Partnering for Progress: Housing for Transition-Aged Youth Columbus, OH April 22, 2014

Partnering for Progress: Housing for Transition-Aged Youth Columbus, OH April 22, 2014

Ruth WhiteNational Center for Housing

and Child Welfare

The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare (NCHCW)

NCHCW links housing resources to child welfare agencies to improve family functioning, prevent family homelessness, safely reduce the need for out-of-home placement, and ensure that each young person who ages out foster care is able to access safe, decent, permanent housing.

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According to the NLIHC, in 2013, the housing wage for an efficiency in Columbus, OH is $9.31, fulltime or $19,365 annually.

This full report is available at www.nlihc.org.

Existing (and unnecessary) gaps exist between agencies – these gaps are costly.

What are unaccompanied youth up against?

The bigger picture: “Everyone is living in their parents’ basement”

More “youth” in their 20s and 30s are still at home than at any other time since the Great Depression.

Average age of total financial independence was 26 in 2000.

A majority of current college seniors are planning on moving back home after graduation.

Youth employment rate the lowest since 1940s. Many traditional entry-level jobs are now overseas.  Many

entry-level jobs have no health insurance. Americans, 25-26, still get an average of $2,323 a year

from parents. One out of 8 Americans is getting food stamps.

 

Expand what works (Star House, Lighthouse, Daybreak)

Capitalize on current flexibility and raise expectations of how federal and state child welfare dollars are used – and who they are used for.

Build statewide partnerships to create a range of affordable housing opportunities.

Tap new and unusual streams of funding. Plan for the future…

What can be done at the state level to address housing issues?

Knit funding streams together to maximize time for youth to achieve self-sufficiency

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Independent Living

Family Foster Care/ResidentialUnsheltered HomelessnessSheltered Homelessness

Title IV-E

FUP for youth

Regular Sec. 8Other SubsidyRoommatePrivate Housing/LL

Age

Leave no stone unturned when seeking housing resources

This is just a partial list of housing resources you can tap:

ARRA Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

Community Action Programs (received $1 billion in CSBG ARRA funds)

HOME Low Income Housing Tax Credit City and State housing funds, SHFAs Private Landlords Public Housing Authorities – Section 8 and PH Family Unification Program

For the Community: it is the preferred option and it’s cheaper: a 2004 cost benefit analysis showed that it costs Colorado $53,655 to maintain one youth in the criminal justice system, but it only costs the state $5,887 to provide housing and services.

Making the Case…

Barriers and overcoming them… Legislative – Federal (What has Congress

done) Regulatory (How has HUD, HHS, or DOJ

interpreted Congress’s intent) Policy (What is your state doing with this

information/opportunity) Is OH taking advantage of current federal law? Are state leaders partnering in ways that they can

take advantage of current law? Does OH need ORC changes? If so, the youth voice

will be the most effective way to get them.

Pay a visit to the states that have made strides, learn from their mistakes and achievements.

Be honest – beware of the “halo effect” Raise expectations. On everyone. Accelerate the pace of reform. Collaborations are the fastest, most

efficient way to create a range of housing options.

Get a seat at the table where housing resources are being discussed.

Some final thoughts on how to overcome barriers to partnership

Contact information Ruth White, MSSA

Executive DirectorNational Center for Housing and Child Welfare4707 Calvert Rd

College Park, MD 20740(301) 699-0151rwhite@nchcw.orgwww.nchcw.org