Coordinating Multiple Coordinating Multiple Homeless Interventions Homeless Interventions in a Rural Communityin a Rural Community

Serenity House of Clallam Serenity House of Clallam CountyCounty

and the Clallam County and the Clallam County Homeless Task ForceHomeless Task ForceFebruary 2008February 2008

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview Background on our prevention/intervention Background on our prevention/intervention

system and its outcomes for homeless system and its outcomes for homeless families with childrenfamilies with children

Why/How we decided to make a change—Why/How we decided to make a change—as a result of the Ten Year Plan processas a result of the Ten Year Plan process

How our system is evolving to focus on How our system is evolving to focus on rapid re-housing of families into rapid re-housing of families into permanent housing permanent housing

Activities and Outcomes to dateActivities and Outcomes to date Projections and future system expansionProjections and future system expansion Lessons learnedLessons learned

The Short Story on The Short Story on Serenity House & Serenity House &

Clallam County Ten Year Clallam County Ten Year PlanPlan

Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks 3 largest communities(pop=70,000) Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks 3 largest communities(pop=70,000) Higher than state average poverty (14%) but a strong economy Higher than state average poverty (14%) but a strong economy

(5.4% unemployment, AMI up).(5.4% unemployment, AMI up). Five tribal communitiesFive tribal communities Strong commitment from local government to end homelessnessStrong commitment from local government to end homelessness

Clallam County

Serenity House- grass roots non-profit founded in Clallam County 25 years ago with the mission to prevent and eliminate homelessness in our community.

Lead agency for County Homeless Task Force and Shelter Providers Network (meeting since 1989)

Point in Time Count of Point in Time Count of Homeless Homeless 2005-Homeless population = 1,050 2005-Homeless population = 1,050

total—total—164 family households164 family households 2006-1,055 total---2006-1,055 total---173 families173 families 2007-807 total---2007-807 total---130 families130 families 2008*—757 total—2008*—757 total—109 families109 families

In 2007 only one family with minorIn 2007 only one family with minor

children was surveyed as livingchildren was surveyed as living

outdoors, in a car or tentoutdoors, in a car or tent

Measurable progress Measurable progress for homeless families for homeless families

in 2005-06in 2005-06

•Prevention Assistance has increased by 40% for two years in a row. In 2006, 180 households, 75% of whom were families

•42 new units of short and mid-term transition-in-place units for families

•Permanent Supportive Housing for families being developed

•12 new units of crisis housing in county

The Homeless System The Homeless System pre housing resource pre housing resource centerscenters

Long standing & involved provider system, with Long standing & involved provider system, with multiple options for families. Strong partnership multiple options for families. Strong partnership with Housing Authoritywith Housing Authority

Families experience intensive/effective services in Families experience intensive/effective services in shelter/transitional housing environment but shelter/transitional housing environment but expensive to provide, not enough units to meet expensive to provide, not enough units to meet need, little support post-exit, hotel utilization was need, little support post-exit, hotel utilization was expensive and ineffective, long wait lists for site-expensive and ineffective, long wait lists for site-based programsbased programs

Length of stay in shelter was two months or more Length of stay in shelter was two months or more for familiesfor families

Most services, housing choices located in Port Most services, housing choices located in Port AngelesAngeles

Clallam Homeless Housing Clallam Homeless Housing ProgramsPrograms

PATHPSH Units in Forks-6

SHCCTempest PSHSingle Adults15 Units

Family Shelter Units10 2-bdrm units in Port Angeles/Seq

SHCC/HACCTBRA Transition Units- 35 Units

SHCC Serenity Court for families/single10 units

SHCC WFFTransition in Place 8 Units

WFF Transition in Place in Forks4 Units

Domestic Violence Family Shelter- PA5 units

Single Adult EmergencyShelter-50 beds

SHCCEvergreen Transitional for families16 units

Street Outreach Shelter—for single adults up to 24 beds

SHCCTransitions to Housing Short Term Rental – 20 units

WEO Outreach Emergency Shelter-Forks2 units

Forks DVShelter-4 units

Rose HouseDV Transitional5 Units

 

units

Adapting the system for Adapting the system for resultsresults

Key elements of Clallam Ten Year Plan to end Key elements of Clallam Ten Year Plan to end homelessness:homelessness:

Countywide emphasis on prevention, coordinated Countywide emphasis on prevention, coordinated assessment, rapid re-housing and discharge planningassessment, rapid re-housing and discharge planning

Housing first solutionsHousing first solutions

Detailed and prioritized plan to develop affordable Detailed and prioritized plan to develop affordable housing across the countyhousing across the county

Development of permanent supportive housing for Development of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless across the countychronically homeless across the county

Coordinated countywide supportive services networkCoordinated countywide supportive services network

Starting the process of Starting the process of countywide prevention countywide prevention and rapid rehousingand rapid rehousing

Homeless Task Force identifies and Homeless Task Force identifies and applies to state funding program, strong applies to state funding program, strong community support & identified lead community support & identified lead providers, propose to serve all homeless providers, propose to serve all homeless populationspopulations

Awarded in December 2006-about Awarded in December 2006-about $700,000 awarded for prevention & rapid $700,000 awarded for prevention & rapid rehousing over 3 year period- Local match rehousing over 3 year period- Local match of about $450,000 over same 3 yearsof about $450,000 over same 3 years

State and county contracts completed State and county contracts completed September 2007September 2007 Port Angeles HRC opens 1 SeptemberPort Angeles HRC opens 1 September Forks and Sequim offices to open Forks and Sequim offices to open

December 2007December 2007 3 Year Goal- 600+households. On track to 3 Year Goal- 600+households. On track to

meet goal in first two years of projectmeet goal in first two years of project

Providing coordinated intake, Providing coordinated intake, prevention & rapid rehousingprevention & rapid rehousing

First visit will begin intake/assessment: First visit will begin intake/assessment: eviction prevention within five days, other eviction prevention within five days, other housing services within 15-30 days: including housing services within 15-30 days: including housing search, short term rental assistance, housing search, short term rental assistance, start up assistance, orstart up assistance, or

Emergency shelter placement, or scattered-Emergency shelter placement, or scattered-site or site-based transitional housing.site or site-based transitional housing.

Initial demand double expectationsInitial demand double expectations 5 FTEs prevention & case management, on-5 FTEs prevention & case management, on-

site partners including Housing Authority, site partners including Housing Authority, Veterans Relief, Re-Entry housing specialistVeterans Relief, Re-Entry housing specialist

Current vacancies, other community services, Current vacancies, other community services, Tenant PI Screening supports, Ready to RentTenant PI Screening supports, Ready to Rent

Housing Resource Center 535 East First Street Port Angeles WA 98362 360- 452-6801/360-477-0907

Housing Resource Center flow Housing Resource Center flow chart for assisting families:chart for assisting families: Prevention Prevention

specialistspecialist Family Case Family Case

ManagersManagers Vets Relief Vets Relief

case managercase manager Housing Housing

Authority Authority voucher voucher specialistspecialist

Youth & Youth & young adult young adult case managercase manager

Community: Community: DV,Mental DV,Mental Health, DSHS, Health, DSHS, jail, re-entryjail, re-entry

Site Based HousingSite Based Housing Emergency shelterEmergency shelter Section 8Section 8 Evergreen Family Evergreen Family

VillageVillage Serenity CourtSerenity Court

Home Based HousingHome Based Housing Tenant Based Rental Tenant Based Rental

AssistanceAssistance Transitions to HousingTransitions to Housing One Family-One HomeOne Family-One Home CornerstoneCornerstone

Intake & Assessment:

Prevention

Prevention Plus

Start up

Housing Counseling & Placement

ORCase Management

Housing Stability Plan

Five months of housing Five months of housing intakesintakes

Monthly household totals receiving prevention and short term rental assistance

over a 5 month period

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 2 3 4 5

Months

Ho

use

ho

ld n

um

ber

s

Family Households

Single Households

In 5 months,, 1,138 total visits and 476 unduplicated applicants.

286 households received housing counseling & placement or case management and housing stability plan

160 households received prevention or short term rental assistance. 106 (67%) were families with children. 71 family households rec’d prevention or start-up assistance and 35 short term rental assistance

Housing Resource Housing Resource CenterCenter Eligibility-typically 30% AMI or Eligibility-typically 30% AMI or

lowerlower Homeless or at-risk criteriaHomeless or at-risk criteria Barriers assessment & one-on-Barriers assessment & one-on-

one interviewone interview Tenant PI background Tenant PI background

screeningscreening Negotiate the right ‘fit’—Negotiate the right ‘fit’—

prevention, start-up, short-prevention, start-up, short-term or other housing term or other housing placementplacement

Connections to housing marketConnections to housing market

Housing Counseling, Housing Counseling, Legal AssistanceLegal Assistance

households referred households referred to property to property managers-current managers-current vacanciesvacancies

applicants receive applicants receive counseling or counseling or connection to legal connection to legal assistance to retain assistance to retain permanent housingpermanent housing

Ready to rent Ready to rent curriculum curriculum

Shelter Assignment Shelter Assignment and Shelter Diversionand Shelter DiversionPlacement into family shelter based onPlacement into family shelter based onassessment & critical need:assessment & critical need:

Reduced use of other community Reduced use of other community resources for motelsresources for motels

Diversion from emergency shelter to Diversion from emergency shelter to permanent housingpermanent housing

Reduced time in emergency shelter Reduced time in emergency shelter

Housing Placement in Housing Placement in site-based programssite-based programs

•Evergreen Transitional

•Serenity Court

26 units, up to 24 months, extensive supportive services, on-site childcare

Also:

•DV Transitional Housing

•Clean and Sober Houses

•In Patient Treatment

•Second Street House

Housing First: Transitions To Housing, One Family-One Home

and TBRA

Program 6 mo Perm Retention Average HHIncome Inc

Service/HousingCost per hh

Evergreen 100% 57% $10,000

Serenity Court 100% 34% $1,850/$3,396

*Prevention 92% NA $810

*Transitions 81% 20% $2,149

*One Family 66% 40% $8,800

*TBRA 84% 22% $5,095

 

Program Outcomes for Site-Based and Home-Based Homeless Family Programs

Home Based Service Home Based Service DeliveryDelivery Building a Relationship and a NetworkBuilding a Relationship and a Network

– Being accessible to the client.Being accessible to the client. Going to the client - FlexibilityGoing to the client - Flexibility CommunicationCommunication

– PolitePolite– Compliments (Sincere) HospitalityCompliments (Sincere) Hospitality

– Knowledge of community resources or willingness to Knowledge of community resources or willingness to explore opportunities to build social support network.explore opportunities to build social support network.

Housing Stability PlanHousing Stability Plan– Focus is on: Focus is on:

Strengthening employment or educational pursuits.Strengthening employment or educational pursuits. Budgeting and financial management.Budgeting and financial management. Crisis reduction.Crisis reduction.

– Plans for financial and case management assistance Plans for financial and case management assistance geared at 3-6 months.geared at 3-6 months.

Challenges We Are Challenges We Are Facing-it’s a messy Facing-it’s a messy processprocess

Staffing resource center and staffing & Staffing resource center and staffing & delivering home-based supportive delivering home-based supportive services at most appropriate level-services at most appropriate level-avoiding burnout and building avoiding burnout and building satisfactionsatisfaction

Effective targeting of households Effective targeting of households Expanding resources & partnershipsExpanding resources & partnerships Completing MOUs for discharge planning Completing MOUs for discharge planning

with jail, diversion courts, hospital, with jail, diversion courts, hospital, service agenciesservice agencies

Housing Market and shrinking choicesHousing Market and shrinking choices Data collection and the future of HMISData collection and the future of HMIS

Expanding local and Expanding local and state connections:state connections:New local partners:New local partners:Housing Authority-Housing Authority-

capital developmentcapital developmentWest End OutreachWest End OutreachUnited WayUnited WayVeteransVeteransLaw & JusticeLaw & JusticeHospital DistrictsHospital DistrictsJuvenile ServicesJuvenile ServicesCity Councils & City Councils &

ManagersManagersSenior CoalitionSenior Coalition

State advocacy andState advocacy and

InvolvementInvolvement FundingFunding PlanningPlanning Legislative and Legislative and

policy changespolicy changes

National AdvocacyNational Advocacy Legislative & Legislative &

policypolicy

PRIORITY PROPOSALS STATUS COMMENTS

 Increase the Housing Trust Fund by at Least $50m, as in the Governor’s Proposed Capital Budget

 

 The House Capital Budget is still being written

 

 

 ESSB 5959 (Hargrove) THOR -- Providing assistance to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless See too HB 1921

 Heard in House Housing on 1/31

 Pro

 

 SB 6335 (Prentice) Concerning the homeless families services fund See too HB 2684

 House 2nd Reading

 Pro

Summary of WSCH Bills & Legislation

Updated on February 6, 2008 per www.leg.wa.gov  

Projecting ForwardProjecting Forward

Family homelessness continue to declineFamily homelessness continue to decline Evictions continue to drop dramatically in CountyEvictions continue to drop dramatically in County New partnerships with property New partnerships with property

managers/landlords/tax credit projects in Sequim managers/landlords/tax credit projects in Sequim and Forks, more rental units at affordable rentsand Forks, more rental units at affordable rents

Internet conferencing system and social Internet conferencing system and social networking system with partners and mainstream networking system with partners and mainstream agencies to sustain permanent success for agencies to sustain permanent success for familiesfamilies

Permanent supportive housing for chronically Permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless familieshomeless families

Evolving role of service & mainstream providers, Evolving role of service & mainstream providers, MOUs with clear expectations with CPS, CSO, MOUs with clear expectations with CPS, CSO, Diversion Courts and MH/SA providers.Diversion Courts and MH/SA providers.

Some Early Lessons LearnedSome Early Lessons Learned Community collaboration, capacity-building Community collaboration, capacity-building

across the county, expanding housing across the county, expanding housing choices , nimble problem solving and choices , nimble problem solving and motivated families are key to success of re-motivated families are key to success of re-housing/rapid exithousing/rapid exit

Re-purpose local programs and funding to Re-purpose local programs and funding to be cost effective and sustainablebe cost effective and sustainable

One-on-One assessment & negotiation of One-on-One assessment & negotiation of housing solution- what does applicant want housing solution- what does applicant want from us and what do they bring to the from us and what do they bring to the contract?contract?

Follow up, service delivery, data tracking- Follow up, service delivery, data tracking- be innovative!be innovative!

Slow progress in establishing countywide Slow progress in establishing countywide plan is okay!plan is okay!