rapid rehousing and progressive engagement: a best practice for ending family homelessness ·...
TRANSCRIPT
RAPID REHOUSING and
PROGRESSIVE
ENGAGEMENT: A Best Practice
for Ending Family Homelessness
Melanie Zamora
Director of Housing Programs
The Road Home
Salt Lake City, Utah
NAEH Conference on Families and Youth, February 2014
Utah/Salt Lake County Overview
Utah Population 2.7 million (1 million in
SL County)
SL County family PIT is 964 (sheltered and
unsheltered, annualized)
FMR for a 2 bedroom in SL County is $793
Vacancy Rate hovers around 3%.
Growth of Families in TRH Shelters
166
267
422
532
615 659 680
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13
Lining Up the Resources
• TANF was key, especially after HPRP.
• Worked with funders to repurpose sources
such as HOME TBRA for short term use.
• Repurposed almost all TH programs to PSH
programs. RRH took the place of TH.
• Shelter Plus Care, COC Leasing and PSH
units are reserved for families unable to
stabilize.
REFERRAL DEPOSIT
ASSISTANCE
SHORT TERM
RENTAL
ASSISTANCE
TBRA TRH TRANS
HOUSING COC LEASING
SHELTER
PLUS CARE
PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING
200 families 300 families 75 families (typically, a subset of 300 families served)
No Financial
Support ESG, TANF
City TBRA,
County TBRA,
WVCTBRA
Sandy Duplex,
Sandy Condo,
Sandy House,
5100 West,
Highwood,
Wenco, Riverside
Scattered County SPC
City SPC
Sponsor Based
SPC, PBS8,
Project Based SPC
Assistance with
applications and
movement to S8,
PH, Mod Rehab,
other subsidy
through local
housing
authorities, move
out on their own
Includes deposit,
prorated rent and
first month’s rent
Includes deposit,
prorated and first
month’s rent.
Ongoing subsidy
approved for 3
months.
Rental assistance
from County
TBRA, WVC
TBRA, City
TBRA
Traditional
Transitional
housing managed
by The Road
Home.
Unit is Master
Leased by TRH.
Tenant signs
Occupancy
Agreement
Scattered Site
Apartments,
Tenant Signs
Lease with PM
Frontier
Apartments,
Permanent
Disabled
Apartments,
Palmer Court.
Permanent housing
for people with
disabilities.
No CM No CM
Includes light case
management
geared toward
employment and
stabilization in
housing.
Includes
customized
supportive services
geared toward self-
sufficiency in
housing.
Tailored
supportive
services geared
toward barrier
elimination and
obtaining stable
housing.
Intensive
customized
supportive services
geared toward self-
sufficiency in
housing.
Intensive
customized
supportive services
geared toward self-
sufficiency in
housing.
Intensive
customized
supportive services
geared toward self-
sufficiency in
housing.
Family Housing Opportunities
•
The Road Home serves as the central
housing agency for Salt Lake County.
We serve families with every type of
barrier or history.
We make sure to address every type of
barrier or history.
Our assumption is that EVERY
family will be successful with 4-
5 months of assistance
Set Up for Success
Families are assessed for every
program up front.
Extensive landlord work done
before placement.
Choice in placement is imperative.
60 LEFT
WITHOUT ASSISTANCE
59 UTILIZED
RRH
JANUARY 1, 2013 – 119 FAMILIES
USED 4-5
MONTHS TRANSITIONED
TO INTERIM TRANSITIONED
TO PSH
18
25
16
OF THE 59 FAMILIES WHO UTILIZED RRH
The 16 families who moved to PSH
had an average of 274 nights of
shelter each and multiple episodes of
homelessness.
LESSONS LEARNED
Families help us determine who needs more.
Families graduate without celebration.
Hard decisions are made by Admin, not CM.
Success!
1,790 families have been served by
Rapid Rehousing and Progressive
Engagement since October 2009.
87% of families have graduated and
not returned to the sheltering system.
Supporting Domestic Violence Survivors’ Housing Success
2014 NAEH Conference on Ending Family Homelessness
New Orleans, LA Feb. 2014
Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon – Home Free
Quick Review: The Intersection
VOA HOME FREE
18
• DV is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children (over 40% of family homelessness)
• DV interferes with access to housing and with success in maintaining it
• Even once in new housing, abuse may be a current issue; abusers often sabotage attempts to live independently
• Survivors who can’t maintain their housing are highly vulnerable to re-abuse
Rapid Re-Housing: Is This Really a Good Idea?
• Some DV survivors need/want 24-hour support and confidentially-located shelter
• Some face considerable barriers and may not be able to achieve/maintain tenancy without longer-term subsidy
• Others want to return to/remain in previous housing once abuser vacates
• BUT – Many want nothing more than to leave systems and agencies behind and establish themselves in new housing
• Conclusion: As with any HH, a number of considerations apply – not just the fact of a DV history
19 VOA HOME FREE
Pitfalls to Avoid
• Unintentionally re-victimizing or increasing danger through policies intended to increase safety (ex. requiring a protective order)
• Failing to collaborate with DV programs/essential systems partners
• Forgetting to partner with survivors as experts; deciding for them what is best
• Expecting survivor to “control” abuser’s behavior (ex. showing up at unit, drawing police presence, etc.)
20 VOA HOME FREE
Issues That Can Challenge Stabilization
• Trauma impacts (survivor and children)
• Ongoing legal issues
• Fears about child custody, deportation
• Isolation from social supports
• Stalking-prone abuser
• Interrupted/sabotaged employment history
• Criminal record
• Chemical dependency
• Bad credit, inexperience with handling money
21 VOA HOME FREE
Critical Elements in Effective Support
• Safety considerations should be embedded in all aspects of services provision, including housing location
• Remember: Barriers/issues a result of trauma, compromised ability to control own life – not defect or disorder
• Know the federal and state laws that provide protections and recourse to survivors
• Use what we know about DV and trauma to tailor services and policies
• Seek partnerships to bring in additional supports
22 VOA HOME FREE
Confidentiality: A Cornerstone
• Federally funded programs (VAWA, HUD) have statutory requirements protecting survivor confidentiality
• Advised practice: Afford survivors basic privacy safeguards regardless of statutory requirements (ex. Release of Information)
• Examine all programmatic aspects for breaches of confidentiality – use of technology, sharing paperwork, using personally identifying info., etc.
• When in doubt, ask survivor. Which info is OK to share? Is it OK to leave a message? Should we have a code word?
23 VOA HOME FREE
DV and Trauma: Extensive and Enduring
• Trauma occurs when external threat overwhelms a person’s coping resources
• Recent federal report: 80-90% of women seeking services report histories of violence
• SHARE Study: Over 94% experienced PTSD; average score equal or higher to that of returning veterans of combat
• Not a single event, but an ongoing series of events woven throughout the life cycle
• Important not to mistake trauma impacts for apathy, opposition, unreliability, or deeper mental health issues 24 VOA HOME FREE
Importance of Trauma-Informed Approaches
• Shaming or negative experiences with systems reduce help-seeking behavior
• Bad experiences can reinforce abuser’s message: “No one cares about you, no one can help you.”
• Trauma survivors are extremely strong and resilient – in supportive environment can develope new tools for coping
25 VOA HOME FREE
Elements of a Trauma-Informed Approach
• SAFETY – Physical and emotional
• TRUSTWORTHINESS – Transparency, clarity, consistency, and healthy boundaries
• CHOICE – Support survivor’s rights to make own choices and have control of her/his plan
• COLLABORATION – Avoid hierarchy; work as partners and share power
• EMPOWERMENT – help with survivors’ skill-building rather than doing things FOR them
26 VOA HOME FREE
Survivor-Driven Advocacy is Trauma-Informed
– Supports independent decision-making – Safety planning as an ongoing process –Builds on strengths and resources of
individuals and families, respecting autonomy and self-determination
–Relies on community, natural supports rather than dependency on program
27 VOA HOME FREE
Applying a Survivor-Driven Approach
• Individualize the way services are delivered; still goal-based, but participant defines success
• Invite participant’s input in selecting services helpful to them and which information they want to share
• Provide clear, consistent information about program expectations
• Rely on natural consequences as the best teacher
• Conduct honest assessment of rules and policies (necessary? respectful? effective?)
28 VOA HOME FREE
Home Free’s RRH Outcomes
• Housing Retention at 12 months: 90% +
• High Staff Retention
• Positive survivor feedback
• Consistency with the values of our work
• Survivors moving beyond safety to stability
29 VOA HOME FREE
Resources • National Network to End Domestic Violence
www.nnedv.org
• State DV Coalitions http://www.ncadv.org/resources/StateCoalitionList.php
• National Resource Center on Domestic Violence www.nrcdv.org
• Federal Office on Violence Against Women www.ovw.usdoj.gov
• The Northwest Network (LGBT survivors) www.nwnetwork.org
• National Center on DV, Trauma, and Mental Health www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org
30 VOA HOME FREE
5.6 Promoting Housing Stability for Newly Re-Housed Families and Youth: Case Management and
Financial Assistance
Presentation to NAEH conference
February 18th, 2014
Deanne Pearn, Co-Founder and VP of Policy www.firstplaceforyouth.org
Mission Statement
First Place’s mission is to help foster youth build the skills they need to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood.
First Place was founded in 1998 to end poverty and homelessness among transition age youth (ages 16-24)
We are a California-based organization serving over 2,000 youth and providing housing and intensive services to over 400 youth and 150 children annually.
History and Present
The Problem
Each year in the United States, 26,000 youth are turned out of the foster care
system on or around their 18th birthday. Without intervention, these young people
face challenges that can present a huge lifetime cost to society.
35% will face imminent
homelessness
20% will be arrested or
incarcerated before age 21
Less than 1% will
graduate from
college
71% of females will become pregnant
at least once before age 21
Estimated lifetime cost for education shortfalls,
unplanned parenthood, and criminal justice generated
by each annual cohort emancipating from foster care
$5.7
billion
2-3year Employment and Education program that provides stable housing for participants.
Our continuum of transitional support services for youth ages 16-to-24 includes:
Safe, affordable housing with a rental subsidy
Employment training and job development
Academic assessment and support
Ongoing case management and guidance
The Solution
Service Model
$
$ $
Housing
•Up to 2 years •Scattered site
•Graduated rental subsidy •Move-in assistance
•Strategic partnerships with
developers
•Property Management and Housing Specialists
Employment & Education
•EE Specialist, •caseload of 30, work with
youth one-on-one
•Develop and track progress towards goals
•EE Manager focuses on
building relationships with local employers and colleges
Connections
•Youth Advocate, caseload of 15, work with youth one-on-one
•Encourage healthy connections with family,
friends, and others
LONG-TERM GOALS: 1) 2 years of PSE 2) Living-wage employment 3) Permanent housing 4) Avoidance of risky behaviors, such as incarceration or early pregnancy
Outcomes
Over the past 15 years, First Place has consistently produced impressive results. We think about our impact in three areas: stable housing, education, and employment.
$
$ $
Without First Place
•35% of former foster youth in California have stable housing •49% of former foster youth in California complete high school •10% of former foster youth attend college •29% of California’s foster youth are employed after exiting care
With First Place Intervention
•90% of First Place youth achieve and maintain stable housing •71% of First Place youth earn their high school diploma or GED •88% of First Place youth enroll in college •78% of First Place youth are employed (average wage $11/hour)
Predicted Lifetime Earnings: $973,000
Predicted Lifetime Earnings: $1,727,000
Demographics of First Place Participants
Race/Ethnicity
African-American 70%
Latino 17%
Multi-Racial 7%
Bi-Racial 2%
Other 5%
Foster Care Experience Final Placement Type
Avg. # of foster care placements 7.6 Family setting (guardian, FFA, FFH)
56%
Avg. age when entered foster care 8.7 Congregate setting/Group home 42%
Avg. years in foster care 8.9 THPP 7%
48%
28%
40%
63%
35%
51%
23%
37%
59%
18%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Ever arrested
Have at least one child
No HSD/GED
Unemployed
Homeless since exiting care
Risk Factors: My First Place vs. Midwest Study Youth
Midwest Study
MFP Youth
Participants
Service Model
$
$ $
Housing
•Up to 2 years •Scattered site
•Graduated rental subsidy •Move-in assistance
•Strategic partnerships with
developers
•Property Management and Housing Specialists
Employment & Education
•EE Specialist, •caseload of 30, work with
youth one-on-one
•Develop and track progress towards goals
•EE Manager focuses on
building relationships with local employers and colleges
Connections (Case Management)
•Youth Advocate, caseload of 15, work with youth one-on-one
•Encourage healthy connections with
family, friends, and others
LONG-TERM GOALS: 1) 2 years of PSE 2) Living-wage employment 3) Permanent housing 4) Avoidance of risky behaviors, such as incarceration or early pregnancy
Youth Advocacy (Case Management )
$
$ $
1. All youth work with a master’s level Youth Advocate. 15:1 ratio
2. Youth and YA meet weekly or more if needed 3. Mobile case management model- meet
youth where they are at, including in the apartments
4. Baseline assessment and regular assessments conducted
5. “Living” action plan developed with meaningful goals for youth
6. Connect youth to mainstream resources: TANF, Food Stamps, Medi-caid, S+Care, SSI where appropriate
Education and Employment: Steps to Success
$
$ $
All youth assigned to an E/E specialist at 30:1 ratio. They work on: •Career Exploration •Assessment of job readiness •Skill building •Job matching, placement, &retention •School enrollment & persistence •Job development with community partners •Linked Learning opportunities
Steps to Success
$
$ $
Performance Management
COMMITMENT TO DATA COLLECTION
First Place collects extensive data for many purposes:
• track performance of individual youth
•Track performance of staff or regions
•Identify trends
•Continuously improve programs
•Provide outcome data to external sources
•Influence field building, policy and funding decisions
CASE PLANNING DATA
• All youth undergo baseline assessment
• Assessments are updated regularly, as are action plans
• All data regarding efforts and outcome are tracked in Impact Tracker
• YA and EE efforts are recorded
• Regular reports guide individual work with youth and program development decisions
Point of Service Report
Employee Performance Review
Staying Power: Issue brief
Longer Stays Drive Success
RISK FACTOR Overall Success Rate
<17 Months > 17 Months
Overall success 50% 26% 71%
Unemployed 44% 21% 67%
No HSD/GED 30% 10% 55%
4 or more placements 41% 27% 63%
Homeless since leaving care
47% 28% 68%
Pregnant/parenting 35% 21% 50%
Probation history 31% 22% 43%
Multiple risk factors 38% 22% 57%
Definition of “Successful” graduation: Transitioned from MFP to Stable Housing AND at least ONE of the following: Employed for at least 9 months while in program OR Achieved HSD/GED while in program OR Completed at least 2 semesters of Post Secondary Education while in program (with passing grades) OR Achieved a vocational certificate OR college degree
Lessons Learned
• Low barrier to entry- focus on high risk youth
• Housing first, with a focus on permanent housing, allows for emphasis on education, employment and other interpersonal gains
• Youth development/harm reduction approach allows us to meet youth where they are at and keep in program
• Partnership model where youth sets goals for education/employment and personal life and views YA and EE specialist as resources
• Strong working partnership between YA and EE critical
• Performance management system puts onus on staff to meet with their youth- and they are creative in making contacts
• Mobile case management, mobile technology supports the work
• Services comprise 50% of the program budget
Helpful Resources
Staying Power issue brief at www.firstplaceforyouth.org
More is Possible summary of evaluation findings
at www.firstplaceforyouth.org
Funding
FEDERAL
• National Fostering Connections to Success Act to extend foster care to age 21
• HUD Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and HEARTH dollars (Rapid Rehousing dollars)
• HUD Section 8 and Family Unification Program Vouchers (FUP)
• Community Development Block Grant
• Workforce Investment Act (Dept. of Labor)
• Runaway & Homeless Youth dollars
STATE & LOCAL • State draw down of FCSA dollars • State only THP+ funds • State housing development
dollars • Oakland Fund for Children and
Youth; San Francisco Dept. of Children and Family Services
• Local housing development dollars
• Other small local funds
PRIVATE • Fundraise an additional $4.2M
annual to fully fund our model