Rapid Rehousing Rent & Move-in Assistance

1. Rapid RehousingRent & Move-in Assistance

2. Welcome to Omaha

3. Omaha Demographics • The Omaha-Council Bluffs CoC includes Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties • Population: 408,958 or 895,151 in the Metro Area • Median Household Income: $57,593 • Median house value: $143,200 • Median gross rent: $813 • Rental vacancy rate: 7.66%

4. Homelessness in Omaha • In a single day in Omaha (1/28/16) • 1,509 individuals were homeless (1,157 households) • Living Situations • 983 – shelter • 469 – transitional housing • 57 - streets • Household Type • 1,102 single individuals • 399 families with children • 8 youth only

5. Heartland Family Service Programs • Heartland Family Service • Multi-service human service agency • Operates 50 programs • 3 Focus areas: Child & Family, Counseling & Prevention and Housing & Financial Stability • Housing Programs • Homelessness Prevention • Case Management (PATH) • Street Outreach • Rapid Rehousing • Permanent Supportive Housing • Domestic Violence Shelter & Transitional Housing

6. Rapid Rehousing Programs • Heartland Housing Opportunities • Serves Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie Counties • Program Coordinator, 5 Case Manager, 1 Housing Advocate • 125 units, Serves 664 individuals annually • Heartland Housing Passages • Serves Douglas and Sarpy Counties • Youth ages 18-24 (some dedicated to former wards) • .5 Coordinator, 2 Case Manager, .5 Housing Advocate • 40 units, Serves 181 individuals annually • Pottawattamie County Homeless Link • Serves Pottawattamie County • .5 Coordinator, 2 Case Manager, .5 Housing Advocate • 50 units, Serves 479 individuals annually

7. Program Philosophy • Housing First • Low Demand • Monthly case management Services are mandatory • Trauma Informed Care • Client-Centered Approach to Service Delivery • Minimum Assistance Necessary • Length of stay is based on need (up to 12 months)

8. Rapid Rehousng Eligibility • Category 1 (Literally homeless) OR Category 4 (Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Violence). • No other residence AND lack the resources and support networks to obtain permanent housing. • Assessment determines that RRH is the best fit for the family/individual, as determined by scoring for RRH assessment on the VI-SPDAT

9. Prioritization RRH prioritizes subpopulations in the following order. 1. Veteran w/ Children 2. Non-Veteran w/ Children 3. Veteran w/o Children 4. All others w/o Children Within each subpopulation, households are organized based on length of homeless, then VI score.

10. Financial Assistance & Budget Management • Budget Management • Assistance determinations are not based on individual need, not monthly available funding • Budget for caseload size, based on average spending • Once caseloads are steady, you can adjust and make staffing or program changes • Financial assistance costs will vary greatly month by month, but average annually

11. Initial Assistance Determinations - Length • All households provided rental deposit assistance. • Rental assistance is provided as needed. • Approvals on a month-to- month basis, unless circumstances clearly outline a need for multiple months (not approved for more than three months at a time). • Maximum length of rental assistance provided is 12 months. • Extensions beyond 12 months are available on a case-by-case basis (not to exceed 18 months total).

12. Initial Assistance Determinations - Amount • Participant’s portion of housing costs (rent & utilities) is equal to 30% of their gross monthly income. • Calculation: gross monthly income x 30% • If utilities are not included in rent, then the monthly utility allowance is subtracted from this amount. • The participant’s portion of rental costs is waived for the first month of rental assistance (whether this represents a full or partial month of rent) so that no amount is due from the participant upon move-in. • Their portion of rental costs is due on the due date identified in their lease agreement beginning the next month after move-in. • Approval amounts can be reevaluated at any time before the next re-evaluation is due, if the participant’s need or circumstances change.

13. Utility Assistance • Assistance is available as allowable by funding source • Monthly approval amount is the amount when the rent calculation comes to a negative number – this the amount of utility assistance provided • The amount by which the housing assistance exceeds the rent to the owner • The participant must submit a current copy of their utility bill within the calendar month. • If this documentation is not submitted then they will forego utility assistance for that particular month. • The amount paid is up to the monthly approval amount, but not to exceed the amount due on the bill

14. Rent Calculation Examples Monthly Gross Income $1,500 Client’s Total Housing Cost $450 Utility Allowance $131 Client’s Cost minus Utilities $319 Rent Owed to Landlord $600 Program RA Payment $281 Client Rent Payment $319 Program Utility Payment $0 Monthly Gross Income $100 Client’s Total Housing Cost $30 Utility Allowance $131 Client’s Cost minus Utilities $-101 Rent Owed to Landlord $600 Program RA Payment $600 Client Rent Payment $0 Program Utility Payment $101

15. Other Move-In Costs • All assistance limited to CoC/ESG eligible costs • Needs based, case by case for those with income • Rental application fees • Utility deposits - if no mainstream assistance available • Utility arrears • Moving costs - truck rental or moving company, storage fees for up to 3 months prior to move-in • Bus tickets • Rental arrears – only if it is a requirement for approval at an apartment • Last month’s rent – available for high barrier clients • High barrier = 3 of the following categories: • No/low income (less than $800 per month) • Sex Offender or a felony within the last 10 years (can also include a prostitution, drug or a violent misdemeanor) • No rental history or Evictions within last 10 years

16. Securing Basic Needs at Move-in • Identify needs once inspection passes • If furniture is needed • Access donation center • Identify community resources • Refer to program volunteer • Program volunteer • Secures donations and stores them • Identifies household needs • Organizes move-ins weekly • Move in kits – available to youth, former wards • Kitchen essentials, bedding, trash cans, baskets, hangers, towels, hygiene items, cleaning supplies • Costs is about $100 each

17. Recertifications Eligibility - Re-evaluated every 3 months. Criteria for approval: • Income does not exceed 30% of AMI. • Lacks sufficient resources. • Attend monthly case management meetings • If miss one month, a retention plan is completed Process • Gather income verification at CM meeting • If client has income, budget is completed • housing and basic needs in one column, other expenses in another • Staff complete new calculation • Bring to bi-weekly staffing meeting for approval

18. Transitioning from RRH & Progressive Engagement • Discharge planning beings at program entry! • Progressive Engagement • Begin planning for alternatives at six months, including subsidized housing applications • Assess for PSH eligibility (if VI score qualifies) and refer at nine months • If nothing in the months prior to timing out… get creative, plan for the possibility of moving • Aftercare planning at exit • Monthly check in recommended • Case Management available for1-3 months after exit

19. Results • Average LOS – 3-5 months (including search) • 3 – PCHL (serves more families) • 3.5 – Passages (youth) • 4.8 – Opportunities (all populations) • Total Program Cost/Household = $2,491 • $1,967/household & $714/person (PCHL) • $2,810/household & $1,506/person (Passages) • $2,696/Household & $1,226/person (Opportunities) • Average Financial Assistance/Household = $1,304 • $1,018 (PCHL) • $1,444 (Passages) • $1,451(Opportunities)

20. Program Outcomes • Housing Stability (retain/exit to PH) • 74% (PCHL), 75% (Passages), 73% (Opportunities) • Total Income (remain/increase income) • 56% (PCHL), 53% (Passages), 56% (Opportunities) • Earned Income (remain/increase) • 31% (PCHL), 41% (Passages), 33% (Opportunities) • Days until Housing Placement: 28-44 days • Avoid Recidivism (no ES entries one year post exit) • 83% PCHL, 90% HHP, 87% HHO

21. Braiding Funding Sources for Financial Assistance • CoC, ESG, Housing Trust Fund, Private Foundations • CoC & ESG • utilize most stringent of the two regulations • All clients are eligible for both • need a 3rd match source still • CoC doesn’t pay for utilities & is heavy on RA costs • Cross walk billing workflow for both • Private/Unrestricted funds are the bestest • Still only provide eligible financial assitance costs • Pays for admin and overhead costs that others don’t

22. The Stuff that Didn’t Work… as well • Determining assistance case by case or dependent on the client budget • Inconsistent, appears unfair • Puts the CM and program in difficult role • Encourages clients to be dishonest about expenses • Tiered approach • Keeps clients in the program longer than needed • Costly – more financial assistance than needed • Paying rent the program instead of landlord • Duel role of service provider • Clients are less likely to pay

23. Lessons Learned • Clear policies – every supervisor and staff should be able come to the same conclusion on each case • Set a policy for participant’s portion and stick to it • More than 12 months wasn’t successful • Month to month approvals take more time, but ensure lower LOS • Use community resources and allow clients to use their resources before offering additional assistance types. Staff should assess, don’t advertise them all. • Plan well for move-ins (use a checklist) • Check in with clients on rent/utility payments at every meeting • People are more resourceful that we give credit for! • Must enjoy data & numbers to manage these programs – have to be strategic and think outside the box