SafeHome Philadelphia

PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08

National Conference on Ending Family

Homelessness

Seattle, Washington, February 7, 2008

Emergency Assistance: Preventing

Homelessness

SafeHome Philadelphia created by the

Philadelphia Committee to END

Homelessness

SafeHome Philadelphia


SafeHome Philadelphia

SafeHome

Philadelphia applies the“Housing First” model to prevent homelessness.


BackgroundSafeHome Philadelphia is a work-in-progress

created to build evidence of the efficacy of “Housing First” for all Philadelphians in housing crises -- to convert public investment from temporary to permanent housing.


Eligibility

Core Value is that Housing is A Human Right

1) Families only in this first phase because they have safety net

2) Housing Crisis w/ Homelessness as a Likely Outcome

3) Ability to pay forward rent


FundingPrivately funded through

blood, sweat & tears & some fun

(46 kindergarteners & businessmen in boxes)

which provides flexibility to build evidence


Program ComponentsHousingVoluntary Partnership:Home Based Supports

&Community LinksEvaluation Process


Telephone Screen

Housing or Partner Advocate:

Description of situationBallpark information

income


Site Visit

As soon as possible, Housing Advocate visits current housing to

confirm crisis and family’s immediate options


Family Interviews with Advocates

Explore strengths-based partnership to obtain

housing and increase resources to build stability

Assemble needed documentation

Determine next steps


Staff Case review

Carefully review documentation to identify hidden bombs

Identify/resolve unaddressed or undocumented matters


Voluntary Partnership Agreement

dreams & aspirationsnon-binding action

plan anddescription of what

SafeHome offers


Housing determine rent ceiling “ school locations “ neighborhoodCHOICE not placementnegotiate lease terms with

landlordlease reviewed & signedtenant rights &

responsibilities


Voluntary Home-Based Support

making a house a home: furnishings help

social visits : take out for meal or takeout

relaxation techniques trainingdifferentiate advocates from

past “institutional” experiences

provide transportation to get groceries

build trust: encourage initiative


CHALLENGESSticking to core belief:

Housing is a Human RightHonest, we are not the copsHow many phone numbers

can you have before your brain blows up?

The realities of their lives: work, children, loves vs. our good intentions

Stop trying to herd cats


COSTCity of Philadelphia spends

$35,000 a year for a family in shelter

SafeHome Philadelphia makes a one time investment of $4,000 to house a family

(one half is direct housing assistance; the other half is staff support)


EVALUATION

Stability: rent payments & tenancy over time

Change in children’s health and educationChange in adult’s well being


Summary: 61 Families40% have previous shelter experience75-80% have employment income4+ is average family size50% have graduated high school95% are native PhiladelphiansAverage rent: $598Average income: $1616Housing crises were unsafe conditions,

overcrowding, violence, “illegal” resident in subsidized housing: only 2 of 61 families had eviction notices

In second cohort, 91% are stable; in first cohort, no one became homeless, but incarceration and relapse and one eviction occurred: 79% remain housed

All families but those on some form of cash assistance have increased income

All families had the choice of at least 2 new homes – over 160 decent, affordable,,safe private housing was found


SafeHome Philadelphiathe mission-achieving creation of the

Philadelphia Committee to END Homelessness

Phyllis Ryan [email protected]

215-232-2303

SafeHome Philadelphia

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