It’s Time.

1. It’s Time. Fargo’s Plan to End Long Term Homelessness August 17, 2006

2. Purpose & Method • Develop a plan to end long term homelessness in 10 years. (Sept 2005) • Plan development to be guided by a working group made up of a cross-section of community stakeholders and interested parties. (40 agencies) • Specific strategies in the plan will focus on what can be accomplished within the City of Fargo.

3. About the Process • Meeting #1: Framing the Issue, January 10 • Understanding homelessness • Understanding the market • Understanding the landscape • Begin to set direction • Meeting #2: Brainstorming solutions, February 22 • Refine list of identified system strengths & weaknesses • Brainstorm ideas to fill local gaps and review peer solutions that address gaps identified in FM • 1st attempt at prioritization - strategies we should pursue • Discuss performance measures- definition of “success” • Meeting #3: Developing a Comprehensive Strategy,May 2 • Refine strategies • Explore feasibility – what will it take to make this plan a reality? • Funding • Logistics (site, etc) • Political will and community support • Meeting #4: Reviewing the Direction Set,July 12 • Carryover discussion from Mtg #3 • Review draft plan • Plan the Release

4. A very specific goal… • Preventing / ending chronic homelessness is not identical with ending poverty or promoting economic self sufficiency • Definition of “success” “Preventing Chronic Homelessness – What works?” Deborah Dennis, Policy Research Associates

5. What is Long Term Homelessness? (LTH) • Homeless individual or family • With a disabling condition • Continuously homeless for at least 1 year or has experienced 4 or more episodes of homelessness in the last 3 years. • Note: Local v. Federal Definition

6. What is a “disabling” condition? • Physical, mental or other health conditions that limit the kind or amount of work you can do or that limit your daily activities • Conditions that interfere with memory or daily decision making

7. Ending homelessness requires different solutions for different subpopulations Stats are based on cluster distribution of single homeless adults in New York, Corporation for Supportive Housing

8. Why end long term homelessness? • It’s expensive to do nothing - scarce system resources are being disproportionately used by small number of people. • Traditional homeless service system does not work for this population • Contribute to statewide effort to end long term homelessness • Unacceptable for a progressive community to turn away from this issue

9. About the Local Homeless Population

10. Homeless individuals in Fargo – recent data sources • 2000 Wilder Survey - 199 • 2003 Wilder Survey – 228 • 2005 Point in Time Survey – 249 (chronic homeless – 66) • 2005 Annual Estimate – 905 (chronic homeless – 114) • 2006 Point in Time Survey – 253 (chronic homeless – 79)

11. Homelessness in Metro area Wilder Research Center, November 2004

12. ND Regions

13. Almost half of the state’s long term homeless population lives in Fargo

14. Fargo’s homeless population

15. Basic characteristics of Fargo’s homeless population • Age. 2/3 are men, with an average age of 42.1. The average age of a homeless woman in Fargo is 33.6. • Marital Status. Approximately half of those interviewed have never married. • Veterans. Veterans make up 29% of homeless males in Fargo. • Residency. 46% of homeless persons in Fargo have lived in ND for at least 2 years. The 54% that are more “recent” residents are most likely to come to ND from Minnesota (52%) or have lived in ND before (44%). • Children. 20% of the women in sheltered locations had at least one child with them. • Race/Ethnicity. Fargo’s homeless population contains a disproportionate number of persons of color. 28% of Fargo’s homeless adults are persons of color – 21% of the total are American Indian. Wilder Research Center, November 2004

16. Basic characteristics (cont.) • Unsheltered. Three out of four “unsheltered” homeless were men and almost half were American Indian. • Duration of Homelessness. 60% of the unsheltered homeless have been homeless for more than 6 months – 46% of those living in sheltered locations have been homeless for that length of time. • Education. Almost 80% of Fargo’s homeless population has a high school diploma or GED – 27% have attended at least some college. • Employment. 41% of homeless persons in Fargo are employed – 18% in a full time status. For those who are not working, the most common barriers are • transportation (42%) • lack of housing (29%) • personal reasons (27%) • physical health problems (25%) • mental health problems (22%) Wilder Research Center, November 2004

17. Basic characteristics (cont.) • Affordability of Housing • 54% of homeless persons surveyed said they could pay something for rent but no more than $200 per month (including utilities). • 25% of people surveyed could not afford to pay anything for rent. • Only 6% could afford the typical rent for an apartment of the size they would need. Wilder Research Center, November 2004

18. Basic characteristics (cont.) • Health and well being • 41% of homeless adults in Fargo were told by a doctor in the last two years that they have a serious mental illness.[1] • 50% of homeless adults report that they consider themselves to be alcoholic or chemically dependent. • 28% of the homeless population in Fargo has received in-patient drug/alcohol treatment in the last 2 years. • 27% of homeless adults have been dually diagnosed by a doctor in the last 2 years as having both a mental illness and a chemical dependency problem. [1] Mental illness as referenced in this survey includes: schizophrenia, manic-depression or bipolar disorder, some other type of delusional disorder, major depression, anti-social personality disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Wilder Research Center, November 2004

19. Characteristics of Fargo homeless by chronic status 2006 ND Point in Time survey

20. Primary reasons for homelessness

23. Precariously housed – Households At Risk • People at risk of becoming homeless represent the “front door” to homelessness • Approximately 10% of households with income at or below poverty level cycle through the homeless system in a given year

24. Are there leading indicators? • Eviction • Foreclosure • Food poverty • Energy assistance • Other prevention services

25. Who is chronically homeless? • Primary contributing factors • Substance Abuse • Serious Mental Illness with inconsistent use of medications/treatment • Unemployable or unable to keep a job because of disability • Poor rental history or criminal background Wilder Research Center, FM Regional Survey, Nov 2004

26. Risk factors for chronic homelessness • Chronic health condition • Mental illness • Substance abuse disorders • Limited or no social support network • Very low or no income • Discharge from jail, prison, hospital, shelter, detox, treatment, foster care “Preventing Chronic Homelessness – What works?” Deborah Dennis, Policy Research Associates

27. The Local Housing Market

28. The Housing Market Own or Rent? Housing for Rent Luxury Living New or Existing? Which neighborhood? Public Housing “Move-up” Housing Attached or Detached? Subsidized or Market rate? Special Needs Housing Starter Homes What can I afford?

29. How does this fit in the Affordable Housing discussion • Workforce housing • Extremely low income households (i.e., poverty level incomes) • Precariously housed • Homeless

30. Housing Affordability is a relative concept • 12% of households in Fargo report incomes below the poverty level (i.e., 30% AMI) • “Affordable” rent for 1 person household (earning 30% AMI) is $328, including utilities • “Affordable” rent for person with SSI as only income source – approx $164/month (30% of the avg SSI pmt made in ND) • Fair Market Rent – 1 bedroom unit - $443, 0 bedroom unit - $373

31. Affordability for poverty level households requires access to “Deep Subsidy” Housing • “Deep subsidy” – housing assistance that allows tenant to pay 30% of their income toward rent with the balance covered from another source. • Section 8 voucher • Shelter Plus Care program • Public Housing • Other

32. Homeless Housing Beds by type of occupancy, 2005 *The FHRA was awarded 11 additional S+C units in the 2005 CoC grant, expected online in 2006. *A 48 bed homeless veterans project is currently under development by Centre, Inc. and the VA.

33. Assisted Rental Housing, 2003 Source: “Housing Study Update - City of Fargo”, Community Partners Research (April 2004) *Most of the projects in this table, except Low Income Housing Tax Credit, are considered “deep subsidy” units, meaning that rent is based on 30% of tenant income.

34. Provision of Support Services

35. Mainstream Systems: Targeted v. Non-targeted • Mainstream Systems are government-funded programs that are intended to meet the critical needs of low income people (services, housing and income supports) • Non-Targeted programs: designed to serve low income people and/or people with special needs • Targeted programs: designed to serve homeless people specifically

36. Why mainstream resources? “…previous research shows that any successful effort to end homelessness must include a combination of services, income supports and housing. “The same research tells us that the most important but under-utilized source of income, housing and services to people who are homeless or at-risk for homelessness are government-funded programs designed to meet the needs of low income people (“mainstream systems”).” Holes in the Safety Net: Mainstream Systems and Homelessness, Chalres and Helen Schwab Foundation, February 2003, page i.

37. The local arena – how are services provided? • Emergency shelter • Transitional housing • Permanent supportive housing • Unsheltered

38. Local service providers: Prevention • Housing assistance & basic needs • Cass County Social services • Rape & Abuse Crisis Center • SE ND Community Action Agency • Salvation Army • ND Assoc for Disabled • SE Human Service Center • YWCA of FM • Emergency Food Pantry • Presentation Partners in Housing • Central Cities Ministry/Communal Fund

39. Local service providers: Prevention • Education, Counseling & Referral • SE Human Service Center • Mental Health Association • Crisis Help Lines (211, First Link) • Village Family Svc Center (Tenant Ed project) • SE ND Community Action

40. Local service providers: Outreach • Health Care for Homeless Veterans • SE Human Service Center • Youthworks • Law Enforcement agencies • Homeless Health Services • Native American Christian Ministries • Native American Programs • Rape & Abuse Crisis Center • Salvation Army

41. Local Service Providers: Supportive Services • Case Management • SEHSC – PATH coordinators • SE ND Community Action • Salvation Army • Youthworks • ND Association for Disabled • Life Skills • SE ND Community Action • New Life Center • Youthworks • Re-entry for Violent Offenders

42. Local Service Providers: Supportive Services • Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment • SE Human Service Center • Off Main • ShareHouse & Sister’s Path • Mental Health Treatment • Mental Health Association • SE Human Service Center

43. Local Service Providers: Supportive Services • Education • Public Schools – Educ program for homeless children and youth • Adult Learning Centers • Feed the Children • Youthworks • Veterans Upward Bound • Employment Assistance • Job Service ND • SE Human Service Center PATH coord • ND Vocational Rehab • Job Club/Employment Dev (SENDCAA)

44. Local Service Providers: Supportive Services • Child Care • Cass County Social Services • SE ND Community Action • Transportation • ND Association for Disabled • Job Service ND • Veterans Administration • Youthworks • Metro Transportation Initiative • Health Care • Cass County Social Services • Homeless Health Clinic • Family Health Care • Good Medicine Indian Health

45. The Local Landscape

46. Coalitions working on this issue • Statewide efforts • Continuum of Care • Interagency Council on Homelessness • Local efforts • FM Area Homeless Coalition • Jail Intervention Coordinating Committee

47. Strengths – Housing market • Year round activity • Rent levels are good relative to other places • Plentiful supply of housing • Good access to transportation • Good quality/code enforcement - well maintained housing • Dispersion of subsidized housing throughout community • Strong neighborhoods

48. Strengths – Service system • Relationship between providers • Creative programming • Workers know the system - strong referral network • State line is less of an obstacle for support services • Strength of “hidden system” (faith community) • Participation of some attorneys who are willing to help with guardianship issues • Critical mass of advocates statewide

49. Weaknesses – Housing market • Background checks are a barrier • Competing demand from student population • Losing lowest cost housing to redevelopment • Decentralization of City of Fargo • Number of people with very low income who are not eligible for or can’t access subsidies • Shrinking availability of rent subsidy • App of property tax to affordable housing projects • NIMBY • Construction of enough new on-campus housing to meet student wants • Housing that is available to youth aging out of foster care • Housing w/ harm reduction focus for substance abuse

50. Weaknesses – Service sector • Lack of coordinated Guardianship/Representative Payee System • Waiting lists to access services • Connection between services and housing • Support for youth aging out of foster care • Complexity of eligibility/access • Lack of services for “working poor” (people just outside of eligibility guidelines) • Funders’ preference for being “last money in” • Adequate funding (Are the “cracks” systemic or related to adequacy of funding?) • Duplication of services? Opportunities for consolidation?