Ending Chronic Homelessness – Are we there yet? Ana Rausch, MA, Senior Research Project Manager,

1. Ending Chronic Homelessness – Are we there yet? Ana Rausch, MA, Senior Research Project Manager, Coalition for the Homeless

2. Coalition for the Homeless Mission: • To provide leadership in the development, advocacy, and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. Role: • Coordinate the community response to homelessness • Lead agency for the TX-700 Continuum of Care (CoC) • Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead.

3. Key Concepts: • Overview of the Coordinated Access System • Review the Coordinated Access Refinement Process used to revamp vulnerability tools and housing placements • Overview of Navigation Workgroups and “surges” • Review data used and how it’s used

4. Cities that Fit into Houston TX-700 CoC = 3,739 sq miles From: Knudson,LP www.knudsonlp.com

5. Just for Fun! Houstonia Feb 2016

6. Homeless in Houston - 2018 PIT N = 4,143

7. 2018 PIT - Breakdown • 12% increase compared to 2017 • 51% decrease since 2011 • 18% unsheltered reported being homeless due to Hurricane • Increase in number in PSH • 162% since 2011 • Approximately 1 in 4 identified as chronically homeless • Zero unsheltered & 9 sheltered chronically homeless family identified • 1 in 2 had mental health & substance abuse problems • 1 in 7 was a veteran • Veteran numbers at steady state level – 2/3 are in shelters

8. Chronic Homelessness PIT

11. Coordinated Access Houston Highlights

14. Mayor’s Housing Challenge • March 2017 • Community Concerns • encampments • City of Houston Mayor deadline • Meeting with partner agency leadership • CEOs & Executives • Staff commitment • PSH case managers • Navigators • Outreach • Meetings scheduled

15. Mayor’s Challenge – reports used

16. Mayor’s Challenge – reports used (cont.)

17. Mayor’s Challenge – reports used (cont.)

18. Mayor’s Challenge – Results

19. Mayor’s Challenge – Results (cont.)

20. Hurricane Harvey – August 2017 Source: NOAA

21. Tidwell St Before Tidwell St After Source: Houston Chronicle

22. Source: Houston Chronicle

23. After Harvey Effects

24. Change Needed

25. Look at the Data

26. What the Data Showed

27. Strategies Implemented

28. Encampment Initiative Three major encampments: • Wheeler • 73 residents identified on 3/23/18 Chartres • ~140 residents identified on 3/26/18, with the highest being 203; population greatly fluctuates in this area Pierce • ~69 residents identified on 5/10/18, with the highest being 151

38. Barriers to Engagement/Housing • Substance Use • Frequent Incarceration • Unable to Locate • This is the primary reason why some Wheeler Residents remain in Navigation • Moving from one encampment to another • Criminal Record • Difficult finding a willing landlord • Inconsistent Cooperation

39. New Client Dashboard • Data from: • Clients newly assessed • Clients referred and not housed (no show or unable to contact) • Clients timing into chronicity • Clients placed on PSH waitlist multiple times • Yes/No on the client dashboard • 5 service months (or lack thereof) in the past year was the most common variable in the populations described above

40. Chronics Take-Down Calculator

41. Looking Ahead • PSH Waitlist • Dropped to 260 once assessment changes implemented • Progress • 413 households housed from April – September 2018 • Navigation Workgroup • Continues through the end of 2018 then re-evaluate • Housing Prioritization Tools • Revised and new tool will be implemented by the end of October • Looking at true vulnerability not predictors of success

43. Thank You!! The Coalition for the Homeless leads in the development, advocacy, and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. The Way Home is the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Harris, Ft. Bend, & Montgomery Counties. For more information visit www.thewayhomehouston.org Ana Rausch, MA arausch@homelesshouston.org