02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness Seattle, Washington, February 7, 2008 Emergency Assistance: Preventing Homelessness SafeHome Philadelphia created by the Philadelphia Committee to END Homelessness SafeHome Philadelphia

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia SafeHome Philadelphia applies the“Housing First” model to prevent homelessness.

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Background SafeHome Philadelphia is a work-in-progress created to build evidence of the efficacy of “Housing First” for all Philadelphians in housing crises -- to convert public investment from temporary to permanent housing.

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Eligibility Core Value is that Housing is A Human Right 1) Families only in this first phase because they have safety net 2) Housing Crisis w/ Homelessness as a Likely Outcome 3) Ability to pay forward rent

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Funding Privately funded through blood, sweat & tears & some fun (46 kindergarteners & businessmen in boxes) which provides flexibility to build evidence

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Program Components Housing Voluntary Partnership: Home Based Supports & Community Links Evaluation Process

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Telephone Screen Housing or Partner Advocate: Description of situation Ballpark information income

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Site Visit As soon as possible, Housing Advocate visits current housing to confirm crisis and family’s immediate options

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Family Interviews with Advocates Explore strengths-based partnership to obtain housing and increase resources to build stability Assemble needed documentation Determine next steps

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Staff Case review Carefully review documentation to identify hidden bombs Identify/resolve unaddressed or undocumented matters

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Voluntary Partnership Agreement dreams & aspirations non-binding action plan and description of what SafeHome offers

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Housing determine rent ceiling “ school locations “ neighborhood CHOICE not placement negotiate lease terms with landlord lease reviewed & signed tenant rights & responsibilities

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Voluntary Home-Based Support making a house a home: furnishings help social visits : take out for meal or takeout relaxation techniques training differentiate advocates from past “institutional” experiences provide transportation to get groceries build trust: encourage initiative

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia CHALLENGES Sticking to core belief: Housing is a Human Right Honest, we are not the cops How many phone numbers can you have before your brain blows up? The realities of their lives: work, children, loves vs. our good intentions Stop trying to herd cats

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia COST City of Philadelphia spends $35,000 a year for a family in shelter SafeHome Philadelphia makes a one time investment of $4,000 to house a family (one half is direct housing assistance; the other half is staff support)

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia EVALUATION Stability: rent payments & tenancy over time Change in children’s health and education Change in adult’s well being

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia Summary: 61 Families 40% have previous shelter experience 75-80% have employment income 4+ is average family size 50% have graduated high school 95% are native Philadelphians Average rent: $598 Average income: $1616 Housing crises were unsafe conditions, overcrowding, violence, “illegal” resident in subsidized housing: only 2 of 61 families had eviction notices In second cohort, 91% are stable; in first cohort, no one became homeless, but incarceration and relapse and one eviction occurred: 79% remain housed All families but those on some form of cash assistance have increased income All families had the choice of at least 2 new homes – over 160 decent, affordable,,safe private housing was found

02/04/08 PCEH SafeHome Philadelphia the mission-achieving creation of the Philadelphia Committee to END Homelessness Phyllis Ryan Jackson