Norfolk’s Central Intake and Progress in Building a Seamless System for Homeless Families

Jill Baker

July 12, 2010

NAEH Presentation

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Presentation Overview

Background Review of Current System Highlights of Achievements Summary of Recent Policy and Research

Advances Lessons Learned Challenges for the Future

Background

Series of Strategic Meeting in 2006Studied Hennepin County ModelExperts from Hennepin invited to NorfolkWorkgroup formed to establish MOA unique

to the needs of Norfolk

Central Intake launched in January 2007Official Press release happened in April 2007NDHS was the designated agency to

conduct all intake and assessments.3

Components of Norfolk’s CI System

Homeless Hotline- Information and referral

Intake & Assessment/ Crisis Management Prevention- Financial Assistance

Shelter Partnership/ Diversionary Placement (family members/friends)

Housing Broker Team (Aug. 2007) On Going- In Home Case Management

(Sept. 2007)4

How it all Connects

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Rapid Exit Client Flow

Financial Assistance Funding 2007

Comprehensive Services Act- Foster Care Prevention funding source from state

Community Development Block Grant HOME Family Preservation Promoting Safe and Stable Families TANF/VIEW Total of $1,157,408

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Other Funding 2007

Intake Assessment- Positions realigned at Department of Human Services

Housing Specialist- Local foundation & Human Services Grant (HSG)

Ongoing Case Management – Human Services Grant (HSG)

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Achievements To Date Central Intake, Prevention and

Rapid Re-housing launched January 2007 to establish a continuum of services for homeless families.

Over 1,600 Hotline Calls received monthly in 2009

233 families seek assistance /month Most receive counseling and case management services

541 families received financial help/ 122 received additional ongoing case management in 2009

A Housing Broker Team helps to locate housing and serve as liaison to property owners and managers.

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Intake and Assessment

Fiscal Year Walk-Ins Intakes

2008 3044 1746

2009 2947 1864

2010 2411 1551

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Hotline Data

Calendar Year Calls

2007 12345

2008 13628

2009 19498

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Shelter Fiscal Year Waiting List Placements

2008 378 150

2009 465 126

2010 407 117

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Households Assisted Financially

Fiscal Year Households Served

2007 945

2008 537

2009 541

2010 308

*It should be noted that this represents Family households as well as Single adult households with no children

*2010 does not include those house holds provided assistance through HPRP funding stream

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Program Expenditures

Fiscal Year Direct Financial Assistance

2007 $1,157,409

2008 $695,812

2009 $663,991

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Ongoing Case Management

Fiscal Year Referrals from HART

2008 109

2009 122

2010 189

2011 Prevention Funding Family Preservation Promoting Safe and Stable Families VIEW- 37% reduction in funding

HOME- 89% reduction in funding

CDBG- 100% reduction in funding

CSA- 100% reduction in funding

HPRP- No allocated funding for CI (funding can be accessed by 6 agencies within and outside of central intake)

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Other Funding Cuts in

Funding for 2 Intake Social Workers lost Funding for 1 Housing Specialist lost

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Lesson’s Learned

If you build it, they will come! Be ready! Target your services and population Engage all family members—no one lives

in a vacuum and they want to help. Leverage funding and look for flexible

funding sources Buy in from all partners re: philosophy

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Lessons Learned Con’ted

Annual assessment and reassessment of system.

Flexibility in folding new funding streams into an existing system

Everyone at the table to make any system changes and decisions. Being clear of roles and responsibilities.

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Something to Consider

Housing cost in Norfolk are greater than other Rapid Exit communities throughout the nation.

Columbus Hennepin Norfolk

Apt. Size

FMR Housing Wage

FMR Housing Wage

FMR Housing Wage

0 $508 $9.67 $549 $11.73 $747 $14.40

1 $585 $11.25 $641 $13.83 $820 $15.02

2 $740 $14.23 $786 $16.79 $946 $17.38

3 $931 $17.90 $1028 $21.98 $1243 $23.77

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Challenges for the Future

Political will has changed HPRP stimulus money Increased unemployment rate Rising housing cost Landlord resistance Changes with HEARTH Act