1.9 hprp: youth strategies and family reunification (erdmann)

HOPE STREET’S HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM

Saleha Erdmann, Homelessness Prevention Specialist

July 2010

Hope Street Shelter for

Homeless and Runaway Youth

Shelter—20 youth

Transitional Living Program—8 males

Street Outreach

Independent Living Skills

Aftercare Services

~1,800 homeless youth in Minnesota on any given night (according to the Wilder Survey)

48 shelter beds in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area

HPRP School Outreach

•Prior to HPRP a few Hope Street staff had built relationships with 2 local high schools, mostly to make shelter referrals

•HPRP started in October 2009 with 2 full time staff

• Contracted with the Minneapolis Public High Schools to identify youth at “imminent risk of homelessness”

• HPRP funding pays for staff salaries, rental assistance and mileage reimbursement

•Much of initial effort to create the program guidelines and paperwork and meeting with school staff

Who qualifies?

• High school students at imminent risk of homelessness• going to be kicked out• going to run due to family conflict/abuse• about to be evicted or exited from a housing program• couch hopping (with new definitions of homelessness this is

changing)

• Households containing high school student that are at imminent risk of homelessness (usually a family)• typically facing eviction or domestic violence• often have a recent loss of income

Hope Street’s

School Outreach Homelessness Prevention Program

Hope Street is part of Catholic Charities and is most well known for its youth homeless shelter. It is located inside of St. Joseph’s Home for Children off of 46th & Chicago. We also have a transitional living program for 8 young men on site and staff who do street outreach.

The school outreach program is funded with federal HPRP funds (from the stimulus package). Our mission is to identify youth who are imminent risk of homelessness and prevent them from becoming homeless. However, we are able to work with youth who are already homeless or at risk of homelessness, but can’t use HPRP funds on those youth.

While our focus is on youth I can also work with families. Additionally, I am fluent in Spanish.

Saleha Erdmann (612) 237-2615—can receive text messages [email protected]

I will prioritize youth at imminent risk of homelessness: those who are couch hopping, are going to be kicked out, who are going to be evicted, or are about to run away.

I am able to work with 7 youth at each school. You can refer anyone who is having housing issues to me, but I will prioritize those who are at imminent risk of homelessness.

I help with the following things:

Finding independent housing Referrals to transitional housing Eviction prevention funds* First month’s rent and deposit* Landlord mediation Family mediation

Accessing benefits (e.g.

foodstamps) Obtaining vital documents & ID Occasional bus passes, toiletries,

clothing Referral to other services like

employment counselors, foodshelves, clinics, etc.

*HPRP eligible clients only

homeless youth are staying in shelter or on the street (e.g. camping outside or sleeping in a car).

at risk of homelessness: those who were kicked out but have found a long term place to stay, who are having major conflict at home , are in an overcrowded living space, those who anticipate a major loss of income, etc.

As I am able, I can also work with homeless youth, who are staying in shelter or on the street (e.g. camping outside or sleeping in a car).

Youth at risk of homelessness: those who were kicked out but have found a long term place to stay, who are having major conflict at home , are in an overcrowded living space, those who anticipate a major loss of income, etc.

Explanation I gave the social workers this fall

The Process

1. School social workers make a referral

The Process

1. School social workers make a referral* Ideal since SW’s can prescreen, introduce the youth, and provide a safe/consistent meeting space

The Process


2. Intake with the youth

The Process



3. Start services

The Process



3. Start services * Meet at least weekly (depending on school attendance) in school, or home visits with households

Numbers (approximately)

~100 youth screened since October 2009

39% minors (14-17 years)/61% adults (18-22 years)

69% female/31% male 85% individuals/15% households (e.g.

families)

50% already kicked out 75% very little or no income (under

$400/month) 46% currently abused (most emotionally) 45% acknowledge MH issues

Housing Services

Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful

cases have not been due to us

Housing Services



Family mediation• Keeping a youth

from being kicked out

• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found

Housing Services






Relocation• Finding another

stable adult youth can live with

• e.g. another relative or friend

Housing Services

Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord

mediation









Housing Services


mediation

Referrals to transitional living programs (TLP’s)• Usually have 2-12

month waiting lists• Require youth to

be homeless before move inFamily reunification• Very rare• Most successful








Housing Services


mediation



be homeless before move in

Referrals to other supportive housing• Section 8/Public

Housing• Family programs









Housing Services


mediation




Independent housing• Housing search • Landlord

referral • HPRP funds











Housing Services


mediation
















Shelter referral• Sometimes the

safest option is to go to shelter

Housing Services


mediation
















Shelter referral• Sometimes the

safest option is to move a youth to shelter

Most common:TLP referralsRelocationFamily mediation

Other Support Services

• accessing benefits like food stamps

• resource referrals—clinics, financial assistance, employment

• mental health & disability assessments

• supplies—clothes, toiletries, bus passes, school supplies

• support in exiting/avoiding gangs

• language translation

• vital documents

Other Support Services

• accessing benefits like food stamps

• resource referrals—clinics, financial assistance, employment

• mental health & disability assessments

• supplies—clothes, toiletries, bus passes, school supplies

• support in exiting/avoiding gangs

• language translation

• vital documents

Independent Living Skills!!!!!• Even if a

youth can afford independent housing, they usually don’t know how to maintain it

Mental and Emotional Support• coping skills• addressing

trauma• mentoring

Challenges & Successes

Need for long term case management

Not enough supportive housing for youth

Landlords rarely will rent to minors

Lack of income Immaturity

21 youth received rental assistance (17 through HPRP)

66% are housed/were housed at discharge

New collaboration w/ schools, landlords, legal agencies, employment agencies & immigration assistance

Youth connected to new support services

Challenges Successes

THE END

1.9 hprp: youth strategies and family reunification (erdmann)

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