Housing cures homelessness A summary of lessons learned from the National Conference on Ending Homelessness July 29-31, 2014

Housing cures homelessness Housing is solution to homelessness – Shocking Housing first – an approach to ending homelessness that centers on providing people experiencing homelessness with housing as quickly as possible – and then providing services as needed

Housing is #1 priority The longer youth are in crisis the more likely they experience homelessness Never turn a youth away Housing focus is key: we cannot be everything to everyone

Housing First Best Practices Rapid Re-housing (RRH) – addresses the single most important need an individual experiencing homelessness needs: a place to call home. Shelter without judgment – Focus on housing first – Services come after housing

RRH vs Transitional Housing type - $100,000 annual budget Transitional Housing Rapid Re- Housing # served per year850 Annual cost per person$12,500$2,000 Length of homelessness before permanent housing (this counts TH as homeless) 2 years24 days Number (%) moved to PH4 (50% each year) 43 (85%) Cost per PH exit$25,000$2,326

A continuum ends homelessness We cannot sacrifice one service for another For homeless adults and families the best practice is having a blend of emergency and independent housing For homeless youth the best practice includes many options, including transitional and supported housing

If we can do it for Veterans…

Trafficking difficult to define Definition of trafficking and survival sex create confusion with the general public. By law they are defined as: – Survival sex – trading sexual acts for basic needs – Trafficking – originated with cross-border sex by coercion CSEC = Commercially Sexually Exploited Children

Sexual Exploitation Statistics 98% of victims of trafficking are also victims of sexual abuse Within 48 hours on the streets youth are approached for sex 30% of gang participants are female and are often initiated by sexual exploitation 80% traded sex for survival. Of those 25% made money but didn’t get to keep what they had received. By definition they were pimped/trafficked

Best Practices: Trafficking YouthCare, Seattle, WA – Integrated shelter for youth experiencing trauma – National Safe Place model extends the doors of the youth service agency or emergency shelter throughout the community Housing prevents survival sex

Funding best practices National trend from HUD is RRH – Consider shifting TH to RRH or PSH THP+ Foster Care Master leasing or landlord relationships Affordable Care Act – housing is healthcare

WE CAN END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS