Linking Permanent Housing with Transitional Services Katherine Hillenbrand Dash King Carolynn Howell Joshua Russakis

Identifying the Problem

Homeless Statistics in Amherst 2009 Homelessness Characteristics * Total # of homeless 16 # of chronically homeless 12 # of male homeless 11 # of female homeless 5 *Information from Eliot Homeless Services

Roads to Homelessness Danielle DeBerry's Description of Roads to Homelessness

Stakeholders 1. Homeless and formerly homeless people and homeless advocates 2. Local homeless coalitions and networks 3. Homeless services providers and agencies Jessie’s House ServiceNet Warming Center Amherst Survival Center Eliot Homeless Service Center for Human Development 4. Nonprofit housing developers 5. Local government representatives

Tier System of Homelessness Description Needs Proposed Solution 1 Use shelters for short-term transitional stays Re-housed and do not return Relatively few Short-term housing Diversion to existing housing Immediate diversion to existing housing and employment services 2 Discharged from state institutions Programs that meet their individual needs Short-term residential capacity to meet the needs of their specific populations 3 Chronically and long-term sheltered 8% of the individual population Complex needs Medical Mental 50% of the money spent on the individual shelter system is from this category Better served in housing that is paired with moderate services 4 Chronically and episodically street homeless Avoid shelters Hardest to engage Relationship of trust between them and outreach workers Low-threshold housing wrapped with intensive services

Priorities for Tier 3 and Tier 4 Homelessness Housing is not always seen as desirable. Mental health and substance abuse issues. Issues of pride, “I’m not homeless.” Limited transportation options. Associative pride, “Home Sweet Home.” Tough transition from the homeless lifestyle to a mainstream existence.

*Based off of Eliot Homeless Services Vulnerability Index Mortality Risks* Aged 60 or older > 3 emergency room visits in the previous three months > 3 hospitalizations or emergency room visits in a year Cirrhosis of the liver End-stage renal disease Frostbite, immersion foot, or hypothermia HIV+ / AIDS Tri-morbidity: Co-occurring psychiatric, substance abuse, and chronic medical condition *Based off of Eliot Homeless Services Vulnerability Index

Housing First Approach vs. Continuum of Care Two Options: Housing First Approach vs. Continuum of Care

What is the Housing First approach? Jay Levy's Explanation of Housing First

What is the Continuum of Care? “A community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximize self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness...” Housing and Urban Development talking point: In 1995, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began to require communities to submit a single application for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants in order to streamline the funding application process, encourage coordination of housing and service providers on a local level, and promote the development of Continuums of Care (CoCs). Since communities would be required to come together to submit a comprehensive application, the goal was that they would have a more structural and strategic approach to housing and providing services to homeless people.1 A CoC would provide this more strategic system by providing homeless people with housing and services appropriate to their range of needs.

Cost/Benefit Analysis Costs: Monetary costs: Space/housing costs (acquiring and maintaining a building, dealing with landlords, etc.) and food/resource costs 2. Personnel costs (Outreach workers, organizations to provide services, etc.) Possible neighborhood hostility towards the project Possible increase in crime rate/disturbances in the area immediately surrounding the permanent housing Benefits: 1. Potentially saving lives.   Less conflict between shopkeepers and the homeless. Rehabilitation and reintegration of the homeless into mainstream society Fewer uncovered emergency visits to the hospital (saves emergency room trips and consequently money from the public, “Million Dollar Murray”) 5. Less taxing on the police Catches and prevents Tier 1 and Tier 2 homeless from becoming Tier 3 and Tier 4

Proposals: Build permanent housing with on-site services (Housing First approach). Housing should not be contingent on use of services. Utilize existing service providers in the region. Promote awareness and community outreach on an ongoing basis. Community Action Agencies Key civic and business leaders Housing authorities Landlords Tenant organizations Workforce Investment Act entities and contracted agencies Faith-based organizations Key members of local planning groups School district officials Local universities, such as Community Initiatives or Sociology Departments