Community Partnership for Youth Housing Background Shelton School District has the 9 th highest student homeless count of all Districts in WA. 8% of students.

Community Partnership for Youth HousingBackground

Shelton School District has the 9th highest student homeless count of all Districts in WA.

8% of students qualified as homeless in 2009-10

Mason County has no youth shelter or student/youth transitional housing.

Mason County has many gaps in services for underserved youth.

Community ColaborationPresenting the issues to:

Community Service groups (eg Rotary)Faith Based CommunityChild WelfareLocal LegislatorsContinuum of CareSchool District Staff/AdminRecruiting student advocates (Mocking Bird

Youth N Action

Creating a Youth Sub-CommitteeThe Mason County Youth Housing Committee

Recruiting stakeholders in Youth HousingRecruiting youth advocatesEducating the group on existing models

Picking a Model • Host Homes: Long-term housing with a family with the support of a counselor/coach and additional services, sometimes including a modest

stipend to offset some of the costs incurred for food and utilities. Generally, the

youth has a preexisting relationship with the family. • Group Homes: Long-term housing with a group of unaccompanied

youth who live together in a home dedicated to that purpose, usually with an adult

providing supervision and counseling/coaching. • Independent Living: Long-term housing in scattered-site apartments

where youth live independently, with the rent subsidized or paid by the sponsoring

program, and usually with counseling/coaching. • Emergency Shelter: Short-term, emergency housing in a shelter

designed for youth under age 18 or in a separate, youth-oriented wing of an adult shelter.

High School + Housing = Success Patricia Julianelle NAEHCY Legal Counsel November, 2009

Pick a Service provider, and partnersLook for an organization that already serves

youthLiability insurance, licensing??Fiscal Management??Staffing??Partner with agencies….eg…

School DistrictESDRotary

Resources.Housing + High School = SuccessSchools and Communities Uniting to House

Unaccompanied YouthPatricia JulianelleNAEHCY Legal CounselNovember, 2009www.naehcy.org

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

WE’LL MAKE IT FUN.

A Proposal for the Shelton Skookum Rotary Club

Last year, the Shelton School District tracked 333 homeless children and youth living in tents, cars, substandard housing, and/or

doubling up with non-parent families.

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Collaborate to create a program serving homeless young adults 18-21 via a Rotary District 5020/Gates Foundation for the Homeless

Partnership Matching Grant

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

+Other Funding Sources

Unite the partners , create a framework for the program, and submit a grant

application in

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

5 weeks

Formalize the Collaborative Partnerships

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Shelton Skookum Rotary (and Foundation)Shelton School DistrictYES** (associated with SOCK)Educational Service District 113Mason County Social Services“Other”

Create the Framework for the Program

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

“Rapid housing” for ages 18-21 modeled in a Rotary Exchange ProgramSupport system for Students & Host FamiliesCommitment to complete diploma or GEDEducation to end the cycle of homelessness and increase economic independenceSafety & mutual respect required

Initial Assessment of Risk & Liability

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Informal/cursory review by a great legal mindAuthoritative review by Rotary International Risk Management TeamRecommendations by Insurance CounselTO DO: Strengthen “hold harmless” language

Create the Program Requirements / Students

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Students must agree to background checks & school records releaseStudents must sign Host Student/Host Family Cooperative AgreementStudents must remain enrolled in school & complete all required education and advisory componentsStudents will work with social services to obtain food assistance, health coverage, and “other”

Create the Program Requirements / Families

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Families must agree to background checks & home visitFamilies must participate in orientationFamilies must sign Host Student/Host Family Cooperative AgreementFamilies must maintain homeowners + liability insurance

Create the Program Requirements / Admin

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

“YES” will serve as program administratorMust provide application, screening, support, and mediation services for Students & FamiliesMust serve as a centralized location for information on services for homeless studentsMust work collaboratively with all partnersMust maintain liability coverage Must follow-through with all Skookum fiscal management and reporting requirements

Develop a Realistic & Proactive Budget

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

$30,000 Secured / TO DO: Distribution Plan

Program Administrator Secured

Modest compensation for families Included

Safety & security for all **Developing**

Education to end the cycle of homelessness and increase economic independence Included

“If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one.” -- Mother Theresa

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Conservatively scaled (Serve 14 in First Year)Support for Students & Families built in Safety & academic success are the top priorities

“Don’t ask others to do anything you aren’t willing to do yourself.”

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Mutually rewardingRelief, warmth, joy, satisfaction, fun, etc., etc. No guarantees: we’re dealing with people

-- Mother Rhonda

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Kathy HaighJerry Obendorf

Paul EverettVince Himlie Rich AdamsonHauke Hansen

Nancy Kissner Denis LeverichSkookum Board

WE’LL GET IT DONE.

Rhonda [email protected]

360.486.4483

WE’LL MAKE IT FUN.