Policy Advisor | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Youth Homelessness: Developing an Array of Models for Ending Youth Homelessness Sarah Hunter Policy Advisor | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Updated: October 25, 2016

USICH Coordinated Community Response—Ending Youth Homelessness Every community will have a systematic response in place that ensures homelessness is prevented whenever possible or is otherwise rare, brief, and non- recurring. Every community will have the capacity to: Quickly identify and engage people at-risk of and experiencing homelessness; Intervene to prevent the loss of housing and divert people from entering the homelessness services system; Provide immediate access to low-barrier shelter and crisis services while permanent stable housing and services are being secured; and, When homelessness does occur, quickly connect people to housing assistance and services. https://www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/coordinated-community-response-to-youth-homelessness/

Coordinated Community Response, Cont. Build the capacity of local communities to implement the components of a coordinated and comprehensive community response Prevention, Identification and Early Intervention Coordinated Entry and Assessment Emergency and Crisis Response Tailored Services and Housing Solutions Communities make an array of housing options that are appropriate for the developmental stage of the young people you encounter, maintaining youth choice and housing first principles

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Primary Prevention Family Engagement Interventions Improve Foster Care Transitions Improve Juvenile Justice or Adult Correctional Systems Transitions Improve School Connections

Identification and Early Intervention Street Outreach Go where youth are- rely on youth to help Build trust Trauma-informed care Experience working with LGBTQ youth Drop-In Centers Location, location, location Culture should be safe and welcoming Peer support and activities Connection to services and housing when ready and appropriate Don’t forget family engagement Traditional Housing/ Family Engagement Generally preferred when a family-based intervention is safe and appropriate Cultural context of the family dynamics Balance family systems and homelessness expertise Aftercare Positive connections for the long-term, even if not a placement option

Emergency/Crisis Response Youth Shelters and Emergency Services Safety and harm reduction Don’t forget family engagement Takes context of what youth want and need and value Focus on Transition to Stable Housing Should be designed to be an immediate, short- term intervention Host Homes Youth-driven matches with families/homes Host recruitment Consider supporting hosts with funding and/or services Positive youth development approach Can be a flexible model Should consider how to create formal partnerships Transitional Housing Variety of housing configurations- congregate, scattered site Individualized and flexible service delivery Build permanent connections Exit/Transition Planning Youth choice

Tailored Housing and Services Pt. 1 Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Landlord buy-in, recruitment, and coaching Use a housing first approach Intensive and flexible case management – may last longer Bridge to living independently Non-time-limited Supportive Housing Appropriate for highest need youth Staff trained in trauma- informed care and harm reduction Services individualized and paced to meet youth where they are Foster a “moving on” culture for youth who are ready Establish formal operating agreements between service providers and property managers/owners Project or tenant based Non-time-limited Affordable Housing Landlord buy-in, recruitment, and coaching Voucher preferences Multi-family development Sometimes paired with community college leadership or other education opportunities Foster a “moving on” culture for youth who are ready

Sarah Hunter Sarah. e. hunter@hud Sarah Hunter Sarah.e.hunter@hud.gov For more information, see https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness- assistance/resources-for-homeless-youth/