College Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)

1. College Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) Tacoma Housing Authority 902 South L Street Tacoma, WA 98405 (253) 207-4421

2. Tacoma community college (TCC) • Served more than 500,000 students in the past 50+years • 13,700 students annually • Offers credit and non-credit courses

3. TCC Student profile • Median Age – 26 • Students of Color - 33% • Qualify for Financial Aid – 47% • Female – 56%Male – 32% • 55% of students transfer

4. The struggle to stay in college • Students report they do not have enough money for living expenses (housing, transportation and food) compromising college success • Nationally, homeless students have a greater likelihood of exiting college • Prompted partnership between TCC and THA to remove these barriers and retain students

5. Housing assistance program history • Established in September 2014 as a pilot program with 25 housing vouchers • Housing assistance provided for up to a three-year period or until a student graduates – whatever comes first • Early outcomes showed participating students were three times more likely to stay in school

6. Housing assistance program Expansion • TCC participated in the HOPE Labs 2016 survey of Student Basic Needs • TCC students reported homeless rate is 27% • The national average is reported as 14% • With generous support from the Kresge Foundation, a two year evaluation of CHAP is currently underway (Hope Lab / Temple University) • To support this evaluation the CHAP program expanded to up to 150 vouchers. TCC dedicated a full time staff person to this program • 25 Vouchers are allocated to TCC’s program serving students exiting corrections

7. ELIGIBILITY • The program expansion aims to provide 150 housing vouchers to TCC students and their dependents who are homeless or near homeless • Students must meet THA eligibility criteria for income (up to 50% of AMI), low threshold background check and lawful residency (no sex crimes, no drug manufacturing while living in/on public housing/HUD housing) • Basic eligibility expanded to increase access • Rental units must pass THA inspection

8. ELIGIBILITY… • Homeless students may apply at anytime after 10th day of the quarter; near homeless have 3 or 4 entry points in the academic year • Participating students must be enrolled in credit bearing courses; can be part time to start, need to be full-time by third quarter (unless near graduation) • Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point or better; after 2 quarters of program enrollment • Student cannot owe money to any Housing Authority is the USA. If they previously lived in public housing or received some type of HUD voucher, they would have to pay off any balanced owed before they could be on CHAP

9. DEFINITION OF HOMELESS & NEAR HOMELESS • Definition of homeless: A household that is: • In an emergency shelter or in a transitional housing facility or living in a place not suitable for human habitation; or • Is a client of a case-management program serving the homeless. • Has been discharged or is facing discharge from a public institution (e.g. incarceration, hospital etc.) without a housing discharge plan (awaiting approval)* • Definition of at serious risk of homelessness: A household that is experiencing any of the following: • Chronically unable to meet basic housing expenses such as rent, mortgage, or utilities that will result in the loss of permanent housing; • Residing in a motel/hotel due to loss of permanent housing and lacks the resources to remain; • Has lost permanent housing and is living temporarily with a friend or household member and cannot be placed on the lease; • Eviction notices that will result in loss of permanent housing without any prospect for finding stable new housing; • Recent history of serious housing instability; • Is a victim of domestic violence and needs housing assistance to find a safe residence; • Is facing discharge from a public institution (e.g. incarceration, hospital etc.) with a housing discharge plan that provides housing assistance for 6 months or less.

10. DOC & CHAP • Beginning spring 2019, CHAP has started partnering with DOC to specifically target students leaving corrections • Requirements-be a student while incarcerated, have completed high school or GED by release, release to Pierce County and want to attend TCC • Screening tool provided to Education Navigators and Corrections Officers. Connect to TCC Reentry Navigator to complete enrollment process. Application and support documentation sent to Resource Navigator-photo IDs for adults, birth certificates for children under 18, social security cards for all family members.

11. Challenges for CHAP with DOC students • The voucher it typically not enough to cover the full cost of rent. • Student needs income to pay their portion of the rent • *we can refer to job placement and sometimes work-study • Students have trouble finding a place that will rent to them given their background • *Reentry Navigator will work with CHAP participants exiting Corrections to find apartments that will rent to students with backgrounds, we have agreements with two properties that will consider students with backgrounds on CHAP on a case by case basis

12. More Challenges • Since students in corrections may be applying for FAFSA using a paper application and not have internet access, there may be additional steps before they can receive financial aid or they may have a student loan in default • *TCC students can apply to SPRUCE, the space available program for their first two quarters • Students may have a hard time getting documentation needed for CHAP application • *CHAP can accept DOC ID, Reentry Navigator can help forward documentation in file (especially if student signs release)

13. Another solution unique to CHAP • *The CHAP voucher can be used to pay for a room with a family member! THA Landlord Engagement Specialist can help with HUD paperwork to accept voucher, but the entire house/unit where the student will live will have to pass HUD inspection • Eric Lane-Tacoma Housing Authority Landlord Engagement Specialist 253-448-2751

14. CHAP VOUCHER THA’s HOP Voucher is not a traditional Section 8 Voucher Fixed subsidy, amount based on household size (voucher size) 2 persons per bedroom 50% of the Payment Standard (1br = $483 / 2br = $633) Time limited

15. CHAP PARTICIPANTS 53 active participants today, 20+ currently “shopping” for housing 60%+ are single parents with children (mostly mothers) 70% are extremely low-income Average household size is 2.1 The average monthly rental assistance from THA is $528 for this program - amount is based on size of household

16. PROGRAM RoleS & RESPONSIBILITIES TCC Marketing Field inquiries about the program from students Support the application process Monitor for compliance (GPA, enrollment, other) Security deposit assistance in some cases Referrals to community partners ReEntry Navigator help in finding units to rent to students with backgrounds THA Eligibility screening Conducts briefing about CHAP voucher (subsidy amount, how to use etc.) Provides Housing $ Conducts annual inspection Security deposit assistance if available

17. Let’s look at the screening tool! • College Housing Application Program (CHAP) • Department of Corrections Re-Entry Eligibility Application • This is a guided screening to let you know if you are eligible for DOC-CHAP and what you need to complete your application. There will be additional requirements and applications to complete. The ultimate determination will be made by TCC and Tacoma Housing Authority.

18. Let’s look at the checklist & application • The screening tool helps • 1. verify eligibility • 2. get ready to apply for CHAP • The application is not complete without documentation: • SS cards for all family members, Photo ID for adults, birth certificates for children under 18, verification of income, if there is income, for the last three months for all adults

19. What can DOC do? • Education staff and Corrections Officers-use the screening tool! • Find funding to help with fees and books for the first quarter for those using SPRUCE • When helping to fill out the FAFSA, check the box for work-study • For students regaining custody of children, connect to DSHS to apply for TANF if eligible • Connect to employment/income as soon as possible (Valeo Vocation, etc)

20. PROMISING Results

21. PROMISING Results 106 students have been housed on the program 54 exits, 46% graduated TCC’s graduation rate is around 23% The forthcoming evaluation will consider homeless and near homeless students who received housing assistance and those who did not. It will also compare these populations with the general TCC population

22. PROGRAM CHALLENGES Tacoma’s rental market near TCC is getting too tight and expensive for housing vouchers. Voucher utilization is difficult. Students lack security deposit and move in funds Students lack rental history Students have been screened out due to criminal backgrounds May attract folks who just need housing rather than housing the existing homeless or housing insecure students

23. RESPONSE TO PROGRAM CHALLENGES Tacoma’s rental market near TCC is getting too tight and expensive for housing vouchers. Voucher utilization is difficult. THA’s purchase of apartment complexes near campus THA created a Property Based Subsidy program where we buy down the affordability of a building. Renters realize affordable rents but are not CHAP program participants. Property owners under contract with THA prioritize homeless and near homeless TCC students Students lack security deposit and move in funds Dedicate funds for security deposit and move in fees (TCC & THA) Students lack rental history PBS subsidy properties are more flexible with their screening criteria Students have been screened out due to criminal backgrounds PBS subsidy properties are more flexible with their screening criteria AND THA revised criminal background policies for CHAP

24. THA Education Project Goals CHAP is one piece of THA’s Education Project THA’s mission is to provide high quality, stable and sustainable housing and supportive services to people in need.  It does this in ways that help them prosper and help our communities become safe, vibrant, prosperous, attractive and just. THA is very interested in using a housing dollar not just to house people but to also to help them and their children succeed in school and help public schools and colleges educate low-income students. 

25. A Student Success Story “I don’t know what I would have done without housing help. I didn’t allow myself to go there. I showed THA how serious I was about my education. I knew I needed housing to succeed. I needed a home where my family and I could lay our heads down every night, and be safe and secure.”Robin Ross, Class of 2016First Generation College Student Housing partnership changes lives

26. Just like you “I graduated in December with my associate’s and walked across the stage in June of 2016 to receive my degree. I earned that walk across the stage. My son has a 3.5 grade point average (GPA). He vows to beat my GPA one day. He says, I’m going to TCC next year, Mom. Just like you.”

27. Moving Forward Lessons Learned – Next Steps • Takes commitment to get started • Won’t see results right away • Community partnership is important • Some one has to own the program • Designing program to support formerly incarcerated individuals • Seek additional funding support (security deposit funding, housing navigation etc.)

28. Thank You! Contact Information Aley Thompson – Policy, Innovation & Evaluation Project Manager athompson@tacomahousing.org Marybeth McCarthy, Resource Navigator (Counseling / Advising)mmccarthy@tacomacc.edu