Off the Charts: Moving Data from Analysis into Action

1. Off the Charts: Moving Data from Analysis into Action Cathy Kuhn, PhD Bernie Bluhm, M.Ed Ckuhn@fitnh.org Bbluhm@dhhs.state.nh.us

2. NH Homeless Access Survey Based on the Manchester Homeless Needs Assessment • Manchester Continuum of Care • Homeless Liaison Committee

3. Participating Schools • University of New Hampshire, Durham • University of New Hampshire, Manchester • Keene State College • Lakes Region Community College • New England College • New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord • Rivier College • Nashua Community College • St. Anselm College • Dartmouth College (William Jewett Tucker Foundation)

4. CoC Involvement Local CoC Participation helps to increase sample representativeness and response rate. Homeless Liaison Committee assists in outreach. Serves as point-of-contact for professors and students. Assists in survey administration when needed. Local CoC Participation increases awareness of the data and leads to greater understanding of its usefulness for strategic planning.

5. Service Access Statement Selections Respondents could select one or more of ten statements describing their experience with an identified service

6. Service Access Statement Selections (1) - I do not need this service. (2) - I have used this service. (3) - I need this service, but have not been able to get it. (4) - I didn't know this service was available. (5) - I would like to use this service but have not yet attempted to access it. (6) - I was told I wasn't eligible for this service. (7) - This service is not available where I live. (8) - The service helped me. (9) - I don't have transportation. (10) - I can't get the service because I don't have an address. “What else would you like us to know about this service?”

7. Age Statewide

8. Gender Statewide

9. Race and Ethnicity Statewide Statewide, 4% answered “yes” to Hispanic ethnicity.

10. Reason for Leaving Statewide

11. Reason for Leaving by Gender

12. Criminal Justice Statewide

13. Parents and Children

14. Parents and Children

15. Child Education

16. Type of Daycare: Pre-School

17. Type of Daycare: Annual Comparison

18. Healthcare • Statewide, 65 respondents stated that their children needed help from a healthcare professional while they were homeless. • Of those, 58 (89%) stated that they were able to access the healthcare when they needed it “Children should have healthcare no matter what the situation is… Don't punish children for the parents' lives.”(survey #275) “Healthy Kids Gold--great help/huge help: Medicaid helps but not enough.”(survey 049)

19. TANF Statewide, 60 (70%) of the 85 who stated that they have children with them now also stated that they needed TANF. “Child care issues; time does not add up to 6hrs for child care, 30 hrs of job search; TANF not help with back rent. If your income does not cover TANF ineligible; had a chance to keep my apartment, but they didn't help me.” (survey 011) “Been waiting 3 months; pregnant and can't buy things for baby; orientation is a barrier due to pregnant”(survey 270)

20. Prior placement through child welfare/juvenile justice 74, or 19.8% of the 374 people surveyed stated that they were in placement before age 18.

21. Placement Type

22. Placement Reason

23. Age at Placement

24. Duration in State Care, by Age Groups (Statewide data, n=72*) *2 age cells =blank

25. Education While in Care

26. Education During and After Care

27. Education All Respondents vs Those with Prior Placement

28. Transportation, Education, and Employment

29. Primary Forms of Transportation

30. Years and Level of Education 75% earned a High School Diploma or a G.E.D

31. Length of Employment Statewide, 83, or 22% of all respondents said they were employed 9.6% of all respondents stated they were working “under the table”

32. Employment Status

33. Employment and Childcare

34. Employment Status for Parents with Children

35. Statewide Actions Addressing Access • Increased trauma informed training for all levels of staff in all BHHS funded shelters. • Implementation of on-site/on-line access to state supported services (NH Easy). • Emergency shelters • Outreach sites • AIDS Service Organizations • Increased public transportation to local state offices • 24/7 Emergency Homeless Services-NH 211 • Strengthened linkage among key partners • Child welfare • Education • Homeless Services • Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Coalition • Veteran’s Services

36. Using Results in Community Planning • Important source of data in strategic planning • Tracks trends • Identifies service gaps and barriers to access • Identifies what is working/what is not • Provides comparative data • Encourages potential collaborations

37. Using Results to Inform Agency Services • Identifies areas for enhanced/specialized services • Trauma informed care • Specialized Childcare/Transportation • Cultural Competency • Reinforces need for participant involvement in growth

38. Stronger links with NH’s College/ University System New curriculums on homelessness and poverty New opportunities for service learning linked to shelters Greater attention to access needs of homeless college students Increased awareness of homelessness among researchers and students Provides solid data for advocacy efforts Provides “myth busting” facts about the homeless population. Advocacy/Educational Benefits

39. Off the Charts: Moving Data from Analysis into Action Thank You! Manchester NH Continuum of Care http:www.mcocnh.org NH DHHS Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bhhs/index.htm New Hampshire Homeless Hotline: Call 211 New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness http://www.home4hope.com