Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance MA Emergency Assistance (EA) Sheltering Program for Homeless Families John A. Wagner, Commissioner MA Department of Transitional Assistance National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference February 8, 2007 Oakland, CA

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 2 Topics 1.Where We’re At 2.Where We’re Going Questions: –In 2003: Is our system currently set up in the best way to effectively combat family homelessness? –Future investments should address this

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 3 Where We’re At State (DTA) Shelter –FY07 Family Shelter: $74M* –FY07 Individual Shelter: $35M *Family Shelter Growth –FY99 $37M and ~850 Families –FY07 $74M and ~1700 Families** **Expanded Eligibility FY06 –100% FPL to 130% FPL and others

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 4

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 5 Where We’re Going Began Some Reforms in informed by front-line staff, promising practices, with focus on eliminating hotel placements –Assessment Pilot –Intensive Case Management –207 S2H Payments –LHA/THP in Collaboration with DHCD FY06 and FY07 Expanding Shelter Capacity Ahead? Back to the Future/Issues –Informal Advisory Group (United Way, Prof. Culhane, One Family Inc., state ICHH) –Public Stakeholder Meetings –Expired Procurement

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 6 Where We’re Going, cont. Research helpful in informing system redesign –Culhane’s Review of 494 entrants from Dec. 03-Feb- 04 in MA, and other locations –Data match across agencies (MH, SA, CW) –Additional study of “exiters” (DTA, Weinreb/Rog) –Additional research (TBF and others) Move System More Towards Families’ Needs (how utilized)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 7 Where We’re At, cont. (N=494 entrants from Dec. 03-Feb. 04) Transitional Stayers Episodic Stayers Long Stayers Percentage of Caseload 74%6%20% Percentage of nights used 44% (avg=105) 7% (avg=195) 50% (avg=444) Service History 34%40%26%

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 8 Where We’re Going, cont. (Early Thinking/Lessons) Maintain a safety net (shelter), but invest in housing options. >200 days of emergency shelter is not emergency shelter; Assessments helpful up-front. Once someone is “served” in shelter, fiscally hard to then fund other options; Also AZ data on homeless shows >90 days decompensate; Changing systems is difficult, but even more challenging when have to keep current system an option;

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance 9 Where We’re Going (Early Thinking/Lessons, cont.) Prevention important, but research does not show 1:1 impact on shelter; Solutions always tied to local (MA) housing market (DTA study of exits showing ~40% are going into unsubsidized units, ~$1310/mth income; paying average rent of ~$333; Consequently, system must also leverage workforce development resources/ solutions to ensure longer term housing affordability; Shelter cannot be “magnet” for housing benefits.