Federal and State Funding Shifts to Rapid Re-Housing: The Positive Impact on Emergency Shelter and...
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Transcript of Federal and State Funding Shifts to Rapid Re-Housing: The Positive Impact on Emergency Shelter and...
Federal and State Funding Shifts to Rapid Re-Housing: The Positive
Impact on Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing
Programs
Audio Conference sponsored by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness
April 12, 2011
Purpose of Today’s Audio Conference
create a dialogue on how to implement rapid re-housing within your current emergency shelter and transitional housing programs
define rapid re-housing and program components
talk about Virginia experiences in what in particular works for rapid re-housing (from VCEH Rapid Re-Housing Report)
point to some resources
outline some next steps for this conversation and how VCEH can help
Disclaimer
This audio-conference is sponsored by and paid for by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness. Registration fees cover the cost of the call itself and a small processing fees. All fees go directly to VCEH. VCEH is not authorized as an official technical assistance provider on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Defining Rapid Re-Housing
Two main goals:
(1)assist homeless households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to return to permanent housing as soon as possible
(2) reduce the length of time people remain in homeless situations
Defining Rapid Re-Housing
You therefore need:
financial assistance
case management and services
employment services
connection to community supports
Defining Rapid Re-Housing
No universal time limit for “rapid”
“Almost” everyone is “housing ready”
Unique services for each unique household
Target Population:
households on the brink of losing their rental homes
households living in emergency shelter or transitional housing, even for a significant period of time
people with barriers to housing including people with multiple evictions, criminal histories, mental illness and / or substance use disorders
Philosophy Behind Rapid Re-Housing
Homelessness is traumatic and families do better in their own stable housing
Homeless families do not look much different than other poor families
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
What defines success?
Reducing the length of time that a family experiences homelessness
Increasing number of families who exit into permanent housing situations
Reducing the rate of return to homelessness
Connecting families to community supports
Increasing employment and / or income
Program Components
Financial Assistance
Case Management
Housing Barrier Assessment
Housing Location Services / Housing Locator / Housing Broker Team
Supportive Services, Connections to Community Resources, Employment
Overhead / Facility Costs / Staffing Costs
Eligible Activities / Costs
Follow up and / or short term case management
Program participant rent subsidy
Rent and utility deposits
Rent and utility arrears
Staff and facility costs associated with the provision of rapid rehousing and case management
VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing
Study of 9 communities experience with rapid re-housing via HPRP
Success in rapid re-housing is due to 3 main factors:
(1) Housing locators results in faster placement of an individual or household into permanent housing
(2) The housing is essential but so are the services
(3) The best outcomes come from collaboration with other service providers to provide long-term community supports to families
VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing
Challenges How RRH Addresses
High cost of housing Housing subsidy
Client barriers to renting
Housing Locator
Barriers to housing stability
Services
VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing; Future Program and Policy Implications
Focus on quality of services v quantity of services
Explore critical time intervention case management models to assist families in making the transition
Focus on employment -- develop your own employment programs, employment broker team, or establish relationships with current existing workforce services
We definitely need more resources!
More on Critical Time Intervention
Go to the VCEH resources page for more on critical time intervention for young homeless mothers
Critical period of time (3-6 months) after a family leaves shelter and is in their own housing when supports and services are critical
Goal: Stabilize clients in the community by developing independent living skills and by building effective support networks in the community
Transfer of care to community supports is not abrupt but instead happens over nine months
Three phases: first phase could start in shelter where CTI worker begins to engage the client and links the client to support services and support services staff before transitioning them into the community
Employment Programs
Concern that families will not be self sustaining = focus on employment programs
Employment navigation programs
Employment broker team
Major Challenges
Lack of affordable housing
Unemployed or under-employed households
Idea that people are not “housing ready”
Decline in shelter utilization = less funding?
Discussion / Questions
• Questions: Do you have any questions about what was presented?
• What about rapid re-housing have you found effective?
• What are your particular concerns about rapid re-housing?
Next Steps
Help from VCEH for your community or for your agency:
RRH Working Group on Employment
RRH Working Group on Organizational Issues for Shelters Adding RRH
RRH Working Group on Achieving Outcomes with RRH
RRH Working Group on Higher Barrier Families
RRH Working Group on Establishing Community Connections
To participate, email [email protected]
You must be a member agency
• www.vceh.org
• A statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• We support communities in implementing long-term solutions to homelessness
• Contact Phyllis Chamberlain at 703-250-4904 or [email protected]