Interim Housing

1. Interim Housing Presented by Chicago Continuum of Care and Heartland’s Center for Excellence in Service Organizations (CESO)

2. Goal of the Session • To provide a clear understanding of Interim Housing and the basics of structuring a successful program.

3. Objectives • Participants will gain a clear understanding of the essential components necessary for an Interim Housing program. • Participants will contemplate how to handle challenges that may arise while using an Interim Housing model. • Participants will have the opportunity to hear from local agencies piloting the Interim Housing model.

4. Agenda • What is Interim Housing? • Staff and Budgets • Model Interim Housing Programs • Case Studies • Panel Presentation • Dialogue with Panelists • Evaluation

5. What is Interim Housing? • “Short-term housing programs designed to rapidly rehouse persons who are homeless in appropriate permanent housing.” • Specialized for Domestic Violence • Specialized for gender • Programs serving youth under 18 years of age will meet DCFS requirements • Needs to be FREE

6. What is Interim Housing? (cont’d) • Time Limit – 120-day goal • Open to serve all consumers • Essential Program Elements • 24-hour basic services (showers, beds, meals, laundry, hygiene products, etc.) • Access to crisis intervention • Safety assessment particularly for youth

7. Essential Program Elements (cont’d) • Housing services, including assessment and locating appropriate permanent housing • Assistance in accessing housing relocation resources/supports (security deposits, utilities) • Public benefits screening and acquisition

8. Essential Program Elements (cont’d) • Provision of or linkage to assessments: • Psychosocial • Physical health • Child focused assessments • Linkage to community supports and/or wraparound system of services

9. Essential Program Elements (cont’d) • Interim Housing programs specializing in domestic violence must also provide: • Access to crisis intervention • Crisis and domestic violence counseling • Safety planning and assessment • Safe, undisclosed location for both services and housing • Legal advocacy for Orders of Protection

10. Staff and Budgets • A sample budget • Points to keep in mind when looking at the budget: • A variety of agencies provided data • The budget is a suggestion – agencies will vary to some degree, especially if specialized

11. Model Interim Housing Programs • Beyond Shelter – Los Angeles, California • HomeStart – Boston, Massachusetts • Rapid Exit Program – Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota • St. Stephen’s Housing Services

12. Case Studies • Break into small groups • Identify a spokesperson that will report back to the large group • Read case study and discuss • Respond to the questions • Report back to the large group

13. Panel Presentation • Bethel New Life • Catholic Charities • Chicago Abused Women Coalition • The Night Ministry • St. Leonard’s Ministries

14. In Closing… • Upcoming Sessions: • Housing Resource Specialist TODAY 1-4 pm • Scattered Site Housing on September 8th 9 am – 12 pm • Project Based Permanent Housing on September 8th 1 – 4 pm • Consult training brochure for additional upcoming sessions • Evaluation

15. Thanks for all of your hard work…keep it up!