Permanent supportive housing for families and 10-year plans NAEH conference, February 2008

1. Permanent supportive housing for families and 10-year plans NAEH conference, February 2008

2. Portland, Oregonin the 4th year of a 10-year plan: Home Again: A 10-year plan to end homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County

3. Portland’s Homeless Demographics Annual (2005-06) Approximately 19,200 served 10,936 adults w/out children (4% less than 04-05) 7,865 persons in families (5% more than 04-05) 384 homeless youth(12% less than 04-05) Point in time (Jan 2007) 1,438 unduplicated “street count” (70 in families) 2,321 personsinshelter/TH (863 in families). Another 697 rent assistance; 602 in families) 48.5% persons in families with children

4. 2007 One-Night Shelter Count

5. Portland accomplishments 1997-2002 • More than doubled shelter & housing capacity • Focus on transitional and permanent housing • Increased local funding for homeless services

6. Portland 10YP planning • Despite increases, homelessness increased • In response to national movement and new research, effort to develop plans to end homelessness began in 2000 • Efforts to end chronic homelessness spurred by new research released in 2002 • Received nearly $10 million in 3 federal grants, mostly for chronic homelessness

7. Research Drives System Change • Homelessness has become an institution in communities • We have invested millions of dollars, but we have not ended homelessness • Our current system is managing the homeless problem, but not ending it • To end homelessness, we need to do business differently

8. 10-year plan: 3 principles • Focus on the most chronically homeless populations • Streamline access to existing services to prevent and reduce other homelessness • Concentrate resources on programs that offer measurable results

9. New programs, shifted resources • Women’s Emergency Housing: Shifted use of $164k/year from a women’s night shelter to a new 4 agency housing collaborative • Key Not a Card: City general funds ($2.4 M) to move people from the street  housing • Services Coord. Team expanded to SE and NE-- law enforcement & services for homeless chronic street crime offenders

10. One of the most successful tools to end and prevent homelessness: Short and long-term rent assistance Great outcomes – vast majority of households who receive it retain their housing after their rent subsidy ends.

11. Outcomes after 3 years Jan 2005-Dec 2007 • 1,286 chronically homeless persons housed • 1,681 homeless families with children housed, including 376 high-resource families • 710 units of permanent supportive housing opened; 298 more in development

12. Family System Inventory Overview Shelter capacity for families limited – 158 year-round beds Local rent assistance $ for ~500 families/yr, both for prevention and for rapid re-housing New project for chronically homeless families – 20 families per year Bridges to Housing – family PSH – 75 units opened (20 more in March)

13. Transitional Housing Inventory 341 units (1,029) beds for homeless families, mostly HUD CoC-funded Mix of facility-based and scattered-site apartments Scattered-site apartments used as transition-in-place units; family takes over lease once transitional funding ends

14. PSH Inventory 200 units ( 576 beds) for homeless families Another 71 units (253 beds) under development Mix of facility based, small site, S+C and scattered site apartments

15. Familyresearch • No measurable difference – in % with mental illness or addictions – between poor, housed families and those who are homeless. • Families with mental illnesses and/or addictions are found in every neighborhood. • There is no “the homeless.” Families who experience homelessness are diverse.

16. Therefore, withspectrum of low-income families  need spectrum of housing types

17. Evaluate types of homeless families & housing gaps in your community • Do you need: • Rapid re-housing programs? • Short & long-term rent assistance? (for both eviction prevention and moving into housing – 1st/last & security deposit)

18. If you have transitional hsg, is it being directed appropriately? • TH not simply a form of affordable hsg • Facility-based transitional housing, for families with limited-term special needs? • Scattered-site transitional housing, so that families can “transition in place”?

19. Evaluate PSH needs • Scattered-site PSH? • Facility-based PSH? (like Canon Barcus House, SF) • Hybrid PSH/TH? (like Bridges to Housing linkage to mainstream services, transition-in-place housing, 2+ yrs intensive service, employment)

20. Portland: types of housing for homeless families • Historic focus on transitional housing vs. emergency shelter. • 10-year plan increased focus on PSH for families • 10YP commitment to create 600 units of housing for homeless families

21. Portland: estimate of homeless families housing needs Low service need: Situationally homeless families; best served with rapid re-housing, short-term rent assistance, emergency aid. Many may not seek services. Moderate service needs: Homeless families with significant chance of success with short-term support. Served by HUD COC funds for transitional housing + short-term services. High need: Bridges to Housing program for families with significant barriers to success. Perm affordable hsg + intensive services + mainstream services + child care over 3-5 yrs Ongoing high need: Heads of household permanently unable to work. Ongoing chronic issues. PSH, ongoing hsg and coord supp srvcs

22. Bridges to Housing EvaluationRegional Research Institute, Portland State University 3 components: • Longitudinal outcome study • Process study on implementation • Impact & effectiveness in improving outcomes

23. B2H findings to date 52 families: • 81% single female parents • Young children: 82% 12 years & younger • Most families have 1-2 children • 89% at least one special need/disability

24. High Resource User Screening Tool Created by B2H service providers: • Families that are homeless for long time, not necessarily high resource users • Tool determines B2H eligibility • Range of scores 10-22, average 14 • Two largest family providers use to determine eligibility for a range of housing programs

25. B2H Housing History

26. B2H family stability & child wellbeing B2H families used costly community services at a high rate. In 6 mos prior to intake: • 45% HoH used ER • 47% of families, children used ER • 24% of families, child placed in foster care • 10% had family member arrested • 50%, child with behavior & other concerns

27. Implementing the B2H model • Housing first – central intake vs. from agency • Identifying appropriate families • Intensive case mgmt. – 1:15 case load • Strengths-based assessment & service planning • Case mgmt and early progress of families • Evaluation requirements

28. Systems issues affecting B2H • Access to housing & collaboration with housing partners • Service access and flexible resources • TANF regulations

29. Final thoughts for 10YPs • If beginning 10YP – consider “Ending family homelessness” as priority, although federal support for chronic homeless focus • Evaluate family needs and develop PSH accordingly • Report your outcomes widely • Set PSH goals at outset, with annual benchmarks

30. Thank you Copies of 10 year plan and updates for Portland available online at: www.portlandonline.com/bhcd Bridges to Housing: www.bridgestohousing.com Sally Erickson, City of Portland, Bureau of Housing & Community Development serickson@ci.portland.or.us 503-823-0883