helping communities prevent homelessness

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Helping Helping Communities Communities

Prevent Prevent HomelessnessHomelessness

Joe Meyer, Joe Meyer, Deputy DirectorDeputy Director

Shelter House, IncShelter House, IncFalls Church - Fairfax, VAFalls Church - Fairfax, VA

[email protected]@shelterhouse.org

www.ShelterHouse.orgwww.ShelterHouse.org

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Who is Shelter HouseWho is Shelter House

We operate:We operate: 2 family shelters in located Fairfax County2 family shelters in located Fairfax County

Katherine Hanley Family Shelter – up to 20 families Katherine Hanley Family Shelter – up to 20 families Patrick Henry Family Shelter – up to 7 “large” Patrick Henry Family Shelter – up to 7 “large”

familiesfamilies 1 Domestic Violence shelter 1 Domestic Violence shelter 12 – 24 month scattered site Transitional 12 – 24 month scattered site Transitional

Housing program – 3 unitsHousing program – 3 units Non-time limited Transitional Housing – 5 unitsNon-time limited Transitional Housing – 5 units

Permanent Supportive Housing – 7 unitsPermanent Supportive Housing – 7 units Community Case Management Program – 25 Community Case Management Program – 25

households (PREVENTION)households (PREVENTION)

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How did we decide to How did we decide to concentrate on concentrate on PREVENTION?PREVENTION? Assessment of Need/Gaps Assessment of Need/Gaps

Housing TargetingHousing Targeting HPRP (Homeless Prevention & Rapid HPRP (Homeless Prevention & Rapid

Re-Housing Program)Re-Housing Program) HOST (Housing Opportunity Support HOST (Housing Opportunity Support

Teams)Teams) http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/

community-plan.htm community-plan.htm Housing Locator NetworkHousing Locator Network

www.fairfaxhousinglocators.comwww.fairfaxhousinglocators.com

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What does our What does our PREVENTION PREVENTION

strategy look like?strategy look like? HOST (Housing Opportunity Support Teams)HOST (Housing Opportunity Support Teams)

Consumer

SAI

Housing Locator

BenefitsWorker

MH / ADSServices

Medical

Legal

Education

Employment

Childcare

Financial Assistance

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Key Stakeholders must buy-Key Stakeholders must buy-inin

BOS’s have fully supported BOS’s have fully supported these effortsthese efforts

County Gov’t County Gov’t Non-Profit PartnersNon-Profit Partners Dept of Housing Dept of Housing

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The BenefitsThe Benefits

Fairfax County has prevented Fairfax County has prevented people from becoming homeless people from becoming homeless (w/in 1 year).(w/in 1 year). 345 Households345 Households

Increased collaboration and unity Increased collaboration and unity w/in homeless servicesw/in homeless services

Established AccountabilityEstablished Accountability Cost comparisonCost comparison

867

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How do we know its How do we know its working???working???

A plan for affordable housing has been A plan for affordable housing has been approved. approved.

Homeless count has 11% according Homeless count has 11% according to our PIT survey.to our PIT survey.

Average length of stays in shelters hasAverage length of stays in shelters has We are continuously re-assessing and re-We are continuously re-assessing and re-

targeting. targeting. Outcomes Outcomes

SUCCESS RATE in stabilizing* these households!SUCCESS RATE in stabilizing* these households!(*either stayed or moved to other permanent housing after case is (*either stayed or moved to other permanent housing after case is

closed)closed)

87%

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Helping Helping Communities Communities

Prevent Prevent HomelessnessHomelessness

Joe Meyer, Joe Meyer, Deputy DirectorDeputy Director

Shelter House, IncShelter House, IncFalls Church - Fairfax, VAFalls Church - Fairfax, VA

[email protected]@shelterhouse.org

www.ShelterHouse.orgwww.ShelterHouse.org

helping communities prevent homelessness

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