Homeless Prevention - programs that work
34
Homelessness Prevention Programs Programs That Work
Transcript of Homeless Prevention - programs that work
Homelessness Prevention Programs
Programs That Work
Homelessness Prevention:
Programs that Work
Matt White, Abt Associates (Bethesda, MD)Tina Patterson, The Other Place (Dayton, OH)
COHHIO ConferenceApril 20, 2010
General/Universal Components of Homelessness Prevention
Most programs usually provide… Early intervention Financial assistance Intensive services
But how should programs organize these interventions? What’s the right mix of $$ and services? When to provide the intervention? Who to provide the intervention to?
Homelessness Prevention Context…
A national scan of model programs and best practices reveals a core group of commonalities among successful prevention programs: Focus on Housing Stability, not Emergency Shelter Crisis Resolution Targeting Client Choice Manage for Efficiency and Effectiveness Maximize Community Resources
Goal: Provide the right resources to the right people at the right point in time for the right amount of time.
SHELTER
PreventionEmployment Assistance
Rapid Re-housing
Housing & Support Services
MH/SA Services
Current CoC Model Emerging CoC Model
HOUSING STABILIZATION
Prevention
Employment Assistance
Shelter
Support Services
MH/SA Services
Turning the Continuum of Care Inside – Out
Prevention Principles: Crisis Resolution
Identify the crisisRapid assessment and triage
Focus on personal safety Is the household in immediate danger?Can the client stay in existing housing?
Stabilize householdDoes client have a support network?Are other community-based services
available?
Prevention Principles: Targeting
Determine target group(s) and eligibility criteria For example… formerly homeless Veterans,
persons leaving jail, etc. Limit to or prioritize persons who are at imminent
risk of literal homelessness Other eligibility criteria may be determined by
funding source
Determine client eligibility through screening and eligibility assessment. Funders may dictate eligibility.
Targeting (continued)
Factors impacting possible target groups:(Who will you serve?) Funding source Evictions vs. doubled up Legal issues vs. mediation Individuals vs. families Disabilities (SMD, AOD) Intensity and timing of the crisis Analyze HMIS data for homeless predictors Geographic considerations
Targeting (continued)
How can you predict who will become homeless? Homeless Risk Factors (possible predictors):
Eviction notice Homeless history Youth Domestic violence Young families Loss of job Loss of income
Targeting (continued)Barriers Assessment
Will the prevention intervention work for a particular client?
Income and housing affordability Criminal history Credit history Behavioral health issues Housing history
Previous eviction Previous non-renewal of lease Landlord references
Targeting (continued)
Clients most likely to be successful have…IncomeSocial connectionsLess significant financial needs
This is also the population for whom homelessness is most difficult to predict.
Prevention Principles: Client Choice
People in crisis are most successful when they feel empowered.
Assist client to regain controlReview client’s goals, choices,
preferencesStrengths based approachClients can’t be protected from all the
natural consequences of their actions
Prevention Principles:Effectiveness and Efficiency
Will the prevention intervention avert homelessness?
Will the prevention intervention cost less than a possible stay in emergency shelter and/or transitional housing?
Will the prevention intervention work to provide a greater degree of housing stability for the client?
Program Design Considerations
Design needs to be matched with the intensity and scope of prevention services you provide.
Who will you serve and how will you serve them? …Targeting
How will you identify clients? …Referral How will prevention services be integrated/
coordinated with other community resources? …Linkage
What are the administrative and staffing considerations? …Operations
Linkage – Coordination with Community-Based and Mainstream Services
Make existing services more accessible and effective—avoid duplication
Establish strong relationships Public assistance agenciesLocal housing authorityLocal landlords, landlord networksVA service coordinators Other veterans’ service organizationsOther homelessness prevention providers
Homelessness Prevention Best Practices
Hinge on level of coordination and collaboration between providers
Focus should be on integrating with existing local providers
Collaborative approach depends on the type of provider and the target client group
Ohio Family Homelessness Prevention Pilot
Key Design Elements… Limited financial assistance (~$1,000 per
household) Intensive home-based case
management Evolving targeting strategies
Ohio Family Homelessness Prevention Pilot
Provides limited rental assistance and intensive, home-based case management to households facing literal homelessness
3-year program (Jan ’08 through Dec ’10) Funded by State of Ohio through TANF, Ohio
Trust Fund and HPRP Administered by five nonprofit organizations
serving different communities throughout Ohio (Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Rural Counties (2), Toledo)
Ohio Pilot Eligible Activities
Direct Client Assistance
Rent Utilities Other non-housing
related expenses
Intensive Case Management
Home visits Design individualized
case management plan Connect households to
mainstream resources Skill building
Ohio Pilot Enrollment Process
Step 1: household assessment to ensure prevention assistance is needed
Step 2: enrollment and assignment of case manager who identifies needs and develops housing plan
Step 3: direct client assistance to alleviate immediate pressures related to household expenses
Ohio Household Assessment and Eligibility
Must have one or more dependent children
Must have income at or below 200% of federal poverty level and be TANF eligible
Must live in or need subsidized housingMust be at “imminent risk of
homelessness” as defined by community provider
Ohio Challenges faced by Participating Households
Lack of employmentLack of incomeReceipt of eviction noticeExperienced a medical emergencyLive in substandard housing
Similar to families that enter emergency shelters
Ohio Pilot Results
GRANTEE FAMILIES REFERRED
ASSESSED ENROLLED EXITED CURRENTLY ENROLLED
Rural Counties 739 254 152 125 27
Columbus774 489 408 348 60
Toledo545 470 202 164 38
Cincinnati727 727 165 143 22
Dayton493 164 133 118 15
TOTAL3,278 2,104 1,060 898 162
*Activity from 1/1/2008 through 12/31/2009 (2 years)
Ohio PilotEfficiency and Effectiveness
EfficiencyTime from initial referral to provision of
DCA is approximately 46 days* Referral to assessment: 14 days Assessment to enrollment: 10 days Enrollment to DCA: 22 days
*Note – Promise of future assistance often enough to stave off crisis
Ohio PilotEfficiency and Effectiveness
Effectiveness929 (89%) of the 1,044 families that have
exited the Pilot have remained in or obtained permanent housing or have retain stable housing with family/friends*
*Return to family/friends is not always a “positive outcome”. For FHPP a family must have an exit reason = “success” in order for housing with family/friends to be considered a positive outcome.
Ohio Lessons Learned
Development of working relationship with landlords and housing authorities is critical to program success
Case management plans are achievable only when families are responsible for setting their own goals
Money management is key to maintaining housing stability
The Other Place
Community Coordinated CollaborativeLong time Prevention ProviderOversight from Homeless Solutions
Policy BoardCoordination between Rapid Rehousing
and Prevention
The Other Place
Elements of a successful homelessness prevention strategy:
Centralized front door Coordinated assessment and triage Flexible approach to service provision
(amount, duration, intensity, etc.) Use of HMIS for referral, tracking, and
evaluation.
The Other Place
Centralized “Front Door” to emergency services and shelterGateway shelterTriageDiversionHousing Opportunities AssessmentBarriers Scoring/Targeting21 day target exit
The Other Place
Coordinated assessment and triage “Virtual” front doorGeographically defined entry pointsStandardize assessmentScoring/Targeting “But for” assistanceCommunity resources
The Other Place
Service DesignHPRP screeningFlexibilityAmount determinationDuration of assistanceDischarge planningCase ManagementRecertification
The Other Place
Role of HMIS and/or data collection/trackingProgram EligibilityData qualityEntry/ExitReportingService TransactionsOutcomes
The Other Place
Unique characteristics:Utilized AmeriCorp Initiated furniture bank and deliveryPartnering with Rapid Rehousing
Demo/HPRPHTF ResourcesTargeted for truly “at risk”Legal Aid and Mediation CenterLandlord Relationships
Questions & Wrap-Up
Matt White
Abt Associates
301 634-1827
Tina Patterson
The Other [email protected]
937 293-1945 34
