homelessness prevention: a case study from montgomery

Homelessness Prevention:A Case Study from Montgomery County, PA

Today’s Panelists

Emma HertzMontgomery County Department of Housing

and Community Development

Barbara PoppeBarbara Poppe & Associates

Russell JohnsonHealthSpark Foundation

HealthSparkFoundationInvestinginHealthyCommunities

Seedinggreatideas

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HealthSpark– Whoweare

Private,independentfoundationformedin2002Oneofnearly50hospitalconversionfoundationsinPennsylvaniaAssets:$42million AverageAnnualGiving: $1.8millionGeographicFocus:MontgomeryCounty,PennsylvaniaMission:

HealthSparkFoundationinvestsinsystemschangeopportunitiesinMontgomeryCounty,Pennsylvaniatoenhanceconsumeraccessandleveragepublicandprivateresourcespromotingqualityoutcomes.

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HealthSpark– Howwedoourwork?

Convene Community“Crowdsourcingevents”;focusgroups;taskforces;learningcircles,etc.

Advocate Throughourmembershiporganizations

Partner Activelyseekfundingpartnerships

Investinresearchandcapacitybuildingopportunities

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MontgomeryCounty,Pennsylvania

OneoffoursuburbancountiessurroundingCityofPhiladelphiaSecondwealthiestcountyinPennsylvania• Medianhouseholdincome:$83,254• Medianpropertyvalue:$299,700• 72.5%ofhousingunitsareowneroccupied• Averagemonthlyrentalis$1,211fora2BRapartment;and$1,003fora1BRapartment.

• Populationof875,000people• Povertyrate:6.6%• Ranked#1byCountyHealthRankingsforHealthFactors;#4forHealthOutcomes

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HowHealthSparkgotinvolvedinHomelessness

CommunityNeedsassessmenthighlightedthehousing/homelesssystemdifficulttoaccessandnavigateRespondedtoafaith-basedshelterproviderwhoaskedforsupporttofigureouthowtoimproveaccessandoutcomesTherequestalignedwithourmission– improveaccess&promotequalityoutcomesThatwas2007!

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ExamplesofHealthSparkInvestments

SituationalAnalysisofExistingPrograms/ServicesNationalscanofpromisingorbestpracticesSitevisittoAlamedaCounty– HousingResourceCentermodelPilotstolearnaboutcoordinatedentry,strengths-basedengagementandotherevidence-basedservicemodelsCommunity/systemcapacitybuildinggrantsBuildingavisionforapublic/privatepartnershipCreatedafundercollaborativeofpooledfundsSupporteddevelopmentofafive-yearstrategicplan

….AllledtothelaunchofYourWayHomeMontgomeryCountyin2014

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WhatisYourWayHome?

• Thecounty’sunifiedandcoordinatedhousingcrisisresponsesystemforfamiliesandindividualsexperiencinghomelessnessoratimminentriskofhomelessness.

• Embracesa“housingfirst”approach– firsthelpingpeoplefindormaintainpermanenthousingwithstabilityandthenconnectingthemwithcommunity,health,human,andfinancialservicestheyneedtopreventfutureexperiencesofhomelessness.

• Coordinatedentryprioritizesrapidre-housinganddiversionservicesbasedonvulnerabilityandneed.

• Unifieddatasystem• Dedicatedcountystaffmanagesthesystem

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WhyIsYWHImportanttoHealthSpark?

It’sasystemschangeinitiative–alignedwithourinterestsincapacitybuilding

YWHisapublic/privatepartnershipformallylaunchedin2014tomaketheexperienceofhomelessnessbrief,rareandnon-recurring.

YWHvaluesareHousingFirst,progressiveengagement,strength-basedpracticesandequity.

Amajorshiftinpracticethatevolvedwasprioritizationtoservethemostvulnerablefirst– theformersystemoperatedonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.

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YWHisaHealthSparkSystemandProvider-levelCapacityBuildingInvestment

BeforeYWHlaunched,providersdidnotuseanyevidence-basedcasemanagementtoolsThecommunitydidnothavealotofdataorusedatatopredictormodelhowservicetothemostvulnerablemightwork(ornot)PilotprojectstotestnewconceptsBuildthelocalfieldoflearningaboutemergingindustrytrendsHostsitevisitsSupportconferenceattendanceandtrainingopportunitiesSupportthelaunchofaunifiedandcoordinatedentrysystem

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WhyAPreventionStudy

Providers,consumersandotherscomplainedthesystemwasnotresponsivetoeveryone’sneeds/issues.Theyasked,“Where’stheinvestmentinprevention?”HMISdatasuggestedusingpublicfundstopaybackrenttoavoidevictiondidnotprevententryintothesystemsothispracticewasended.Ourpublic/privatepartnershiphadnoclearpathforwardYWHstartedtoexplorehowothercommunitiesweredevelopingevictionpreventionpracticesandsimilar‘upstreamsolutions’.HealthSparkreturnedtoaprovenlocalstrategytostudytheopportunitiesthroughanationalscanof“bestpractices”

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YWH– PreventionStudy

HealthSpark&YWHstaffdevelopedanRFPtoinform:• Policy&practice• IdentifypotentialsourcesoffundingtosupportpreventionworkPartneredwithFTEHtoidentify8expertsReceivedfourproposals;threedeclined;onedidnotrespondAsanindependentcontractingentity,thecountyavoidedaneedtofollownormalprocurementprotocols

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YWH– PreventionStudyMechanics

CoreteamoflocalstakeholdersservedasaprojectsteeringcommitteeHealthSparkcontributed‘othersystemperspectives’includingfoodsecurity,education,jobtraining,andhealthtothediscussionsLotscommunicationstobuild“goodwill”amongYWHproviders,fundersandotherstakeholdersHealthSparkhostedaninformaleveningwiththeconsultantandotherYWHphilanthropicpartnerstonurtureinvestmentdiscussionstosupportapilotpreventionproject

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EvictionandHomelessnessPreventionBestandPromisingPractices- 2017

NATIONALSCANANDEMERGINGVISION

March2018

poppeassociates.com

Barbara Poppe and associatesThe collective for impact

ATimelyTopic Race,Gender,andChildren

Almosthalfofthecity’sevictionstookplaceinpredominantlyblackinner-cityneighborhoods,whereonerenter-occupiedhouseholdin14wasevictedannually.

Inblackneighborhoods,womenweremorethantwiceaslikelytobeevictedasmen.

Neighborhoodswithagreaterproportionofchildrenhavemoreevictions,evenaftercontrollingfortheirpovertyrate,racialcomposition,percentageoffemale- headedhouseholds,andanumberofotherfactors.

Ifatenantliveswithchildren,herorhisoddsofreceivinganevictionjudgmentalmosttriple,evenaftertakingintoaccounthowmuchisowedtothelandlord,householdincome,andseveralotherkeyfactors.

Consequences ofEviction

Evictionalmostalwaysleadstoincreasedresidentialinstabilityandhomelessness,aswellastoadownwardmove:arelocationtoadisadvantagedneighborhoodand/ortosubstandardhousing

Familieslosemanyoftheirpossessions– includingbedsandfurniture-- afterbeingevicted

TargetingResources– byriskcategory

Greatestriskofhomelessnessà diversion +ongoinghousingsupports

Atimmimentriskofevictionà legalandsocialservices+housingsupports

Housinginstability– multipleriskfactorsàprevention+housingsupports

Housinginsecureà housingsupports

Universeofhouseholdswhoareatriskofhomelessnessare:§ payingmorethan½incomeforhousing§ vulnerabletofinancialcrisis§ livinginsharedhousing

Homelessness

Courtsystem•Eviction•Jail•Prison

Childwelfaresystem

•Ageoutoffostercare•Atriskfamilies

Healthcare system

•ER•Treatment•Hospital•Detox

TargetingResources– bysegmentinginflowfromsystems

Key Terms:Homelessness Prevention: is a range of types of assistance that is aimed at helping households avoid eviction or homelessness.

Diversion: is a type of targeted homelessness prevention assistance aimed at helping households stay safely in current housing or, if that is not possible, move to other housing without requiring a shelter stay first. Priority is given to households who are most likely to be admitted to shelters or be unsheltered if not for this assistance.

Mythoughts:anemergingpremise

Ifyouhaveahighfunctioningcrisisresponsesystem(effectiveatdiversion,targeting/matchinginterventions,withmostlysuccessfulexitstostablehousing)thathasdemonstratedresults(lowunshelteredanddecliningannualPITcount)

Lookupsteamanddetermineopportunity(ies)forprevention(homelessnessand/oreviction)§ Whataregreatestneeds?§ Whatpopulationsaremostlikelytobecomehomeless?§ Whichpopulationsaremostcostlyiftheydobecomehomeless?§ Whereisthereenergyandinterestforvulnerablepopulations?§ Whatimpactsmightcreatepoliticalwill?§ Arethereanyfinancialresourcesorpartnershipsthatmightcoalesce?§ Howwillwemeasureimpact?

Housingstabilityistheprimarygoalofhomelessnessprevention.

Upstreampreventionstrategies

§Affordablehousingcampaign– preserveandcreatenewaffordablerentalhousingforextremelylowincomehouseholds

§Broad-basedemergencyfinancialassistanceandservices

§Court-basedevictionprevention

§Publichousingevictionprevention

§Universalscreenerwithtargetedpreventionservices

§Targethighcostandvulnerablepeople§ Frequentusersofjail,hospitals,detox,etc.§ Supportyouthtransitioningfromfostercare§ Supportelderlyhouseholdstostayinhomeviahomemodificationandhome-basedservices

§Targetvulnerablechildrenandfamilies§ Publicandassistedhousingevictionpreventionservices§ Schoolbasedsupports§ Trainfamilyandchildproviderstoprovidehousingstabilizationservice

Community-wide

Highly-targeted

YourWayHome,MontgomeryCounty,PACONTEXTUALINFORMATION

§ YourWayHomeisfunctioningwell– reducingoverallhomelessness,excellentdiversionoutcomes,strongcross-sectorcollaboration

§ PopulationwhoexperienceshomelessnessisdisproportionatelyBlackorAfricanAmerican andareusually familieswithchildren.

§ Twozipcodesrepresentover60%ofevictions

§ 683childrenwerehomelessundertheEducationdefinitionandservedbyMontgomeryCountyschools.

CONCEPTS

1) Service-connectedhouseholdstoleverageunifiedMontgomeryCountyhumanservices

a) Broadbasedscreenforriskofhomelessnessb) Targeted,e.g.youthtransitionfromfoster

care,frailelderly,etc.

2) Courtandlegalservicesmodels:evictioncourt,housingcourt,legalaid–geographicallytargeted

3) Programsforfamiliesthatareidentifiedbyschools-- geographicallytargeted

Phase1:LocalContext

Phase2:NationalScan

Phase3:FocusIdeas

FeedbackfromKey

Stakeholders

Phase4:TestIdeas LaunchPilots

Programsforfamiliesthatareidentifiedbyschools

Keys:◦ Partnershipwithschoolstohelpchildrensucceedacademically

◦ Comprehensiveapproach

◦ Two-Generationservices(2-Gen)

Challenge:inadequateincomeandlackofaffordablerentalhousingComponents:

SelectionCriteria:

Ø FocusonMcKinney-Ventoeligiblestudents(homelessperEDdefinition)

Ø Lowbarriereligibility(i.e.incomenotrequired)

Ø Stronghousingstabilityoutcomes

Communitiesselected:

• GreaterCincinnati,OH/KY

• GreaterPhoenix,AZ

§ Casemanagement

§ Schoolservices

§ Housingrelocation

§ Emergencyfinancialassistance

§ Employment,incomeandbenefits

§ Moneymanagement

§ Referralsforlegalrepresentation

Service-connectedhouseholds–screenforriskofhomelessness

•U.S.DepartmentofVeteransAffairs (VA)developeda“universalscreener”toidentifyVeteranshousinginstabilityamongthosewhoaccessedVAhealthcare.VeteranswhowereassessedashousingunstablewerereferredtospecializedVAhomelesspreventionservices.

•LosAngelesCountyTheEconomicRoundtabledevelopedrecommendationsforscreeningandassessment,“tripwires”,andtimelyservicesthatincludeemploymentandpreventionassistancebasedonacomprehensiveevaluationofdataonhouseholdsreceivingpublicassistance.Thereviewincludeddataonhealth,mentalhealth,justicesystem,education,childwelfare,andlabormarketoutcomes.Therecommendationswerenot implemented.

•NewYorkCity– NYUSchoolofMedicineisconductingcross-systemcollaborationtodevelopahomelessnesspreventionscreeningtoolforemergencydepartmentpatients• Otherhealthscreeners:Children’sHealthWatch developedaHungerVital Signsscreener.

Courtandlegalservicesmodels:evictioncourt,housingcourt,legalaid

Keystosuccess:◦ Courtpartnershipwithservicesbasedincourthouse◦ Immediateintervention◦ Preventfuturerecurrence

Components:

Communitiesreviewed:•Baltimore,MD

•Cleveland,OH•Columbus,OH

•Bronx,NY•Portland,ME

•Washington,DC

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§Courtpromotesservicesandprocess

§Legalrepresentation§ LawyerfortheDay§ LegalAid

§Tenantinformationandeducation

§Mediation

§Emergencyfinancialassistance

§Incomeandbenefits

§Moneymanagement

§Addressinghousingconditions§ Coordinationwithcodeenforcement

§ Addresshomerepairs

§Processimprovements

Partnering To End Homelessness

YOUR WAY HOME MONTGOMERY COUNTY

www.yourwayhome.org

¡ Your Way Home is the county’s public-private partnership to end homelessness, and the county’s unified homeless crisis response system

¡ Partnership structure§ Your Way Home Advisory Council§ Lead public agency- Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development§ Lead private agency- Montgomery County Foundation; holds the Your Way Home Initiative

Fund

¡ Impact§ Since 2014, Your Way Home has reduced homelessness by 37% (from 464 persons

counted during the Point in Time Count in 2013 to 292 persons counted in 2018)§ 80%+ success rate in diversion§ 2,000 people served in Your Way Home system annually

Your Way Home Montgomery County 28

ABOUT YOUR WAY HOME

Project concept: Provide free, l imited legal representation and social services to tenants facing eviction in a geographically-targeted area of the county.

Key partners: ¡ local Bar Association and Foundation¡ Legal Aid¡ Court administration¡ Social services partner

Project budget:$130,000 for 6 six month pilot project to serve 120 households


COURT-BASED EVICTION PREVENTION PROJECT


FROM IDEA TO IMPLEMENTATION

Learn & adapt

Project launch

Obtain funding

Identify & design project

components

Develop shared vision

Identify partners &

recruit champions

Legal representation¡Pro bono services provided

by volunteers¡Bar Association recruits,

trains, and organizes volunteers

¡Free CLE’s offered for lawyers who sign up for 1 shift

Social services¡Case manager provides

intake & assessment¡Housing Stability Plans &

Budgets¡Distributes financial

assistance if appropriate¡Follow-up for 30 days


KEY COMPONENTS OF PROJECT


“PEOPLE IN HIS POSITION OFTEN GET STEAMROLLED.THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE HEARD IN A JUST-FASHION –IT GIVES THEM A FAIR SHAKE.”

- VOLUNTEER LAWYER

• Tenant entered court with a $5,000 judgement against him and his family of six.

• Tenant was undocumented and spoke little English.

• Pro-bono lawyer learned the tenant was forced to move out due to uninhabitable living conditions. Upon further review, the lawyer realized the lease was invalid – there was no case against this tenant.

• Judge dismissed the judgement against the tenant and his family and saved them from paying $5,000 and a black mark on their record.

OUR IMPACT

Whatistheroleofphilanthropyinpreventionwork?REFLECTIONS

Barbara Poppe and associatesThe collective for impact

Beacatalystforprevention

Catalyticphilanthropistsshould,“gatherknowledgeabouttheproblemtheyaretacklingandusethisknowledgetoinformtheirownactionsandmotivatetheactionsofothers.Makingknowledgeactionablerequiresmorethanjustgatheringandreportingdata.Theinformationmustalsocarryemotionalappealtocapturepeople’sattentionandpracticalrecommendationsthatcaninspirethemtoaction.”

Kramer,2009,https://ssir.org/articles/entry/catalytic_philanthropy

Philanthropy’stoolboxØConveningØAdvocacyØPartnershipØFunding

Convening◦ Mobilizekeycommunityleaderswhowillbenecessaryforsuccess.◦ PreventionrequirespartnershipsbeyondtheexistentCoCpartnersandphilanthropycanopenthedoortonewpartnerships.

◦ Offertoconvenecross-sectorkeyleadersonbehalfoftheCoCtoparticipate.◦ Engagepublicsectorleaders,especiallythosethattheCoChasnotbeenabletocultivateandengage.

◦ Hostcommunityconversationsandforumstoexplorefindingsandgatherinput.Engagepublicleadersintheseevents.Offerpracticalwaysthatallcanparticipate.

◦ Conveneotherfunderstoengagethecommunitydialogueabouttheneedforhomelessnesspreventionandsolutions.Thesecanbebothinformal,socialgatheringstomorehighlystructuredeventswithformalpresentations.

◦ Createafunderscollaborative.

Advocacy◦ Encouragepublic-sectorparticipationinadministrativedatamatchingtousedatafrommultiplesystemsofcaretoidentifywherepeoplewhobecomehomelesscomefrom,whatservicestheyuse,whattypesofhouseholdstheyare.

◦ Researchpromisingbestpracticesandevidenced-basedtoolsandsharethisinformationwiththeCoCandpolicymakers.

◦ Investinandencourageotherphilanthropicpartnerstoinvestinhousingstabilizationsupports,rentalassistance,andlegalservicesandsupportthecostsofthepilotevaluation.

◦ Offerpublictestimonyabouttheneedsandsolutions.◦ Philanthropycanholdthelineontheneedtoberesponsiblefor“results”notjust“feel-good”work.Preventionrequiresadatadisciplinedapproachtobeensureeffectivenessandefficiency.

Partnership◦ CommitseniorstafftimetoworkwiththeCoCleadershipandtoparticipateintheprojectplanningandimplementationphases.Beanactiveandsupportivepartnerandthoughtleader.

◦ WorkwiththeCoCtounderstandhowwellthehomelesscrisisresponsesystemiscurrentlyfunctioningonkeyperformancemeasures.Reviewcurrentdiversionassistancepracticestobesurethatitiswidelyavailableforthosewhoatgreatestriskofimminenthomelessness.

◦ Identifylocal,regionalandnationalexpertswhoseworkmayhelpinformtheCoCofopportunities.

Funding◦ Allocategeneraloperatingsupport,service/programandcapacity-buildinggrantstoorganizationsworkingtodeepenimpactaround“upstream”prevention.

◦ Supportanexternalsystemreview.◦ Investinandrequireanoutcomedrivenevaluationforpilotproject(s).◦ Issuematchinggrantchallenges.◦ InvestinandsupportHMISandcommunitydatareviewsandthedisseminationoffindingstodeterminegreatestneedsandpotentialforimpact.

Upcoming Opportunities to Learn & Engage

Book Talk: Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law

April 41pm EST/ 10am PST

For more information: Stephanie Chan– [email protected]

Thank You!

www.funderstogether.org

www.facebook.com/funderstogether

@funderstogether

homelessness prevention: a case study from montgomery

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