Federal and State Funding Shifts to Rapid Re-Housing: The Positive Impact on Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Programs Audio Conference sponsored by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness April 12, 2011

Purpose of Today’s Audio Conference create a dialogue on how to implement rapid re-housing within your current emergency shelter and transitional housing programs define rapid re-housing and program components talk about Virginia experiences in what in particular works for rapid re- housing (from VCEH Rapid Re-Housing Report) point to some resources outline some next steps for this conversation and how VCEH can help

Disclaimer This audio-conference is sponsored by and paid for by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness. Registration fees cover the cost of the call itself and a small processing fees. All fees go directly to VCEH. VCEH is not authorized as an official technical assistance provider on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Funds for Rapid Re-Housing National Funds State Funds Local Funds

Defining Rapid Re-Housing Two main goals: (1)assist homeless households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to return to permanent housing as soon as possible (2) reduce the length of time people remain in homeless situations

Defining Rapid Re-Housing You therefore need: financial assistance case management and services employment services connection to community supports

Defining Rapid Re-Housing No universal time limit for “rapid” “Almost” everyone is “housing ready” Unique services for each unique household Target Population: households on the brink of losing their rental homes households living in emergency shelter or transitional housing, even for a significant period of time people with barriers to housing including people with multiple evictions, criminal histories, mental illness and / or substance use disorders

Philosophy Behind Rapid Re-Housing Homelessness is traumatic and families do better in their own stable housing Homeless families do not look much different than other poor families Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

What defines success? Reducing the length of time that a family experiences homelessness Increasing number of families who exit into permanent housing situations Reducing the rate of return to homelessness Connecting families to community supports Increasing employment and / or income

Program Components Financial Assistance Case Management Housing Barrier Assessment Housing Location Services / Housing Locator / Housing Broker Team Supportive Services, Connections to Community Resources, Employment Overhead / Facility Costs / Staffing Costs

Eligible Activities / Costs Follow up and / or short term case management Program participant rent subsidy Rent and utility deposits Rent and utility arrears Staff and facility costs associated with the provision of rapid rehousing and case management

VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing Study of 9 communities experience with rapid re-housing via HPRP Success in rapid re-housing is due to 3 main factors: (1) Housing locators results in faster placement of an individual or household into permanent housing (2) The housing is essential but so are the services (3) The best outcomes come from collaboration with other service providers to provide long-term community supports to families

VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing ChallengesHow RRH Addresses High cost of housingHousing subsidy Client barriers to rentingHousing Locator Barriers to housing stability Services

VCEH Report on Rapid Re-Housing; Future Program and Policy Implications Focus on quality of services v quantity of services Explore critical time intervention case management models to assist families in making the transition Focus on employment -- develop your own employment programs, employment broker team, or establish relationships with current existing workforce services We definitely need more resources!

More on Critical Time Intervention Go to the VCEH resources page for more on critical time intervention for young homeless mothers Critical period of time (3-6 months) after a family leaves shelter and is in their own housing when supports and services are critical Goal: Stabilize clients in the community by developing independent living skills and by building effective support networks in the community Transfer of care to community supports is not abrupt but instead happens over nine months Three phases: first phase could start in shelter where CTI worker begins to engage the client and links the client to support services and support services staff before transitioning them into the community

Employment Programs Concern that families will not be self sustaining = focus on employment programs Employment navigation programs Employment broker team

Major Challenges Lack of affordable housing Unemployed or under-employed households Idea that people are not “housing ready” Decline in shelter utilization = less funding?

Discussion / Questions Questions: Do you have any questions about what was presented? What about rapid re-housing have you found effective? What are your particular concerns about rapid re-housing?

More Information and Resources

Next Steps Help from VCEH for your community or for your agency: RRH Working Group on Employment RRH Working Group on Organizational Issues for Shelters Adding RRH RRH Working Group on Achieving Outcomes with RRH RRH Working Group on Higher Barrier Families RRH Working Group on Establishing Community Connections To participate, You must be a member agency

A statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia We support communities in implementing long- term solutions to homelessness Contact Phyllis Chamberlain at or