Federal and State Funding Shifts to Rapid Re-Housing: The Positive Impact on Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Programs Audio Conference sponsored.

Federal and State Funding Shifts to Rapid Re-Housing: The Positive

Impact on Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing

Programs

Audio Conference sponsored by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness

April 12, 2011

Purpose of Today’s Audio Conference

create a dialogue on how to implement rapid re-housing within your current emergency shelter and transitional housing programs

define rapid re-housing and program components

talk about Virginia experiences in what in particular works for rapid re-housing (from VCEH Rapid Re-Housing Report)

point to some resources

outline some next steps for this conversation and how VCEH can help

Disclaimer

This audio-conference is sponsored by and paid for by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness.  Registration fees cover the cost of the call itself and a small processing fees. All fees go directly to VCEH. VCEH is not authorized as an official technical assistance provider on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Funds for Rapid Re-Housing

National Funds

State Funds

Local Funds

Defining Rapid Re-Housing

Two main goals:

(1)assist homeless households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to return to permanent housing as soon as possible

(2) reduce the length of time people remain in homeless situations

Defining Rapid Re-Housing

You therefore need:

financial assistance

case management and services

employment services

connection to community supports

Defining Rapid Re-Housing

No universal time limit for “rapid”

“Almost” everyone is “housing ready”

Unique services for each unique household

Target Population:

households on the brink of losing their rental homes

households living in emergency shelter or transitional housing, even for a significant period of time

people with barriers to housing including people with multiple evictions, criminal histories, mental illness and / or substance use disorders

Philosophy Behind Rapid Re-Housing

Homelessness is traumatic and families do better in their own stable housing

Homeless families do not look much different than other poor families

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

What defines success?

Reducing the length of time that a family experiences homelessness

Increasing number of families who exit into permanent housing situations

Reducing the rate of return to homelessness

Connecting families to community supports

Increasing employment and / or income

Program Components

Financial Assistance

Case Management

Housing Barrier Assessment

Housing Location Services / Housing Locator / Housing Broker Team

Supportive Services, Connections to Community Resources, Employment

Overhead / Facility Costs / Staffing Costs

Eligible Activities / Costs

Follow up and / or short term case management

Program participant rent subsidy

Rent and utility deposits

Rent and utility arrears

Staff and facility costs associated with the provision of rapid rehousing and case management

VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing

Study of 9 communities experience with rapid re-housing via HPRP

Success in rapid re-housing is due to 3 main factors:

(1) Housing locators results in faster placement of an individual or household into permanent housing

(2) The housing is essential but so are the services

(3) The best outcomes come from collaboration with other service providers to provide long-term community supports to families

VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing

Challenges How RRH Addresses

High cost of housing Housing subsidy

Client barriers to renting

Housing Locator

Barriers to housing stability

Services

VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing; Future Program and Policy Implications

Focus on quality of services v quantity of services

Explore critical time intervention case management models to assist families in making the transition

Focus on employment -- develop your own employment programs, employment broker team, or establish relationships with current existing workforce services

We definitely need more resources!

More on Critical Time Intervention

Go to the VCEH resources page for more on critical time intervention for young homeless mothers

Critical period of time (3-6 months) after a family leaves shelter and is in their own housing when supports and services are critical

Goal: Stabilize clients in the community by developing independent living skills and by building effective support networks in the community

Transfer of care to community supports is not abrupt but instead happens over nine months

Three phases: first phase could start in shelter where CTI worker begins to engage the client and links the client to support services and support services staff before transitioning them into the community

Employment Programs

Concern that families will not be self sustaining = focus on employment programs

Employment navigation programs

Employment broker team

Major Challenges

Lack of affordable housing

Unemployed or under-employed households

Idea that people are not “housing ready”

Decline in shelter utilization = less funding?

Discussion / Questions

• Questions: Do you have any questions about what was presented?

• What about rapid re-housing have you found effective?

• What are your particular concerns about rapid re-housing?

More Information and Resources

• http://www.vceh.org/rapid-re-housing

Next Steps

Help from VCEH for your community or for your agency:

RRH Working Group on Employment

RRH Working Group on Organizational Issues for Shelters Adding RRH

RRH Working Group on Achieving Outcomes with RRH

RRH Working Group on Higher Barrier Families

RRH Working Group on Establishing Community Connections

To participate, email [email protected]

You must be a member agency

• www.vceh.org

• A statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia

• We support communities in implementing long-term solutions to homelessness

• Contact Phyllis Chamberlain at 703-250-4904 or [email protected]