Shifting Resources, Maintaining Emergency Responses Tom Albanese, L.S.W. Director of Programs & Planning Community Shelter Board National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness: Uniting Leaders, Sharing Solutions Seattle, Washington February 7, 2008
Franklin County Family System First contact between YWCA Family Center and family: Triage Referral Assessment Services Guidance Permanent housing, usually with Transition assistance Direct Housing Diversion Welcome to the Family Center Tier II Shelter Transitional Housing Permanent Supportive Housing Permanent housing Treatment programs for severe issues
System Framework Prevention & diversion Single point of contact Minimize shelter stay/move to appropriate housing quickly Measures results and manage for outcomes
System Design Characteristics Extensive housing partnerships Access to short-term rental assistance Highly collaborative High accountability and transparency
Front Door Shelter Single point of entry Supply expands to meet demand Triage before intake Housing First design Coordinated with all housing resources
Front Door Shelter Results Reduces homelessness 50-60% of contacts don’t need to come to shelter 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%
Impact: Family homelessness declined Data for is unavailable.
Impact: Increased housing outcomes Data for is unavailable.
Family System Successes Shared values and shared goals 100% commitment to housing outcomes as primary purpose 100% commitment to increasing community resources for families Responsive and nimble to changes
Challenges Lack of affordable housing Declining household incomes
What’s New? Targeted prevention Convert some Tier II shelter to Direct Housing Keep increasing housing outcomes
Shifting Resources, Maintaining Emergency Responses Tom Albanese, L.S.W. Community Shelter Board 111 Liberty Street, Suite 150 Columbus, Ohio National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness: Uniting Leaders, Sharing Solutions Seattle, Washington February 7, 2008