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National Alliance Conference July 11, 2007 “The Housing Authority and Atlanta’s Regional Commission on Homelessness”

National Alliance Conference July 11, 2007 “The Housing Authority and Atlanta’s Regional Commission on Homelessness”. July 2007. A Collaborative Solution A Brief History. A Call to Action

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National Alliance Conference July 11, 2007 “The Housing Authority and Atlanta’s Regional Commission on Homelessness”

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  1. National Alliance ConferenceJuly 11, 2007“The Housing Authority and Atlanta’s Regional Commission on Homelessness” July 2007

  2. A Collaborative Solution A Brief History • A Call to Action • In November 2002, Mayor Franklin asked United Way to lead a broad based community effort to develop an action plan addressing homelessness • Building the Plan • United Way convened a 16-member Commission on Homelessness in December 2002 • The Commission carried out a comprehensive process during an approximate 90-day window • Mayor Franklin and the Commission on Homelessness unveiled the Blueprint to End Homelessness in March 2003 • Implementing the Plan • Commission expanded to Regional Commission in 2003 • Seven County governments and Atlanta appointed members

  3. Implementing the Plan What Makes It Work Well? • A “Champion” – Horace Sibley, Chair • Political Will – Mayor Shirley Franklin • Strong intergovernmental cooperation

  4. Permanent Supportive Housing • End goal: Build a system • Five-Year Plan adopted by the Regional Commission in 2004* • Plan implementation includes coordination of Supportive Housing components: • Capital • Subsidy • Services • Five-Year Objective: Create access to 1750 permanent or transitional units • Met the first year goal of 300 units • Met the second year goal of 300 units • Met the current year goal of 300 units *Access at: www.unitedwayatlanta.org/homeless/resources.asp

  5. Atlanta Housing AuthorityGOALS • HOPE VI Projects Set the Direction • Replace Public Housing with Mixed Income Communities • Change the Culture of Poverty • Rebuild Aging Structures • A Safe Place for Families • Focus on the Working Poor, Not the homeless.

  6. AHA Resident Standards • Pay the Rent • Get a Job of Job Training –”moving to work” • No Felons • Minimum rent of $125/month • Clean and Sober

  7. A Thee Person Meeting Yields A Commitment • Ms. Shirley Franklin, Mayor, City of Atlanta • Ms. Renee Glover, Housing Authority Executive • Horace Sibley, Chair Regional Commission of Homelessness • 500 Project Based Subsidies over 5 years

  8. Targeted Population • The Long Term Homeless • A Diagnosed Condition • Moving from Street, Shelter, Assessment Center and Transitional Programs • Below 30% of Area Median Income

  9. The Process—A Slow Start • AHA – A “Moving to Work” Authority. More local control. Able to do their own demonstration projects • All Authorities can do a Homeless Set Aside if included in the annual plan. • United Way -- Request for Qualifications • Seven applicants and Five Selected by a committee. • 2. AHA– Request for Proposal • Six properties and four selected. • 3. HUD Environmental – 9 months for the first 100

  10. First 100 • All Existing Housing • One Recent Tax Credit Renovation • Three C Grade Properties • Disappointment in the “high end” Tax Credit Developers “We have had bad experience with those kinds of programs” A Tax Credit syndication fund.

  11. Implementation Struggles • Service Provider Staffing and Collaboration • Minimum rent – One Year Waiver • Utility Deposits and Past Due Amounts • Furniture • Documentation of Disabilities • Housing and Service Provider Learning Curve • Relations with the Management Office • Criminal Background Issues Balancing Need vs Safety Risk Service Providers have a simple appeal.

  12. First Four Programs—Target PopulationAssigned by Property • Persons with Severe and Persistent Mental illness Serve by an Assertive Community Treatment Team • Persons with Developmental Disabilities • Families with a person with Mental illness. • Women and Women with Children in Recovery

  13. Second Round Vouchers-- 98 • Homeless Youth and Youth Aging Out—New Tax Credit • Employment Housing—Existing Housing • Chronically Homeless—Amendment to an existing HAP Contract • Families with Mental Illness—Tax Credit (4%) • Two Large Tax Credit Developers—5 units each. Housing Authority placed them in their regular tax credit process. Units committed but only 16 are in operation.

  14. Third Round--200 • New RFQ issued—More providers want into the program • The Largest Tax Credit Developer will Apply • Several Service Providers with Recently Acquired Housing • August Applications.

  15. Capital • Tax credits • 12 extra points if 50% or more are supportive units • Partnerships between housing and service providers • Three projects awarded in 2005 • Will provide 194 units in 2007 • State Supportive Housing Fund-$3 million/year • $22 million in Opportunity Bonds • Supportive Housing Trust Fund (3-year) • Excess car rental tax backs the bond • Debt-free units • Committed to 11 projects, $9,016,000, with 312 units

  16. Services • $7.5 million Supportive Housing Fund • Raised from private sources • Two-year grants awarded to service providers • HUD Continuum Grants • Projects in five Member Jurisdictions of the Regional Commission. Expanding shelter plus care. • Regional Commission funds filled gaps • New State Fund • $500,000 commitment from DHR for one year of case work • Shift in State Funding in the Future • Planning new fee for service for clients connected to housing in 2009

  17. www.unitedwayatlanta.org/homelesswww.supporthousing.orgBolsterp@bellsouth.netwww.unitedwayatlanta.org/homelesswww.supporthousing.orgBolsterp@bellsouth.net

  18. Other Information

  19. The Results - Cost Benefit Analysis • The Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Program is operated by Georgia Rehabilitation Outreach, Inc.. • 60 dual diagnosed clients who frequent jails and hospitals • Multi-Specialty Staff to client ratio is 1:8 • One year of operation • $1.1 million in savings

  20. The Results - Cost Benefit Analysis

  21. Advocacy for Service DollarsThe missing link • State Budget Request 2008--$3 million • 75 Mental health Case Workers Connected to Affordable Housing • State Wide Grant Program • Prioritize the Frequently Hospitalized Homeless • A DCA Housing Trust Fund program • No lapse at the end of the year • Faith based grants

  22. Housing Search • Housing search system established • Electronic marketplace for affordable housing • Identifies landlords with a “heart for the work” • A much-needed tool for case workers • Online Database • State wide access through: GeorgiaHousingSearch.org • Expanded to 45,000 units state wide. • Will have private data base for supportive housing vacancies.

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