Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio COHHIO

1. Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in OhioCOHHIO Rural Convening: Systems Change Sponsored by: COHHIO

3. Rural Convening Purpose & Outline • To provide homeless assistance providers in rural Ohio with strategies for changing homeless systems: • What is “systems change” and why should we consider it? • Program approaches that support systems change • Client targeting and assessment • HUD’s policy initiatives • HMIS • HPRP • Hearth Act • Measuring systems change

4. Systems Change… what is it? Coordinate and manage homeless services and system resources to help people resolve their housing crisis and remain stably housed. Re-orients homeless planning efforts Housing stability-oriented approach Change the way communities solve homelessness

5. Systems Change… how to? • Services integration + systems integration must be pursued simultaneously • Commitment to change without adequate resources is not enough • 3 strategies are key: • Designate a leader • Get key decision-makers to the table • Use formal strategic planning process • Incremental change is how most systems evolve • Seek advice from others

6. Current Approach: Multiple entry points Multiple assessments Service referral One-stop shop Shelter-based Homeless-specific inventory Systems Change Approach: Centralized intake Coordinated assessment Service linkage Specialized programs and services Prevention-based Flexible, responsive housing Why consider “systems change”?

7. Goals for Systems Change: • Reduce the length of stay in shelter or in homelessness • Reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time • Increase the number of people who are diverted from shelter to stable housing • Reduce repeat episodes of homelessness • Reduce the number of people overall who are homeless. • Others?

8. What are the major barriers or challenges? • Resources/funding • Lack of safe, decent, affordable housing • Distribution of programs and services across a broad geographic area • Rural issues aren’t addressed by today’s program models • Others?...

9. Future system vision… • Planning • Program Models • Infrastructure • Management & Coordination • Technology What are your goals?

10. Program Approaches that Support Systems Change • Centralized intake (virtual) • Coordinated assessment • Service linkage • Homeless Prevention • Rapid Re-housing, Transition-in-Place

11. Targeting & Assessment • Who gets homeless assistance? • “But for this assistance…” • Who serves them? • Homeless systems vs. mainstream services • First point of contact vs. coordinated referral and service linkage • How do they get served? • Holistic approach vs. housing-first model

12. Break?

13. HUD’s Policy Implications for Systems Change • HMIS • HPRP • Hearth Act

14. HUD Policy Implications:HMIS What is HMIS? a locally administered, electronic data collection system that stores person-level information about clients who access the homeless service system.

15. Why is HMIS Important? Each Continuum of Care (CoC) must implement an HMIS; HUD assesses and scores progress in CoC application Local HMIS data is critical for the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Implementation of HMIS at the local level can support coordinated case management

16. Why is HMIS Important? (cont’d) HMIS enables: Collecting common set of data elements Identifying who is literally homeless or at risk of homelessness Tracking homeless assistance provided Reporting client progress and program performance Monitoring on-going data quality

17. HMIS Video Every Story Makes a Difference http://www.hmis.info/Resources/300/Every-Story-Makes-a-Difference-Video.aspx

18. What are the HMIS Data and Technical Standards? Federal Register Notice that defines baseline requirements for: Data collection (data elements and response categories) Universal data elements (required for all programs) Program-specific data elements (required for programs required to generate annual reports ) Privacy Security Under Revision to include HPRP data elements

19. HMIS Data Standards - Terminology Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead CoC Program Homeless Assistance Program Homelessness Prevention Program Contributory HMIS Organization (CHO) Contributory CoC Program Non-Contributory CoC Program

20. HMIS Data Standards- Terminology (cont’d) Unduplicated Accounting of Homelessness Note- for HPRP reporting, unduplicated accounting is only required at the subgrantee level HMIS Lead Agency (HMIS Lead) Annual Performance Report (APR)

21. HMIS System Level Graphic CoC Non-Contributory CoC Program PPI Contributory CoC Program HMISLead Agency Unduplicated Accounting Contributory Agency Contributory Non-CoC Program 21

22. Components of the HMIS Data Standards Three components: Program Descriptor Data Elements New for 2009 Draft Notice Universal Data Elements Revised for HPRP Program-Specific Data Elements Revised for HPRP

23. Program Descriptors 2.1 Organization Identifier 2.2 Organization Name 2.3 Program Identifier 2.4 Program Name 2.5 Direct Service Code 2.6 Site Information 2.7 Continuum of Care Number The Program Descriptor Data Elements are:

24. Program Descriptors (cont’d) 2.8 Program Type Code 2.9 Bed and Unit Inventory Information 2.10 Target Population A 2.11 Target Population B 2.12 Method for Tracking Residential Program Occupancy 2.13 Grantee Identifier** ** = NEW Element

25. Universal Data Elements 3.1 Name 3.2 Social Security Number 3.3 Date of Birth 3.4 Race 3.5 Ethnicity 3.6 Gender 3.7 Veteran Status 3.8 Disabling Condition 3.9 Residence Prior to Program Entry

26. Universal Data Elements (Cont’d) 3.10 Zip Code of Last Permanent Address 3.11 Housing Status** 3.12 Program Entry Date 3.13 Program Exit Date 3.14 Personal Identification Number 3.15 Household Identification Number ** = NEW Element

27. Program-Specific Data Elements 4.1 Income and Sources 4.2 Non-Cash Benefits 4.3 Physical Disability 4.4 Developmental Disability 4.5 Chronic Health Condition 4.6 HIV/AIDS 4.7 Mental Health 4.8 Substance Abuse

28. Program-Specific Data Elements (cont’d) 4.9 Domestic Violence 4.10 Destination 4.11 Date of Contact 4.12 Date of Engagement 4.13 Financial Assistance Provided** 4.14 Housing Relocation & Stabilization Services Provided** 4.15 Client Outcome Measures ** = NEW Element

29. HUD Policy Initiative:Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) Program Intent Focus of HPRP is housing stabilization Provides temporary financial assistance and/or services to help persons gain housing stability Temporary assistance as a bridge to long-term stability

30. Program Intent Intent is to serve persons who: Are homeless or would be homeless but for this assistance Can remain stably housed after this temporary assistance ends

31. HPRP is NOT…. A mortgage assistance program Intended to serve persons who need long-term and/or intensive supports ESG Program Different eligibility requirements & activities Rapid Re-housing (RRH) Demonstration Different requirements and activities

32. State of Ohio’s HPRP RFP Process • State funds ($26+ million) allocated to “Service Areas”, with 70% directed to non-entitlement areas • Subgrantees can be single counties or multi-county collaborations • Applications due 7/14 with grant execution expected by 9/1

33. HPRP Requirements HPRP funds must be issued to a third party (e.g., landlord or utility company), NOT directly to program participants An assisted property may not be owned by the grantee, subgrantee or the parent, subsidiary or affiliated organization of the subgrantee Funds used for ineligible activities be repaid to HUD

34. Timeline July 2: HUD completes review Once grant agreements are signed by HUD – this starts the clock for expenditure deadlines Sept 30: Grant Agreements with sub-grantees must be signed Two years from date HUD signed grant agreement: 60% funds drawfunds must be issued to a third party (e.g., landlord or utility company), NOT directly to program participants Three years: 100% drawn

35. Eligible Participants Program participants must be homeless or about to become homeless AND: Initial consultation to determine appropriate assistance Income of 50% or less Area Median Income (AMI): see www.huduser.org/DATASETS/il.html No other housing options No financial resources or support networks to obtain or remain in housing

36. Eligible Activities – Four Categories • Financial Assistance • Short and medium term rental assistance, security/utility deposits, utility payments, moving assistance, motel/hotel vouchers • Housing Relocation & Stabilization Serv. • Outreach/engagement, case management, legal services, housing search, credit repair

37. Eligible Activities – Four Categories • Data Collection and Evaluation • Costs related to data collection on HPRP clients in HMIS or comparable database, as appropriate • Costs associated with participating in HUD’s evaluation of HPRP • Administrative costs • Costs related to accounting of funds, audit, preparation of HUD reports, grant administration, staff training on HPRP

38. Unprecedented Opportunity • Level of Funding • Missing Link • Transformative Change • Systemic Change

39. Level of Funding • HPRP equals HUD’s entire annual homeless assistance budget • Infusion of targeted and essential resources • Provides new opportunities to Continuums of Care (CoCs)

40. Missing Link: NEW CoC Interventions Outreach, Intake, Assessment Rapid Re-housing Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Prevention Support Services Permanent Supportive Housing

41. Transformative Change • Re-orients homeless planning efforts • Housing stability-oriented approach • Change the way communities solve homelessness

42. Systemic Change Prevention & Homeless Service System Housing Stability Mainstream Services

43. Innovation • Encourage grantees to think outside the box in program implementation • Adopt key components of best practice models with jurisdictional variation • Maximize use of other ARRA funds and existing mainstream resources

44. Key Prevention Provisions • Form partnerships • Prioritize people most likely to become homeless • Analyze HMIS/other data for predictors • Continuous performance improvement • Reviewing shelter admission data to see who was served but still became homeless and who was not served and became homeless

45. Coordination of HPRP and Other Efforts • HPRP is a one-time influx of funds to implement and learn from innovative approaches • HPRP funds must be administered in coordination with the Continuum and other local efforts • Grantees are required to coordinate HPRP funds with other ARRA funds in the community

46. Thinking Ahead – What are you trying to achieve with HPRP? • Outcomes of HPRP can include: • Reducing the length of stay in shelter or in homelessness; • Reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time; • Increasing the number of people who are diverted from shelter to stable housing; • Reducing repeat episodes of homelessness; • Reducing the number of people overall who are homeless.

47. Resources • Available at www.HUDHRE.info • Notice and programmatic guidance • Virtual help desk, Q & A document, searchable FAQ database • Sample community documents • Program guidance documents, tools, and templates (under development) • Webcast materials • Regional Training materials

48. HUD Policy Initiative:HEARTH Act • On May 20, 2009 Obama signed into law the Hearth Act – reauthorizes McKiney-Vento homeless assistance programs and significantly changes the CoC process and structure • Is this an opportunity or a threat?

49. HEARTH Changes to the CoC • Homeless Prevention significantly expanded • More emphasis on rapid re-housing, especially for families • Chronic definition expanded to include families • Match requirement = 25%, applied community wide not project by project • Rural communities have the option of applying under a different set of guidelines that offer more flexibility and more assistance with capacity building

50. ESG = Emergency Services Grant • Eligible activities include traditional shelter, outreach, rent assistance, housing relocation assistance, mediation, housing stabilization services • Can serve homeless and those “at risk” • ESG funding increases by 20% • 40% of ESG funds must be used for prevention and re-housing