CES 101: Making the Connections for Reentry Housing

1. CES 101: Making the Connections for Reentry Housing Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership Housing Committee Meeting July 18, 2019

2. Agenda • Commonly Used Terminology within Coordinated Entry System (CES) • Programs within Homelessness Services & CES  • Prevention, Access & Services • Interim Housing  • Permanent Housing • How to Access Resources

3. Defining Homelessness

4. CES Terminology • What is the Coordinated Entry System? • What are the phases of the Coordinated Entry System? • What housing resources and services are connected to the Coordinated Entry System?

5. Coordinated Entry System System that facilitates the coordination and management of resources that allows users to make data-informed decisions to efficiently and effectively connect people to interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness. Prioritizes the highest need, most vulnerable persons in the community.

6. Coordinated Entry System

7. Access & Problem-Solving Access • Entry point or process to enter the Coordinated Entry System  • A function of CES with the goal of initiating or continuing contact with prospective CES participants Problem-Solving • A strength-based, problem-solving conversation   • Seeks to identify potential resources that can temporarily or permanently rapidly resolve a person's housing crisis

8. Assessment Assessment • Stage within CES when information is gathered to understand and document participants’ housing related needs, history and preferences • A standardized set of questions and tools to identify and document any barriers to resolving homelessness and characteristics that might make them more vulnerable while homeless • Progressive process

9. Prioritization & Matching Prioritization • A set of policies, procedures and tools that help manage the inventory of community housing resources and services, ensuring that those persons with the greatest need and vulnerability receive priority or accelerated access to the supports they need to resolve their housing crisis. Matching • The referral process for offering housing and supportive services resources to persons who have been prioritized by CES

10. Coordinated Entry System

11. Access & Services

12. Homelessness Prevention Prevention • Provides individuals who are at imminent risk of homelessness with financial assistance and housing stabilization services necessary to maintain their current housing OR find new housing to avoid becoming homeless and entering crisis housing • Assistance may include:  • Short-term financial assistance • Housing related support services • Legal assistance • Discharge planning (from institutions)

13. Legal Services PHEP (Lawyers Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project) • Services include: • Eviction Prevention • Landlord dispute resolution • Service animal certification • Reasonable accommodations requests • Benefits advocacy • Criminal record clearing and/or expungement • Credit resolution advocacy

14. Outreach & Outreach Coordination • Street-based services • Progressive engagement • Focus on linkages to interim housing, supportive services, and permanent housing / CES • Across LA County, outreach teams work in coordination and collaboration with regional focus areas and care coordination meetings

15. Safe Parking Program • Provides families or individuals who dwell in their vehicles with a safe and legal place to park and sleep at night and ensure participant linkage and access to supportive services and other resources via CES • Includes access to sanitation • On-site security • Program can include supportive services

16. Access Centers & Access Points • Provides clarified "front door" to CES; helps other partners make clear referrals • Distinct functions of Access Centers and Access Points: • Initial Access Tool • Initial Assessment  • Emergency Services Referrals • Warm Handoffs to other Systems • HMIS data entry • Case management* • Supportive Service Referrals*

17. Problem-Solving • Strengths based intervention that occurs during CES Access and throughout homelessness program services • Strategy that prevents continued homelessness or reduces the length of homelessness by helping people to preserve their current housing situation, examine available or potentially available resources, or make immediate alternative arrangements without having to enter shelter or a higher level of service.  • Interventions may include staying with friends, returning to their community of origin if deemed safe, or providing mediation to reunite with family. 

18. Interim Housing & Services

19. Crisis Housing 24-Hour Bed Availability • Short-term, 24-hour emergency shelter for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness •  Crisis Housing provides participants with a safe and stable place to reside while being quickly assessed and connected to a broad range of housing resources.  Housing Navigation Case Management Crisis Intervention Residential Supervision Security Meals Restrooms & Showers

20. Bridge Housing • Interim housing that serves as a “bridge” from homelessness to permanent housing. • Designed to provide participants with some stability, so they can easily maintain contact with external housing providers to facilitate safe and supportive housing placement. • Eligibility: • Ages 18 years and older • Homeless – HUD Category 1 or 4 • Activities of Daily Living – Independent • CES Prioritization Order

21. Bridge Housing for Persons Exiting Institutions • Safe, reserved, low-barrier and supportive 24-hour interim housing • Serving Youth exiting institutions (jail, prison, foster care, medical, behavioral health, and substance abuse treatment facilities). • Eligibility: • Age 18 years and older • Must have exited an institution (hospital, jail/prison, substance abuse facility, foster care, etc.) within the last 60 days  • Homeless prior to being in institution • Activities of Daily Living – Independent

22. Enhanced Bridge Housing for Women • Bridge Housing for women with a trauma-informed, strength-based framework • Programs operate with a licensed clinical staff and a case management ratio of 1 case manager for every 25 participants • Eligibility: • Identify as a woman • Age 18 years and older • Homeless- HUD Category 1 or 4 • Activities of Daily Living – Independent • CES Prioritization Order

23. Enhanced Bridge Housing for Older Adults • Bridge Housing for older adults with a trauma-informed, strength-based framework • Programs operate with a licensed clinical staff and a case management ratio of 1 case manager for every 25 participants • Eligibility: • Age 55 years and older • Homeless- HUD Category 1 or 4 • Activities of Daily Living – Independent • CES Prioritization Order

24. A Bridge Home • Outreach team coordination • Programs operate with a licensed clinical staff and a case management ratio of 1 case manager for every 25 participants • Eligibility: • Over 18 years old • Homeless- HUD Category 1 or 4 • Activities of Daily Living – Independent • Reside within the identified catchment area*

25. Transitional Housing for Youth • Safe and supportive 24-hour residence for a period of up to 36 months for youth (between the ages of 18 to 24). • Site-based or scattered-site programs that include supportive services: life skills development, workforce readiness, mental and behavioral health, and educational and vocational services • Transitional Housing Models & Eligibility: • Transitional Housing for Youth (ages 18-24, HUD Categories 1, 2, 4) • Independent Living Program for Youth (ages 18-21, HUD Categories 1, 2, 4 or exiting foster care without stable housing secured)

26. Permanent Housing

27. Rapid Re-Housing • Connects persons experiencing homelessness to permanent housing through a tailored package of assistance that may include the use of time-limited financial assistance and targeted supportive services. • Core components: • Housing identification • Rent and move-in assistance • Case management and supportive services • Eligibility: • Homeless- HUD Category 1 or 4 • Income threshold – At or below 50% AMI

28. Housing Location & Housing Navigation • Housing Location • LeaseUp Program, operated by PATH, develops relationships with landlords and records available units in an online application • Application can be accessed by CES providers • LeaseUp helps facilitate the leasing process and provides risk mitigation services to landlords • Housing Navigation • Case management services and supports with focus on assisting participants with removing barriers to securing housing, locating housing, and moving into housing

29. Permanent Supportive Housing • Permanent housing with long-term leasing or rental assistance paired with supportive services  • Assists persons with a disability, or families with a prequalifying household member with a disability, achieve housing stability • Eligibility varies by housing resource type

30. Housing Choice Vouchers • Examples of Housing Choice Vouchers: • Section 8 • VASH (Veterans) • Family Unification Program (FUP) • Eligibility varies by housing resource type

31. How to Access Resources

32. Accessing CES

33. Questions?