CalWORKs Housing CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) Support Program (HSP)

SeminarSeminarRapid Re-housing Rapid Re-housing

OverviewOverview

September 24, 2014

PRESENTERS 

Riley Wilkerson, Alameda County Housing & Community Development Department

Vivian Wan, Abode Services

Alameda County Overview• Population: 1.5 million (831 sq. mi.)

• 14 cities, several unincorporated communities

• Urban, suburban, rural communities

• Largest cities — Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont

• High cost area — Avg. Rent $2,000 (up 12% from 2013)

Alameda County Homeless

• Point in Time Count - 4,264

• Half of homeless population is

unsheltered

• 32% are families (56% in 2003)

• 26% have mental illness

Before Rapid Re-housing

• All rental subsidies=deep subsidies (30% tenant income)

• Permanent housing--subsidies provided for indefinite period

• Transitional housing (including TBRA)--24 month

program

Rapid Re-housing—Key Components

• Move directly from homelessness to housing

• Focus is housing—assessing/overcoming barriers

• Focus on increasing income or long term subsidy

• Flexible funding—minimal amount of assistance

needed

• Flexible term—three months to two years

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP)—2009-2012

• ARRA Program

• All jurisdictions served (direct/State funded)•Priority Home Partnership•Housing Resource Centers

• $10 million total funding

• 3,000 households assisted

• Worked with SSA to coordinate funding

Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County Post HPRP

• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)a. 40% must be dedicated to rapid

re-housing/prevention

b. Activities patterned after HPRP

c. Not all jurisdictions covered

d. Approximately 200 households served annually

Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County Post HPRP

• Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF)a. Funded by Veteran’s Administration

b. Supportive services and rental subsidies to low and very-low income veterans and families

c. Projected to serve 700 households with current grant

Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County Post HPRP

• Family Housing Reunification Projecta. Funded by Title IV Waiver funding

b. Supportive services and rental subsidies to families reunifying with children

c. Projected to serve 100 households with current grant

Program Spotlight—Linkages• Predates HPRP

•Originally HUD funded as Tenant Based Transitional Housing

•80% permanent housing placement/retention rate

• 45-60 households served annually

• Major changes due to convert to Rapid Re-housing

a. 12 month target b. Graduated rentsc. 80-120 households served annually

Basics of Housing Case Mgmt • Assessments based on housing need

• Not a full bio-psycho-social assessment

• Key housing barrier questionsa. Utility debtb. Involvement with the Criminal Justice Systemc. Income & desire to d. History of homelessness

Services are voluntary… being a good tenant is Not.

How to Make Subsidy Decisions

• Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility

• 3 month assessments (at minimum)

• Multiple layers of approval, preferably across agencies

• Pushing perceptions of “stability”

• Households will continue to struggle, AND most will notre-enter the system

Reassessments• Family must supply income documentation.

• Households with sufficient income to pay rent graduate.

• Subsidy Extended if…

a. Specific plan to increase income

b. Recent DV, “new” mental health barrier, other issues that can be mitigated.

• Family can always “return” if in crisis.

Landlord Engagement- 2 clients• Landlord relationships … a balancing act!

Tensions…•All concerns & “violations” through a HOUSING lensExample- a tenant is smoking “something” in his unit…Neighbors are complaining.

• “Mission” of agency/ sector

Issues/Challenges

• Flexibility of program = Infinite variety of program

designs

• Need for strong policy and procedures

• Target Population (families, income level, none?)

• Term—two year minimum

CalWORKS Housing Support Program

• CalWORKS homeless families

• Major Components:a. Housing Identificationb. Rent and Moving Assistancec. Case Management and Services

Resources:

National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/rapidrehousing1

HUD Rapid Re-housing Briefhttps://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/Rapid-Re-Housing-Brief.pdf

CWDA CalWORKS Housing Supporthttp://cwda.org/tools/calworks.php

Questions?