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System Wide Housing First: The Columbus Experience

Learn about the successful housing initiatives in Columbus, focusing on principles, impact, and collaborations to end family homelessness. This system includes Front Door Shelter, Family Housing Collaborative, and Tier II Shelter.

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System Wide Housing First: The Columbus Experience

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  1. System Wide Housing First: The Columbus Experience Barbara Poppe Community Shelter Board www.csb.org Presented at The National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness February 9, 2007 Washington, DC Sponsored by the National Alliance to End Homelessness

  2. Overview • Principles & Framework • Impact • Initiatives • Front Door Shelter • Family Housing Collaborative • Tier II Shelter

  3. Created in 1986 • Non-profit intermediary • Funder • Planner • Coordinator

  4. “It is unacceptable for anyone in our community to go without food or shelter for even one night." Mel Schottenstein, CSB Founder

  5. Guiding Principles • Housing is basic human need – must be affordable and safe. • Families are better off in “home-like” settings. • Basic needs met first – recovery, parenting, education follow

  6. Guiding Principles (cont.) • Families can set own goals, manage their homes, and take charge of their lives. • Services should be focused on families and individual members of the family. • Healthy families create health communities and healthy communities support healthy families.

  7. Housing 1st Housing placement with services available Housing 2nd Mandatory treatment/rehab with housing upon completion Housing 1st Philosophy (vs. Housing 2nd)

  8. System Framework • Prevention & diversion • Minimize shelter stay/move to appropriate housing quickly • Measures results and manage for outcomes

  9. Franklin County Family System Diversion: Helping families stay in the housing they’re in, with support from community programs, social service agencies, family and friends, and other community agencies. • First contact between YWCA Family Center and family: • Triage • Referral • Assessment • Services • Guidance Permanent housing, usually with Transition assistance (CSB) Permanent housing Welcome to the Family Center Referral to direct housing: Family Housing Collaborative (Salvation Army, CSB) Referral to Tier II shelter (Homeless Families Foundation, Volunteers of America) Referral to transitional housing (Amethyst) Referral to permanent supportive housing (2 years - permanent) (Community Housing Network, Amethyst, Volunteers of America) Treatment programs for severe issues (ADAMH agencies)

  10. System Design Characteristics • Extensive housing partnerships • Access to short-term rental assistance • Highly collaborative • Regular system meetings • MOA’s among agencies • Shared resources

  11. System Design Characteristics (cont.) High accountability & transparency • Shared HMIS • Daily bedlist • Quarterly indicators • Annual program evaluations

  12. Impact: Family homelessness declined Data from 2001-2002 is unavailable.

  13. Impact: Increased housing outcomes Data from 2001-2002 is unavailable.

  14. Front Door Shelter • Single point of entry • Supply expands to meet demand • Triage before intake • Housing First design • Coordinated with all housing resources

  15. YWCA Family Center

  16. YWCA Family Center • Supportive services • Case management • Resource center • Life skills • Child & youth programming • Collaborative partnerships

  17. Front Door Shelter Results Reduces homelessness • 50-60% of contacts don’t need to come to shelter • 43% Decline in family homelessness since 1997 Successful in re-housing within short time • 65% families sheltered move to next step housing • Average length of stay = 20 days Achieves long-term success • Recidivism < 1%

  18. Family Housing Collaborative • Direct housing • Quick placement in permanent housing • home-based case management • transitional rent subsidy • Service Provider, Front Door Shelter, and Fiscal agent

  19. FHC Target Population • Front Door Shelter clients • desire an independent, stable apartment; • have or will have, within 30 days, income and community-based supports sufficient to be independent; • are appropriate for permanent housing; and • are unable to obtain or maintain an apartment due to barriers primarily related to income, employment, debt and/or previous evictions.

  20. FHC Results Quick re-housing • Assessment and referral time shortened as the project progressed – typically <10 days. Successful housing outcomes • 77-90% successful in securing permanent housing Breaks the cycle of homelessness • < 1% do not have subsequent shelter stay Cost effective • $1,065 FHC vs. $6,410 - Tier II shelter (per hh served)

  21. Tier II Shelter • Referrals from Front Door Shelter • Housing First • No sobriety/treatment requirements for admission • Furnished apartments

  22. Tier II Shelter • Individualized case management • Extensive children and youth programming • Collaborative partnerships

  23. Tier II Shelter Results Serves hardest-to-serve families • About one-half are actively using at time of admission • Multiple barriers to housing (credit, legal, etc.) Successful in re-housing • 87% families sheltered move to permanent housing • Average length of stay = 71 days Achieves long-term success • Recidivism < 1%

  24. Family System Successes • Seamless system for families • Single point of access • Clear admission practices • Continuity of services

  25. Family System Successes • Shared values & shared goals • 100% commitment to housing outcomes as primary purpose • 100% commitment to increasing community resources for families • Responsive & nimble to changes • Generally high trust among agencies and CSB

  26. Family System Successes • Problem solve well both outside and within the shelter system • Partnership with Columbus Public Schools has significantly reduced school mobility • New demonstration program provides wrap around services for children with severe needs

  27. Challenges • Lack of affordable housing • Services for actively using families • Declining household incomes • Families with multiple episodes and/or long-term homelessness • Very young mothers with limited skills • Mobility of kids in schools

  28. What’s Next? • New longer-term direct housing pilot • Housing First supportive housing for families • Comprehensive system evaluation and strategic plan

  29. Wish List • More affordable housing and more transitional supports for families exiting shelters • More community prevention resources • Better paying jobs, quality education, and better community supports for families

  30. System Wide Housing First: The Columbus Experience Barbara Poppe Community Shelter Board www.csb.org Presented at The National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness February 9, 2007 Oakland, California Sponsored by the National Alliance to End Homelessness

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