Housing First: Ending Homelessness in North Carolina 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Housing First: Ending Homelessness in North Carolina October 12, 2016 Nicole R. Dewitt, MSW, LCSWA www.communitylinknc.org

Our House “Find & Keep Housing” C 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Our House “Find & Keep Housing” C Homeownership Education & Foreclosure Counseling Homeless to Housing Financial Empowerment Travelers Aid Buy a Home Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Move to Rental Housing Avoid Foreclosure House Rehabilitation www.communitylinknc.org

2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Homeless to Housing Permanent Supportive Housing, Emergency Solutions Grant & Continuum of Care Rapid Rehousing & Prevention, HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (RR & Prevention), Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Overlaps 4 Continuums of Care; Multiple Regional Committees- Northwest COC, Balance of State COC, Charlotte- Mecklenburg COC and Gaston Cleveland Lincoln COC SSVF Counties: Alleghany, Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Davidson, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union, Wilkes www.communitylinknc.org

End of Year Results 1,088 individuals served July 2015 to June 2016: Plus almost 300 of Cardinal’s S+C and PSH consumers 1,088 Individuals = 534 Households 308 Housed in FY, 43 in Housing Search, 183 Housed in Previous FY 19 Direct Service Staff + 6 Leaders

North Carolina Continuum of Care (CoC) Primary Areas 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 North Carolina Continuum of Care (CoC) Primary Areas www.communitylinknc.org

Community Link’s Housing First 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Community Link’s Housing First Coordinated Assessment Referrals taken ‘as is’ from CA, prioritized by VI-SPDAT score Similar models in most counties Helped to create a By Name List of Homeless persons Discuss Housing Options Day 1 Housing Needs Assessment Helps to identify the family’s needs regarding housing (close to school, work, bus line) Staff locates scattered site housing in the community No Income Requirement, Criminal Backgrounds not Screened Out, No Housing Readiness www.communitylinknc.org

Services Abstinence is Not Required Housing Search and Placement 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Services Abstinence is Not Required Housing Search and Placement Scattered Site locations Housing Barriers Poor credit histories, criminal backgrounds, past evictions Case Management www.communitylinknc.org

Services Linking to Mainstream Benefits- Social Security Administration, Department of Social Services Housing Inspections- Staff are Housing Quality Standards (HQS) certified Guide to Sustainable Housing Workshop- a curriculum developed by Staff to teach basic household maintenance, budgeting, tenant rights and responsibilities Regular Home Visits

Housing First was… Philosophical and Organizational Culture Shock 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Housing First was… Philosophical and Organizational Culture Shock Needed Staff & Board buy-in Had to change the narrative in the community and with landlords Funding was changing Nuances of Change www.communitylinknc.org

Success Tenant Education Staff Acceptance 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Success Staff Acceptance Retained staff that were supportive of the shift in the agency’s housing intervention Building Better Relationships in the Community Helped to create flow at the emergency shelter level Holistic Case Management Approach Helping clients address other areas like employment and healthcare/ treatment Tenant Education www.communitylinknc.org

Needs Rowan Veterans Housing Taskforce Affordable Housing 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Needs Rowan Veterans Housing Taskforce Started with the Rapid Results 100-Day Challenge Affordable Housing Passes inspection Meets family needs Landlord Participation Leveraged media and political contacts to solicit units Community Support Active participation from SSVF Providers, NC Works staff (DVOP), Goodwill, Housing Authorities, Law Enforcement, The Case with HUD VASH Multiple unused HUD VASH vouchers www.communitylinknc.org

Thank You! Nicole R. Dewitt, MSW, LCSWA 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016 Thank You! Nicole R. Dewitt, MSW, LCSWA Director of Outreach, Policies & Analytics 601 E 5th Street, Suite 220 Charlotte NC 28202 nicoled@communitylinknc.org 704-943-9516 704-661-9104 communitylinknc.org 704-943-9490 :: 800-977-1969 www.communitylinknc.org