Child Welfare & Homelessness: Housing Ensures a Solid Foundation Or Housing Promotes Permanency Child Welfare & Homelessness: Housing Ensures a Solid Foundation July 2017, Washington, DC National Alliance to End Homelessness

Child Welfare: A Primer Primary goals in Child Welfare: Safety & Permanence Homelessness is a significant barrier to family reunification Youth do not age out into homelessness Preparing youth for independence Providing “Youth Aftercare” services

Child Welfare: A Primer DC is unique Youth age out at 21 Separate unit for youth: Office of Youth Empowerment Coming out of receivership Operates in a complex and high cost housing market

DC CFSA’s Approach to Preventing Homelessness Strategic focus and a Strategic Plan Big, mission driven goals Data driven decision making Partnerships and Collaboration Funding: Creativity and Leverage

Alignment with CFSA’s Principals

Strategic Plan OUTCOMES Revamped Rapid Housing program Executed formal MOU with DC Housing Authority Secured additional FUP vouchers & administrative support Developed two housing projects Expanded Transitional Housing provider relationships Launched new housing unit and increased staff Embraced formal partnership with Department of Behavioral Health Enhanced working relationship with Department of Human Services with dual jacket families

Big, Mission Driven Goals CFSA aspires to a goal of zero tolerance of homelessness Big goals are followed by an investment in resources Homelessness does not target a family for being vulnerable to having children taken into care. CFSA works with families to secure homelessness so that children can be returned or united with kin

Data Driven Decision Making Identified numbers of families and youth served Evaluated the impact of dual/triple jacketed families Cross – matched families with Housing Authority, DHS

Partnerships & Collaboration Public/Private Partnerships Private sector housing providers essential Heavy reliance on non profit agencies--CoC Formal inter-agency MOUs Pooling resources (programmatic & regulatory authority) Tapping agency expertise Allows for a comprehensive approach Leveraged Funding Capital Funding Operational Funding Partnerships are multi lateral, complex, and takes time to form For housing production, not all agencies have capital funds that allow them to use the funds to build units Not for profits need operational funds to provide wrap around services Typically, deep subsidies are needed to Being able to charge to medicaid will be critical for the future

CFSA: Actively Participates on the Interagency Council on Homelessness Youth Subcommittee Outcomes over the last two years: First ever DC sponsored Youth Census Improved PIT youth count Implemented Coordinated Entry and a common assessment tool Increased Street Outreach programs, crisis beds, designated LGBTQ beds Launched “Solid Foundations: Comprehensive Plan to End Youth Homelessness” On the Horizon: Youth Rapid Rehousing Improved training for youth serving case managers Improving registry and prioritization systems

Funding Multiple sources Diverse uses Public combined with private Allowable layering Creative strategies Innovation---mandatory Foundation support helpful

Improving Youth Aftercare is Key to Preventing Youth Homelessness Less intensive planning begins at age 14 Transition planning intensifies by age 16 Completed 4 hours of training in housing search, landlord-tenant law, obtaining utilities By age 21, youth is applying for permanent housing assistance By age 23, youth is transitioning from Aftercare support and is stably housed

Wayne Place: Transitional Housing Population of focus: Aged out of CFSA and/or DBH consumer 22 shared apartments serving up to 44 transition aged youth Utilized a master lease funding strategy Embraced Transition to Independence Process (TIP) model Partners: DC Child and Family Services, Department of Behavioral Health, DC Department of General Services, Med Developers, Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative

Genesis: Intergenerational Housing Population of focus: Parenting youth exiting foster care and active elders Based on Generations of Hope model 27 units of two bedroom apartments Partners: CFSA, Mi Casa, Generations of Hope, Latin American Youth Center, Office of Aging, DC Department of Housing and Community Development, Vida Senior Centers

Thank you for your attention and interest. Kimberly T Thank you for your attention and interest. Kimberly T. Henderson Kimberly.henderson@dc.gov (202) 727-4918