ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS (IS ACHIEVABLE) HOMELESS PLANNING COUNCIL OF DELAWARE RACHEL BEATTY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT

“ENDING HOMELESSNESS”  The experience of homelessness being very brief  Homeless Prevention and Response System

“CHRONICALLY HOMELESS”  Living in place not meant for human habitation or emergency shelter for > 1 year continuously, or 4 times in 3 years  Diagnosis of one of more disabling conditions: substance abuse, serious mental illness, developmental disability, PTSD, cognitive impairment resulting from brain injury, chronic physical illness or disability “Hardest to House”

THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

“OPENING DOORS”  End Chronic Homelessness by 2015  End Veteran’s Homelessness by 2015  End homelessness among children, families, and youth by 2020 STRATEGIES (2/5): Retooling the homeless response system, by transforming homeless services to crisis response systems that prevent homelessness and rapidly return people who experience homelessness to stable housing. Increasing access to stable and affordable housing, by providing affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.

Subpopulation Trends, , “The State of Homelessness in America 2014”

HOMELESSNESS IN THE U.S. = 24% of all homeless individuals

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Overall 3.7% Decrease in homelessness nationwide from – 2013 Chronic – 16% decrease Veterans - 25% decrease (33% from ) People in Families – 9% decrease How?....

Targeted & Housing Focused No/Low Barrier to entry Compliance with services not tied to housing – Standard Lease Agreement/Tenant Protections

WHY HOUSING FIRST?  Humane  Cost Effective  Decrease in costly public services: jails, emergency rooms, mental health institutions, shelters, etc.  Seattle, WA: PSH saved nearly $30,000 per tenant per year in publicly-funded services, all while achieving better housing and health outcomes for the tenants.  NYC, NY: Pathways Housing First participants spent approximately 80% of their time stably housed, versus 30% for participants in the comparison group, who were assigned to traditional programs that made treatment and sobriety prerequisites for housing.

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING  For persons who need long-term supports to maintain housing  Permanent Housing w/standard tenant rights and responsibilities  Voluntary and flexible supports provided to help stabilize in and maintain housing  HUD encourages prioritization of chronically homeless

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

HOMELESSNESS IN DELAWARE N=635

COALITION OF CARING VI-SPDAT Scores ScoreAcuityHousing Intervention# of Persons% of Sample 0 - 4LowAffordable Housing2529 % 5 - 9ModerateRRH4855 % 10 +HighPSH1416 % 87

DELAWARE PLAN TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS  End Chronic Homelessness by 2015  End Veteran’s Homelessness by 2015  End homelessness among children, families, and youth by 2020

2013 HOUSING INVENTORY CHART BEDS IN DELAWARE

MAYOR’S CHALLENGE TO END VETERAN’S HOMELESSNESS To End Veteran’s Homelessness by 2015 Asking communities to: Use Housing 1 st Approach Prioritize most vulnerable veterans for permanent supportive housing Target Rapid Re-Housing to veterans Align National, State, and Local Resources In Delaware:  Mayor Dennis P. Williams  NCC Executive Tom Gordon  Newark Mayor Polly Sierer

“WE KNOW FOR SURE THERE IS NO PERSON THAT CAN’T BE HOUSED AND THERE’S NO COMMUNITY THAT CAN’T BE ENDING HOMELESSNESS”