. This is due in large part to Florida’s improving economy. It is also a result of community partnerships between Continuums of Care, local commissions, nonprofits, faith organizations, local government and the private sector. There has been an especially positive reduction in the number of homeless veterans in our state. Several Florida Mayors and communities have made the commitment to end veteran homelessness by the end of this year; and they are making great progress in achieving this goal.

However, unfortunately, there are still thousands of Floridians without a home. But, Florida’s successes to date show that homelessness is not an intractable issue; there are ways to significantly reduce homelessness. Florida must continue to work diligently to reduce the number of persons without a place to live.

The recommendations in this report are designed to build upon and expand the success Florida has achieved in recent years. The Council encourages several potential solutions, from providing flexible funding to supporting local initiatives to helping households with extremely low incomes. And the Council places an emphasis on the need to continue increasing the supply of affordable housing for our homeless neighbors. The lack of an affordable place to live is the number one cause of homelessness.

There is no doubt that effective private and public collaboration at the State and local levels combined with strong community participation is a key to solving homelessness, as is breaking down the barriers to talking about it. I congratulate this Council on their work to do just that, and we appreciate your continued support of these efforts.

Sincerely,

Shannon Nazworth Chairperson

Executive Summary In2001,Floridacreatedaninter-agencyCouncilonHomelessness;implementingwhatisnowanationalbestpractice.ThepurposeoftheCouncilistodeveloppolicyandmakerecommendationsonhowtoreducehomelessnessthroughoutthestate.

Pursuant to section 420.622(9), Florida Statutes, the Council on Homelessness submits its annual report totheGovernorandFloridaLegislaturesummarizingrecommendedactionstoreducehomelessness,plusdataconcerningthosepersonscurrentlyexperiencinghomelessnessinFlorida.

In2014,theCouncilmadethefollowingrecommendationsforreducinghomelessness:

• Fundaffordablehousing,• Support local homeless Continuums of Care,• Provideflexiblefundingtohelpcommunitiesaddresshomelessness,• ConductapilottogatherFlorida-specificdata,and• SupportfundingforeducatingFloridiansabouthowtoreducethenumberofhomelessneighbors

in their communities.

TheGovernor,theLegislatureandstateagenciesacteduponseveraloftheserecommendations.

• Fundaffordablehousing–Asin2013–2014,2015sawamajorityofthestate’saffordablehousingtrustfunddollarsallocatedtotheproductionofaffordablehousing.TheCouncilrecommendsthatthiswillcontinuein2016,withanincreasedemphasisonthehousingneedsofExtremelyLow-Income and Special Needs households.

• Support local homeless Continuums of Care – $200,000 was appropriated to Department ofEconomicOpportunityfortrainingandtechnicalassistanceforlocalContinuumsofCare.TheCouncilrecommendsfundingtosupportContinuumsofCarebeincreasedto$3,000,000recurring.

• Provideflexiblefundingtohelpcommunitiesaddresshomelessness–in2015theLegislatureappropriated$3,800,000inrecurringfundingfromtheAffordableHousingTrustFundtofundChallengeGrants,flexiblegrantsdesignedtosupportlocaleffortstoreducehomelessness.TheCouncil recommends that the state will continue this much needed support.

• ConductapilottogatherFloridaspecific-data–In2013,theCouncilrecommendedtheprioritizationofastatepilottoconductaFlorida-specificanalysisofthebenefitsofprovidingpermanentsupportivehousingtohighutilizersofcrisisservices.FloridaHousingFinanceCorporationinitiatedthispilotprojectin2014;selectingthreepilotsites.Thesesupportivehousingdevelopmentsaremovingfromdevelopmentandconstructiontoimplementation.TheCouncilrecommendsongoingsupportofthispilotanditsnextphasesofcost/benefitsdatacollection and analysis. This effort is essential to continued sound public policy development in addressingtheneedsofchronicallyhomelesspersons.

Floridaismakingprogressinreducingthenumberofpersonsexperiencinghomelessness.Thisispartiallydue to improved economic conditions. It is also due to local efforts, supported by the state. However, there isstillworktobedonetomakeFloridaaleadingstateinaddressingtheneedsofourhomelesspopulation.Ofparticularneedthroughoutthestate,andnotedclearlyinthisreport,isaccesstoaffordablehousing.


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OnonedayandonenightinJanuary2015,localcommunitiescounted35,964personswhowerelivingonthestreetorinanemergencyshelter.Thisdatacoversall28ContinuumsofCareacrossthestate.

Nationally,theU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentreportshomelessnessamongstfamilieswithchildrenasthefastestgrowinghomelesspopulation.ThisisalsotrueforFlorida.Forschoolyear2013-2014,Florida’spublicschoolsidentified71,446studentsashomeless.Thisincludesfamiliesthathavelosttheirhousingandarestayingwithfamilyandfriends.

ThefirstsectionofthisreportisdedicatedtodefininganddescribingtheextentandnatureofhomelessnessinFlorida.This,alongwiththePointinTimedatasubmittedbyour28ContinuumsofCare,helps better assess needs, and coordinate efforts and best practices to reduce and end homelessness.

Overview of Recommendations

The Council on Homelessness submits its recommendations for state action to reduce the number of Floridianswhoarewithoutahome.TheserecommendationsrelatetosupportingandbuildingstrongContinuumsofCare;increasingandcreatingaffordableandsupportivehousing;continuingthestatepilotforhighcost/highneedshomelesspersons.

These inter-related recommendations are:

1. Support for local homeless Continuums of Care.2. Supportstatefundingforcommunityeffortstoreducehomelessness.3. TheStateofFloridashouldembracebestpractices;sharingthematthestatelevelandincentivizingtheiradoptionatthelocallevel.

4. IncreaseAccesstoAffordableHousingthroughFourCriticalActions:• UsingallAffordableHousingTrustFunddollarsforaffordablehousing• SupportRapidRehousingprograms• RevisetheCommunityContributionTaxCreditProgramtoincreaseproductionofrental

housingforhomelessandspecialneedshouseholds• Incentivizedevelopmentpartnerstosupportbestpracticesinadministeringaffordable

housingresourcestowardhousingpersonswiththegreatestneed5. CreatemoreaffordableandsupportivehousingforpersonswithExtremelyLowIncomes(ELI),

especially homeless households and persons with special needs.6. ContinuetheGovernor’sandLegislature’sSupportofFloridaHousing’sPermanentSupportiveHousingPilotforHighNeeds/HighCostChronicallyHomelessPersonsasittransitionsfromthedevelopment to implementation phase.

2015 Annual Report

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Homelessness in FloridaTheDefinitionofHomelessnessTherearefourbroadcategoriesofhomelessnesscontainedintheFederalHomelessEmergencyAssistanceandRapidTransitiontoHousing(HEARTH) Act:

1. Thosepersonslivinginaplacenotmeantforhumanhabitation,inemergencyshelter,intransitionalhousing,orareexitinganinstitutionwheretheytemporarily resided. People will be consideredhomelessiftheyareexitinganinstitution where they resided for up to 90 days and were in shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately priortoenteringthatinstitution.

2. Thosepersonswhoarelosingtheirprimarynighttimeresidence,whichmayinclude a motel or hotel or a doubled upsituation,within14daysandlackresourcesorsupportnetworkstoremaininhousing.

3. Families with children or unaccompanied youthwhoareunstablyhousedandlikelytocontinueinthatstate.Thiscategoryapplies to families with children or unaccompanied youth who have not had aleaseorownershipinterestinahousingunit in the last 60 or more days, have had two or more moves in the last 60 days, andwhoarelikelytocontinuetobeunstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment.

4. Peoplewhoarefleeingorattemptingtofleedomesticviolence,havenootherresidence,andlacktheresourcesorsupportnetworkstoobtainotherpermanenthousing..

ThisdefinitionappliestoallprogramsfundedthroughtheContinuumofCareHomelessAssistanceGrants,administeredbytheU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment.ItisalsothedefinitionusedintheannualPointInTimeCountofpeopleexperiencinghomelessness.

The public education system uses a different definition.Eachyear,schooldistrictsreporttothe Florida Department of Education (FDOE) thenumberofstudentsidentifiedashomelessaccordingtothisdefinitionduringtheschoolyear.Thisdefinitiondefinesapersonashomelessiftheylackafixed,regular,andadequatenighttimeresidence,includingthosewhoare:

1. Sharingthehousingofothersduetolossofhousing,economichardship,orsimilarreason;

2. Livinginmotels,hotels,trailerparks,andcampinggrounds,duetolackofadequatealternativehousing;

3. Livinginemergencyortransitionalshelters;

4. Abandonedinhospitalsorawaitingfostercareplacement;

5. Livinginapublicorprivateplacenotdesignedfororusedasaregularsleepingaccommodationforhumanbeingstolive;

6. Livingincars,parks,abandonedbuildings,busortrainstations;substandardhousingorsimilarsetting;and

7. Migratorychildrenlivinginanyoftheabove circumstances.

The Causes of HomelessnessHomelessnessisasignificantissuethataffectsthousandsofFloridiansintimately;andhasawideand varied impact on communities across the state. There are a host of issues that may lead tohomelessnessincludingjobloss,familycrisis,disabilities,andstruggleswithmentalhealthandsubstanceabuse.Toadequatelyunderstandhomelessnessrequiresaddressingandconsideringissues that include affordable and supportive housing,poverty,theneedsoffamiliesandchildren,aswellasmanyotherfactors.Whilethe‘publicface’ofhomelessnessisoftenthoseexperiencinglong-


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term chronic homelessness, the reality is that this problemspansdemographicsandpopulationsinour communities.

It is fundamentally true that the primary cause ofhomelessisaneedforavailable,adequate,andaffordablehousing.However,therearemanyotherfactors that lead to homelessness:

• Lackofemployment(includingemployabilityskills)

• Financialstruggleorcrisis• Medical issues• Issues related to substance abuse and

mental health• Family crisis and problems• Lackofasafetynetandstructureofcare

for those in crisis• Relocation• Immigration• Natural disaster

Asoureconomycontinuestogrowandreboundfrom the recent recession, with unemployment ratesdroppingandopportunitiesrising,manyofourcitizensfacingandexperiencinghomelessnessremainchallengedwithbarrierstostableandadequatehousing.Thegoodnewsisthatthereareprovenmethodsandinterventionsthatgivepeoplethe resources and tools to move out of the cycle of homelessness:

• Buildingandsupportingcollaborativepartnershipsamonglocalandstategovernmentsandcommunitystakeholdersandproviders;

• Supportingcoordinatedassessmentwithin our continuums to match the keyresourcesavailablewithourmostvulnerablepopulations;

• Increasingtheamountofpermanentsupportivehousingforthoseexperiencingchronichomelessness;

• Supportingrapidrehousingprograms;creatingplanstoprioritizeandmoveresourcestowardrapidrehousinginterventionsatthestateandlocallevel;

• Buildingactiveengagementwithallcommunity partners to move toward HousingFirstpracticesinour28continuums.

• Accessingeducationandjobtrainingprograms,includingpostsecondaryeducation

Faces of HomelessnessThere are many misperceptions and unhelpful stereotypes associated with homelessness. For instance, many people believe that people experiencinghomelessnessaremainlymalewithdisablingconditions,substanceabuseproblems,andfundamentally are to blame for their homelessness. It is true that many suffer in a condition of chronichomelessness(long-termandrepeatedhomelessnesswithadisablingcondition),andtheyrepresentsomeofthemostvulnerableamongourcommunities’homelesspopulations.Butthesearenottoblamefortheirhomelessness;itisusuallyaresultoftheirdisablingcondition.And this population accounts for only between 10 - 15% of homeless people around the state. In reality, homelessness touches men, women, children, families,andyouthinourcommunities.Thegreatmajorityofthesepeoplehavefacedtrauma,crisis,and hardship that are outside of their control. They areinneedof,andareactivelyseeking,careandservices to assist them. It is important to consider thesenumbersinunderstandingwhoistoucheddirectly by homelessness in our communities:

• Nationally and in Florida, over 30% of thoseexperiencinghomelessnessarefemale;

• Roughly1/3ofhomelesspeopleareinfamilieswithchildren;

2015 Annual Report

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• Nationally nearly one-third of all homeless peoplearechildrenandyouth;Floridaschooldistrictsidentified71,446childrenand youth who were homeless or unstably housed;

• In Florida schools and nationally, 11% and 8%, respectively of all homeless people are unaccompanied children and youth (one who is not in physical custody of a parent orguardian);

• Nationally, more than one in ten homeless adults across the nation was a Veteran (11% of 442,723 homeless adults).

The Cost of HomelessnessHomelessness affects local economies. It creates ahigherdemandforpublicservicesincludinghealth care, law enforcement, substance abuse and mentalhealthprograms,andaccesstoeducationand social services. Homelessness – especially chronichomelessness-presentsahighcosttoourcommunities.Peoplewhoareexperiencingchronichomelessness are:

• Morelikelytoneedaccesstothemostcostlyhealthcareservices;theirhousingsituation renders them more vulnerable toongoingconditionsthatcausethemtocontinuallycyclethroughhospitalsandtreatment facilities.

• Morelikelytospendtimeinjailorprison,oftenasaresultofregulationsagainstloitering,sleepingincarsorpublicplaces,andbeggingorpanhandling.Recentstudieshave revealed that the homeless cycle in theprisonandjailsystemsisacostof$14,480 per person, per year.

• MorelikelytocycleinandoutofEmergencyShelter,whichisofsignificantcost to our communities and not as affordableinthelongrunasprovidingrapidrehousinginterventionsandpermanentsupportivehousingsolutions.

A recent study conducted by the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness revealed that “the averageannualcosttobehomelessandcyclinginandoutofincarceration,emergencyrooms

andinpatienthospitalizationswas$31,065perperson per year.” The study found that the cost of providingpermanentsupportivehousingtoeventhoseinalong-termchronichomelesssituationwould be one-third of that cost per year, and would save the community millions of dollars over a multi-year period.

ItisevidentthatequippingourContinuumsofCarewiththeresourcesandfundingtheyneedtoprovidestablehousingandprovensolutionsandinterventions for the homeless individuals they servewillpresentagreatreturnoninvestmentforour state and communities.


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A Snapshot of Homelessness in Florida – 2015 Point in Time CountTheU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentrequiresthatthehomelessContinuums of Care conduct an annual count of homelesspersonswhoareshelteredinemergencyshelters,transitionalhousingprogramsandsafehavensonasinglenightduringthelasttendaysofJanuary.Further,HUDrequiresthatthecontinuumsconduct a count of unsheltered homeless people every other year, on odd numbered years. For 2015,thestate’s28homelessContinuumsofCarecarried out their sheltered and unsheltered counts asrequired.

Theobjectiveistoproduceanunduplicatedcount,or relatively reliable estimate of the number of homeless people in the community. The federally approved methods for the count include a report ofallhomelesspersonsidentified,plusastatisticallyvalidsamplingtoarriveatanunduplicatedestimate.The unsheltered count methods typically are street counts,streetcountswithinterviews,orscreeningandinterviewingpersonsatsupportiveserviceagencieswherethehomelessseekhelp.

Conductingthepoint-in-timecountsischallengingandrequiresmanyvolunteers.TheContinuumsofCareacrossourstatecontinuetomakeremarkablesuccessincompilingtheone-daycounts.Evenwiththese efforts, the results from year to year can beinfluencedbymanyfactors,manyofwhichareentirely outside the control of the Continuums of Care.

For 2015, the 28 continuums reported the total numberofpersonsidentifiedashomelesspersonstobe35,964;comparedto41,335in2014.The2015countreflectsadecreaseof5,371homeless

persons, a reduction of nearly 13%. In 24 of the counties, the homeless population decreased from2014.In8counties,thecountreflectsa10-20% decrease compared to 2014. In 10 counties, thecountreflectsadecreaseofmorethan20%compared to 2014.

The Point In Time Count provides a snapshot of the personsexperiencinghomelessnessonagivennight.Itdoesnotreflecthomelessnessthroughout

“The Pasco Point-in-Time count this year wasamuchmorethoroughactivity.Wehave been able to reduce homelessness in Pasco by several new initiatives and programs.Weutilizedastatefundedrapidre-housingprogramandutilizedEmergencySolutionsGrantfundingtocreateseveralrapidre-housingprograms.In 2014, the Supportive Services for VeteranFamilies(SSVF)programswasintroduced and many of our veterans received rental assistance. We have made a concerted effort to improve datagatheringandassessmentthroughHMISandeffectivelyutilizefiveresourcecenters to serve as a point of contact forthehomelessandat-riskfamiliesandindividuals.”—EugeneWilliams,ExecutiveDirector, Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County

2015 Annual Report

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Monroe615382

Broward2,6242,323

IndianRiver812434

Martin504157

Okeechobee158573

St. Lucie1,096543

Charlotte548519

Collier389849

Glades9624

Hendry138450

Palm Beach1,4212991

Lee638

1,313

Hillsborough1,9313,233

De Soto333402

Manatee308

1,854 Sarasota943924

Pasco1,0452,071

Pinellas3,3873,038

Brevard1,1781,690

Seminole344

2,034

Hardee124125

Highlands483461

Polk464

3,767

Orange1,3966,736

Osceola372

4,941

Citrus180312

Hernando218443

Lake265

3,229Marion787

2,373Sumter

68174

Levy13

157

Alachua636809

BakerN/C112

Bradford0

194

Gilchrist0

14

UnionN/C130

Putnam26

808

Volusia1,2222,261

Flagler105522

St. Johns1,161803

Clay147

1,110

Duval1,5662,111

Nassau140428

Columbia538549

DixieN/C28

Hamilton114234

Lafayette68

207

Madison1

534 Suwannee350298

TaylorN/C123

Calhoun6

60

Gulf0

20

Holmes0

102

Jackson3

113

Washington0

138Bay

3081,184

Franklin23

279

Gadsden9

699

Je�erson4

<11

Leon808702

Liberty2

52

WakullaN/C56

Okaloosa592533

Santa Rosa130

1,776

Walton91

313

Escambia884

2,054

Miami-Dade4,1523,252

Department of Education Student Totals (Appendix 2, p35) 71,446

Point in Time Count Totals (Appendix I, p30) 35,964

2015 Point in Time Count2014 Homeless Students Count


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theyear.Butitdoesprovideagoodbarometerforhowcommunitiesaredoingovertime.

Inreportingtheircountsresults,theContinuumsofCareidentifiedanumberoffactorsthatimpactedthe totals, both up and down. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• Successfulprogramsimplementedinthecountyandincreasedfundingtoprovidehousing:increasedfundingforrapidre-housingprograms,implementationofEmergencySolutionsGrant(ESG)fundinginnewagencies,moreeffectiveandconcerted effort in Point in Time (PIT) count,andbetterutilizationofHomelessManagementInformationSystem(HMIS)data, and increased federal resources dedicatedtoendinghomelessnessamongveterans–SupportServicesforVeteran Families (SSVF) and Veterans AdministrationSupportiveHousing(VASH).

• Stricter enforcement of trespass ordinances made the street homeless less visibleandhardertofindandcount;

• Changesweremadeinthemethodusedforthecount,includingbetterrecruitmentofvolunteers;

• Feweremergencysheltersthatserveandtargetthehomelesswereidentifiedthaninprioryears;

• Changeinfederalinstructionslimitedshelter counts to only those facilities identifiedintheplanningarea’shomelesshousinginventory;

• Countresultswereadjustedtobetterensure that only those who are literally homelessarereported,resultingindecreasesparticularlybyeliminatingschool-agechildrenandotherhomelesswhoareinjail;

• Thelackofserviceprovidersinruralcountiesmadeithardertoidentify,find,andcountthehomeless;

• Some Continuums of Care had fewer volunteerstocarryoutthecount;

• Morepermanentsupportivehousingbedswereavailablein2015reducingthenumberofchronicallyhomelesspersons;

• Weather conditions tend to have significantimpactonthecountfromyearto year.

Effortstoimprovedataquality,includingdevelopingconsistentandbettermethodologiesforconductingthePointinTimeCountsareneeded.WhilethedecreasereflectedinFlorida’sPointinTime Count for this year can be attributed to the efforts of our continuums to address the needs of the homeless as well as the increase in certain federalfundingstreams(especiallytothefocustohouse the Veteran homeless population) into our communities–cautionisneededinassessingthesecounts. Year-to-year comparisons at the community levelcanbemisleading.

2015 Annual Report

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Addressing Homelessness in FloridaBuildingandSupportingStrongContinuums of CareAContinuumofCareisaregionalorlocalplanningbodythatcoordinateshousingandservicesfundingforhomelessfamiliesandindividuals.Eachcontinuum has a local homeless assistance plan, providingaframeworkforacomprehensiveandseamlessarrayhousingandservicesprogramstoaddressthevariousneedsofthoseexperiencingoratriskofhomelessness.IntheStateofFloridathereare28continuumofcareplanningareaswithadesignatedleadagencycoordinatingandimplementingtheirplanwithintheircommunities(seeAppendix–LeadAgenciesandMapofCoCacross Florida).

Over the last six years Florida has witnessed remarkablechange.Therehasbeenanewcollaborativemovementamonghumanserviceproviders,non-profits,governments,educationsystems, the faith-based sector, and community organizationsandactivists-comingtogethertosupportnewideasforreducinghomelessness.Atthe forefront of this movement are concentrated efforts to:

• Improve collaboration with public and private entities

• Improvedatagatheringandutilizecoordinated assessment

• Braidmultiplefundingsourcesacrossthespectrum of need in the continuum

ImprovingandBuildingCollaborationFloridaisexperiencinganeweraininnovativeprogramsandservicestoassistthoserecoveringfromtheeconomicrecessionandtargetingfamiliesandindividualswhoarelookingforawayoutof homelessness. Communities committed to

permanentchange,leadinghomelessandextremelylowincomehouseholdsbacktosustainability,havemadegreatstridesforward.Attheforefrontofmany of these new and innovative collaborations are our communities Continuums of Care.

Throughcapacitybuilding,collaboration,andtechnology,continuumsworktirelesslytobringallserviceprogramstogetherandunitethem,whilefocusingthelimitedavailablecommunityresourceson our most vulnerable populations.

Thiscanonlybeaccomplishedwhengroupsofconcernedcitizensandagenciescometogetherandbegintheprocessofcreatinghonestlong-range,comprehensiveplanstopreventandendhomelessness in their communities. Why? Because whenallresidentsofacommunityaregivenafairopportunitytosucceedweallbenefit.

Examplesoftheseagenciescaninclude:

• Stateagencies• Federalagencies• Law enforcement• CityandcountyGovernment• Hospitals and clinics• Faith-basedorganizations• Private Foundations• Localnon-profitorganizations

Astheseagenciesandorganizationsareengaged,itisthejoboftheContinuumofCaretoorganizethem in a way that accomplishes its primary purposes:

1. Promote communitywide commitment tothegoalofendinghomelessnessbyengagingothersincomprehensivestrategicplanning

2. Conduct the annual or biennial Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.


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3. Implementastandardizedintakeandassessmentbyallcommunitypartners;screenclientsforeligibleservicesthroughoutthecontinuum.

4. Coordinate homeless services with other community systems of care.

5. Providefundingforeffortsbynonprofitprovidersandstateandlocalgovernmentstoquicklyrehousehomelessindividualsandfamilieswhileminimizingthetraumaand dislocation caused by homelessness. Continuums of Care oversee the Annual ContinuumofCareGrantFundingApplication from U.S. Department of HousingandUrbanDevelopment,aswellasmultiplestatefundingopportunities.

6. Promoteaccessto,andeffectiveutilizationof,mainstreamprograms.

7. Optimizeself-sufficiencyamongpeopleexperiencinghomelessness.

8. Overseethecontinuum’sHomelessManagementInformationSystem(HMIS).

Coordinated Assessment and PrioritizationCoordinatedAssessmentisdefinedtomean,“Acentralizedorcoordinatedprocessdesignedtocoordinateprogramparticipantintake,assessment,andprovisionofreferrals.Acentralizedorcoordinated assessment system covers the geographicarea,iseasilyaccessedbyindividualsandfamiliesseekinghousingorservices,iswelladvertised, and includes a comprehensive and standardizedassessmenttool.”

A core component of Coordinated Assessment provides public information on service access which is important in the efforts to end homelessness. ThroughCoordinatedAssessment,notonlydopeopleknowwheretogoforservices,itmatcheshomelesspersonswithneededassistance;andprioritizesandtargetsresources.

Coordinated Assessment is typically documented in HMIS,therebyenablingprogramstoreviewcurrent

and prior assessments, as well as to evaluate programeffectiveness.Enteringallassessmentdatain HMIS provides more consistent and accurate informationonwhatkindofassistancehomelessindividuals and families need.

Challenges,risks,andissuesthatContinuumsofCarefaceinincorporatingagoodmodelinthecontinuumincludeclosingthe‘sidedoors’,agreeingonanassessmenttoolandtrustingoutcomesenteredbyotherprograms.Theassessmenttoolprovidesaprocedurefordeterminingwhichapplicantsareeligibleandappropriateforthevarietyofhousingandsupportservicesavailableinthecommunityaswellasothereligibilityfactors.

WestPalmBeach/PalmBeachCountyCoCIndividuals and families in need of homeless prevention or homeless assistance access informationandservicesthroughtheSenatorPhilip D. Lewis Center Homeless Resource Center (HRC),whichservesastheCoC’sCentralPointofAccess.AllindividualsseekingassistancearescreenedattheHRCbyaNavigatororbytheHomelessOutreachTeams(HOT)duringoff-siteoutreach.TheNavigatorsfirstcompleteaVulnerabilityIndex–ServicePrioritizationDecisionAssistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) or FVI-SPDAT over the phone;basedonthosescores,appointmentsaresetforafullSPDAT(ServicePrioritizationAssistanceTool) at the HRC.

Individuals are evaluated on a variety of criterion, including:rentalhistory;criminalhistory;domesticviolence;mentalhealthchallenges;disablingconditions;languagebarriers;educationalattainment;employmentstatus;andlengthofhomelessness.ThisinformationisgatheredduringthecompletionoftheSDPATandhousingrecommendations are made based on the SPDAT

2015 Annual Report

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OnNovember11,2014,Veteran’sDay,aspartofanationalgoal

toendVeteranhomelessnessby2015,theTampaHillsborough

Homeless Initiative (THHI), in collaboration with the City of Tampa

andHillsboroughCounty,launchedOperation:REVEILLE-Tampa/

HillsboroughCounty.

Operation:REVEILLEprovidedupto12monthsofhousingandservices

for70Veteransregardlessoftheirdischargestatus;with52being

housedonVeteran’sDay.Eachhomewaspre-furnishedandstocked

with food and household supplies. Over 90% of the Veterans that

participatedinOperation:REVEILLEwashomeless.Theremaining10%

were low-income home-owners that were in need of home repairs.

Operation:REVEILLEwasinitiallydevelopedinSt.LouisinJuly2014

and replicated in Tampa in November 2014. With only two months of

planning,Operation:REVEILLEbroughttogetherover350volunteers

and50vendors.Operation:REVEILLEwasalsoabletoleveragefunds,

in-kindservices,andproductsfromprivatecorporations,public

agencies,non-profitandfaith-basedorganizationstoprovideimmediate

permanent supportive

housingwithwrap-

aroundcasemanagement

services,birthcertificates,

identifications,

employment, health care,

dental, food, household

supplies and connections

tobenefitssuchassocial

security, VA and food

stamp.

Not only is this process

easy replicable in other locales, but it can also assist with homeless

youth, ex-offenders and chronically homeless persons.

Photos by Siva Beharry.

OperationREVEILLE

Operation: REVEILLE provided up to 12 months ofhousingandservicesfor70 Veterans


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score. The scores are recorded and as beds become available, placement is offered to the individual orfamilywiththehighestSPDATscore.CoCPartnersthatreceiveFederalCoCandESGfundsoranylocalfunds(asrequiredbythefunder)mustparticipate in the Coordinated Assessment process andtrackdataintheHomelessManagementInformation System (HMIS).

BraidingofMultipleFundingSourcesacross the Spectrum of Need in the ContinuumRunningaContinuumofCareandfulfillingalloftheaccompanyingmandates,movingforwardwithnewinitiatives,andworkingtowardsthegoaloffunctionalzerorequirescreativity,tenacity,andtheability to braid multiple local, state, and federal fundingsources.

Itisnotuncommonforasingleagencytohavemorethantwentygovernmentalgrantsinadditiontotheprivatefundingtheyreceive.Whyaresomanygrantsnecessaryandhowcantheyworktogether?

The annual Point in Time count provides a broad trendlineonwhatkindofprogressacommunityismakinginitseffortstoreducehomelessness.Measuringandmonitoringinformsthecommunityandfundersontheeffectivenessofexistingprograms.TheHMISdatabaseistherepositoryofthis information and enables analysis to measure howaContinuumofCareisdoingasawhole.Coordinatingthesemultipleaspectsrequiresthousandsofvolunteerhoursandbraidingtogethermultiplepiecesoffederal,stateandlocalgrantstofund the professional staff needed. These efforts

allowcommunitiestoknowwhoishomelessandwhattypeofinterventionstheyaremostlikelytoneed in order to resolve their homelessness.

Allofthesepiecesarebraidedtogethertoaddress Veteran and chronic homelessness in our community.

Continuum of care of Northeast FloridaHomeless Sub-Population

2015 Point in Time Count = 1,853 Persons

Continuum of care of Northeast FloridaFunding Sources Utilized to

Meet Staffing Needs

CoCPlanningGrant(FED)

Universal LinkageGrant

(FED)

StaffingGrant

(STATE)

EmergencySolutions

Grant(ESG)(Local)

SSVF/VAGrant(FED)

HMISGrant(FED)

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Challenge Grant 2014In2014,theLegislatureappropriated$3,800,000forChallengeGrants.Inaccordancewithsection420.622,FloridaStatutes,thesecompetitivegrantsareavailabletoleadagenciesthroughouttheStateofFlorida.Thegrantscanbeusedtofundanyofthehousing,orserviceneedsincludedinthelocalhomeless assistance Continuum of Care plan. The leadagencymayallocatethegranttoprograms,services,orhousingprovidersthatimplementthelocal plan.

TheOfficeonHomelessnesswasabletofundfifteen(15)oftheleadagenciesthroughoutthestate,withawardsrangingfrom$87,000to$300,000.Belowarefour(4)oftheleadagenciesthatreceivedaChallengeGrantawardandtheprojectsthatarebeingimplementedineachcommunity.

BigBendHomelessCoalitionTheBigBendHomelessCoalitionlocatedinTallahassee,FloridawillbeusingtheirChallengeGrantfundsforseveraldifferentprojects.Thefollowingdescriptionshighlightthemainprojectsthegrantwillfund:

• CriticalfinancialassistancewithmealsandstaffduringthemoveandtransitionoftheTallahassee –Leon County

• Shelter into the new Comprehensive EmergencyServicesCenter.

• RestructuringofBigBendHomelessCoalition’sHOPECommunityMen’sdorm–formerlyoperatingastransitionalhousingforsinglemen–intoemergencyhousingforfamilieswithdependentchildren.

• Support the Capital City Youth Services Drop-In Center for a Street Outreach ProgramforHomelessYouth.

ThisprogramservesclientsinLeon,Franklin,Gadsden,Liberty,Madison,Taylor,Jefferson,andWakullaCounties.

EmergencyServicesandHomelessCoalition of Northeast FloridaTomovetheneedleintherightdirection,communitiesmustfindthefundingforpromisinginitiatives. In an environment that is resistant to changeandoftenhasrigidrulesonhow,when,andonwhomfundscanbeexpended,thisisadifficulttask.TheChallengeGrant,offeredcompetitivelythroughtheFloridaDepartmentofChildrenandFamilies, Provided the community the opportunity topilottwotypesofprogramsthathaveprovensuccessful elsewhere.

Oneofthepilotprogramsisadiversionprogramforfamilies.Diversionisidentifyingandprovidingtargetedhousingcasemanagementforfamiliesthatareseekingtoentershelterbuthavenotyetspentanighthomeless.Thegoalofthisinterventionistopreventthefamilyfrombecominghomeless.Thispilotallowsustogatherdataonthescopeoftheissue;thecomfortlevelexistingagencieshaveinprovidingtherequiredlighttouchcasemanagement,andabaselineoftheimmediateandlongtermeffectiveness.Adifferentfundingsourcewill be used to provide third party analysis of the programandwhatittellsusabouttheinflowrateof families into the homeless system and the cost thatwouldbeassociatedwithsignificantlyreducingtheinflow.

ThisprogramservesclientsinDuval,Clay,andNassau Counties.


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Zero: 2016Zero:2016formallylaunchedinJanuaryof2015,withtheparticipatingcommunitiespledgingtowalktheirstreetsblockbyblockinordertosurveyeachoftheirhomelessneighborsduringthenational2015HomelessPoint-in-TimeCount(PIT).Communitieswillusethisinformationtodevelopby-namefilesforeachpersonexperiencinghomelessnessontheirstreets—astrategydesignedtohelpcommunitiesconnectpeopletoavailablesubsidiesandappropriatehousingoptionsasquicklyaspossible.

The communities have committed to functional Zero Veteran homelessness by December 31, 2015 and chronic homelessness by December 31, 2016. The six Florida communities are:

• BigBendCoC• Jacksonville/Duval/Clay/NassauCountiesCoC• Miami/DadeCountyCoC• FtLauderdale/BrowardCountyCoC• FtMyers/CapeCoral/LeeCountyCoC• WestPalmBeach/PalmBeachCountyCoC

InLeeCountyforexample,betweenJanuaryandApril2015,the local Continuum of Care (CoC) placed 100 individuals experiencinghomelessnessintopermanenthousing,whichbreaksdown as follows:

• 22 Chronically Homeless Not-Veterans• 39 Chronically Homeless Veterans• 39 Homeless Veterans (Non-Chronic)

L.RobynAndrewsofEmergencyServices&HomelessCoalitionofNortheastFloridahighlightsthemeasurestakenintheircommunity:

“Ourcommunitypartnersandstakeholdersarecommittedtoreachingthisgoalandhavefocusedcollaborativeeffortsandresources, which includes the implementation of a coordinated intake&assessmentsystemforourtri-countyareaandtheutilizationofabynamemasterlistofallofthehomelessVeteransand chronic individuals on our streets in order to ensure that we aresuccessfulinreachingfunctionalzeroinourcommunity.”

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EscaRosa Coalition on the HomelessThe EscaRosa Coalition has four (4) provider partnersthattheyworkwithtoexecutetheChallengeGrant.Oneproviderhasanemergencyshelter that is used to provide temporary shelter tohomelessfamilies;theproviderwillthenassistwiththeclients’firstmonth’srentanddepositstomove them out of the shelter environment. Two other providers will provide prevention assistance, andtheremainingproviderprovidestransportationassistancetogetclientsabikesothattheycangettowork.Theresultsthusfarhavebeenincredible.

Insummary,throughtheuseoftheChallengeGrantFunds,EscaRosahasbeenabletofundcasemanagement,rapidrehousing,mediumtermtransitionalhousing,prevention,transportation,birthcertificates,emergencyshelter,andmaterialgoods.

ThisprogramservesclientsinEscambiaandSantaRosa Counties.

Miami-Dade County Homeless TrustOneofthemostinnovativeprojectsfundedbytheChallengeGrantinMiami-DadeCountyisCamillusHealthConcern’s:ProjectDadeCares.ProjectDade Cares provides comprehensive healthcare to homeless persons in Miami-Dade County, as part of HUD funded supportive services only. This operatingyear,aspartofapilotprojectdevelopedby the Miami Coalition for the Homeless, Camillus Health Concern, City of Miami Mobile Outreach Program,the11thJudicialCriminalMentalHealthCircuitJailDiversionProgram,andtheHomelessTrust,theProjectDadeCare’sPsychiatricNursepractitioners, hand in hand with the City of MiamiHomelessOutreachprogram,tooktothestreetssevendaysaweektoperformpsychiatricassessments, prescribe and administer medications, makereferrals,andinitiateaSOARdisability

applications for chronically homeless individuals thatwererefusingallservicesduetosuspectedsevere mental illness (SMI).

Thepilot,“LazarusProject”namedafterLazaroTruebaaCityofMiamiMobileOutreachProgramSupervisor,andseasonedoutreachworker,hasassisted 20 clients that have been homeless between 2-20 years and whose untreated SMI makesthemthemostvulnerable,underserved,anddisengagedchronicallyhomelessindividualsinMiami-Dade County. One of the clients assisted byLazarushadbeenpsychiatricallyhospitalized98timesinthelastfiveyearsalone.Sinceitsinception,Lazarushassuccessfullyhoused10or50%ofitsparticipants,andtheyareaggressivelylookingtohouse all their clients.

ThisprogramservesclientsinMiami-DadeCounty.

TrainingandTechnicalAssistanceInadditiontothisfunding,$200,000wasappropriatedtoprovidetrainingandtechnicalassistance for our Continuums of Care around thestate.Thefocusedgoalofthisassistanceistostrengthenandbuildcapacityinnonprofits,localgovernments,ContinuumsofCare,andotherstakeholdersworkingtoendhomelessnessinthestateofFlorida.Inthe2014-2015fiscalyear,theFloridaHousingCoalition,underacontractwith the Department of Economic Opportunity providedwebinars,workshops,symposiums,andsitevisitstocommunitiesthroughoutthestate.These site visits (in 10 different communities) assisted local Continuums of Care in a variety of areasincludingsystemredesign,rapidrehousing,housingfirst,outreach,increasingthestockofpermanentsupportivehousing,andworkingwithlocalelectedofficials,publichousingauthorities,andotherstakeholders.


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Recommendations Supporting Continuums of CareThe Council on Homelessness submits three recommendations of critical actions related to supportingandbuildingourContinuumsofCarethatthestatecanundertakeenablingcommunitiesacross Florida to reduce the number of persons experiencinghomelessness.

Recommendation OneSupport State Funding for Community Efforts to Reduce Homelessness

Duringthe2015LegislativeSession,theLegislaturerecognizedtheimportanceofprovidingadditionalresources to the local homeless Continuums ofCare.RecurringdollarsfromtheAffordableHousingTrustFundamountingto$4,000,000wereappropriatedtofundChallengeGrants,flexiblegrantssupportinglocaleffortstoreducehomelessness.

The Council recommends continued support toprovideflexiblesourcesofstatefinancialaidtolocalContinuumsofCarethroughChallengeGrants.

Fundingisusedtohelpendorpreventhomelessnessthroughrentalandutilityassistance,increasednumberofbedsforemergencyshelters,dropincentercreation,alongwiththeresourcestoquicklyobtainlegalidentificationtoenableunemployedhomelesstosecurejobs.

Communities need additional resources to reduce and eliminate homelessness. Each community has differingneedsandpriorities.Thecommunitiesshouldbeprovidedflexiblestatesupport,which

theycanutilizetobestmeettheiridentifiedpriorities.

Suchfundingcanbeanessentialsourceofcashmatchforfederalandprivategrants.Thefundingshouldbeflexiblesoastoaddressabroadarrayofneedsincludinghousing,education,jobtrainingand placement, health services, childcare and other support services. Use of the aid should beconsistentwiththecommunity’splantoendhomelessness.

Aflexiblefundingsourcecanenablecommunitiestopilotpromisingpractices,implementbestpractices, and new service delivery models that mightotherwisenotbepossible.Futurestatefundingcanalsofillgapsinlocalservicebudgets,shouldfederalgrantinaiddollarsbecutincomingbudgetplans.

Recommendation TwoSupport for Local Homeless Continuums of Care

Inthe2014LegislativeSession,theLegislaturerecognizedtheimportanceofensuringadequatecapacityamongthelocalhomelesscontinuumsofcare.$1,000,000innonrecurringfundsfromtheGeneralRevenueFundwasprovidedfordistribution to the homeless Continuums of Care leadagenciesthroughoutthestate.Thisfundingwasinadditiontotheexisting$2,000,000inrecurringfundingprovidedtothecontinuums.

The Council recommends this increase in the annualrecurringfundsfromtheGeneralRevenuefund for local homeless Continuums of Care to

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$3,000,000(anadded$1,000,000millionrecurringcombined with the already funded $ 2,000,000 recurring).Thiswouldensuretheirabilitytoengagecommunities in efforts to end homelessness.

InadditiontodevelopingandimplementingPlanstoEndHomelessness,ContinuumsofCareworktosecureessentialFederalresourcestargetedtoreducinghomelessness.Fundingisusedtoprovideadequatestaffing,officeresources,andtraining,alongwithsupporttoconductthestateandfederallyrequiredhomelessPointinTimeCount.

Continuedstatefinancialassistanceisessentialtohelpingcontinuumsworktoendhomelessnessintheircommunities.Thisincludesconductingfederallyrequiredplanning,datacollection,programcoordinationandgrantwritingnecessarytosuccessfullycompeteforsignificantgrantfundingtohouseandservepersonsexperiencinghomelessness.

Eachyearthefederalgovernmentappropriatesresources to community partners in the homeless Continuum of Care to reduce homelessness. These communityorganizationshavesecuredmorethan$300millioninfederal,localandprivatefinancingforcommunityservicesandhousinginFlorida.In2014,theContinuums’ofCarebroughtinexcessof$84millioninFederalgrantstoFloridatoprovidevitalservicestosomeofourstate’smostvulnerable residents.

Recommendation ThreeThe State of Florida should embrace best practices; implementing them at the state level and incentivizing their adoption at the local level.

Keyamongtheseare:HousingFirst,RapidRehousing,PermanentSupportiveHousing,CoordinatedIntakeandPrioritization,Diversion,

andData-Driven-Decision-making.Fourcriticalactions should be pursued toward this end:

• ThestateagenciesrepresentedontheCouncil on Homelessness, as well as the OfficeonHomelessness,shouldtakealeadershiproleinmodelingandsharingbestpracticesforreducingandendinghomelessnessatthestatelevel;ensuringthatallentitiesutilizingstateresources,includingbutnotlimitedtoContinuumsofCare,childwelfareagencies,communitybasedcareorganizationimplement,ManagingEntities,ManagedCareOrganizations,criminaljusticecontractors,areimplementingbestpractices.

• OrganizationsparticipatingintheCouncilon Homelessness should facilitate the production of permanent supportive housingbylinkingsupportservicesresourceswithhousingresourcessohousingcreatedforhouseholdswiththecomplex needs have the supports they requiretoliveindependently.

• TheOfficeonHomelessnessshouldmaintain a data warehouse which enables thestatetoaccuratelymeasureprogresstowardsreducinghomelessnessinFloridaas well as assess the performance of local efforts to reduce homelessness.

• Usingacrosssectorphilanthropic,governmentandnonprofitcollaboration,Florida should pursue a Social Impact Bond/PayforSuccessapproachtoincrease resources available to create permanentsupportivehousingunits.


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HousingAtitscorehomelessnessisahousingissue.Personsarehomelessbecausetheydon’thaveaplaceto live. While some individuals and families have additional barriers, the fundamental reason for their homelessnessisthelackofanaffordableplacetolive.

Thekeysolutiontohomelessnessisastablehome. To address this root cause of homelessness, Florida must fund the development of more rental housingaffordabletoExtremelyLowIncome(“ELI”,earning30%orlessoftheAreaMedianIncome)households,withafocusoncreatinghousingforfamiliesexperiencinghomelessnessandpersonswith a special need.

Accordingtothemostrecentlegislativelymandatedtriennialrentalhousingneedsassessment,“2013RentalMarketStudy:AffordableHousingNeeds”(UniversityofFlorida,ShimbergCenterforHousingStudies),Floridahas737,435low-incomecostburdenedrenterhouseholds(earning60%orlessoftheAreaMedianIncomeandpayingmorethan40%oftheirincomeonhousing(rentandutilities). 70% of these households (513,608) are severelycostburdened;payingmorethan60%oftheirincomeonhousing.

ThehousingaffordabilitycrisisismoresevereforELI households. Florida has 457,677 ELI renter households;65%areseverelycostburdened.

Accordingto“OutofReach2015”(NationalLowIncomeHousingCoalition),theaveragerentfora1-bedroomapartmentis$811/month;$1,012fora2-bedroom apartment. Yet, the income for a four-personELIhouseholdis$17,482($1,457/month).Therefore,a2-bedroomapartment’srentis69%ofa4-personELIfamily’sincome.

TheFloridaMinimumWageis$8.05/hour.Afull-timeminimumwageworkermustwork77hourseachweektoafforda1-bedroomapartment;97hourseachweektoafforda2-bedroomapartment.

PersonswithadisablingconditionthatrelyuponSupplemental Security Income (SSI) have an evengreatercrisis.InFlorida,SSIis$733/month.Therefore,theaverage1-bedroomapartmentcosts111%oftheperson’smonthlyincome.

A comprehensive plan to reduce and end homelessness must have an emphasis on investment inaffordableandaccessiblehousing.OfgreatneedisthePermanentSupportiveHousing,theproven solution for persons that have experienced chronichomelessness;aswellasformanyhomelessVeterans.

Ourcommunitiesmustfocusonrapidrehousingasakeyinterventionforindividualsandfamilies.Thekeycomponentstodevelopingsuccessfulrapidrehousingprogramsincludeongoingcommunitypartnerships with developers and landlords, incentivesforlandlordstoprovidehousingforhomelesshouseholds,usageofhousingvouchersandsubsidiestosustainhousing,andongoingservicesandlinkstocommunityresourceshelpingpeoplemaintainhousingforthelongrun.

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HousingOurNeighbors–A Crucial NeedAt its root, homelessness is the result of the inability to afford andmaintainhousing.Anyplantoendhomelessnessmustincorporateaninvestmentincreatingaffordablehousing.Thisincludessupportivehousing,whichispermanenthousingcoupled with supportive services. There are many in our communitieswhobenefitfromaffordablehousingwithsupportiveservices–youthagingoutoffostercare,theelderly,homeless households, Veterans, persons in recovery, and extremely low income families.

Affordablehousing,andsupportivehousingforsomeofourmostvulnerableneighbors,improveslives,iscosteffective,andbenefitsourcommunities.

Here are some of the stories of people in our communities whoseliveshavebeenimpactedbyaffordablehousingwiththesupportsandservicestheyneededtofindsafety,health,andstability.

ROBERTRobert was homeless for several years. He had lost his home due to drugswhichleadhimtothestreetsandcouchsurfingathissister’shome. Robert did not have a handle onhisaddiction,andlyingandstealingbecamesecondnaturetohim.Whenhebegantostealfromhissistertopaythedrugdealer,heknewhehadhitrockbottom.Robertrealizedthatitwasinhissister’sbestinterestifheleft;heshowered,tookthefewpersonalitemsheownedandlefthissister’s.Heremainedonthestreets,sleepingoutside, on porches, benches or wherever he felt comfortable. Robert continued to volunteer at a local thrift store in the midst of all this chaos.

Oneday,whileinthewaitingroomof the hospital, Robert noticed a preacher in the lobby. Robert wrote a note to the pastor, “Pray for me.” AsRobertwasleavingthepastorcalled over to him and said they weregoingtopraytogether,“rightnow.”

Robertfeltlikehisprayerswereansweredwhenalocalagencycalledto say they had a home for him. Havingasupportiveplace“GavemeachancetobethepersonIknewIcould and always wanted to be for the last three years.”

SUNNY

Sunny Nelson is a cancer survivor,shealsotakescareofadaughterwhoisdisabled.“My husband was a pastor who never wanted to buy a house. When he passed away, wewereabletofindhousingfor a couple of years from another pastor but eventually we needed a place of our own that we could afford.“

Sunnyandherdaughterrelyon Social Security and disability paymentstomakeendsmeetandtheydon’tgoveryfar.Herhousingprovidesasafeplacetolive,withinwalkingdistanceofagrocerystoreandchurch.


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JAMES JamesenlistedintheAirForceaftergraduatingfromhighschoolin1970.After several years of service to his country,hewashonorablydischargedand returned home. He found steady employment at a warehouse on his community’sWestside.But,after17years of employment, the warehouse closedandJamesbecameunemployed.

Overthenextseveralyears,James’employment was sporadic. To avoidhomelessness,Jamesstayedwithgrandparents.Butwhentheypassedawayhenolongerhadstableemploymentorhousingandbecamehomelessforthefirsttime.Jameswas homeless for most of the next 15 years, until he was connected to the Veterans Administration Health Care for Homelessprogram.

With community partners, the VA was abletohelpJamesfindaplacetolive;thelocalHousingAuthorityprovideshim a rental assistance voucher and theVAprovideshimcasemanagementservices,allfundedthroughtheVeterans Administration Supportive Housingprogram–apartnershipoftheUSDepartmentofHousingandUrban Development and the Veterans Administration.

Jamesnowhasastableplacetoliveandthesupportsnecessarytogetbackonhisfeet.Whenaskedabouthisfirstnightinhisnewapartment,Jamessaidhesleptsowellhethoughthehaddiedandgonetoheaven!

TYRONETyroneisa19yearoldcollegestudent,enteringhissophomoreyear.He’smajoringinpsychology,worksparttimeasalinecookatChipotleandlikeshiphop,easilycreatingsonglyricsonrequest.Hissmileisinfectiousandhiseyeslightupwhenhetalksabout his hopes and dreams of a successful future as a therapist and a musician, a future that could have been much different.

Tyronewasoneoftheapproximately15,000youngpeoplethatageoutofthefostercaresystemeachyear in Florida. Without a support system that comes withtheguidanceandsupervisionfromfamilyormentors, these 18 year old youths are considered adultsbutfrequentlylacktheskillsnecessarytoliveself-sufficiently.Almost25%ofyouththattransitionout of foster care experience homelessness.

Luckily,Tyronewasabletofindasupportiveplacetolive.“LivinghereisthebestI’velivedinmywhole,entire life. Now I have a place to live. Before, I never had my own room. That was one of my dreams. And nowIhavemyownplace.It’ssuchablessingtobelivinghere,suchablessing.”

“WhenIwasgrowingupinfostercare,”heexplained.“Ididn’thaveanyguidanceoranyonetohelpme.ItwasprettymuchmeonmyownandIjusthadaplaceto sleep and live.”

Hewantsotherfosterchildrentoknowthatwiththerightenvironmenttheycanbesuccessfulindividuals,withgoalsanddreams.Andheseeshismusicdeliveringthatmessage.

“MypointofviewonmyhiphopisIwanttotalkaboutsuccess.Iwanttotalkaboutthestruggle,thehardtimes,thepoverty.Iwanttotalkaboutbeingatyourlowest.Iwanttotalkaboutthehumblenessoflife.Talkaboutappreciation,abouthappiness.”

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Housing RecommendationsThe Council on Homelessness submits three recommendations of critical actions the state can undertaketoenablecommunitiesacrossFloridatoreducethenumberofpersonsexperiencinghomelessness.

Recommendation OneIncrease Access to Affordable Housing through Four Critical Actions:

1. UseallAffordableHousingTrustFunddollarsforaffordablehousing.

2. SupportRapidRehousingprogramsbyamendingtheSHIPprogramtopermitlocal communities to provide a rent subsidyprogramforaperiodofupto24months for very-low-income households with at least one adult that is a person with a special need or homeless as an eligibleuse.

3. Revise the Community Contribution Tax CreditProgramtoincludetheproductionofrentalhousingforhomelessandspecialneeds households within the provisions providedfortheproductionofhousingforlow-incomehomeownership;designatea portion of the credits for the production ofthisrentalhousing.

4. Incentivizedevelopmentpartnerstosupport local efforts to implement best practices. State administered affordable housingresourcesshouldbedeployedtoprojectsanddeveloperswhichdemonstrate active participation in efforts tohousepersonswiththegreatestneed.

Recommendation TwoCreate More Affordable and Supportive Housing for Persons with Extremely Low Incomes, especially Homeless Households and Persons with Special Needs

1. AmendtheSAILprogramfundingreservationssothathousingforHomelessand Special Needs households receives at least10%oftheprogramfunds.

2. UseanyNationalHousingTrustFundresources allocated to the State for thecreationofhousingaffordabletoExtremelyLow-Incomehouseholds;withafocusoncreatinghousingforfamiliesexperiencinghomelessnessandpersonswith a special need.

3. TargetAffordableHousingTrustFundandNationalHousingTrustFundresourcestothe development of permanent supportive housingunits;linkfundingforservicestothesehousingunits.

TheCouncilrecommendsutilizingallSadowskiAffordableHousingTrustfundresourcesforaffordablehousing,withanincreasedfocusonthehousingneedsofExtremelyLow-Income,Homeless and Special Needs households. PersonswithSpecialNeedsasdefinedinSection420.0004(13), Florida Statutes, means an adult personrequiringindependentlivingservicesinordertomaintainhousingordevelopindependentlivingskillsandwhohasadisablingcondition;ayoungadultformerlyinfostercarewhoiseligibleforservicesunders.409.1451(5);asurvivorofdomesticviolenceasdefinedins.741.28;orapersonreceivingbenefitsundertheSocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance(SSDI)programortheSupplementalSecurityIncome(SSI)programorfromVeterans’disabilitybenefits.

Instatefiscalyear2014-15,FloridaHousingFinanceCorporation,throughcompetitiveapplicationcycles, selected twenty-three Permanent Supportive Housing(PSH)developmentsforfunding.Thesetwenty-three PSH developments account for a total of 662 rental units that will be developed to serve


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homeless and special needs households. These developments include:

• GrahamatGracepointinTampaFlorida will be owned and operated byGracepoint.Theorganizationwillproviderentalhousing,on-sitesupportiveservicesandhelpaccessingcommunitybased resources for formerly chronically homeless persons with mental illness.

• OzanamVillageinPascoCountywillbeowned and operated by the Society of St.Vincent’sofdePaulandwillprovidehousingandsupportiveservicesforhomeless veterans with disabilities throughcommunity-basedpublic-privatepartnerships.

• LeJueneGardensinMiami-Dadewillprovidespeciallydesignedunitsforwheelchair bound and mobility-impaired personswithminimalfinancialresources.The development will be owned and operatedbySpinalCordLiving-AssistanceDevelopment, Inc, which will also provide community-based services coordination and other services such as employment andskillstrainingprogramsthroughcommunity-based partnerships.

Inadditiontothepermanentsupportivehousingand preservation units, a total of 585 units will be set aside for extremely low-income households thatareintegratedintomixed-incomeaffordablehousingdevelopmentsthatwereselectedforfinancinginstatefiscalyear2014-15.Thesemixed-income developments will serve families, elders, and/orpersonswithdisablingconditions,throughavarietyoffinancingresourcesincludingfederalLow-IncomeHousingTaxCredits,statehousingfunds,privateloansandfoundationgrants.Atleast50percentoftheseunitswillbeidentifiedasLinktoPermanentHousingunitsthatserveELIhouseholdswithspecialneedsthatarereferredbyadesignatedcommunity-basedservicesreferralagency.

Threekeystosuccessforprovidingstable,community-basedpermanentrentalhousingfor

homeless and special needs households is the housingmust:

• Not cost burden the household.• Belinkedwithappropriateandsufficient

community-based supportive services.• Adequatelyaddressspecificneedsoftheintendedresidents,includingcreditandother barriers that prevent them from accessingtherentalunits.

Recommendation ThreeContinue the Governor’s and Legislature’s Support of Florida Housing’s Permanent Supportive Housing Pilot for High Needs/High Cost Chronically Homeless Persons as it Transitions from the Development to Implementation Phase.

In2013,theLegislatureprovidedaspecial$10millionappropriationtoFloridaHousingFinanceCorporation to fund permanent supportive housingforpersonswithspecialneeds(personswith disabilities, survivors of domestic violence andyouthagingoutoffostercare).BasedontheFloridaHousing’sworkwithstateagenciesandsupportivehousingandhomelessnessstakeholders,the Council recommended the state pursue a pilot todeveloppermanentsupportivehousing,targetinghighneeds/highcostindividualswhoarechronicallyhomeless. These most vulnerable individuals often cycle in and out of residential care or institutional settingsbecauseoftheirlackofstabilityinthecommunityandareoftenhighutilizersofacutecare and crisis services.

ToimplementtheCouncil’srecommendation,FloridaHousingutilizedthespecialappropriationtofundpermanentsupportivehousingprojectstargetingtheseindividuals.Asacommitmentforreceivingcapitolandoperationsfinancing,FloridaHousingrequiredthateachpilotsitebeinacommunity with a comprehensive and coordinated

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approachforidentifying,assessing,prioritizing,andservingchronicallyhomelesspersonsAnotherkeyrequirementwasthateachpilotsitepartnerwithqualifiedresearcherstoconductaFlorida-specificanalysisoftheefficacyofpermanentsupportivehousingontheindividuals’healthandqualityoflifeas well as its impacts on publicly funded systems of care.KeyStateagenciesincludingAgencyforHealthCare Administration, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health and Florida Department of Veteran AffairsareworkingwithFloridaHousingtohelpaddress implementation issues and needs. One oftherolesthenewlyestablished(August2014)FloridaStateInteragencyWorkgrouponPermanentSupportiveHousingistoprovidethePilotanditssitesguidanceandassistanceasapplicableandappropriate.

Three pilot sites were selected. Each is in different stagesofdevelopment.Asofthisreporttheyare:

DuvalCounty–TheVillageonWileydevelopmenthas nearly completed construction. The tenant

selectionandapplicationprocesshasbegunandindividualsarepreparingtomoveintooneofthedevelopment’s43units.

Miami-Dade County – The Coalition Lift developmentisscheduledtocloseonitsfinancinginJuneandbeginconstructionthissummer.The estimated completion date for the 34 unit developmentisJanuary2016.

Pinellas County – The Pinellas Hope V development hasbegunconstruction.Thedevelopmentishopingtobegintenantlease-upofits45unitsisDecember2015.

TheDuvalCountysite’scost/benefitstudymethodologyandapproachhasbeenapprovedandindividualsarebeingenrolledinthestudy.TheMiami-DadeandPinellasCountysitesarefinalizingtheircost/benefitsstudy’smethodologyandapproach. The data collection and analysis will occur for at least 2 years after the initial lease-up of the building.Itisanticipatedtohavecost/benefitsstudyoutcomes in 2017.

ElderlyMortgageAssistanceProgram(ELMORE)–PreventingElderlyHomeownersfromBecomingHomelessthroughStateandLocalCollaboration

TheElderlyMortgageAssistanceProgram(ELMORE)isaprogramtoprovidefinancialassistancetoelderlyhomeowners,withreversemortgagecommitments,tokeepthemfromlosingtheirhomes.Identifiedeligibleelderlyhomeownersareatextremeriskofforeclosurebecausetheyareinsignificantarrearsinpayingtheirhomeowner’sinsurance,propertytaxesorhomeowner’sassociationfees.Uponneedandresourcesdeterminations,eligibleandinterestedapplicantsmayreceiveupto$25,000tobringtheirfeescurrentandstoptheforeclosure.Thesehomeownersmayalsobeeligibletohaveupto12monthsoffuturepropertychargespaidontheirbehalf.Applicantsalsoreceivefinancialbenefitsandcounselingservicesandassistanceincompletingtheir applications.

TheProgramisfundedthroughthefederalHardestHitProgramandadministeredbyFloridaHousing.IdentifyingandassistingtheseelderlyhomeownershasbeenmadepossiblethroughacollaborationbetweenFloridaHousingFinanceCorporation,FloridaDepartmentofElderAffairs,localAgingandDisabilityResourceCentersandastatewidenetworkofforeclosurecounselingagencies.

AsofJune18,2015,607elderlyhomeowners,inSFY2014-15havereceivedatotalof$8,504,000inassistancetokeepthemintheirhomes.


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Department of Education—Homeless Education ProgramThe Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education AssistanceImprovementsActrequiresthatstateeducationalagenciesandschooldistrictsensurethathomelesschildrenandyouthhaveequalaccessto the same free, appropriate public education as providedtootherstudents;includingtheremovalof barriers to enrollment and attendance. In Florida, theHomelessEducationProgram(HEP),throughthe Florida Department of Education (FDOE), is designedtoaddresstheproblemsthathomelesschildrenandyouthfaceinenrolling,attending,andsucceedinginschool,andtoworkwithschooldistrictstoresolvethem.TheFDOEHEPprogramprovides leadership, technical assistance, educational funding,andsupporttoschooldistrictstoensurethathomelessstudentsareidentified,enrolled,attend school, and have access to resources to help them achieve academically.

In 2014-2015, 48 school districts received federally fundedawardsrangingfrom$23,750to$120,000,for a total of $3,411,250, to serve homeless students.Overtheyears,fundswithinthisprogramhavebeenusedtoprovidecasemanagementandoutreachservices;tooffertutoring,supplementalinstruction, and other educational services, includingmentoringandsummereducationalprograms;toreferstudentsandtheirfamiliestomedical,dental,mental,andotherhealthservices;andtoofferstudentandparentalengagementactivities,amongmanyothers.

The school districts in our state capture and reportthenumberofstudentsidentifiedashomelessanytimeduringtheschoolyeartotheFDOE;therefore,thecountisacumulativeone

(see Appendix for counts of homeless students reported by school district.)

Duringthe2013-2014schoolyear,Floridaschooldistrictsidentified71,446childrenandyouthwhowere homeless. This is a two-percent increase from2012-2013;however,asignificantlylowerincreasethanthepreviousfouryears.Themajorityofthoseidentifiedashomeless,53,625(75%),weretemporarilysharingthehousingofotherpersonsduetothelossoftheirhousingoreconomichardship;atwo-percentincreasefromthepreviousschoolyear.Additionally,ofthoseidentified,elevenpercent (7,573) were “unaccompanied youth.” A homeless“unaccompaniedyouth”isdefinedasone who is not in physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Homeless Students Reported in Florida Public SchoolsSchool Year Homeless

StudentsChange

2009 - 2010 49,112 +19%2010 - 2011 56,680 +15%2011 - 2012 63,685 +12%2012 - 2013 70,215 +10%2013 - 2104 71,446 +2%

Source:2008-2014Survey5StudentDemographicFormat and Federal State Indicator Format. Florida Department of Education, Automated Student Database System.

In addition to the above support and resources fromtheFDOE,throughthisfederallyfundedprogram,everyschooldistrictinFloridahasahomeless education liaison. These liaisons assist

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homeless students and their families in many ways includingcollaborationwiththeirlocalcommunitypartners. Here are some of their stories.

Sarasota County Schools

TheSarasotaCountySchools’HomelessEducationProgram(SchoolhouseLink),inadditiontohelpingstudents with educational needs, helps homeless families connect with local resources such as the SarasotaHousingAuthority(SHA).In2014,theSHA Board voted to annually set aside 15 Section 8HousingVouchersforchronicallyhomelessfamiliesselectedbySchoolhouseLink.Theirgoalwas to improve educational outcomes and create opportunitiesforfamiliesbyprovidingstablehousing.

Chronicallyhomelessforyears,singlemomAmberandherfourschool-agedaughterswereoneofthefirstfamiliesselectedforthisprogram.Theyhavebenefittedtremendouslyfromhavingstable,sustainablehousing.Priortothisplacement,thefamily’shousinginstability,unfortunately,affectedeveryaspectofthefamily’slife,includingthegirls’

education.Theystruggledwiththeirattendanceandgrades.Thegirlshaddifficultyfittinginandproblems with self-esteem and wellness. Now, Amberstates,“Ifeellikewearefinallywinning.Wewereabletocelebratetheholidaysforthefirsttimeinourownhomeandallofmygirlshavegoodschool attendance and are on the honor roll now.” TodayandtomorrowarebrighterforAmberandherchildrenbecausehousingandeducationareboth community priorities in Sarasota County.

Santa Rosa County

The One Family, One Year, One Home Transitional HousingProgramisacollaborativeeffortbetweenthe Santa Rosa County School District, ESCAROSA Coalition on the Homeless, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, and Family Promise, a Faith-based EmergencyHousingProgram.WithlimitedtransitionalhousinginSantaRosaCounty,thefourgroupscreatedtransitionalhousingbyrefurbishingrepossessedHabitathousesthatweresittingempty.Homeless families with children who participated in theprogramreceivedintensivecasemanagement,


28

withthegoalofself-sufficiencyandstabilityafterone year. The increased resources the families have built have been profound.

Prior to participation, one family of three had lost employment, due to a serious health issue. After sixmonthsintheprogram,thefatherreceivedahip replacement and is now employed. The mother completedherGED,becameemployed,andwaspromotedrecentlytoshiftmanager.Themiddleschooldaughter,whowasatriskofretention,waspromotedtotheeighthgradeandmaintainedstraightA’sthroughouttheschoolyear.Anotherfamilyalsomadegreatstrides.Unemployedduetoabrokenankle,thefathersuccessfullyrecoveredandisnowemployedataconstructionfirm.Thefamily saved money to buy a reliable vehicle and recently purchased a home. Between the two families,sixschool-agechildrenhavemovedfromhomelessnesstostabilityandself-sufficiency.

Theprogramwasapilot,andafterthesuccessofthesefamilies,theprogramwillcontinueandexpand. Thus, more homeless families with children will be provided a home with rent and utilities coveredforoneyear,casemanagement,andassistanceintransitioningtostablepermanenthousing.

Miami-Dade County Public SchoolsTheHomelessEducationProgram(ProjectUP-START), at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), provides support and resources to homeless students in the district. One of these students,PriceDestinobles,recentlygraduatedfromNorthMiamiSeniorHighSchool.Sinceeighthgrade,hehasbeenlivingwithmanydifferentfamiliesduetohismother’sincarcerationandanabsentfather.Despitealackofstability,income,orhis parents, Price achieved academically in school, servedaspresidentofhisschool’s5000Role

Modelsprogram,participatedinsports(basketball,volleyball, and cross country), and was a member of theschool’sculinaryclub.Duetohisperseverance,he has been accepted to Florida International University’s(FIU)prestigiousInstituteofHospitalityand Tourism Education and Research, and is part of FIU’s“FosteringPantherPride”programthatserveshomeless and foster youth at FIU. This summer, he willparticipateinFIU’s“GoldenScholarsSummerBridgeProgram.”

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AppendicesAppendix I—Number of Homeless People per CountySource:2015Point-in-TimeCount,DepartmentofChildrenandFamilies,OfficeonHomelessness

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Alachua 1,596 879 1,034 1,034 1,745 1,516 636

Baker N/C 12 2 N/C N/C No count N/C

Bay 352 317 378 287 284 253 308

Bradford 78 5 39 36 50 No count 0

Brevard 1,207 1,221 1,889 1,907 1,567 1,567 1178

Broward 4,154 4,154 3,801 3,801 2,820 2,738 2624

Calhoun N/C N/C 1 1 1 No count 6

Charlotte 541 598 716 828 573 511 548

Citrus 297 405 502 507 243 188 180

Clay N/C 7 113 244 35 102 147

Collier 329 401 390 390 375 361 389

Columbia 554 554 462 458 491 473 538

DeSoto 319 761 15 176 330 340 333

Dixie N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C No count N/C

Duval 3,244 3,910 4,284 2,533 2,594 1,801 1566

Escambia 713 713 549 572 830 862 884

Flagler 39 79 98 128 154 188 105

Franklin N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C No count 23

Gadsden N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C No count 9

Gilchrist N/C 1 6 32 0 No count 0

Glades 220 220 N/C N/C N/C 96 96

Gulf N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C 2 0

Hamilton 123 343 103 103 107 102 114

Hardee 1,410 1,410 104 17 61 124 124

Hendry 727 727 16 N/C N/C 138 138

Hernando 185 136 148 209 147 77 218

Highlands 1,782 1,782 105 55 215 495 483

Hillsborough 7,473 7,473 7,336 7,336 * 2,291 1931

Holmes N/C N/C N/C N/C 2 No count 0

Indian River 662 648 606 774 837 1,048 812

Jackson N/C 11 34 34 14 13 3

Jefferson N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C 4

Lafayette 69 69 57 58 63 60 68


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Lake 491 796 1,008 1,019 282 187 265

Lee 931 1,041 1,054 969 848 871 638

Leon 437 437 683 783 1,072 805 808

Levy 115 15 0 98 13 N/C 13

Liberty N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C 2

Madison N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C 1

Manatee 558 528 528 612 820 494 308

Marion 678 356 941 1,032 530 918 787

Martin 211 517 306 314 486 567 504

Miami-Dade 4,333 3,832 3,777 3,817 3,734 4,156 4152

Monroe 1,040 1,040 926 904 658 678 615

Nassau N/C 61 165 84 138 93 140

Okaloosa 2,361 1,842 2,145 1,962 1,108 904 592

Okeechobee 383 383 32 190 78 158 158

Orange 1,279 1,494 2,872 2,281 2,937 1,701 1396

Osceola 374 443 833 722 599 278 372

Palm Beach 2,147 2,147 2,148 2,148 1,559 1,559 1421

Pasco 4,527 4,527 4,442 4,502 3,305 3,305 1045

Pinellas 4,163 3,948 3,890 3,971 3,913 3,391 3387

Polk 820 820 1,095 1,100 404 536 464

Putnam 911 288 141 164 89 49 26

St.Johns 1,237 1,237 1,386 1,391 1,437 1,401 1161

St. Lucie 788 995 771 636 915 976 1096

Santa Rosa 317 317 72 70 151 N/C 130

Sarasota 787 787 787 890 1,234 891 943

Seminole 368 397 810 658 842 275 344

Sumter 52 48 57 77 37 59 68

Suwannee 343 123 280 284 318 308 350

Taylor N/C N/C N/C 14 6 N/C N/C

Union N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C

Volusia 1,874 2,076 2,215 2,276 1,967 1,445 1222

Wakulla N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C

Walton 85 420 619 484 453 Okaloosa-Walton

combined

91

Washington 3 N/C N/C N/C N/C No count 0

Totals 57,687 57,751 56,771 54,972 43,455 41,335 35,964

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Homeless Population CharacteristicsThe28localcontinuumofcareplanningagencieshavereportedthefollowinginformationonthemake-up of the homeless population in Florida. They captured this information from direct interviews or from agencydataonhomelesspersonsservedasenteredintotheHomelessManagementInformationSystem[HMIS]. The 2015 data is compared to 2014 data.

GenderMenmadeupthemajorityofhomelesspersons.Of30,552personssurveyedin2014,19,988weremen(65%).Thedatafor2014remainsconsistentwithlastyear’sresults.

Year Men Women2015 63.6% 35.5%2014 65% 35%

AgeTheagerangesofthe2014homelesspopulationwerereportedasfollows:

AgeAgeRanges Number of Persons 2014 % 2015 %

Under 18 6,852 18.6% 18.9%18 – 24 2,566 8.8% 7.1%24 – 60 24,677 64.8% 68.1%Over 60 1,893 7.9% 5.2%

Total 35,988

Theseresultsareconsistentwiththefocusofthecount–thosepersonslivinginsheltersorstayingonthestreets.Familieswithchildrenaremorelikelytobesharingthehousingofothers,andarenotallowedtobeincludedinthefederalcounts,duetothislivingarrangement.

EthnicityIn2015,5,091homelesspersonsoutof36,136respondingtothesurveyindicatedthattheywereeitherHispanic or Latino. At 14.1% of the homeless population, this is up from the 2014 level of 10.5%.

RaceThereportedraceofthehomelesspopulationreflectsmoreWhiteandBlack/AfricanAmericansthanother races.


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PopulationCategory 2015 Number 2015Percentage 2014PercentageAmericanIndian/Alaskan 413 1.1% 1.0%

Asian 121 0.33% 0.3%Black/AfricanAmerican 13,144 36.4% 34.0%Hawaiian/PacificIslander 111 0.30% 0.3%

White 20,759 57.4% 54.3%Multiple Races 1,189 3.3% N/C

Total 35,737

Household TypeThegreatmajority,20,633,oftheunshelteredandshelteredhomelesspopulationaresingleadultsorhouseholdswithoutchildren.For2015,thebreakdownofthehomelessbyhouseholdtypewasreportedasfollows:

Household Type Numberresponding % of TotalOne adult and one child 3,662 13%

No children in household 23,821 84.3%Only children in household 766 2.7%

Total 28,249

Military VeteransOfthehomelesspersonsrespondingtothequestiononactivedutyintheU.S.military,16.3%indicatedthat they were veterans.

Military VeteransServed/ActiveDuty 2015 numbers 2015Percentage 2014 Numbers 2014Percentage

Yes 5,100 16.3% 3,974 14.0%No 25.855 83.7% 24,139 86.0%

Total 30,955 28,1133

Disabling ConditionsThebreakdownbytypeofdisabilityindicatesonceagainthatthegreatestissuesaresubstanceabuseandmentalillness.Inthesurvey,respondentsmayreportmorethanonedisablingcondition.

DisablingConditionCondition 2015 Number 2015Percentage 2014Percentage

Physical 5,548 28% 26.1%Substance Abuse 6,463 32.6% 37.1%

Mental Illness 6,654 33.6% 29.8%HIV/AIDS 524 2.6% 3.3%

Developmental 623 3.1% 2.3%Total 19,812

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Foster Care HistoryInaskingwhetherthehomelessindividualhadbeeninfostercare,1,979personsoutofthe24,737respondingtothequestionindicatedthattheyhadbeeninfostercare.Thisfigurerepresents8%oftherespondents.

Causes and Length of Time HomelessThedatacollecteduponentrytosheltersseekstoidentifythemajorcausescontributingtoapersonbecominghomeless,howlongtheyhavebeenhomelessasofthedayofthecount,whetherthepersonhashadpreviousepisodesofhomelessness,andhowlongthepersonhaslivedinthecommunitybeforebecominghomeless.The2015surveyresultsfollow.

Causes of HomelessnessCause 2015 Number 2015Percentage 2014 %

Employment/Financial 8,700 41.5% 48.0%Medical/Disability 3,675 17.5% 17.2%Family Problems 4,119 19.6% 17.2%

Forced to relocate 4,114 19.6% 16.1%RecentImmigration 209 1% 0.5%

Natural Disaster 168 0.8% 1.2%

Number of Times HomelessTimes 2015 Number 2015Percentage 2014 %

Noprior/Firsttime 7356 29.6% 14.3%One prior episode 6,833 27.5% 32.2%

Two or three prior episodes 5,966 24% 30.0%Four or more prior episodes 4,718 19% 24.0%

Total 24,873

LengthofTimeinCommunityBeforeBecomingHomelessLengthofTime 2015 Number 2015Percentage 2014PercentageLessthanoneweek 1,724 8.1% 10.9%

1to4weeks 938 4.4% 6.3%1 to 3 months 1,681 7.9% 7.4%3 to 12 months 2,355 11.1% 13.3%

More than 1 year 14,530 68.4% 62.2%Total 21,228

[Source:LeadAgencySurveyof2015Point-in-TimeCount,May2015,DepartmentofChildrenandFamilies.]


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Appendix II—Homeless Students Reported in Florida Public Schools by Florida County 2009-2014DISTRICT NAME 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014ALACHUA 446 594 632 551 809BAKER 191 249 304 262 112BAY 641 1,175 1,477 1,626 1,184BRADFORD 122 154 215 143 194BREVARD 965 1,165 1,350 1,645 1,690BROWARD 2,953 2,101 2,158 2,185 2,323CALHOUN 47 58 84 57 60CHARLOTTE 441 495 488 493 519CITRUS 371 323 328 303 312CLAY 824 741 862 1,379 1,110COLLIER 1,360 1,407 1,281 1,123 849COLUMBIA 380 403 567 578 549DADE 4,268 4,406 5,773 6,475 3,252DESOTO 223 225 278 367 402DIXIE 60 48 31 29 28DUVAL 947 1,169 1,422 1,896 2,111ESCAMBIA 1,237 1,091 1,423 1,621 2,054FLAGLER 246 322 367 517 522FRANKLIN 126 160 205 230 279GADSDEN 713 533 556 586 699GILCHRIST 27 20 17 <11 14GLADES 18 34 26 17 24GULF <11 <11 <11 35 20HAMILTON 342 326 343 218 234HARDEE 146 188 183 128 125HENDRY 139 156 200 195 450HERNANDO 242 497 645 521 443HIGHLANDS 61 92 429 385 461HILLSBOROUGH 3,124 3,659 3,559 3,170 3,233HOLMES 24 62 90 96 102INDIAN RIVER 347 311 273 278 434JACKSON 119 158 177 152 113JEFFERSON <11 <11 <11 <11 <11LAFAYETTE 141 196 195 217 207LAKE 2,162 2,992 3,541 2,908 3,229LEE 1,143 1,282 1,392 1,446 1,313LEON 523 762 650 470 702LEVY 263 182 128 217 157LIBERTY 22 21 41 52 52MADISON 57 74 103 263 534

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MANATEE 1,684 1,788 1,641 1,791 1,854MARION 1,691 1,911 2,223 2,421 2,373MARTIN 68 80 115 125 157MONROE 298 328 343 343 382NASSAU 145 230 210 331 428OKALOOSA 482 404 573 538 533OKEECHOBEE 203 318 396 495 573ORANGE 1324* 3,887 4,844 7,234 6,736OSCEOLA 1,364 1,923 2,825 3,156 4,941PALM BEACH 1,960 1,443 1,636 3,107 2,991PASCO 2,093 2,230 1,997 1,904 2,071PINELLAS 2,462 2,915 3,085 3,076 3,038POLK 2,219 2,446 2,304 2,547 3,767LAKE WALES N/A N/A 136 187 246PUTNAM 720 736 885 734 808ST.JOHNS 344 493 584 679 803ST. LUCIE 222 348 324 466 543SANTA ROSA 1,328 1,467 1,651 1,703 1,776SARASOTA 872 1,229 877 917 924SEMINOLE 1,322 1,697 1,865 2,235 2,034SUMTER 124 48 155 156 174SUWANNEE 322 315 346 344 298TAYLOR 73 89 96 88 123UNION 121 148 157 124 130VOLUSIA 1,889 2,016 2,228 2,195 2,261WAKULLA 108 56 99 56 56WALTON 40 114 175 230 313WASHINGTON 165 168 79 121 138SCHOOLDEAF/BLIND 0 0 <11 14 12FL VIRTUAL SCHOOL 0 0 <11 38 34FAU - LAB SCHOOL 0 <11 <11 <11 <11FSU - LAB SCHOOL 0 <11 <11 <11 <11FAMU - LAB SCHOOL 0 0 11 <11 11TOTALS 49,112 56,680 63,685 70,189 71,446

*Orangedatasubmittedafterreportingdeadlineindicated4,040homelessstudents.

N/A:NotApplicable–LakeWalesCharterSchoolsSystemwasestablishedinthe2011-2013schoolyear.

Note:<11meansthatfewerthanelevenstudentswereidentified;countsofonetotenstudentsareidentifiedas<11.

Source:2008-2014Survey5StudentDemographicFormatandFederalStateIndicatorFormat,FloridaDepartment of Education


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AppendixIII—OverviewofFunding,OfficeonHomelessnessForthe2015-16fiscalyear,theDepartmentanticipatesreceivingfundingforfour(4)grantcategories.Thecategoriesinclude:HUDEmergencySolutionsGrant,HomelessnessPreventionGrant(TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies-TANF),ChallengeGrants,andStaffingGrants.Belowisadescriptionofeachgrantawardandthefundinginformation.

Grant 2014 Award Anticipated 2015 AwardEmergencySolutionsGrant $4,605,599 $5,019,268

Homelessness Prevention (TANF) $876,000 $876,000ChallengeGrant $3,800,000 $3,800,000StaffingGrant $2,000,000 (plus an additional

$1,000,000innon-recurringfunds).

$3,000,000 total

$2,000,000

Emergency Solutions Grant TheEmergencySolutionsGrant(ESG)programwasestablishedthroughtheStewartB.McKinneyActof1987,asamendedbytheHomelessEmergencyAssistanceandRapidTransitiontoHousingof2009–theHEARTH Act.

ThepurposeoftheFederalESGProgramistohelpimprovethequalityandquantityofemergencysheltersforhomelesspersons,tohelpcoverthecostsofoperatingemergencyshelters,andtofundessentialsupportive services to homeless individuals so they may have access to safe and sanitary shelter and the servicesandassistancetheyneedtoimprovetheirsituations.Inaddition,theESGProgramisusedtofundshort-termrentalassistancetopreventhomelessness,aswellastohelpmovehomelesspersonsbackintopermanentrentalhousing.Finally,theprogramcanassiststreetoutreachprogramstoconnectunshelteredhomelesspersonswithlocalhousingandsupportiveservices.

FundsareavailableannuallyandareawardedbytheDepartmentofChildrenandFamiliesthroughagrantapplicationprocess.Non-profitagenciesandgovernmententitiesareeligibletoapply.

Homelessness Prevention Grant (TANF)TheHomelessnessPreventionGrantprogramprovidesemergencyfinancialassistancetofamilieswithchildrenfacingthelossoftheirhousingduetoafinancialorothercrisis.TheOfficeonHomelessnessisauthorizedtoprovidethesegrantsannuallytotheleadagenciesforthelocalhomelessassistancecontinuumofcareplanningareasinthestate.Onlythoseagenciescanapply,usingtheapplicationprovidedabove.Theintentoftheprogramistoprovidecasemanagementandfinancialassistanceforoverduerentormortgagepaymentsandoverdueutilitybillstoenablethefamilytoremainstablyhousedafterreceivingthe assistance.

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Challenge GrantTheChallengeGrantprogramisauthorizedbysection420.622(4),FloridaStatutes,toprovidegrantfundingtoleadagenciesforhomelessassistanceContinuumsofCare(CoC).TheChallengeGrantsmustbeusedtoassistthelocalhomelessCoCleadagenciesandlocalproviderstoimplementawrittenplanforaddressingtheneedsofthehomelesspopulations.Theleadagenciesmayallocatethegrantfundstoprograms,services,orhousingprovidersthatsupporttheimplementationofthelocalCoCplan.TheoverallgoalofthegrantistousetheChallengeGranttopartnerwithlocalagenciestoreducehomelessness in Florida.

Staffing GrantThisgrantisarecurringappropriationfromtheLegislaturethatbeganin2013.Thepurposeofthesegrantsistoenabletheleadagenciestocollectthedata,planforhomelessservices,writegrantapplications,andcoordinateserviceswithinthestate.TheStaffinggrantshelpimprovetheoverallqualityoflifeforhomelesspersonsthroughthecoordinationwithcommunityagenciesthatprovideservicesandprograms.Thisgrantfundingisonlyavailabletothehomelessleadagencies.

AppendixIV—ContinuumofCarePlanningandFunding

Return on the Planning InvestmentThestate’scontinuumsofcareareashavebecomeverysuccessfulincompetingforandreceivinghousinggrantsfromthefederalDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment,tocreatetransitionalandpermanenthousingforthehomeless.Inthemostrecentgrantcycle,(FY2014),the28continuumsofcarehavereceivedgrantawardstotaling$84,255,169.ThishelpstofundoverseveralhundredlocalprojectsinFlorida.ThegrowthingrantfundingbeingsecuredtohelpserveFlorida’shomelessisreflectedinthefollowingtableofawards.

Continuum of CareYear Awards2007 $62,693,380

2008 $67,181,3362009 $73,836,3672010 $77,739,4892011 $78,767,1122012 $78,554,056

2013 $82,932,029

2014 $84,255,169

Thetotalawardsfor2014coverbothgrantrenewalsandnewprojects.Abreakdownofthegrantsbyeachoftheplanningareasfor2013and2014follows:


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HUD Continuum of Care AwardsByFloridaPlanningAreas2013and2014

Continuum of Care 2013 Award 2014 AwardSuncoast $800,833 785,655

Hillsborough 5,782,271 6,243,959Pinellas 3,792,806 3,914,556Polk 704,421 605,615

Lakeland 989,191 994,538Volusia/Flagler 1,406,249 1,049,538

Okaloosa/Walton 621,146 628,910BigBend 1,309,174 1,325,497

Central FL 6,004,072 7,159,105North Central 646,153 677,341Treasure Coast 1,340,469 1,381,491Jacksonville 4,586,646 4,569,262EscaRosa 964,894 948,354St.Johns 152,400 152,400Brevard 828,171 817,332

Miami-Dade 32,519,448 32,258,225Broward 10,246,854 10,256,442Charlotte 231,246 218,035

Lee 2,030,730 2,061,821Monroe 499,054 528,073

Palm Beach 5,496,169 5,461,193Collier 298,064 312,296Marion 242,225 241,997Pasco 776,756 758,924

Northwest 42,247 49,162Mid-Florida 371,706 370,361

Suwannee Valley 278,346 279,172Highlands 201,534 205,915TOTAL $83,163,275 $84,255,169

*CharlotteCountyExtendedtheir2012GrantThrough2013andwasawardeda2014GrantfromHUD

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d W

ay o

f Suw

anne

e Vall

ey -

Colum

bia, H

amilto

n, La

fayett

e, Su

wann

ee co

untie

s

Alac

hua C

nty C

oalit

ion

for t

he H

omele

ss -

Alac

hua,

Brad

ford,

Levy

, Putn

am, G

iilchr

ist co

untie

s

Emer

genc

y Ser

vices

& H

omele

ss C

oalti

on o

f Ja

ckso

nville

– Du

val, C

lay, N

assa

u co

untie

s

Emer

genc

y Ser

vices

& H

omele

ss C

oalit

ion

of S

t. Jo

hns C

ount

y, In

c. - S

t. Joh

ns C

ounty

Volu

sia/F

lagler

Cou

nty C

oalit

ion

for t

he H

omele

ss -

Volus

ia an

d Flag

ler co

untie

s

Mario

n Co

unty

Hom

eless

Cou

ncil,

Inc.

- Mar

ion C

ounty

Mid-

Flor

ida H

omele

ss C

oalit

ion

- Citru

s, He

rnan

do,

Lake

, Sum

ter

Ho

mele

ss C

oalit

ion

of P

olk C

ount

y, In

c. - P

olk C

ounty

(C

ity o

f Lak

eland

)

Tri-S

tate

Com

mun

ity S

ervic

es -

Polk

Coun

ty (e

xclud

ing

Ci

ty of

Lake

land)

Br

evar

d Co

unty

Dep

t. of

Hsin

g &

Hum

an S

ervic

es –

Br

evar

d Co

unty

Ho

mele

ss S

ervic

es N

etwo

rk o

f Cen

tral F

lorid

a -

Or

lando

, Osc

eola,

Sem

inole

coun

ties

Co

alitio

n fo

r the

Hom

eless

of P

asco

Cnt

y - P

asco

Cnty

Pine

llas C

nty H

omele

ss L

eade

rshi

p Bd

– Pi

nella

s Cnty

Hom

eless

Coa

litio

n of

Hills

boro

ugh C

ount

y -

Hi

llsbo

roug

h Cn

ty

Su

ncoa

st P

artn

ersh

ip to

End

Hom

eless

ness

- M

anate

e

and S

aras

ota co

untie

s

Char

lotte

Cou

nty H

omele

ss C

oalit

ion

- Cha

rlotte

Cou

nty

Co

llier C

ount

y Hun

ger &

Hom

eless

Coa

litio

n -

Collie

r

Cnty

Le

e Cou

nty D

ept o

f Hum

an S

ervic

es -

Lee C

ounty

High

lands

Cnt

y Coa

litio

n fo

r the

Hom

eless

- De

Soto,

Glad

es, H

arde

e, He

ndry,

High

lands

, Oke

echo

bee

coun

ties

Tr

easu

re C

oast

Hom

eless

Ser

vices

Cou

ncil,

Inc.

-

Indian

Rive

r, Ma

rtin, S

t. Luc

ie co

untie

s

Divis

ion

of H

uman

Ser

vices

of P

alm B

each

Cou

nty -

Palm

Bea

ch C

ounty

Brow

ard

Cnty

Hom

eless

Initi

ative

Par

tner

ship

Adm

inist

ratio

n - B

rowa

rd C

ounty

Miam

i-Dad

e Cou

nty H

omele

ss T

rust

- Mi

ami-D

ade

Co

unty

Mo

nroe

Cnt

y Hom

eless

Ser

vices

CoC

- Mo

nroe

Coun

ty

Bake

r


40

Continuum of Care Lead Agency ContactsTheresa Lowe, Executive Director AlachuaCountyCoalitionfortheHomeless&Hungry 352-792-0800 [email protected]

Morgan Burleson, Executive Director Homeless&HungerCoalitionofNWFlorida 850-481-5446 [email protected]

Cindy L. Short, Special Projects Coordinator BrevardCountyHousingandHumanServices 321-633-2007, Ext. 56763 [email protected]

Michael Wright, Executive Director Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership| 954-357-6101 [email protected]

Angela Hogan, Executive Director Charlotte County Homeless Coalition 941-627-4313 [email protected]

Barbara Wheeler, Executive Director Mid-Florida Homeless Coalition 352-860-2308 [email protected]

Rita Dopp, Executive Director United Way of Suwannee Valley 386-752-5604 [email protected]

Angela Fisher, Executive Director CollierCountyHungerandHomelessCoalition 239-263-9363 [email protected]

Cathy Jackson, Contractor HighlandsCountyCoalitionfortheHomeless 863-452-1086 [email protected]

Dawn Gilman, Executive Director EmergencyServices&HomelessCoalition 904-354-1100 [email protected]

John Johnson, Executive Director EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless 850-436-4646 [email protected]

Antoinette Hayes-Triplett, CEO TampaHillsboroughHomelessInitiative 813-223-6115 [email protected]

2015 Annual Report

41

Louise Hubbard, Executive Director Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council, Inc. 772-778-4234 [email protected]

Janet Bartos, Executive Director Lee County Department of Human Services 239-322-6600 [email protected]

Bret Ogelsby, Executive Director (interim) BigBendHomelessCoalition 850-205-6005 [email protected]

Leslie Loveless, Executive Director Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, Inc. 941-955-8987 [email protected]

Karen Hill, Executive Director Marion County Homeless Council, Inc. 352-732-1380 [email protected]

Victoria Mallette, Executive Director Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust 305-375-1491 [email protected]

Jeanette McLernon, CoC Administrator Monroe County Homeless Services Continuum of Care Inc. 443-974-6522 [email protected]

Sarah Yelveton, Executive Director Okaloosa-WaltonHomelessContinuumofCare 850-409-3070 [email protected]

Martha Are, Executive Director HomelessServicesNetworkofCentralFlorida 407-893-0133 [email protected]

Georgiana Devine, Homeless Program and Contract Manager Division of Human Services of Palm Beach County 561-355-4764 [email protected]

Eugene Williams, Executive Director Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County 727-834-3445 [email protected]

Susan Finlaw-Dusseault, Interim Director Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board 727-528-5762 [email protected]

Laura Lee Gwinn, Executive Director HomelessCoalitionofPolkCounty 863-687-8386 [email protected]

Debi Redding, Program Coordinator EmergencyServicesandHomelessCoalitionofSt.Johns 904-824-6623 [email protected]

Jeff White, Executive Director Volusia/FlaglerCountyCoalitionfortheHomeless 386-279-0029 [email protected]


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Council on Homelessness2014-2015

Agencies Representatives

Department of Children and Families Ute Gazioch

Department of Economic Opportunity Sean Lewis

Department of Health Mary T. Green

Department of Corrections Chris Southerland Lauren Walker

DepartmentofVeterans’Affairs Alene Tarter

CareerSource Florida, Inc. Carmen Mims

Florida Department of Education Lorraine Husum Allen

AgencyforHealthCareAdministration Molly McKinstry

FloridaHousingFinanceCorporation Bill Aldinger

Florida Coalition for the Homeless Angela Hogan

FloridaSupportiveHousingCoalition Shannon Nazworth

FloridaLeagueofCities Rick Butler

Florida Association of Counties Claudia Tuck

Governor’sAppointees Steve Smith Frank Diaz Bob Dickinson Cherron “CC” Newby

ExOfficio Lindsey Berling-Cannon Nikki Barfield Col. Washington Sanchez, Jr.

2015 Annual Report

43

GlossaryCatchment area—ThegeographicalareaofthestateforwhicheachHomelessContinuumofCareleadagencyprovidesservices.

Coalition—Agroupofserviceproviders,interestedcitizens,localgovernmentofficialsandotherswhoworktogetheronaffordablehousingandhomelessnessissuesintheircommunities.Generally,acoalitionisnottobeconfusedwithaContinuumofCareleadagencieswhichisaformalHUD-designation.

Continuum of Care—The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)designedtheHomelessContinuumsofCaretopromotecommunitywidecommitmentandplanningtothegoalofendinghomelessness.InFloridathereare28ContinuumofCareleadagenciesserving64 of 67 counties.

Council on Homelessness—The Council on Homelessness was created in 2001 to develop policies and recommendations to reduce homelessness in Florida.The Council’s mission is todevelopandcoordinatepolicytoreducetheprevalenceanddurationofhomelessness,andworktowardendinghomelessnessinFlorida.

Department of Children & Families (DCF)—AnagencyofFloridastategovernmentchargedwith protecting vulnerable children and adults, helping families return to self-sufficiency, andadvancingpersonalandfamilyrecoveryandresiliency.

Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)—An agency of Florida state governmentthatpromoteseconomicopportunitiesforallFloridians;formulatingandimplementingsuccessfulworkforce,community,andeconomicdevelopmentpoliciesandstrategies.

Emergency Shelter—Alivingfacilityopentoindividualsandfamilieswhoarehomeless.Theset-upofanemergencysheltermaybeindormitorystyle,orwithindividualroomsforshelterresidents.Manysheltersoffercasemanagementtohelpresidentswithhousing,jobs,andsocialservices.

Extremely Low-Income (ELI)—Household income that is 30% of the annual federal poverty guidelinespublishedby theDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.Forexample, in2014aFlorida family of 4 would have a yearly income of $16,850 or less.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation—FloridaHousingwascreatedbytheFloridaLegislaturemorethan25yearsagotohelpFloridiansobtainsafe,decent,affordablehousingthatmightotherwisebeunavailabletothem.Thecorporationprovidesfundsforthedevelopmentofhousing.

Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH)—SignedbyPresidentObama in2009amendingandreauthorizingtheMcKinney-VentoHomelessAssistanceActwithsubstantialchangesrelatedtocompetitivegrantprograms,changesinHUD’s


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definitionofhomelessness,increase/changesthatappliestothoseeligibleforhomelessassistanceprogramsfundedbytheDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment(HUD)

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)—AHomelessManagementInformationSystem(HMIS)isalocalinformationtechnologysystemusedtocollectclientinformationanddataontheprovisionofhousingandservicestohomelessindividualsandfamiliesandpersonsatriskofhomelessness.EachContinuumofCareisresponsibleforselectinganHMISsoftwaresolutionthatcomplieswithHUD’sdatacollection,management,andreportingstandards.

Housing First—HousingFirstisanapproachtoendinghomelessnessthatcentersonprovidingpeopleexperiencinghomelessnesswithhousingasquicklyaspossible–andthenprovidingservicesasneeded.Thisapproachhasthebenefitofbeingconsistentwithwhatmostpeopleexperiencinghomelessnesswantandseekhelptoachieve.

Housing Trust Funds—Housingtrustfundsareestablishedinstateandlocalgovernmentsasawayoffundingaffordablehousing.ManytrustfundslikeFlorida’sSadowskiActTrustFundreceivefundingfromdedicatedrevenuefromrealestatedocstamps.Theymayalsobefundedbygeneralrevenueandgovernmentbonds.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001— A federal Act pertaining to the educationof homeless children and youth to ensure that each homelessstudenthasequalaccesstothesamefree,appropriatepubliceducation,includingapublicpreschooleducation,asprovidedtootherchildrenandyouth.Requiresstatestoreviewandundertakestepstoreviselaws,regulations,practices,orpoliciesthatmayactasabarriertotheenrollment,attendance,or success in school of homeless children and youth.

Office on Homelessness—Created in 2001, theOffice onHomelessnesswas established asacentralpointofcontactwithinstategovernmentonhomelessness.TheOfficecoordinatestheservicesofthevariousstateagenciesandprogramstoserveindividualsorfamilieswhoarehomeless,orarefacinghomelessness.Officestaffworkwiththe17-memberCouncilonHomelessnesstodevelopstatepolicy.TheOfficealsomanagestargetedstategrantstosupporttheimplementationoflocalhomelessservicecontinuumofcareplans.TheOfficeisresponsibleforcoordinatingresourcesandprogramsacrossalllevelsofgovernment,andwithprivateprovidersthatservethehomeless.It alsomanages targeted state grants to support the implementationof local homeless servicecontinuum of care plans.

Point-in-Time (PIT) Count—HUDrequiresContinuumsofCare(CoCs)tocountthenumberofpeopleexperiencinghomelessness in thegeographicarea that theyserve through thePoint-in-Timecount(PIT).ConductedbymostCoCsduringthelasttendaysinJanuary,thePITcountincludespeopleservedinshelterprogramseveryyear,witheveryotheryearalsoincludingpeoplewho are unsheltered.Data collected during the PIT counts is critical to effective planning andperformancemanagementtowardthegoalofendinghomelessnessforeachcommunityandforthenation as a whole.

2015 Annual Report

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Permanent Supportive Housing— Acombinationofhousingandservicesintendedasacost-effectivewaytohelppeoplelivemorestable,productivelives.Supportivehousingiswidelybelievedtoworkwellforthosewhofacethemostcomplexchallenges—individualsandfamiliesconfrontedwith homelessness andwho also have very low incomes and/or serious, persistent issues thatmayincludesubstanceabuse,addiction,mentalillness,HIV/AIDS,orotherseriouschallengestoasuccessfullife.Supportivehousingcanbecoupledwithsuchsocialservicesasjobtraining,lifeskillstraining,alcoholanddrugabuseprograms,communitysupportservices(e.g.,childcare,educationalprograms),andcasemanagementtopopulationsinneedofassistance.

Transitional Housing—Temporary housing, generally a room, a house or an apartment, thatservesindividualsandfamilieswhoaregoingfromhomelessnesstopermanenthousingandself-sufficiency.Transitional housing programs offer residents help in finding work, food, permanentaffordablehousing,etc.


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ANNUAL REPORT - dcf.state.fl.us with children as the fastest growing homeless population. ... 2015...

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Transcript of ANNUAL REPORT - dcf.state.fl.us with children as the fastest growing homeless population. ... 2015...