WI BOSCOC – Gaps and Needs Committee 2018 Client Survey Results WI BOSCOC – Gaps and Needs Committee

What are people telling us about themselves What are people telling us about themselves? What has your journey been so far? “I have suffered domestic violence and sexual assault all my life.” “I made lots of bad decisions, and now I am trying to make it right.” “It’s been a rough life. I am not a victim. I am a survivor.” “Life has been a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs, habitually homeless due to mental illness.” “Working on bettering myself after heroin and crack addiction.” “Working hard until my relationship broke down and I was alone with two children and homeless.” “I’ve been self-sufficient all my life until now, I just need some help!”

Life gets better….with the right things in place! “I got into drugs and hated myself. I went to jail and then a shelter. I found a place to live with rent assistance. Now I am drug free.” “I was in a relationship that ended badly. I went to the DV shelter and got help with rapid rehousing. I love my house and I love my job.” “I went from sleeping in my car, separating from my children. Now in Section 8 housing and hope to purchase my own home.” “Trying to be the best parent I can be.” “It’s been awful. First time in years I have felt safe and comfortable.” “Life has been rough. But I have learned a lot and come along way. I want to follow my dream, which is singing.”

Dreams………… “I want to get a good job and be the best mother I can be.” “I want to finish school and go to college. I hope to be a case manager and help people.” “I want my kids to be happy and have a stable home.” “Live somewhere I can afford. Work somewhere I enjoy. Maintain sobriety and mental health.” “My vision is to help people who have gone through what I have gone through and let them know they are not alone.” “I aspire to be a published author.” “I want to find a home for me and my son, get a home, and a good job.”

Dreams……………….. “I want to maintain my sobriety, go to school and become a therapist.” “Better paying job, own my own home.” “Short term goal:get a job and home for me and my son. Long term goal:finish college get my degree and start my career, owning my own business.” “To be stable enough to live comfortably. My goals are to find a better job, continue school and maintain my health and to maintain my son's happiness.” “Short term goal is to get my high school diploma and my long term goal is to become so stable in life as far as buying my own home and having a good career.” “I see myself living a life of self-suffiency, holding down a full time job, continuing to grow as a human being – physically, mentally and spiritually. I see myself living in my own apartment.”

What else would you like to share? “The experience of being homeless is tough. I don’t know where I would be if the shelter didn’t exist.” “If it weren’t for my case manager, my son and I would be lost. She has given me hope and encourages me to not give up.” “Being homeless is the worst nightmare. Going from having food and shelter to not knowing where you will sleep or when you can eat.” “Personally it is hard for me to ask for help, but the service providers have been really good at listening to me and hearing my struggles without judging.” “Finding services was difficult because I didn't know where to go. It was very beneficial to have all of you to work with. Everyone was helpful and knew who I could work with.”

What else do you need in order to be successful? Affordable apartments available to me when I leave a program Transportation Mental Health/Addiction Treatment Homebuyer Programs Rental Assistance Child Care Assistance Dental Care Disability Benefits Help with vehicle repairs

Total Respondents - 2018 32% fewer respondents in 2018 (566 in 2017 vs. 387 in 2018) GOLD STARS to Northeast, Dairyland, Kenosha, and Brown NORTHEAST – Over 100% more respondents than last year!!! DAIRYLAND – Over 100% more respondents than last year!!! KENOSHA – Over 75% more respondents than last year!! BROWN – Over 50% more respondents than last year! What can be done to increase respondents this year? What will make things easier for you?

Trends in Age and Gender of Respondents 2017: 80% of respondents between the ages of 24 and 61. Highest percentage came from 24-34 age range. 13% between ages of 18- 24. 2018: 85% of respondents between the ages of 24 and 61. Highest percentage still came from 24-34 age range. Lower percentage in 18-24 age range (9%). GENDER: 2017 – 61% Female, 38% Male, a few who did not identify as male or female or preferred not to answer. 2018 – About 50/50 Male and Female respondents, a few who did not identify as male or female or preferred not to answer.

Trends in Race/Ethnicity and Annual Income of Respondents Race/ethnicity of respondents across years – about the same. In 2018 slightly higher percentage of folks who identified as Hispanic, slightly smaller percentage of folks who identified as white. Higher percentage of respondents reported an annual income of less than $20,000 a year (82%)

Disabilities – response options were adjusted slightly from 2017.

Seeking Emergency Shelter Did you seek emergency shelter 2018 2017 Yes No 277 (73%) 378 (27%) 331 (60%) 222 (40%) How many days did you have to wait before getting access? 31+ days 17.5% 15% 16-30 days 6% 7% 6-15 days 11% 38% 1-5 days 44% 32%

Let’s Compare Did you seek housing assistance? 2018 2017 Yes No 287 (75%) 96 (25%) 353 (65%) 194 (35%) How many months did you wait, or have you been waiting to be placed in the program? 12+ months 16% 11% 9-11 months 4% 3% 6-8 months 6% 2-5 months 32% 29% Less than 1 month 20% 28%

Trends in application for and denial of services, by type 2017 – Top Services Requested Food Assistance (1551 times) Housing Programs (1,149 times) Gas cards or bus tokens (733 times) Medical Care (532 times) 2018 – Top Services Requested Gas cards or bus tokens (929 times) Food Assistance (867 times) Emergency Shelter (732 times) Medical Care (639 times)

Trends in services continued… 2017 Frequency of Denial Housing Programs (182 times) Gas cards/bus tokens (163 times) Emergency Shelter (131 times) 2018 Frequency of Denial Financial Assistance (185 times) Housing Programs (169 times) Emergency Shelter (140 times) Reason for Denial – Both years, about 56-57% of respondents were given a reason for the denial – 39% were denied for eligibility reasons in 2018, that is down from 52% in 2017.

Experience Accessing Services YEAR Easy/Somewhat Easy Difficult/Somewhat Difficult 2017 53.25% 20.12% 2018 44.71% 28.31% What made accessing services difficult? Both years, the results were about the same: Lack of transportation Long Waits What can we do to address these issues?

What’s Next?? What do we do with all of this information? What recommendations might we make at local coalition meetings, to the WI BOSCOC BODs, others? How do we improve outcomes for those we serve?