Goals for Today 1.Provide an Overview on the FCHC 2.Highlight FCHC Successes 3.Review Project RUSH...

Goals for Today1. Provide an Overview on the FCHC

2. Highlight FCHC Successes

3. Review Project RUSH basics

4. Review Key Data Findings

5. Share Areas of Strategic Focus

6. Inspire further involvement!

FCHC OverviewFox Cities Housing Coalition (FCHC)

• Established 1995 • Currently over 30 organizations strong

The mission of the FCHC is to ensure that all people in the Fox Cities have decent,

affordable housing.

FCHC Officers

President: Chris Lashock, Homeless Connections

Vice-President: Joe Mauthe, Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities

Treasurer: Tony Gonzalez, United Way Fox Cities

Secretary: Jessica Fleek, Prosperity Center

FCHC CommitteesGaps and Services– Address the needs of individuals with enough

flexibility to avoid unnecessary duplication of services

Streamlining– Streamline process for gaining access to services

provided by Coalition agencies

Communications– To ensure effective internal and external

communication

2015 Accomplishments

Website Upgrade and Redesignwww.fchc.net

2015 AccomplishmentsWebsite Upgrade and Redesign– J. J. Keller “Give Camp”

Coordinated Intake and Assessment

Point In Time Count and Resource Fair– Every January and July

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Homeless Connections Fox Valley Warming Shelter

Indi

vidu

als

Shelter UtilizationShelter Utilization

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Outagamie Winnebago

Stud

ents

Homeless Students (Under 18)Homeless Students (Under 18)

What We’ve Seen• Consistently high and increasing homeless

count numbers

• An increasing demand for affordable housing, coupled with a lack of availability

• A need to go upstream and understand the struggles and barriers of those on the “fringe” of homelessness

Project Set-Up

Research to Understand and Solve…

Purpose: To First Understand– What are the characteristics of the “hidden

homeless”?

– What are their barriers to stability?

– How do these groups differ? How are they alike?

Project Supporters “Anchor” Grant

Supplemental funding to ensure project success

Project Supporters

In-kind Sponsors

Survey Development

Housing Aspect: Community Partners Research• Housing stock analysis

People Aspect: Amherst Wilder Foundation• Professional social science tool• Survey design: Face-to-Face• Compare different types of housing instability

“Categories”

“Sweet Spot”: Who We Know• Unsheltered homeless• Sheltered homeless

“Hidden Homeless”: Who We Don’t Know• Doubled up• Precariously housed

*Please refer to your summary booklet for definitions*

Survey Categories

• Current Housing Situation• Demographics and Housing History• Transportation• Income, Employment, and Education• Physical and Mental Health• Domestic Violence and Trauma• Family-Based Questions• Home Environment Growing Up• Support Network

The ResultsProject Coordination• Project Manager

• 17 sites throughout Fox Cities

Location Sites ARCWCounty Veteran Service OrganizationFox Valley Technical CollegeGoodwillHarbor HouseHabitat for HumanityHousing Partnership of the Fox CitiesLEAVENLoaves and Fishes

Mission ChurchOutagamie County Economic Support PCH Dental ClinicPCH Medical ClinicRiverview GardensSalvation ArmyStep IndustriesSt. Joe’s Food Pantry

The Results

Project Coordination, continued:• Project Manager• 17 sites throughout Fox Cities

• Professional volunteer recruitment assistance

• 125 volunteers

Volunteer Training

The Results

Project Coordination, continued:• Project Manager• 17 sites throughout Fox Cities• Professional volunteer recruitment assistance• 125 volunteers• 900 hours worth of “survey time”• 600 surveys conducted

“Solving” StageExpectations for remainder of presentation• Review of key findings

• “Lessons Learned” summaries

• Highlight of supporting data

• Strategic Areas of Focus

Shift in UnderstandingAssumptions: • “Categories” would reveal significant differences– About the types of people from one category to the

next– About the types of solutions required to

end/prevent homelessness

Reality: • Individuals are more similar in experiences,

history, and current barriers

Permeable Model*

*NOT TO SCALE

Next Steps

Our community must look DEEPER into common risk factors in order to develop integrated strategies to address these adverse experiences

We have a greater change at helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency when we address all the risk factors that undermine the opportunity for stability in their lives

Risk Factors

Physical Health

Mental Health

Unaffordable Housing

Employment and Education

Trauma and Adverse Experiences

Risk Factors

Physical Health Physical Health’s Story

• Impacts other more “root cause” issues, like employment, education, and housing.

• High need for physical health care coupled with inability to access or navigate care

• Impacting daily functioning in a greater way than previously understood

Physical Health Statistics Limits daily functioning• 49% have a physical or other health condition that

limits the kind or amount of work they can do

High Need for Services• 52% need to see a dentist • 40% need to see a physician

and YET

Almost 40% unable to access health care due to: • Lack of money (32%)• No insurance (20%)• Transportation barriers (12%)

General Popu-lation

Unsheltered Sheltered Doubled-Up Precariously Housed

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Perc

enta

geHave Used Emergency Care in Past 6 Months

Physical Health Summary• Little to no focus on prevention

• Significant struggles with accessing available health care in community

• Struggles with physical health negatively impact daily functioning and stability

Incorporate physical health into resource planning and

supportive services

Risk Factors

Physical Health

Mental HealthMental Health

Mental Health Mental Health’s Story

• One of the most drastic contrasts between surveyed population and general population is the degree and prevalence of mental illness

• Especially when coupled with limited access to or follow-up with professional treatment and support

General Popu-lation


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Perc

enta

geDiagnosed Significant Mental Health Condition

Mental Health StatisticsOnly 50% with diagnosis receiving treatment and support needed – 20-30% have been in a residential facility– 33% have received outpatient care in past 2 years

Further complicated by substance dependency issues– 63% EITHER mental illness OR chemical dependency– 25% BOTH mental illness AND chemical dependency

General Popu-lation


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Perc

enta

geAttempted SuicideAttempted Suicide

Mental Health Summary• Impacts population surveyed significantly more than

general population

• Mental health struggles, if untreated or unsupported, have the potential to undermine opportunities for stability (i.e. employment, housing)

Emotional and behavioral health mustplay a significant role in conversations about homelessness/housing instability solutions

Physical Health

Risk Factors

Mental Health


Trauma’s Story• For many, homelessness is merely the latest of a chain

of adverse experiences that often begin in childhood.

• Impact how individuals view and interact with others and community

• Must be examined from 3 perspectives:• Childhood Trauma• Environmental Influences• Current experiences

General Popu-lation


0

5

10

15

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35

40

45

Physically Mistreated as Youth Sexually Mistreated as Youth

Percentage

Physical and Sexual Mistreatment

Environmental FactorsTaken together, the various home life situations paint a picture of home instability:

• 36% moved out of their family home prior to age 18

• 15% had a parent in prison during childhood

• 13% have been incarcerated in a juvenile detention center

• 10% have lived in a foster home

Current Experiences

Domestic Violence• 40% have stayed in an abusive relationship

because they had no where else to go

Sexual Exploitation• 20% of currently homeless and doubled up

participants have exchanged sexual activities in order to obtain clothing, food, and shelter

General Popu-lation


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Percentage

Involvement in Criminal Justice System

Current Experiences

Relationship with friends and families…. • Source of strength (48%)• Someone who cheers them up (58%)

However,

Highly isolated from community and support networks • Never attend community social events (49%)• Never attend social events with friends or family (26%)

Trauma Summary• Adverse experiences are traumatic and negatively impact an

individual’s ability to process, cope with, and overcome daily stressors.

• Individuals struggling with housing instability report a higher incidence of traumatic experiences than the general population

Must be thoughtfully approached and incorporated within service delivery to maximize the impact of support received.

“Aftercare” or follow-up support services that are more accessible and available for a longer period of time need to be considered.

Physical Health

Mental Health



Risk Factors

Employment and EducationEmployment and Education’s Story:

• “A decent paying job is the best defense against homelessness”

• Employment leads to a stability that majority of the surveyed participants did not have.

• Education must align with employment needs


• 66% have a high school degree or higher

• Yet only 30% are employed– 44% are unemployed and looking – 26% are unemployed and not looking

• Of those 26% unemployed and not looking– 86% have a limiting mental or cognitive health condition– 47% have a limiting Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

diagnosis or symptoms

Employment and Education• 90,000 jobs available in Wisconsin, but many require

specialized training and education.

• 51% would like to pursue advanced education

• Biggest barriers include: Cost of enrolling Health problems “Not even able to consider it due to everything else

happening in their lives”

• The result is a lack of sustainable income, both current and potential

Appleton Unsheltered Sheltered Doubled-Up Precariously Housed

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

$4,000

$4,500

$5,000

Average Monthly Income

Employment and Education Summary

• Steady employment is both a crucial key to individual success AND a possibility here in the Fox Cities.

• The presence of mental and/or physical health issues, along with multiple “risk factors” create substantial barriers to education and employment.

Education services that focus on barrier removal will result in increased employment opportunities and advancement.

Physical Health

Mental Health




Risk Factors


Unaffordable Housing’s Story:

• Growth continues in the Fox Cities – for both high income and low income households.

• The rental market continues to grow, but primarily in middle and high income units. Low income rentals remain in high demand.

• A high number of renters and homeowners are “cost burdened.” This impacts quality of life and other risk factors.

Statistics• 94,000 households in Fox Cities– Adding 700 households per year through 2020– 31% of households are renters

• 8% growth in number of extremely low income households (less than $25,000 per year)

• “Cost Burden” – paying more than 30% of income toward rent or mortgage– 40% of renters (11,066 households) – 21% of home owners (14,224 households)

<$250 $250-499 $500-649 $650-899 $900-1249 $1250+0

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Rental Unit Supply and Demand

<$250 $250-499 $500-649 $650-899 $900-1249 $1250+0

2000

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10000

12000

Units Available


<$250 $250-499 $500-649 $650-899 $900-1249 $1250+0

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10000

12000

Renter Households


<$250 $250-499 $500-649 $650-899 $900-1249 $1250+0

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10000

12000

Units Renter Households


Unaffordable Housing Summary

• The cost of housing itself is simply out of reach for many experiencing homelessness or doubled up situations.

• The Fox Cities is facing a significant undersupply of affordable rental units for low-income families attempting to establish housing stability.

Our community must come together to review and plan for creative housing options that will address this mounting issue.

Pathways Out of Housing Instability

Affordable, Safe Housing

Support and Services

Economic Stability

1. Share Project RUSH data broadly within the community – promote comprehensive and collaborative

approaches to addressing this complex issue

2. Streamline current services to maximize value delivered.

Strategic Areas of Focus

3. Focus on barrier removal to enhance opportunities for increased education and employment advancement.

4. Promote and/or create opportunities for ongoing supportive services and case management.


5. Promote and/or create opportunities for trauma-informed care, response, and programming.

6. Place special focus on childhood and young adults success


7. Increase affordable, permanent housing opportunities.

8. Engage community to promote social inclusion and eliminate stereotypes and misperceptions


Next Steps

Get informed! • Download full reports at our website (www.fchc.net)

Get involved! • Be a part of the continuing conversations• Drop your business card in the desired “get involved”

box at the back of the room

Get invested!• To financially support the development and

implementation of solutions, use the donation envelopes on the table

http://www.fchc.net/

Thank you for attending today!

Goals for Today 1.Provide an Overview on the FCHC 2.Highlight FCHC Successes 3.Review Project RUSH...

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Transcript of Goals for Today 1.Provide an Overview on the FCHC 2.Highlight FCHC Successes 3.Review Project RUSH...