Continuum of Care in Rural Nebraska January 26, 2010 NIFA Conference Omaha, NE

Rural Continuum of Care Regions Southeast Region 4 22 counties Northeast Region 5 15 counties North Central Region 2 22 counties Southwest Region 3 23 counties Panhandle Region 1 11 counties

Southeast NE Continuum of Care Organized in 1998 Organized in counties 22 counties Meet 9-10 times/year Meet 9-10 times/year –Face-to-face –WebEx 17 entities; attendees 17 entities; attendees Strategic Planning Strategic Planning

Achievements Provides framework to bring funding into rural area Provides framework to bring funding into rural area –Supportive Housing Program o Funding through US Housing & Urban Development o Transitional Housing programs (5) o Supportive Services Only Programs (1) o Homeless Management Information Systems o Total of $1,306,761

Achievements –NE Homeless Assistance Grants o Totaling $2,801,812 o Operations, Client Services & Prevention –Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re- Housing Program o Totaling $5,128,578 o Goal: With this assistance, households become stably housed

Achievements Statewide Client Data System Statewide Client Data System –All CoC’s on same data program –Statewide homeless & near homeless data Awareness of homelessness Awareness of homelessness –Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week – the third week in November

Achievements Inventory of Services Updated yearly Inventory of Services Updated yearly –Supportive services Employment, education, transportation, health, case management, child care, etc. Employment, education, transportation, health, case management, child care, etc. –Housing units available Emergency shelter Emergency shelter Transitional housing programs Transitional housing programs Permanent supportive housing Permanent supportive housing Collaborations/Partnerships established Collaborations/Partnerships established

Planning & Goals Strategic Planning Strategic Planning –Housing –Service Coordination & Collaboration –Sustainability –Public Education & Awareness –Data Collection & Analysis

Connection to Nebraska’s 10-year Plan 1. Create housing options –Discuss the feasibility of Housing First 2. Increase access to mainstream resources –Identify barriers & gaps of services –Explore methods to address gaps 3. Establish data collection system –Implement & conduct point-in-time count

Challenges Large geographic area Large geographic area –Travel time to meetings –Collaboration o Building relationships o Frequent communication –Having diverse representation from all geographic areas Leadership Leadership

Challenges Representation of certain groups Representation of certain groups –Housing developers –Local government –Business –Consumers, i.e. homeless or formerly homeless individuals Getting current information from all areas Getting current information from all areas

Success Believe in the mission Believe in the mission Dedication of those involved Dedication of those involved Support of the State Support of the State Foresight to develop statewide data Foresight to develop statewide data Willingness of HUD to provide technical assistance Willingness of HUD to provide technical assistance Creative in order to be efficient Creative in order to be efficient