02/04/08 pceh safehome philadelphia national conference on ending family homelessness seattle,...
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PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
National Conference on Ending Family
Homelessness
Seattle, Washington, February 7, 2008
Emergency Assistance: Preventing
Homelessness
SafeHome Philadelphia created by the
Philadelphia Committee to END
Homelessness
SafeHome Philadelphia
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
SafeHome Philadelphia
SafeHome
Philadelphia applies the“Housing First” model to prevent homelessness.
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
BackgroundSafeHome Philadelphia
is a work-in-progress created to build evidence of the efficacy of “Housing First” for all Philadelphians in housing crises -- to convert public investment from temporary to permanent housing.
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Eligibility
Core Value is that Housing is A Human Right
1) Families only in this first phase because they have safety net
2) Housing Crisis w/ Homelessness as a Likely Outcome
3) Ability to pay forward rent
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Funding
Privately funded through blood, sweat & tears & some fun
(46 kindergarteners & businessmen in boxes)
which provides flexibility to build evidence
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Program Components
Housing
Voluntary Partnership:
Home Based Supports &
Community Links
Evaluation Process
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Telephone Screen
Housing or Partner Advocate:
Description of situation
Ballpark information income
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Site Visit
As soon as possible, Housing Advocate visits current housing to
confirm crisis and family’s immediate options
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Family Interviews with Advocates
Explore strengths-based partnership to obtain
housing and increase resources to build stability
Assemble needed documentation
Determine next steps
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Staff Case review
Carefully review documentation to identify hidden bombs
Identify/resolve unaddressed or undocumented matters
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Voluntary Partnership Agreement
dreams & aspirations
non-binding action plan and
description of what SafeHome offers
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Housing
determine rent ceiling
“ school locations
“ neighborhood
CHOICE not placement
negotiate lease terms with landlord
lease reviewed & signed
tenant rights & responsibilities
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Voluntary Home-Based Support
making a house a home: furnishings help
social visits : take out for meal or takeout
relaxation techniques trainingdifferentiate advocates from
past “institutional” experiences
provide transportation to get groceries
build trust: encourage initiative
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CHALLENGES
Sticking to core belief: Housing is a Human Right
Honest, we are not the copsHow many phone numbers
can you have before your brain blows up?
The realities of their lives: work, children, loves vs. our good intentions
Stop trying to herd cats
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COSTCity of Philadelphia spends
$35,000 a year for a family in shelter
SafeHome Philadelphia makes a one time investment of $4,000 to house a family
(one half is direct housing assistance; the other half is staff support)
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EVALUATION
Stability: rent payments & tenancy over time
Change in children’s
health and education
Change in adult’s well
being
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Summary: 61 Families40% have previous shelter experience
75-80% have employment income
4+ is average family size
50% have graduated high school
95% are native Philadelphians
Average rent: $598
Average income: $1616
Housing crises were unsafe conditions, overcrowding, violence, “illegal” resident in subsidized housing: only 2 of 61 families had eviction notices
In second cohort, 91% are stable; in first cohort, no one became homeless, but incarceration and relapse and one eviction occurred: 79% remain housed
All families but those on some form of cash assistance have increased income
All families had the choice of at least 2 new homes – over 160 decent, affordable,,safe private housing was found
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
SafeHome Philadelphia
the mission-achieving creation of thePhiladelphia Committee to END Homelessness
Phyllis Ryan Jackson
215-232-2303