THP-Plus: Providing Affordable Housing & Supportive Services to Youth Formerly in the Foster Care & Juvenile Probation Systems California Alliance Training September 24, 2007

Overview of Presentation THP-Plus Overview Key Elements of Implementation Process Role of THP-Plus Providers Budget Update Prop. 1C Q & A

THP-Plus Statewide Implementation Project CDSS Corporation for Supportive Housing John Burton Foundation

What is THP-Plus? THP-Plus is a program for former foster youth that provides safe, affordable housing and comprehensive supportive services. THP-Plus allows youth to have the greatest amount of freedom possible to prepare them for self-sufficiency.

Nuts & Bolts of THP-Plus Eligibility: Emancipated foster & probation youth 18 to 24 years old who meet ILP eligibility criteria Duration: 24 months Rate: 70% of average group home rate for 16 to 18 year-olds in the county as of June 30, 2001 Funding: 100% state-funded; county share removed Structure: Administered by CDSS, managed by county social service agency, operated by private nonprofit provider

THP-Plus Budget Developments

FY Budget Allocation Developed by CDSS ACIN distribution: October 2007 Up to $10.5 million to cover FY costs

How do I become a THP- Plus provider?

Steps to Becoming a THP-Plus Provider 1. Confirm that County has a CDSS-approved THP- Plus Plan and is aware of LOI deadline 2. Determine County’s Provider Selection Process 3. Design Program 4. Develop & Submit Proposal & Provider Plan 5. Complete Certification Process & Enter Contract With County 6. Implement & Evaluate Program 7. Submit Monthly Invoices & Program Reports 8. Support Statewide Efforts to Expand & Improve THP-Plus

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #1: Confirm that County has a CDSS- approved THP-Plus plan for FY County LOI due to CDSS by 10/15/07

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #2: Determine County’s Provider Selection Process Options: RFP, RF(S)Q, RFI, Single Source Contract

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #3: Design Program Provider Budget Housing Model(s) THP-Plus Supportive Services

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #4: Develop and Submit Proposal & Provider Plan to County Elements of Provider Plan: Purpose of the Program & Mission of Provider Population to be Served Services Provided Rights of Participants Policies of the Program THP-Plus Rates & Service Levels Reporting Requirements

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #5: Selected Providers Complete Certification Process & Enter Contract with County Certification Process: Welfare and Institutions Code TILP Requirements Tenant Rights Housing Statutes Employee Regulations THP-Plus Supportive Services

1. Case management services 2. System of payment for utilities, telephone and rent 3. Job readiness training 4. Food & necessity allowance 5. Educational advocacy & support 6. Assistance with pursuing post-secondary education 7. Individual and group therapy (or referral) 8. Services to build and support relationships with family and community 9. Coordination with ILP 10. Mentoring 11. Apartment furnishings hour crisis intervention and support 13. Emancipation fund ($50/month) 14. Post-program housing assistance 15. Alumni services

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #6: Implement & Evaluate Program Housing Education Employment Status & Wages Permanency

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #7: Submit Monthly Invoices & Program Reports to County County Invoicing Options:  Fee for services: number of youth times actual paid rate  Invoice based on program budget: actual program expenditures

Becoming a THP-Plus Provider #8: Support Statewide Efforts To Expand and Improve THP-Plus Contribute to advocacy efforts around annual budget allocation Participate in statewide evaluation process

THP-Plus Counties 44 counties plan to implement in Alameda Butte Contra Costa Del Norte El Dorado Fresno Glenn Inyo Humboldt Kern Lassen Los Angeles Madera Marin Mendocino Merced Monterey Napa Nevada Orange Placer Plumas Riverside Sacramento San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Joaquin San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz Shasta Siskiyou Solano Sonoma Stanislaus Sutter Trinity Tulare Tuolumne Ventura Yolo

Personnel Expenses Youth Advocate (Ratio 1:12 & Annual Salary: $45,000)3, Educational & Employment Specialist (Ratio: 1:30 & Annual Salary: $45,000)1, Housing Specialist (Ratio: 1:30 & Annual Salary: $45,000)1, PR Taxes & Benefits (20%)1, Sub-Total8, Program Expenses Monthly Rental Subsidy (average: $590 per month)7, Move-In Stipend ($200 spread over two years) Monthly Grocery Vouchers ($50 per month) Repair, Maintenance & Security Moving Transportation ($150 spread over two years)75.00 Transition Support Group Supplies Economic Literacy Materials80.00 Community Building Expenses Emancipation Fund Staff Mileage Indirect Costs (20%)3, Sub-Total12,835.20

Developing the “actual paid rate” Total per youth cost annually: $20,881 Actual paid rate: $1,740 Ratio for parenting youth should be 1 to 8 San Francisco County’s rate: $2,250

THP-Plus Housing Model Considerations Single-site Scattered-Site Host Family THP-Plus Programs can provide permanent or transitional housing

Single SiteScattered Site Additional Parts of the Continuum Host Homes College Dorms Emergency Shelter Permanent Transitional

Single-site permanent model (Example: Fred Finch in Oakland; Larkin Street in SF) Benefits No time limits High level of investment and program participation because youth keep apartment Knowledge of community Peer engagement High service utilization Efficient service delivery (for provider) Lower travel expense Fair housing requirements Challenges Youth forgo benefits of being integrated into the community Dynamics of single population housing Program expansion requires additional capacity Higher building maintenance & operations costs Less responsive to housing market Fair housing requirements

Scattered-site permanent model (Example: First Place in Oakland, Madison Street development with AHA) Benefits No time-limits Community integration High level of program investment High level of independence Knowledge of community Responsive to housing market Lower building maintenance & operations costs Efficient service delivery (for youth) Fair housing requirements Challenges Program expansion requires additional capacity Less opportunity for peer engagement Lower level of supervision Issues related to mobile case management Fair housing requirements

Scattered-site transitional model (Example: Project Independence in Alameda County) Challenges Temporary housing solution Lower level of supervision Less opportunity for peer engagement Issues related to mobile case management Tenants have fewer rights in transitional housing than in permanent housing Benefits Integration into the community Higher level of independence Responsive to housing market Lower building maintenance & operations costs Efficient service delivery (for youth) No need to regularly add housing capacity

Host family model Benefits Promotes permanency if actively pursued Consistent with non-foster youth experience Youth to live in family setting Challenges Negotiating expectations between youth and family Promoting independence Promoting service utilization Possibly a temporary housing solution Less opportunity for peer engagement

Single-site transitional model (Example: St. Anne’s in LA) Challenges Temporary housing solution Youth forgo benefits of being integrated into the community Dynamics of single population housing Higher building maintenance & operations costs Less responsive to housing market Tenants have fewer rights in transitional housing than in permanent housing Benefits Knowledge of community Peer engagement High service utilization Efficient service delivery Lower travel expense Higher level of supervision No need to regularly add housing capacity

Housing Development: Proposition 1C Administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development through the Multifamily Housing Program (MHP) Funds cover new construction or acquisition/rehab $345 million for MHP’s General Housing component $195 million for MHP’s Supportive Housing component $50 million for homeless youth, including emancipated foster youth

Key Lessons: “One project” not the answer- transitioning youth in all projects Develop a continuum in partnership with county social service agency Partner with experienced affordable housing developers Patience pays off

THP-Plus Statewide Implementation Project Training and technical assistance  46 counties  200 community based organizations Advocacy  County share of cost removed  $20 million budget augmentation Research and Evaluation  First ever THP-Plus Annual Report released 10/07  Statewide evaluation framework in development

For More Information Michele Byrnes THP-Plus Statewide Implementation Project John Burton Foundation (415) Amy Lemley THP-Plus Statewide Implementation Project John Burton Foundation(415)

Questions?