Housing for Unaccompanied Youth

1. Housing for Unaccompanied Youth A model for community collaboration

2. HYI Kathi Sheffel Homeless Liaison Fairfax County Public Schools Judith Dittman Executive Director Alternative House

3. Homeless Youth Initiative Young people who attend high school, are homeless and do not have the support of a parent or guardian are in a precarious situation. Without stable housing concentrating on education is difficult. Finding a place to study, sufficient food to eat and medical care are all issues. Adult homeless shelters are not a good option for young people who are 18 to 21 and still in school.

4. Understanding the need Homeless Adult Shelters are by design, not for high school students. In order for minimal disruption educationally in spite of homelessness, students need a consistent place to stay where they can focus on school. Adult shelters do not offer that regular nighttime residence. Frequently, they offer a night to night possibility of a place to sleep, requiring hyper vigilance on the part of the student regarding basic needs and personal safety. This housing is so very far removed from that of the regular student population at school, the student is a further risk of disengaging from peers and becoming isolated with homelessness.

5. How did we start? Gathering stakeholders Community invitation to join Unaccompanied Youth Task Force Representatives from multiple agencies including: Shelter programs, CPS, Dept of family Services, Housing, Recreation services, Dept of Human Services, NAEHCY, youth representative

6. Topics of Discussion Legal issues for youth including local runaway laws and policies School actions with runaways Medical treatment and parental consent Emergency medical care

7. Needs Identification Identify strengths within the community (what do we have in place) Identify Weaknesses (what are the barriers for our youth) Identify Opportunities for youth (what are some of the options suggested) Threats to progressing

8. Strengths Current programs: Assisting Youth Mothers, Residential Youth Services, Alternative House FCPS Homeless Liaison’s Office (provide transportation to school, access to resources, tutors in shelters) Commitment of Task Force members FC Coordinated Services and Planning Job skills programs Finding alternatives to avoid foster care FC Teen Centers Strong faith community

9. Weaknesses Lack of affordable housing Lack of adult to sign for Alternative House Lack of awareness/understanding of issues surrounding unaccompanied youth $$$ Policies that frustrate efforts to support unaccompanied youth Link between teens living with boy/girlfriends and teen pregnancy

10. Opportunities Policy review New FC homeless director New $1.8 billion through Stimulus plan Expansion of FC Independent Living Projects? Teen/Community/Rec Centers Faith community Public Awareness/Education campaign (billboards, radio, tv, buses, newspaper) Business community Current journalism attention on homeless students Develop host home program: ie Mentor homes, Host homes, Safe Homes, Child Help

11. Threats Economic downturn Public discomfort with children being on their own Misperceptions between undocumented minors and unaccompanied youth Age of becoming an “adult” differs between other cultures and may cause confusion Political pressure to avoid $ for undocumented immigrants

12. Resource Planning Find resources Federal funding became available to support programs addressing homelessness Advocacy to include UY in this discussion Ongoing meeting to strategize “who "had spending power Collaborated with stakeholders to pilot program

13. YourResources • Strengths • Weaknesses • Threats • Opportunities

14. Cross agency relationships How to start How to maintain

15. Planning Timelines Flexibility Use existing staff and resources Cross your fingers

16. Maintaining the Collaboration Include stakeholders willing to attend regular meetings with a case management focus Be willing and open to program modifications

17. Program Services The services provided by the Homeless Youth Initiative include: Helping homeless youth locate safe, affordable housing. Providing a rent subsidy sufficient to allow the youth to maintain housing while attending school. Providing assistance with food and clothing when necessary. Provide case management, life skills training and educational supports to achieve graduation from high school.

18. Identification and Referral • FCPS Homeless office assists the School SocialWorkerin identifying HYI candidates. • SSW assists the student with the application to HYI • HYI reviews each application, interviews student, and • Makes the appropriate housing placement

19. Role of the Program Therapist • Initial assessment • Ongoing counseling support

20. Role of the case manager The Case Manager will meet with the young person when they enter the program and a minimum of monthly, thereafter. The Case Manager will help the young person complete the program application and discuss with the youth what supports he or she needs. This may include assistance in obtaining food stamps, clothing, medical care, help with budgeting, employment, or other needs. The Case Manager will check in with the young person at least once a month to make sure all of the supports the student needs are in place.

21. Host Homes Involvement in the life of the teen will be dependent on the student and the Host Home and an agreement about house rules will also be defined by two parties. The Host Home Coordinator will visit with the family once a month to ensure things are going smoothly. The student will also receive support from the staff.

23. Janet Lane House Home for Teen Girls A four bedroom home in Vienna is available to house four young women who are enrolled in FCPS. Supervision is provided 24 hours a day. Students must be screened by a therapist.

24. Rental Subsidy A rental subsidy programto assist students at risk of losing their housing (renting a room) or provided to help secure housing requires that students secure employment and be able to live independently. As with the other programs, they must apply for the program and participate in a meeting with the therapist to determine eligibility. They will receive ongoing support from the Alternative House staff.

25. Rental Subsidy The Alternative House Housing/Program Coordinator will match the young person with appropriate housing. In many cases this will be a room in a home located near the school the young person attends. By using this arrangement there are three benefits: • A family that may be stretching to make their mortgage payment receives that small additional income that keeps them in their home; • The young person has a safe, stable living arrangement close to the social supports he or she has developed; and • The school district does not incur the cost of transporting the young person from a remote shelter to their high school.

26. Handling issues Working out barriers that arise Program fluidity and improvement

27. School Partnership: What does that really mean? Meetings and more meetings….why we need them and how they actually help our kids! • Collaborating with County Leadership • Awareness building • Maintaining stamina and patience • Common responses: How to handle them.

28. AdultShelterPartnership • Identifying an adult shelter • Educate the shelter staff about the needs • of unaccompanied youth • Develop a plan of action • Ongoing communication with shelter • Director and HLO

29. Collecting data Tracking numbers of students and services provided And: Age, demographics, income, Medicaid eligibility, any jobs created or saved, dollars spent, dollars leveraged

30. Funding: the challenge Finding additional funding sources and maintaining current funding

31. Future Planning What's Next?