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Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19, 2006 Liora Berry, City of Portland, Oregon Bureau of Housing & Community Development

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Page 1: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Alternatives To Shelter

Ending Homelessness for Women

A Collaborative Model In Portland

National Alliance to End HomelessnessAnnual conference July 17-19, 2006

Liora Berry, City of Portland, Oregon Bureau of Housing & Community Development

Page 2: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Home Again

A 10-year plan to end homelessness in Portland and

Multnomah County

Page 3: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Focus on the most chronically homeless populations;

Streamline access to existing services to prevent and reduce other homelessness;

Concentrate resources on programs that offer measurable results.

Three Principles

Page 4: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Key Action Steps In the 10 Year Plan

• Move People into Housing First

• Stop Discharging People into Homelessness

• Improve Outreach to Homeless People

• Emphasize Permanent Solutions

• Create Innovative New Partnerships

• Make the Rent Assistance System More Effective

Page 5: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

“Downsizing Shelters”What to Consider

What are the resources in the community? Are the shelters effective? All of them? What do people want and need who use

the shelter? What can be fixed? Will it be enough? What is the cost? What is possible? Is this the right thing to

do?

Page 6: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

The Women’s Shelter 34 Bunks

Night “wet” shelter

Toilets, showers + coin washer/dryer

No linens, no storage

No services offered

1 night at a time rule

Page 7: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Question: What are the resources in the

community?A) Homelessness in Portland

…women

B) Funding for Homeless Services in Portland

…women

Page 8: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Homelessness in Portland

17,000-18,500 served in FY 04-05:

11,224 adults without children

7,442 persons in families: - 4,316 children under 18 - 2,456 persons served in domestic violence system

436 unaccompanied youth (under 18)

1/3 of those living on the street are women

39%

59%

2%

Page 9: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Homeless Funding

26%

12%

24%8%

30%

Client Assistance Permanent HousingShelter Operations Case ManagementTransitional Housing

Total FY 02-03 funding: $32 million from federal, state, local and private resources*

*An additional $16 million was allocated in FY 02-03 for the construction of transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons.

Page 10: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Is the shelter meeting the goals in the 10 Year Plan?

What do the women want and need who use the shelter?

What do the women want who don’t use the shelter but are living on the street?

What can be fixed?

Question: What are the resources/services in

our community?

Page 11: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Evaluating the Shelter

• Serves approximately 500 women per year

• Uneven occupancy rates & outside queuing

• Majority had been living at the shelter: 18 for over a full year & one for over 4 years

• High rates of untreated mental health & chemical dependency

• Listening to the women - a shared vision

Page 12: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

1st Year - Trying A Fix

1) Provision of Technical Assistance

2) Changes to Operations at the Shelter Site

3) Adding in Services - Partners with an array of services and housing

Page 13: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Improvements 2004-05 Outcomes...

494 Women Stayed in the Shelter Uneven Occupancy (74 to115 per month) 251 of the Women Served via New

Partners 67 women placed into stable housing 19 into transitional & 48 into permanent

housing

Page 14: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Is this good enough?• Half of the women connecting

…and half are not• 19% of the women who connect

with the partner agencies are placed into housing

…and 81% are not

• 10% of the shelter women are placed into permanent housing…and 90% are still are on the street or in unstable short-term housing

Page 15: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

More Improvements Are Needed

Addressing Philosophical Differences Evaluating the Outcomes Exploring the Options Bringing People Together Making the Decision Cutting the Funding - Bumpy Roads Implementing the New Model

Page 16: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

WESC: Women’s Emergency Services

Collaborative 4 Experienced High Performing

Partners Transition Projects - Shelter & Services Cascadia - Behavioral Health & Housing JOIN - Street Outreach/Housing First Northwest Pilot Project - Homeless

Seniors

Funding & Support- City of Portland

Page 17: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

The Model 15 SRO Units of Wet Housing Within a

Mental Health Transitional Housing Site On-Site & Community Services Focus on Permanent Housing Placement 1 Year of Retention Services Flexible Client Assistance Funds Harm-Reduction Relationship Focused

Page 18: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

What is possible? Make it happen!

• Emergency Housing– Private SRO Unit– 2 Meals Per Day– Transportation

Assistance– Mental Health

Assessments & Services– Medication Support– Groups – Social Activities– On-site 24-Hour Staffing– Coordination with

Partners

• Individualized Support– Housing Placement &

Retention Support– Client Assistance – Flexible Rent Assistance– Help Applying for

Benefits/SSD

• & More...– Support in Employment

Efforts– Family Reunification– Furnishings/Supplies

Page 19: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Back to the Shelter …A Housing Placement

Blitz Leveraging Community Resources Agreement on Low-Barrier High

Tolerance Telling the 34 Women: August

29th 2005 Lucky vs. Unlucky Successful Engagement

Page 20: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

WESC Is Born

Oct. 1 2005

Page 21: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

WESC - Outcomes For Year 1

192 Women Households Served 210 people; partners, family members and 16 children 78 met the definition of chronically homeless We planned on serving 200 women (a year)

31 Women Provided Emergency Housing at SRO’s 19 exits (12 into PH, 6 into transitional, 1 to Psych facility) We planned on serving 65-75

90 Women Households Placed into Permanent Housing 110 people; partners, family members and those 16 children

89% Remain Stable in Permanent Housing (6 months+) Tracking outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 months after placement

Page 22: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

What About the Women Who Were At the Shelter?

OF THE 34 BEDS AT THE DORM…. 30 women engaged 30 placed into housing 27 into permanent housing

including 3 of 6 placed into transitional housing

89% remain in permanent housing (24) & continued efforts at engaging all of the

women

Page 23: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Profiles• 40% Chronically Homeless

• 60% Mental Health Issues

• 46% Substance Abuse

• 18% Had Children Under Age 18– Only 1 out of 5 were eligible to regain custody

• Of Those Entering SRO Units– 65% Chronically Homeless; 84% Mental

Health Issues; 90% Substance Abuse

Page 24: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Personal Profiles- JOIN– Psychiatric hospital, denied state MH referral, placed

into Cascadia MH transitional housing.

– In permanent housing since September. Linked with workforce agency and received subsidized housing via CDN Partner.

– In permanent housing since September. Attending school and has a new job. 6 months clean & sober. Reconnected with her mother.

– In permanent housing since September. Working full-time & working towards renewing teachers license.

Page 25: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Personal Profiles - Cascadia• 26 year old zero income chronically

homeless mentally ill, mother of young daughter. 5 1/2 months in emergency SRO.

• Assistance: Linkage with MH Services; restraining order related to a DV assault; applications for benefits, securing of PSH unit; reestablishing relationship with daughter and coordinating with DHS.

Page 26: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

1st Year Fewer women

served with emergency housing

Big increase in the rate of success for all “touched”

1st Year Outcomes None return to the

street: 63% to permanent housing

47% of households, and 52% of people assisted are in permanent housing

WESC: Overall Outcomes

Page 27: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

What is the cost? 2003-04 Original Program $164,000 2004-05 The “Fix”

+ .75 FTE Case Manager via Reunited Partner + .50 FTE Mental Health Case Manager

Leveraged 2005-06 “Closing the Dorm, WESC

Born” Transfer the 1.25 FTE to WESC 2.25 NEW FTE Using Existing Funds Almost $60,000 for Client/Rent Assistance (1/2

for relocation of the women in the dorm)

Page 28: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

…and the good news continues $75,000 of County funds added for

Safety off the Streets program for women + more funds for rent assistance for WESC

$1.4 Million awarded for KNAC programs $284,000 KNAC program for CH women

Outcomes demonstrate “Housing First” works 240 formerly homeless women (258 people)

34% Reduction in adult shelter wait list

Page 29: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

WAS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

…the

outcomes

say

yes

Page 30: Alternatives To Shelter Ending Homelessness for Women A Collaborative Model In Portland National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual conference July 17-19,

Thank youCopies of the 10 Year Plan and outcome reports are available

online at: www.portlandonline.com/bhcd

Liora Berry, Ending Homelessness TeamCity of Portland, Oregon

Bureau of Housing & Community [email protected] 503-823-2391