Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness

1. Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness

2. Goals • Public health approach to benefit households affected and broader community • Focus on best use of resources, “best fit” • Goal: reduce incidence & prevalence of homelessness • Fewer enter homelessness/shelter • Reduced length of stay in shelter • Reduced number who are homeless at point-in-time

3. Strategies • System Change: • Meaningful assessment & accurate referral • Coordination of right resources to right person at the right time • Early warning system • Inclusiveness and transparency • Innovations: • Regional REACH model for individuals • Flexible prevention, diversion & rapid rehousingfor families • Generate broad community support for goal of ending homelessness

4. Leadership Council Fiscal Sponsor - PVRVC Network Diagram Service Coordination Springfield 10YP Pioneer Valley 10YP Berkshire 10YP Families Individuals WMIC Data & Performance Measurement Springfield CoC Three- County CoC Berkshire CoC Community Engagement Franklin • System Change/Community Initiatives • Supportive Housing Development • Employment & Training • Interfaith Mentoring • Early Warning System • Project Homeless Connect Hampshire Hampden

5. Leadership Council Chair: Dr. Evan Dobelle, President, Westfield State College Vice-Chair: Lynne Wallace, Principal, Dietz & Co. Architects Fr. Stan Aksamit, Our Lady of Peace Paul Bailey, Springfield Partners for Comm. Action Andrew Baker, Hilltown CDC Tim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Rebecca Caplice, Greenfield Savings Bank Martin Chaisson, INOE Technologies Dave Christopolis, Berkshire Comm. Action Amy Clark, Franklin Co. Community Meals Steve Como, Soldier On Senator Ben Downing Linda Dunlavy, Franklin CR Council of Govts Judge Robert Fields, W. Div. Housing Court Bob Fleischner, Center for Public Representation David Gadaire, CareerPoint Steve Huntley, Valley Opportunity Council Lori Ingraham, Easthampton Savings Bank Peg Keller, City of Northampton John Klenakis, UMASS Donohue Institute Charlie Knight Gerry McCafferty, City of Springfield Betty Medina Lichtenstein, Enlace de Familias Andrew Morehouse, Food Bank of W Mass Rebecca Muller, GrantsWork Yasmin Otero, Dept. of Transitional Assistance Joe Peters, Universal Plastics Jane Sanders, Community Action Linda Stacy, United Way of Franklin County Liz Sullivan, Dept. of Mental Health Mayor Mike Sullivan, City of Holyoke

6. Affiliated Committees & Workgroups • Individual and Family Workgroups • Western Mass Interagency Council • Supportive Housing Development Committee • Regional Faith-Based Action Initiative • Three Continua of Care • Springfield 10-Year Plan Implementation Committee • Project Homeless Connect • Education, Training & Employment Workgroup • Housing First Workgroup

7. Overview of Western Massachusetts Regional profile

8. Western Massachusetts Four counties Berkshire Franklin Hampden Hamshire 35% of the area of the state 13% of the state’s population Urban: Springfield is the third largest city in the state, and the fourth largest city in New England Rural: 67% of the regions towns and cities have less than 5000 people The region contains two of seven state ‘hotspots’ for family homelessness—Holyoke and Springfield

9. Urban, Suburban, RuralTension between very overwhelming need in urban areas and need to have basic service infrastructure in suburban and rural areas URBAN SUBURBAN & RURAL • Hampden County holds about half the region’s population. • Springfield and Holyoke contain among the highest populations of concentrated poverty in the nation. • Springfield is ranked sixth in the nation for child poverty. • Hampshire County. 5 colleges contribute to very high housing costs. Pockets of poverty, especially in Amherst. • Berkshire and Franklin Counties are predominately rural, but contain urban areas: Greenfield, Pittsfield, North Adams.

10. Regional profile • 75% of jobs are in service sector • Education & skills gap (50% high school drop out rate in Springfield) • Immigration gateway • Housing costs affordable compared to eastern part of state, but still out of range for very poor households • High foreclosure rate

11. Homelessness in Western Massachusetts January 2009 PIT Count: 465 Individuals 383 Families As of mid-July, 2009, region had 195 homeless families in motels, out of a state total of 862 (23% of motel families)

12. Western Mass Innovations REACH Flexible Prevention, Diversion & Rapid ReHouse

13. Regional Engagement and Assessment of Chronically Homeless Individuals (REACH) • REACH grew out of WMIC prior to ICHH; ICHH allows expansion of local best practice • Monthly coordination meetings by county: identification of all chronically homeless individuals, “best fit” housing & services • REACH providers must provide housing units • 38 REACH services slots regionally • So far, 2 agencies to provide 23 units/services; more sought in 2nd RFP

14. Funding for Individual Innovations

15. Prevention, Diversion and Rapid ReHouse for Families • Flexible funding for prevention, diversion & rapid rehouse • Monthly coordination meetings by county—prevention & rehouse agencies + DHCD/DTA • Integration with RAFT, ESFP, HPRP, CSBG funds

16. Funding for Family Innovations

17. Community Support • The regional network is more than the innovations • Building leadership & community support • Bring additional resources to the table • Build political support for continued funding • Engaging full community in working toward solutions • Faith-based initiatives • Coordination with local governments • Engage United Ways and foundations in solutions • Work with consumers & community members

18. Building Community Support ICHH Grant Components Leadership Council: inclusion of civic & business leaders Director of Regional Coordination Public relations Community organizing Website/Blog: transparency Expertise of providers Strong data and results; Outcomes rather than outputs Other Elements Faith-based Action Grant Consumer Advisory Council Project Homeless Connect