Practices in Ending 929 West Main Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Advocates to Prevent and End Homelessness

Practices in Ending Homelessness in WV

West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc. 929 West Main Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330 wvceh.org @wvceh facebook.com/wvceh

You will learn:

❖ the roles WVCEH play in West Virginia, ❖ basic Federal policies that govern how we do business, ❖ homeless housing funding streams in WV, ❖ the basics of homelessness and the traditional response, ❖ the true cost of homelessness, ❖ some things that work to end homelessness.

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WVCEH @wvceh @mandysisson

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United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (strategic vision) U.S. Department

• f Housing and

Urban Development (funds and policy) National Alliance to End Homelessness (best practices) State Coalitions, State Interagency Councils, and Continua of Care

Key Players in Policy and Practice toward Ending Homelessness

• USICH Opening Doors

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USICH Opening Doors

The West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness

Our Tenets

• 1. The only solution to homelessness is housing
• 2. Homelessness is incredibly costly and housing is much

less so.

• 3. Anyone can be housed.
• 4. Limited resources must be focused on those who

require it the most.

West Virginia HUD Designated Continua of Care

Continuum of Care

❖ There are 4 in West Virginia ❖

Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition from Homelessness Act HEARTH: Changing how we do business since 2009

Programs Systems Activities Outcomes Shelter Prevention Transitioning Rapidly Re-Housing

How are communities measured under HEARTH?

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Who do we serve and what housing is available in WV?

Homeless Definition Eligibility for HUD-funded Homeless Housing Programs

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Defining Chronic Homelessness Eligibility factor for Several Different Permanent Housing Types

Chronically Homeless Individual Chronically Homeless Family

2014 WV Continuum of Care Funding

WV Balance of State KVC (Charleston) Huntington/Cabell/ Wayne Northern Panhandle Permanent Supportive Housing $2,814,088 $933,095 $1,340,655 $257,698 Rapid Re-Housing $134,783 $0 $0 $0 Transitional Housing $271,492 $92,952 $208,175 $135,796 Supportive Services Only $0 $246,156 $107,595 $135,796 HMIS $389,746 $63,999 $34,853 $11,200 Safe Haven $0 $0 $127,066 $0

Emergency Shelter

❖ Meant to act as a temporary, emergency triage

until the next step in more permanent housing is available.

❖ The focus should always be on housing. ❖ Shelter should not be the destination. ❖ Could play an important role in coordinated

access, with some program tweaks.

❖ Many current rules in place make it difficult for

shelters to act as true triage centers for the most vulnerable people.

❖ Many are ESG and DHHR funded. ❖ Many are also faith-based ❖ Total of 1,545 Beds in WV in 2014

Transitional Housing

❖ A 18-24 months of housing subsidy with case

management.

❖ The placement of homeless individuals and families

from either the streets, or shelters, into project- based, or leased rental housing with case management, with a goal of exit to permanent housing.

❖ Generally viewed as not an effective intervention

because it is very costly and operates on the premise of “housing-readiness”.

❖ Considered a lower priority for federal funding, and

re-tooling to Rapid Re-Housing or “Transition in Place” models is being encouraged.

❖ No FY2015 ESG funding will be allocated to TH. ❖ 589 beds in WV in 2014

Rapid Re-Housing

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• ❖ Designed to greatly reduce the time from homelessness to housing,

particularly effective for families and in rural areas.

❖ FY2014 - Total of $594,000(ESG: RRH and Prevention), $3,296,500 (SSVF) in

funds in West Virginia.

Permanent Supportive Housing

❖ A long-term housing subsidy with intensive case

management.

❖ The placement of homeless individuals and families

from either the streets, shelters, or transitional housing into project-based, or leased rental housing with intensive case management.

❖ Designed to greatly reduce chronic homelessness,

lessen the cost of high-acuity homelessness, and prevent death on the streets.

❖ Considered a “housing first” initiative, and has

been proven to be more effective when sobriety is not a pre-condition of housing.

❖ Generally for high-acuity individuals and families

who have physical or cognitive disabilities, and/or a history of substance use and mental illness.

Total of 1,401 Beds in West Virginia A large percentage of this type of housing is specifically for those who are defined as Chronically Homeless

How are we doing with using what we have?

Let’s take a little trip back to 2002

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You wandered into a shelter. We maybe let you in. If you were sober, or stayed sober, we let you

• stay. For a

LONG time. If you continued to behave, we let you stay longer,

• r we even

moved you on to Transitional Housing. We did life skills, budgeting, and

• ther stuff to

“prepare” you for the real world. But if you continued to use drugs, drink, or disobey the rules, we put you back

• ut on the street.

Then you stayed on the street a really long time, and maybe went to multiple shelters and the process would repeat itself if you couldn’t get sober or follow the rules.

And, you stayed homeless…

We went on hunches. We weren’t and in some places still aren’t, able to determine if you need our service or not. But…If you followed the rules, you got to stay. And stay, and stay, and stay… We prided

• urselves on

filling beds. Rules were, and still are, there for your safety, and

• ur safety.

Safety First, for sure! We maybe helped you get an

• apartment. But that was

mostly your responsibility

• nly after you were “ready”

for an apartment. If we got you out, we didn’t follow up. Our peers monitored us, so that worked well! As long as we measured shelter nights and meals, all was good Right?

But, there was (is) a problem…

Hard to serve people stayed on the street That cost us a lot of money as a state and as communities

Law enforcement, ER, Shelters, Crisis, In- Patient, Outpatient, State Hospitals, etc.

Easy to serve people stayed in the shelter That cost us a lot of money

Utilities, meals, case mgt., life skills, computer labs, shelter workers, etc.

We were paying top $

To kill people…

We were (and in some places, still are) doing this:

The Typology of Homelessness

Some actual cost numbers

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Initiatives that Work Coordinated Entry, Prioritization, Using HMIS, Zero: 2016

How do we change our Crisis Response System to Homelessness? Coordinated Entry, the CoC’s responsibility under HEARTH

❖ A centralized or coordinated process designed to coordinate

program participant intake, assessment, and provision of referrals across a geographic area.

❖ Covers the geographic area, is easily accessed by individuals

and families seeking housing or services, is well advertised, and includes a comprehensive and standardized assessment

• tool. (24 CFR Section 578.3)

❖ It is the responsibility of each CoC to implement CI&A in their

geographic area.

The goals of Coordinated Entry

❖ Helps people move through the system faster ❖ Reduces new entries into homelessness ❖ Improves data collection and quality, provides

accurate information on what kind of assistance consumers need

❖ Reduces the overall cost of homelessness on the

system as a whole.

❖ Uses a housing first philosophy.

Building Block of Coordinated Entry

ACCESS Clear path to services, transparent eligibility criteria, screening people in, not out. ASSESS Common forms (VI-SPDAT), attempt to divert, then provide intervention ASSIGN Clear priorities, consistent referral process, vacancy information available ACCOUNTABILITY Oversight of process, monitor program and system outcomes

The Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool: VI-SPDAT

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• WVCEH Executive Director and

Assistant Director are both OrgCode approved SPDAT trainers

Dimensions of the VI-SPDAT

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VI-SPDAT Scoring Bands

Single VI-SPDAT Family VI-SPDAT

Diversion

(can solve their own homelessness)

0-4 0-5

Rapid Re-Housing

(or short-term intervention)

5-9 6-11

Permanent Supportive Housing/Housing First

(intensive, long-term supports)

10-16 12-20

Why is Prioritizing Important

❖ Move away from “first come, first serve” which relies on

who is lucky enough to get the service

❖ With limited resources, time and money, we need to

invest in those people who DO need our help

❖ From ideal candidates, we need to triage which person

would most benefit from the service next.

❖ Prioritization is on-going and results in the better

referrals, service delivery and outcomes

The housing first philosophy

Coordinated Entry on the Ground

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

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What does HMIS do?

❖ Allows the aggregation of client-level data across

homeless service agencies to generate unduplicated counts and service patterns of clients served

❖ HUD’s National Data and Technical Standards establish

baseline standards for participation, data collection, privacy and security

❖ Implementation of HMIS is a requirement for receipt of

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento and CoC funding

HMIS in West Virginia

❖ Between 9,000-11,000 records per year. ❖ Open Statewide System with the exception of client

level case notes and Entry/Exits from HOPWA providers

❖ 315 total users in 80 agencies with a total of 273

programs.

❖ Agencies as varied as HUD programs, shelters, food

pantries, free clinics, rapid re-housing, and faith-based.

Prioritization with the VI-SPDAT in HMIS

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• Back to

Step 3

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k t Back to Back to Step 3 Step 3 Step 3

Zero: 2016

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What do the numbers look like so far?

❖ January 2015: ❖ Veteran placements: 23 ❖ Chronic placements: 20 ❖ February 2015: ❖ Veteran placements: 19 ❖ Chronic placements: 13 ❖ March 2015: ❖ Veteran placements: 19 ❖ Chronic placements: 18 ❖ We need to house 716 Veterans (79 per month) by December 2015 to END Veteran

homelessness in the Balance of State CoC.

❖ We need to house 304 Chronic (14 per month) by December 2016 to END Chronic

homelessness in the Balance of State CoC.

The WVCEH’s Direct Service Programs

WVCEH PATH Service Area

Region 2 Region 4

The Philosophy of WVCEH’s PATH Program

WVCEH PATH Admission and Discharge Criteria

The admission to WVCEH’s PATH Program follows the Legislative criteria for PATH enrollment which is people who;

• 1. (A) are suffering from serious mental illness; or (B) are suffering

from serious mental illness and from substance abuse; and

• 2. are literally homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

The discharge criteria is admission to some type of permanent housing either through direct provision (RRH) or through a referral to other housing options.

WVCEH PATH Data

WVCEH Path Clients 3/1/14-2/28/15 Total Receiving Outreach (Contact

• r Engagement)

197 Total Directly Housed through WVCEH RRH 40 (20%) All PATH Clients exiting to some type of Permanent Housing 62 (31%) Enrolled PATH Persons 87 Number of total services provided 418

WVCEH PATH Data-Demographics

At Risk of Homelessness 13% Literally Homeless 83% At Imminent Risk 4%

Homeless Status WVCEH PATH 3/1/14-3/1/15

At Risk of Homelessness 13% Literally Homeless 83% At Imminent Risk % 4%

Homeless Status WVCEH PATH 3/1/14-3/1/15

Hotel or Motel paid for with Emergency Shelter Voucher 20% Hospital or other residential non- psychiatric medical facility (HUD) 3% Place not meant for habitation 59% Psychiatric hospital

• r other psychiatric

facility (HUD) 4% Staying or living in a family member's room, apartment or house 7% Staying or living in a friend's room, apartment or house 4% Transitional Housing 3%

Top Previous Residences WVCEH PATH 3/1/14-3/1/15

Hotel or Motel paid for with Emergency for with Emergency Shelter Voucher 20%

• ther

Hospital or non- residential medical psychiatric m UD) facility (HU 3% Place not meant for habitation 59% Psychiatric hospital

• r other psychiatric

facility (HUD) 4% Staying or living in a family member's room, apartm ment or house 7% Staying or living in a friend's room, apartment or house house 4% Transitional Housing 3% 3%

Top Previous Residences WVCEH PATH 3/1/14-3/1/15

WVCEH PATH Data-Mainstream Benefits and Income

Client doesn't know (HUD) 1% Client refused (HUD) 1% Data not collected (HUD) 1% No (HUD) 52% Yes (HUD) 45%

WVCEH PATH Clients Income Past 30 Days

Client doesn't know (HUD) 1% Client refused (HUD) ( U ) ( ) 1% Data not collected (HUD) 1% No (HUD) 52% Yes (HUD) 45%

WVCEH PATH Clients Income Past 30 Days

Client doesn't know (HUD) 2% Client refused (HUD) 1% Data not collected (HUD) 2% No (HUD) 28% Yes (HUD) 67%

WVCEH PATH Clients Non-Cash Benefits Past 30 Days

Client doesn't know (HUD) 2% Client refused (HUD) 1% Data not ata not collected (HUD) 2% ) D) No (HUD 28% Yes (HUD) 67%

WVCEH PATH Clients Non-Cash Benefits Past 30 Days

WVCEH PATH Data-Acuity Data

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

WVCEH PATH Outreach VI-SPDAT Six Month Average Interactions by Acuity Marker

6 Month Average Number of Trips to the ER 6 Month Average Number of Police Interactions 6 Month Average Trips to the Hospital an in Ambulance 6 Month Average Number of times Crisis response system was used 6 Month Average Number of Times Hospitalized as Inpatient

WVCEH PATH Data-Acuity Data

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

PATH Outreach VI-SPDAT Scoring Total Persons with Experience by Acuity Marker

Been taken to a hospital against your will for a mental health reason? Gone to the ER because you weren't feeling 100% well emotionally or because of your nerves? Spoken with a mental health professional in the last six months because of your mental health? Had a serious brain injury or head trauma? Been told you have a learning disability or developmental disability? Have any problems concentrating and/or remembering things? Experienced abuse, trauma, assult which has caused your homelessness

The Goals of WVCEH’s Rapid Rehousing Program

WVCEH Rapid Re-Housing Data

WVCEH RRH Clients 3/1/14-2/28/15 Total Receiving Outreach (Contact

• r Engagement)

31 Total Receiving Rapid Re-Housing 90 Persons with Disabilities 50

23 Severely Mentally Ill, 16 Chronic SA, and 17 Other Disability

Total Directly Housed through WVCEH RRH 90 Positive Exit Destinations 90% to Rental by Client, no subsidy Number of total services provided 719 @ average of $86.33/service

WVCEH Rapid Re-Housing Acuity Data

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14

VI-SPDAT Prescreen Scores and Average Acuity Markers

VI-SPDAT Prescreen Score Average Trips to the ER Average Interactions with Police Average Trips to Hospital in an Ambulance Hospitalized as an Inpatient

In conclusion

❖ We can end homelessness in WV. ❖ Homeless service providers must be on the same page

and committed to coordinated entry, prioritization and diverting people before they enter homelessness

❖ We, WVCEH, have the tools, experience and resources

to help communities and providers do the right thing, in the smartest, most cost effective way.

Advocates to Prevent and End Homelessness

WV Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc. 929 West Main Street Bridgeport, WV 26330 304-842-9522 (office) 304-842-9342 (fax)

WVCEH @wvceh wvceh.org

Amanda Sisson Assistant Director amandasisson@wvceh.org

Questions?