Coordinated Engagement for Young Adults

1. Coordinated Engagement for Young Adults Hannah Fisk, NWYS Emily Harris-Shears & Erin Maguire, CCSWW Washington State Conference on Ending Homelessness May 21, 2014

2. Northwest Youth Services Hannah Fisk, MSW “NWYS collaborates with at-risk, runaway and homeless youth to foster self-reliance.”

3. Whatcom County Coordinated Entry System AND/OR Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

4. How Youth are Different • An additional entry option for youth • Two Housing Interest Pools (HIP and YIP) • Removing off the waitlist • Weekly notifications • Additional attempts to contact • Approval from youth serving agency • Brain development/ Cognitive functioning • Relationship focused • Continuum of care between programs • Empowerment based- options • Positive Youth Development focused

5. Examples of Partner Housing Programs Sun House Emergency Shelter Northwest Youth Services Shelter Plus Care Program Catholic Community Services I-Street House Additional entry, intake, and assessment for 13-24 year olds Lydia Place Referral and enrollment to partner programs Coordinated entry, intake, and assessment for all ages Bridge of Hope House Targeted Homeless Prevention Women Care Shelter Opportunity Council Housing City Gate Re-Entry Housing Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing YWCA

6. Trends • In April 302 non-youth households were on the HIP • 96 youth household were on the HIP • 47 additional youth are on the YIP only • Reasons for any difference in numbers include: • Prefer not to be on the HIP • Not literally homeless • Example of movement from HIP to Housing • HIP to Permanent Housing Program • 55% went from HIP to the Permanent Housing Program • 16% went from the YIP to the Permanent Housing Program

7. Lesson’s Learned • One Housing Interest Pool list with two entry points • No shared data entry program • Couch surfing • Lack of relationship • Increased Communication • More difficult for the agencies • Easier for the youth • Lot’s of Advocating

8. Next Steps • Shared access to single Housing Interest Pool • Continued training on how this system came into place for new staff • Prioritization of youth

9. Youth Housing Connection WLIHA Conference on Ending Homelessness May 2014 Implementing A Coordinated Engagement System For Young Adults

10. Community Sign In • Youth and young adults (YYA) ages 13 to 25 complete Community Sign In the first time they arrive at any drop in center, meal program, or young adult shelter in the homeless YYA continuum. • Launched in December 2013 • 1,217 YYA have responded to Community Sign-In • 67% identify as currently experiencing homelessness

11. Community Sign In 1.Divert YYA from homeless services when possible through family reunification 2.Promote consistent data collection on YYA homelessness 3.Obtain a more comprehensive number of YYA who are using our continuum by aligning data collection at every drop in center, meal program and young adult shelter in the continuum of care.

12. Youth Housing Connection • One single access point for young adults (17.5-25) in King County who are currently experiencing literal homelessness or within 14 days of losing their housing and in need of connection to housing resources • Youth Housing Connection launched July 8, 2013

13. Where do young people come from?

14. Demographics

15. Assessment Process • Meet young adults where they are already accessing services and support • Assessments are offered at nine youth serving drop-in centers, shelters and meal site programs each week • Capacity to provide 200 assessments/month • Over 800 assessments completed

16. Assessment Tool • One hour assessment • Capturing relevant information related to young adult’s experiences in housing • Directly corresponds to eligibility criteria of community housing providers • Measures a young adult’s current risk while remaining homeless through the vulnerability score

17. Housing Inventory • Partner with 25 housing programs made up of seven youth serving agencies • 300+ units/beds • Range of services: • Chemical Dependency • LGBTQA Youth • Exiting Foster Care • Domestic Violence • Mental Health • Culturally Tailored Services for African American and Native American young adults • 191 referrals made since launch • 90 young adults in housing

18. Program Staffing • Two Housing Specialists: Completes housing assessments with young adults • YHC Lead: Makes housing referrals and facilitates mobility requests • Program Manager • Program Director

19. Vulnerability Scale • Length of current experience of homelessness • Interest in Chemical Dependency Support Services • Safety • Interest in Mental Health Support Services • Number of experiences of homelessness • Interest in programs that require YA to have a disability • Community Supports • Length of time on the YHC Placement Roster (Point added for 6 months or longer) • Receiving SS/Disability Benefits

20. Vulnerability Scale

21. Vulnerability Scale

22. Mobility Requests • Supports young adults moving through the continuum of housing resources as their needs change • Young adults with approved mobility requests receive priority for open resources

23. Youth & Young Adult Voice Focus Groups Marketing Assessment Questions Response Timeline Mockingbird Society – Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness Ongoing User Feedback System Implications

24. Provider Voice • Feedback Forums • Continual Training • Individual Stakeholder Check In’s • Task Force → YHC Work Group • Monthly meetings of housing and service providers • YHC successes and challenges • 12 month work plan

25. Next Steps • Family Reunification Pilot

26. Hannah Fisk, Northwest Youth Services HannahF@nwys.org Emily Harris-Shears, Catholic Community Services of King County EmilyHS@ccsww.org Erin Maguire, Catholic Community Services of King County ErinMa@ccsww.org