St. Louis Continuum of Care Overview of HEARTH and COC Changes 2 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

St. Louis Continuum of Care

Overview of HEARTH and COC Changes 2

What is HEARTH? The HEARTH Act of 2009 H omeless amends & reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless E mergency Assistance Act with A ssistance and substantial changes to: R apid * Homeless Definition * Continuum of Care Program (CoC) T ransition to * Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) * Homeless Management Information H ousing System (HMIS) 3

What is HEARTH? A Game Changer! • New definitions and eligible activities allow CoCs to provide more services to prevent homelessness and to rapidly move homeless people into housing • Emphasis on outcomes , with new additional measures that evaluate both system and individual program results 4

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities • CoC Governance & Structure • CoC Planning & System Operations – Performance Measures – Assistance Eligibility – Coordinated Assessment • Ensure operation of HMIS 5

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities Governance & Structure • Establish written process to select a Board to act on behalf of CoC • Establish a Governance Charter • Appoint committees, subcommittees, or workgroups to carry out the tasks of the CoC • Hold at least semiannual meetings of full membership of the CoC • Ensure new members are invited to the CoC annually 6

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities Planning • Coordinate the housing and service system for the CoC geographic area • Plan & conduct Point-in-Time Count, Gaps Analysis, Grant Inventory Worksheet, & Housing Inventory Count • Participate in Consolidated Plan & consult with ESG recipients 7

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities System Operations • Establish performance targets, monitor performance, evaluate outcomes, take action against poor performers, report to HUD • Establish written standards for providing CoC program assistance • Establish & operate a coordinated assessment system 8

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities System Operations: Performance Measures • Measures performance at the system level and the program level • System level performance measures: -Reduce length of time persons are homeless -Reduce number of persons who are homeless -Reduce # of persons who become homeless for first time -Reduce % of persons who return to homelessness (recidivism) -Increase % of adults who gain/increase employment or cash income -Increase % of persons who exit to or retain permanent housing 9

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities System Operations: Written Standards for Assistance • Eligibility policies & procedures • Prioritize eligible persons for TH, RRH, & PSH • Determine levels of RRH assistance and participant rent contribution 10

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities System Operations: Coordinated Assessment System • Operate in collaboration w/ ESG Recipients • Cover the full geographic area of the CoC • Be easily accessible to individuals and families seeking housing or services • Use a comprehensive and standardized assessment tool 11

HEARTH: CoC Required Responsibilities HMIS • Designate a single HMIS for geographic area • Select HMIS Lead to manage HMIS • Comply w/ HUD’s HMIS planning and participation requirements 12

HUD HEARTH DEADLINE 13

Understanding Dayton and Montgomery County CoC System and Governance 14

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Population = 537, 409 people 74% White, 21% Black, 5% Other 16% of individuals and 12% of families live in poverty Half of renter households pay more than 30% of their income for housing 15

Homelessness in Dayton & Montgomery County CoC OH-505 2014 Point-In Time Count (Single Day) Unsheltered = 34 (4%) Sheltered = 757 (96%) TOTAL PEOPLE = 791 Single Adults = 583 (74%) Families w/ children = 208 (26%) 16

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System • Overseen by Mont. Co. Homeless Solutions & Continuum of Care (CoC) • Providers give input to CoC • Providers agree to abide by policies set by CoC • Performance targets set by CoC • All providers use HMIS 17

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Prevention and Shelter Diversion • Community Referrals: 211 & Homefull – Screened for ‘at - risk of literal homelessness’ • If No, referred to other community prevention programs (by subpopulation) • If Yes, referred to Homefull & homeless system 18

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Prevention Assistance • Must meet HUD risk factors and at least one local risk factor: – Previously homeless – Income below 15% AMI – Large Family (5 people or more) – Family w/ young children (age 5 & under) – Young Adults (age 18-24) 19

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Diversion Focus - Triage those w/ a housing crisis immediately upon ‘first knock’ at the Front Door - Can they stay safely somewhere else as alternative to shelter while a Diversion Plan is developed? - What can be done to prevent loss of current housing or expedite to new housing? Financial assistance, mediation/legal, transportation 20

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Diversion Priorities • Families • Veterans • 18 year olds • DV • Serious medical/psychiatric • Physical disabilities • Out-of-County residents • Those transported to shelter by another agency/system • Significant Income 21

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Front Door Programs: Street Outreach • PATH – Federally & Locally Funded – Primarily serves street homeless (SMI & AOD) – Considered a Front Door, uses Coordinated Assessment • Homefull Neighborhood Outreach – Serves as point of contact for local citizens and businesses regarding homelessness/transportation 22

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Front Door Programs: Gateway Emergency Shelter • 4 primary Front Doors : 500 beds total – Youth – Single Men – Women and Families – Domestic Violence • All use Diversion screen to see if a shelter stay can be completely avoided or rapidly reduced • All use Coordinated Assessment • All offer Housing-Focused Case Management 23

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Front Door Programs: Gateway Emergency Shelter • CoC Guidelines for: – Length of time until Front Door & Comprehensive Assessments – Assessment Scoring & Program Referral Criteria – Making referrals – Receiving referrals – Prioritizing referrals (PSH and Safe Haven) – County maintains centralized Wait List! (TH & PSH) – Participation in Front Door Meeting/Case Conferences 24

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Pathways to Housing Programs: Rapid Re-Housing • House directly from shelter (within 14 days) • Provider determines level & length of assistance (both financial and case management support) 25

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Pathways to Housing Programs: Transitional Housing • 8 programs + Safe Haven: 270 beds – Youth, Families, Singles, Vets, DV • Scattered Site and Congregate • Must case conference w/ the County upon a discharge exit • Rapid Re-Housing now offers effective and less expensive alternative to TH 26 •

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Permanent Supportive Housing • 16 programs: 982 beds • Scattered Site and Congregate • Various case management models • Must case conference w/ the County upon a discharge exit 27

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Permanent Supportive Housing Referral Prioritization – Chronically homeless households – Unsheltered households (in life threatening weather) – Large Family Households/Pregnant HoH – Medically frail Households – Long-stayer households (200+nights) – Young Adult households (age 18-24) – Households 60+ years & older not eligible for senior housing 28

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio Homeless Assistance System Supportive Services • Healthcare for the Homeless/Respite Care • Rapid Employment/Supported Employment • Follow-Up Services 29

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio System & Project Performance Specific System Targets for: – Prevention & Shelter Diversion – Street Outreach – Front Door Shelter – Pathways to Housing (TH & RRH) – Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) 30

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio System & Project Performance Prevention and Shelter Diversion • # of Households Served • # of Leavers • % Exit to Permanent Housing • % Leavers w/ Cash Income • % Leavers w/ Employment Income • % Return to Shelter after Assistance 31

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio System & Project Performance Prevention and Shelter Diversion 32

Dayton & Montgomery County, Ohio System & Project Performance Street Outreach • # of Contacts before Engagement • # of Days of Length of Stay in Program • % Exit to Positive Destination • % Leavers w/ Cash Income • % Leavers w/ Employment Income • % Leavers w/ Non-Cash Benefits 33