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Leveraging Vouchers

Leveraging Vouchers. June 13, 2019 Bryant Sanders, Division Chief Redevelopment and Housing Authority Stephanie Carl, Coordinated Entry System Manager Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Overview. Mainstream Voucher Program Partnerships Established Priority Groups

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Leveraging Vouchers

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  1. Leveraging Vouchers June 13, 2019 Bryant Sanders, Division Chief Redevelopment and Housing Authority Stephanie Carl, Coordinated Entry System Manager Office to Prevent and End Homelessness

  2. Overview • Mainstream Voucher Program • Partnerships Established • Priority Groups • Incorporation in Coordinated Entry • Data Points • Lessons Learned

  3. What does it mean to leverage vouchers? To expand your Permanent Supportive Housing capacity by linking a long-term subsidy with case management services

  4. Mainstream Voucher ProgramFY 17 NOFA • Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2017 made $13 million available for new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers. • Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2018 made an additional $385 million available for Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers • General Target Population: non-elderly person(s) with disabilities • Bonus points to Public Housing Authorities targeting specific target populations.

  5. Priority Groups • The 2017 NOFA from HUD outlined four main priority populations to target. • Priority 1: Eligible Persons transitioning out of institutional or other segregated settings • Priority 2: Eligible Persons at serious risk of institutionalization • Priority 3: Eligible Persons experiencing homelessness • Priority 4: Eligible Persons at risk of experiencing homelessness

  6. Partnering Agencies • Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority • Office to Prevent and End Homelessness • Community Services Board • ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia • Department of Family Services

  7. Fairfax County’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority • Established in 1966 following a voter referendum • The leading provider of affordable housing in Fairfax County • Housing Choice Voucher Program • Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Project Based Voucher • The Fairfax County Rental Program • Administer over 5,000 vouchers • Mainstream • Family Unification (FUP) • Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) • Project Based

  8. Community Services Board • CSB provides services for people of all ages who have mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or developmental disabilities. • CSB services range the full gamut from outpatient case management through residential treatment programs. • CSB will make referrals to the Mainstream Housing Program and provide supportive services and case management.

  9. Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) • OPEH provides oversight and manages homeless services, including Emergency Shelter, Hypothermia Prevention Services, Supportive Housing Services, by providing support in the implementation of the Ten-Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls Church community. • OPEH has been designated as the lead County agency and manages all aspects of the Continuum of Care program as well as grants received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). • OPEH collaborates with other County agencies, the Governing Board, non-profits, faith and business communities, and consumers. • OPEH is the lead Coordinated Entry manager for housing opportunities • OPEH will make referrals to the Mainstream Housing Program and provide supportive services through its network of non-profit organizations.

  10. ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV) • ECNV is community resource and advocacy center run by and for persons with disabilities. • ECNV’s mission is to END dependence by empowering people with disabilities to live independently. • They are a cross-disability organization and work with people of all ages who have every type of disability. • ECNV is one of 15 Centers for Independent Living in Virginia. • ECNV is committed to supporting persons with disabilities identified as transitioning out of institutional or segregated settings or at serious risk of institutionalization for the Mainstream Voucher Program.

  11. Department of Family ServicesAdult and Aging Division (DFS) • This agency includes the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, Adult Services, Adult Protective Services, and Disability Services, Planning and Development. • The Adult and Aging Division provides intake, Aging, Disability, and Caregiver Resources, which is modeled upon the federal aging and disability services system that integrates services to provide one number and seamless services regardless of funding streams. T • The phone number for Aging, Disability, and Caregiver Resources is widely advertised and information about services are also highlighted on County web pages. People also have the option of requesting services through an online application. • DFS will coordinate referrals for those transitioning out of institutional or segregated settings or at risk of institutionalization. Further, they will also provide case management for many of persons with disabilities, as needed.

  12. Award Information • Fairfax County was awarded 55 mainstream vouchers starting Nov 1, 2018 • Goal 1: Creation Mainstream Voucher committee • Goal 2: Participants should have services leveraged to help them sustain the housing program • Goal 3: 80% of these vouchers leased up within one year.

  13. Goal #1: Mainstream Committee • Discuss need and priorities • Design referral structure • Monitor referrals and lease ups • Troubleshoot issues/discuss trends

  14. Goal #2: Service Structure in Place Prior to Mainstream Vouchers • Active MOUs with agencies for specialized programs • Clear target populations • Clear service/case management requirements • Main Points of Contact for referrals • Agency leads for questions • Referral structure and vetting prior to Housing involvement • Specialized Programs: FUP, Homeless Preference, HUD-VASH, THRIVE • Housing Authority always striving to remove barriers • Screening criteria reviews • Case conferencing to prevent recidivism • Progress Center

  15. Goal #3: 80% Lease Up • Homeless Preference in Fairfax • HUD approved Preference. • Established MOU between Homeless Services and Housing Authority. • According to the DHCD Admin Plan: Clients experiencing homelessness specifically the chronically homeless are prioritized. • OPEH contracted providers must provide one year of case management. • Referrals go through the Coordinated Entry process and are selected/matched similarto PSH slots. • Result is short waiting period for referrals and high lease up rates.

  16. Goal #3: 80% Lease-Up • OPEH became the lead agency for all referrals • Decided to leverage the referral structure and process from Homeless Preference utilizing Coordinated Entry • Prioritization of target populations per the NOFA • Weekly referrals made using this prioritization • Coordinated Entry System Manager point person for Housing to disseminate information, updates of referrals, and managing appointments

  17. Incorporation into Coordinated Entry

  18. Priority One: Institutionalized • Olmstead Supreme Court Decision • Definition - Institutions or other segregated settings: • (1) congregate settings populated exclusively or primarily with individuals with disabilities; • (2) congregate settings characterized by regimentation in daily activities, lack of privacy or autonomy, policies limiting visitors, or limits on individuals’ ability to engage freely in community activities and to manage their own activities of daily living; or • (3) settings that provide for daytime activities primarily with other individuals with disabilities.

  19. Priority Two: At Serious Risk of Institutionalization • Definition: Includes an individual with a disability who as a result of a public entity's failure to provide community services or its cut to such services will likely cause a decline in health, safety, or welfare that would lead to the individual's eventual placement in an institution.

  20. Priority Three: Homeless • Followed the HUD definition of Homelessness. • Prioritization for those experiencing: • Chronic homelessness • High vulnerabilities • Long histories of homelessness.

  21. Priority Four: At Risk of Homelessness • Followed the HUD definition of “At Risk of Homelessness” • Prioritization given to those with: • Previous literally homeless history • Long lengths of homelessness • High numbers of episodic homelessness • Soonest date of discharge from current housing situation

  22. Current Data Results

  23. Priority Population Breakdown

  24. Referral Sources

  25. Referral Source and Type

  26. Lease Up Data

  27. Lessons Learned • Housing Authority and Homeless Services partnership makes sense • Every Agency is serving those experiencing homelessness • Case managers supporting housing stability promote health and mental health stability • Health and Human Services are still largely siloed • The timeline for those in segregated settings and nursing homes is substantially longer than other populations

  28. Mainstream Vouchers NOFA New NOFA will be coming out, so now is the time to build partnerships, gather data of need, and set up a strong structure so your jurisdiction can apply!

  29. Questions?

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