Ending Family Homelessness in Rural

AmericaPresented at: National Conference on Ending Family

HomelessnessFebruary 8, 2008 - Seattle, Washington

Sponsored by the National Alliance to End Homelessness

Jonda Clemings, MSEd, LSWCoalition On Homelessness and Housing

in Ohio

www.cohhio.org

• Large geographic area• Less than 100,000 people• More than 100 miles from urban area

• Higher poverty rates• Less educational attainment• More agricultural and extractive industries

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Characteristics of Rural America

Challenges Faced By Rural

Providers

• Lack of public transportation• Single agencies providing multiple services

• Personnel wear several “hats”• Sense of isolation• Fewer resources - funding• Difficult for staff to attend trainings & meetings

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Rural Homelessness

Per the National Coalition for the Homeless - “Rural homelessness is numerically less and often proportionately more than urban homeless.”

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Rural vs. Urban

• The picture of rural homelessness is not the same as urban homelessness.

• Lack of qualitative & quantitative knowledge about the needs of rural homeless and the causes of their homelessness has prevented providers & policy makers from adequately addressing the problem.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Problems with Current Systems

• Housing is not seen as the primary intervention

• Some programs incentivize shelter entry versus prevention

• High cost interventions are not always targeted to the most vulnerable families

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Costs of Homelessness - Family & Children

• Families Involvement in Foster Care and Child Welfare

Incidence of families separating or dissolving

• Children Poor health Developmental delays Mental health Behavioral problems Academic achievement

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Ohio Rural Homelessness Initiatives

COHHIO• Technical Assistance• Capacity Building• Rural Advisory Council• Rural Convenings

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Ohio Housing Trust Fund

•Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)

•Direct Housing•Emergency Shelter** Family Homelessness Prevention Pilot Project

•Foreclosure Prevention

• Home Repair• Homelessness Prevention

• Housing Development Assistance Program

• Permanent Supportive Housing

• Supportive Services• Transitional Housing

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Ohio Balance of State HMIS

December 28, 200766% HMIS Coverage

• Shelters - 42• 471 households• 964 HH members• 469 Adults• 495 children

• Transitional Housing - 37• 355 households• 822 HH members• 357 Adults• 465 children

Accessing Mainstream Resources

Ohio Benefit Bank

• Knox County has trained OBB counselors to help low-income households access Medicaid, Food Stamps, Child Care Subsidy/Tax Credit, Home Energy Assistance Program, Tax Assistance, and Earned Income Tax Credits.

Regional Collaboration

4 County Collaboration

• Continuum of Care • Referrals to services within the alliance

• Information shared on available resources & new programs

• Case reviews

Project TOTALPrevention & Housing

AssistanceTargeting High Risk

Families

• Greene County provides outreach and follow-up support for homeless and those at-risk for homelessness. • Services include: case management, systems advocacy, crisis intervention, landlord-tenant mediation, peer support, life skill development, and linkages to community resources.

“Positive Balance”Financial Literacy

Prevention Approach

• Licking County utilizes an AmeriCorps Grant to provide financial literacy at 12 local agencies/organizations.

• Budgeting counseling

Housing FirstRapid Re-Entry

• Delaware County utilizes supportive services and time-limited subsidy by relying on early identification and resolution of a family’s “housing barriers” and assist them to return to permanent housing.

Shelter Plus CareTargeting Services

• Portage County utilizes the Shelter Plus Care Program to provide a rental subsidy to homeless families with a severe mental disability.

• Mental Health agency provides Supportive Services.

Jonda Clemings, MSEd, LSWRural Housing Program CoordinatorCoalition On Homelessness and Housing In Ohio

175 S. Third St. - Suite 250Columbus, Ohio 43215P 614.280.1984jondaclemings@cohhio.org

www.cohhio.org