Transforming Transitional Housing Hampton Roads Regional Conference on Ending Homelessness March 11, 2014

What about Transitional Housing? “Look at transitional housing programs with a critical eye – look at recent research, review each program’s eligibility criteria, analyze outcomes and occupancy rates, and make sure the services offered (and paid for) actually match the needs of people experiencing homelessness within your CoC.” Ann Marie Oliva Director, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs

Homeless Research Rearranging the Deck Chairs or Reallocating the Lifeboats? Homelessness Assistance and Its Alternatives, Dennis P. Culhane and Stephen Metraux Examined how people use homeless services, research recommendations:  Provide shelter on a short-term and limited basis  Provide rental subsidies that provide permanent housing  Reallocate expenditures to offset the cost of rental subsidies  Reserve transitional housing for individuals recently discharged from institutions  Address chronic homelessness with permanent supportive housing Available at:

Can Rapid Rehousing be used as one alternative to Transitional?  Analyze your program design, does it serve your community efficiently?  Rapid Rehousing is a promising option for families with low-moderate barriers  Rapid re-housing can be achieved with less funds per household – thus increase the total number of households served  Rapid re-housing is eligible under both the CoC Program and the Emergency Solutions Grants

Evidence to Support the Rapid Re- Housing Model  Research found families with lowest needs stayed in transitional housing the longest  Research found length of stay in transitional housing was not linked to a difference in outcome  Hennepin County found that 75% of the consumers screened upfront were candidates for Rapid Re-Housing  Hennepin County found that families stayed in shelters to save money for housing – cost was an average of $9000 per family. Now they provide the $2000 up front and save money  88% of families placed in housing by Beyond Shelter were still in permanent housing 3 years after initial placement

Expansion of Rapid Rehousing at Samaritan House  Analyzed outcomes and occupancy rates  Decreased number of transitional housing beds  Shortened leases in remaining transitional units  Participated in rapid rehousing pilot programs  Increased funding for rapid rehousing program included a full-time Housing Locator  Converted HUD support services grant to a rapid rehousing grant  Funded 3-year Transition-in-Place program for vulnerable victims of violence –OVW

Tracking Outcomes Calendar Year served in shelter Length of stay in shelter 56 days 79 served in transitional Length of stay in transitional 184 days 98 families housed Average subsidy to household $2679 Average rent $724 Calendar Year served in shelter Length of stay in shelter 42 days 124 served in transitional Length of stay in transitional 83 days 136 families housed Average subsidy to household $2376 Average rent $629

Conversion Considerations: Program and Culture Changes Program Changes  Focus on housing barriers, other issues are secondary  Employ housing focused case management  Pay attention to relationships with property managers  Increase capability to provide rental subsidies at varying amounts  Become mobile, serve participants in the community after they leave Culture changes  The Idea of doing the least for each household rather than the most  Believing people can make it without staff interventions  The pace is fast

Program Models for Best Practices National Alliance to End Homelessness: *Prevention, Diversion, Re-Housing ( Hennepin County Rapid Exit Program, Minneapolis, MN *Prevention, Re-Housing ( CAMBA, Home Base program, New York, NY *Prevention, Diversion ( Community Shelter Board, Columbus, OH *Prevention, Re-Housing, Diversion ( Beyond Shelter, Los Angeles, CA *Re-Housing ( The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, Community Care Grant Program, Washington, DC *Prevention (