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Housing First

Housing First. A Home for Everyone Conference July 16 th and 17 th , 2014. West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency, Inc. M I S S I ON.

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Housing First

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  1. Housing First A Home for Everyone Conference July 16th and 17th, 2014

  2. West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency, Inc. M I S S I ON To take action against poverty by developing the social and economic assets of low-income families and their communities and by working to create a more just and sustainable society.

  3. Serving 7 Wisconsin Counties Barron Chippewa Dunn Pepin Pierce Polk St. Croix

  4. What services are provided? • Housing • Apartment Rentals • Homeless Prevention • Homeownership • Weatherization • Energy Assistance • Food (Access & Resources) • Transportation (JumpStart) • Skills Enhancement • Literacy

  5. Housing Assistance Housing counseling and financial assistance for homeless persons, renters, and homeowners • Homeless Prevention Program • Tenant Based Rental Assistance • Rapid Re-Housing • Transitional Housing • Permanent Supportive Housing • Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Dunn, Pierce, and St. Croix Counties • Homebuyer Education and Assistance • Foreclosure Intervention Counseling and Assistance

  6. The Old Way vs. The New Way

  7. Are you “ready” for housing? • Are you compliant with shelter staff? • Are you employable? • Do you have a serious mental illness or substance use disorder? • Do you have a history of violent criminal charges? • Do we think you have a high chance of success?

  8. So Why Change? • Most vulnerable not being helped • Continued utilization of other community resources (ER, CPS, Crisis line, Shelter) • Homeless numbers not declining • Research based evidence for Housing First model • Better housing retention • Lower rate of return to homelessness

  9. What is Housing First? • Philosophy of providing housing • Housing is a right, not a reward • Housing provides stable environment to address other issues • Program Model • Immediate focus on housing • Minimal barriers to obtaining housing • Targets the most vulnerable • Supportive services offered, not required

  10. Housing First Model in Practice • Program Entry • VI-SPDAT to prioritize most vulnerable • Participant understanding of program model • Finding housing • Working with landlords • In-home case management • Be up front about participant barriers

  11. Housing First Model in Practice • Program Participation • Supportive services offered, but not required • PSH v. RRH v. TH • Regular home visits are an expectation • Harm reduction approach • Program moves with the client if an eviction occurs • Program termination is rare

  12. Housing First Model in Practice • Case Management • Initial focus: overcoming housing barriers and finding safe, appropriate housing • Once housed: focus on long term goals, support to maintain housing, and connection to community resources • Goals are developed by the participant, NOT case manager

  13. So how do we make the change?

  14. Getting Everyone on Board • Board of Directors • What is their role in your agency? • Program Staff • A paradigm shift in program philosophy and service provision • Local CoC members • This changes how referrals will be made • Landlords • Developing new and deeper relationships

  15. Impact on Case Managers • Paradigm Shift • Housing Stability v. Rules • Harm Reduction v. Abstinence • New role as Team Leader • Coordinating participant, therapists, sponsors, psychiatrists, family, and many more supports • Morale may be affected • Feeling unskilled/unprepared • Ethical dilemmas

  16. Financial Impact of Change • Planning for supportive services • High barriers, low community connection • Plan for moving costs • Security deposits, cleaning, damages • Training costs for staff • Mental health interventions, crisis intervention, Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed services, Wellness Recovery Action Plans, harm reduction

  17. Impact on Management • Clinical Supervision • Manager • Contract with mental health professional • Weekly Staffings • Help clarify roles • Help staff recognize housing problems as symptoms of the clinical issue • Address Morale Issues • Reframing situations • Addressing compassion fatigue

  18. Questions?

  19. RESOURCES Back to Basics: What Exactly Is Housing First & Rapid Re-Housing? (OrgCode Consulting) http://www.orgcode.com/2012/05/15/back-to-basics-what-exactly-is-housing-first-rapid-re-housing/ The Applicability of Housing First Models to Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness (HUD) http://www.huduser.org/portal/publications/hsgfirst.pdf VI SPDAT (100,000 Homes Campaign) http://100khomes.org/resources/the-vi-spdat Affordable and Supportive Housing Research (USICH) http://usich.gov/usich_resources/research_and_evaluation/affordable_and_supportive_housing_research/ Pathways to Housing http://pathwaystohousing.org/

  20. Contact Information Robyn Thibado Associate Director West CAP rthibado@wcap.org Corin Tubridy Homeless Prevention Programs Manager West CAP ctubridy@wcap.org

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